For questions involving wood as a construction material, either as lumber or finished features of a home.
16
votes
5answers
13k views
Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls?
Related: When should you use metal studs?
I'm planning on finishing my basement. (assuming all water issues are resolved)
I'll be putting up a water barrier (tar paper) on all exterior walls, ...
13
votes
1answer
614 views
Why are 2“x4”'s really 1.5“x3.5”?
Just curious as to the reasoning, is it a spec, or is it simply 'backwards compatibility'?
14
votes
13answers
24k views
What are cheap ways to build strong shelves with a large span?
I have removed several old and moisture damaged built in storage units from my house. I would like to replace them with shelving. There are a number of different sized gaps (width and depth to fill).
...
4
votes
1answer
339 views
How to paint a wood house?
I'm looking for good resources for painting a wood house. I'm looking for the proper tools and techniques.
I don't want to hire somebody to do the job, I would like to do it myself. I just need to ...
6
votes
3answers
590 views
How can I drill a hole in a small stick of wood?
I need to make a few arrow shafts hollow, they're about 1/2" thick.
Example:
There would have to be enough space in the middle to put iron wire in it (the thickness of an old coat hanger)
4
votes
3answers
702 views
What is a good barrier between grout and wood?
A side of a tile flooring project abuts a strip of wood. How should I handle the side where the tile meets the wood so the wood won't absorb all the water from the grout?
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I repair water damage under the kitchen sink?
I found out that our kitchen water connection had somehow loosened up and was leaking water on the floor underneath the sink. Now the particle board cabinet floor is warped quite a bit. I was thinking ...
12
votes
2answers
441 views
What are some tips for finishing wood?
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask, but I'm looking for a good how-to guide for finishing pine furniture. (Could also apply to baseboards and trim, so I'm hoping for an on-topic pass here.) I watched my ...
20
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the best tool for cutting up scrap wood?
I have some wood left over from building a patio, mainly some planks. Normally when I'm creating firewood, I just use an axe a split the wood, but these are too long for that. I really don't want to ...
10
votes
5answers
25k views
What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of polyurethane?
I'm planning on applying polyurethane to a pine bench I've finished staining. I decided on foam brushes for application, but I wasn't sure what grit sandpaper I should use between coats. Is 400 good ...
15
votes
5answers
4k views
What's the best way to account for saw blade width (kerf) when cutting boards?
In theory, to cut a 350mm piece out of a longer board, I would have to mark the line at 350mm + half of blade width. So if I have a 2mm hand saw, the line would be drawn at 351mm. How does that work ...
11
votes
3answers
15k views
What is the best drill bit to pre-drill holes for screws of a certain size?
Total noob question here:
This can apply in general, but for a specific case, suppose I have a 5/16 bolt for which I want to drill a hole. What's the best drill bit to use to make the hole big ...
4
votes
5answers
8k views
How do I stain pine without streaks or blotches?
I did some test staining on pine scraps, and I ended up with a cross grain arc that's darker than everything else. Where did I go wrong? (Or is it just the pine?)
(Related to this question, as a ...
7
votes
3answers
483 views
What tools do I need to make a straight cut in laminated chipboard?
It's 38mm thick.
Next week I will need to cut it along a straight line, and I would like the cut to be as straight and clean as possible.
What tools do I need to do this ?
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Why should I use advanced nails instead of wood screws for strength?
Recently I found that there're some superior nails for constructing hurricane-resistant houses - with very clever design for preventing pulling the nails out and tearing the boards off when the ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
What primer and paint should I used for a solid-core wooden front door?
I recently purchased a new pre-hung exterior door for my house. We opted for a solid-core Douglas Fir instead of the fiberglass models as the wooden door was substantially cheaper. We want to paint ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I attach two pieces of wood in an invisible way?
I would like to attach a thin tree trunk to a flat smooth piece of wood, in order to create support for a very heavy shelf. Any suggestions on how to do it, while leaving a minimal outside marks?
...
9
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I fix a hairline crack in a thin wood panel of an exterior door?
My 100-year-old house has a wooden front door made of thick wood ribs interspersed with 8 wood panels, each about 10" high, 8" wide, but only 1/8" or 3/16" thick. Perhaps the door originally had ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Should I choose MDF or plywood for my false stair treads?
I'm looking to install false stair treads and risers on my basement stairs. Generally, we're talking about a kit like this:
Which is installed with adhesive and finishing nails like this:
The ...
4
votes
1answer
564 views
What is the difference between various wood sealers?
I've recently become aware of the existence of various seals for wood. I'm lead to believe that they are necessary, but I am unclear on the differences between the types of sealers you can find:
...
3
votes
1answer
250 views
When should I round over the edges leading to a miter joint?
I'm going to be joining 2 1x6" pieces of wood at a simple miter joint.
However, I want the top edges to be rounded over. I'm planning to use my router and a round over bit to soften the edges, the ...
3
votes
1answer
342 views
Installing railing pickets using dowel pins
I am building porch railing, and I'm considering using dowels to attach the pickets so that no nailing is required.
For 2x2 pickets:
What size dowel stock should I use?
How long should each dowel ...
3
votes
3answers
264 views
Dresser/Chest with convex front
I'm contemplating building a dresser and am looking at designs and such to get my creative juices flowing. Today I noticed that some dressers/chests have concave or outwardly curving drawers on the ...
