Questions tagged [carpentry]
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226
questions
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1answer
28 views
Appropriate slack for door jambs
Generally speaking, what's an appropriate gap to leave between the door jamb and the stud?
In my particular situation, neither wall is plumb. On the left, I adjusted for it with some padding that you ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Can I skimp on the jack stud?
Installing a closet in the very corner of an old house. Note, I don't have a proper king stud, but two 2x4s with a plywood spacer in the middle. This is a load bearing wall.
I'm working with very ...
0
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1answer
36 views
What type of saw to use on a wall of windows, removing glass but keeping wood framing
1950s home has a wall of windows, was initially exterior now within an addition added before we bought the house. We want to remove the windows but keep the look. I started the project, then testing ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
How to rectify a heavy door?
The following picture shows how one of my very heavy doors got "skewed" in the door opening. The numbers indicate the gaps between the door and the jambs on the sides. The door used to shut ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Installing fascia boards on uneven roofline
I am doing some repair work on an old shed. I cut back rotted rafter tails and installed new eave trim. I plan on adding drip edge and new asphalt shingles next. When I installed the eave trim, I ...
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21 views
Converting housing stairs to open treads
I am in the middle of a remodel. I'm looking for ideas on how to cut the outer to make this open tread [under stairs left side stringer stringer
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Better to sand down floor or trim door?
I've been working on installing a sliding "barn" door. Unfortunately, I hung the door too low by about 1/4 inch because the directions that came with the hardware to do so are incorrect. As ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Calculating Stair Strings - Is 7.92" Too High of a Rise for Patio Stairs?
I'm adding steps from a house down to a patio and am trying to build the stringers:
23.75" Total Rise
12x2 nominal lumber for the stringers. Total of 4 stringers @ 48" wide
.92" ...
0
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0answers
72 views
How bad are these knee walls?
First, I am going to show this to a structural engineer that I've been working with. I am posting this to be better prepared to ask him questions. So if you see something wrong but are not sure, ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Is it better to pull old nails or hammer them flat?
When doing work like replacing drywall and trim, I'll pull all the old unused nails from the studs, joists, etc. I do this mainly for two reasons: a) so they don't get in the way of new fasteners ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
How to remove baseboard installed behind hardwood floor?
The hardwood floors in my house were installed after the baseboards so the lower 3/4 inch of the baseboards is covered. This is real tongue and groove oak hardwood floors which I want to keep but the ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
My Dresser Drawer is stuck closed
I have a dresser drawer that is stuck closed without anything inside it blocking it. The inside of the drawer is empty, so I assume it is blocked on the rails somehow, but as far as I can tell I don'...
2
votes
2answers
85 views
Adding a pergola to my deck; ok to replace corner railings posts with pergola posts?
Planning to add a pergola to my deck for shade and growing grapes and need help deciding if I should extend the posts of the pergola to the ground on a concrete base or if I can just attach it to the ...
0
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1answer
69 views
T-bevel vs Protractor angle finder
Is there something that a T-Bevel can do that a Protractor/Angle driver can't? The protactor is able to give the angle measure which is a plus.
0
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1answer
45 views
T-Nuts for Granite/Plywood table?
I have a 30"x50"x3/4" granite slab that I would like to use for a table. I'm thinking of putting 5/8" plywood underneath (20"x40"?) and before mounting the granite on top, inserting a few T-Nuts for ...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
Safely securing a 4x4 vertically and horizontally
I'm looking to find the safest way to secure a 4x4 to act as a beam for rope-climbing. In the picture below, the "top" beam sits on-top of two 4x4 posts.
The rope will extend from the far right of ...
1
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0answers
48 views
Sheet metal behind drywall…why?
I’m trying to install a niche by my bathtub. when i cut into the drywall which is on an exterior wall there was a full sheet of metal behind the dry wall. it runs the length 60 inches and height 6 ...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
letting-in two-ply 2x12 girder to 6x6 beam
I am doing a project where I'm supporting a girder made of two 2x12s with a 6x6 post. (But this question really applies to 2-by-anything). For added strength, I want to "let in" the girder to the ...
2
votes
3answers
60 views
How to remove built-in shelf without damaging
I have an angled shelf I'd like to remove from an old built-in unit in the house. However, I can't see how it is secured. It is solid wood and is very sturdy. Appears to be some glue at the seams (...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
reinforcing existing header
My house has an existing header, which I believe is somewhat undersized. For context, it's two-ply 2x10s, 12ft long (but I don't want to get into the sizing calculation here).
I would like to ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
Trying to mitre a finished panel but results are not great
I have a kitchen cabinet that I need to [install a finished corner piece on][1]. I am planning on using the Ikea finished cover panels.
(for this I used a piece of scrap cover panel)
I used a ...
0
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0answers
64 views
Is it normal for an experienced Finish Carpenter to put so many blemishes on walls during a kitchen cabinet install?
I recently hired a Finish Carpenter with “30+ years of experience” to install my white finish, plywood cabinets. I paid $1400 for him to mount 10 boxes (he only mounted 9 but still charged $1400 plus ...
3
votes
2answers
768 views
What is a butcher block?
I had so far gathered that for a block to be called a "butcher block," the grain must be perpendicular to the surface.
I guessed that this orientation of the grain is meant for beauty. A table made ...
2
votes
2answers
593 views
Will a 72 x 24 x 1 3/4" Maple tabletop sag if supported by only four legs?
My current working desk is a 1" thick table.
Even though there is not much weight on top of the desk (screen, keyboard, laptop ), the table's own weight, given its top dimensions, 60" x 30" ( 150cm ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
Installing cabinet hinges backwards?
I have a frameless cabinet hinge like this that I bought for a closet-like piece I am building. However, I quickly realized there was a problem; the hinge is designed so that the door lays flat in ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
How can I get eave rafters cut flush?
This may seem like a silly question, but I removed two old facia boards. The beams butted against them are all uneven. I've tried an orbital sander but can't seem to get it to sand evenly to flush. ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Will a door rubbing on the carpet cause excessive wear?
We recently had carpet installed in our master bedroom.
We love it! My husband trimmed the door, it opens & closes well for me.
The door is touching or rubbing the carpet when opening & ...
0
votes
0answers
263 views
Cam lock & dowel alternatives
I have a chest of small chest of drawers held together by metal cam lock & dowel pegs. The cam lock & dowel regularly come loose. I am looking for suggestions for alternatives?
the cam lock ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
Help identifying the type of shelf support
please could someone help me identify the type of shelf support in the pic below. This is from a kitchen cabinet shelf, need to order some spares, but can't find anything that resembles it online.
...
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0answers
31 views
Best option for replacing rotting redwood exterior trim
I have 12” painted redwood fascia boards rotting in places, and I'm looking for a smooth board to replace it with. Exterior kiln dried treated and primed pine has been suggested but would have to be ...
1
vote
3answers
82 views
How to cut many shallow grooves on the side of a square aluminium tube?
I would like to craft a slatted ventilation panel/grill like this:
The frame will be made of square aluminium tubes (25 mm side, 3 mm thick). The slanting panes will be cut of 4 mm thick aluminium ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
does “clear opening” on rafter loading tables mean horizontal projection?
I am looking at some tables of allowable roof loads for southern yellow pine: http://www.southernpine.com/app/uploads/AL_27-32L.pdf
Rafters are typically at an angle to horizontal. I'm wondering if ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Cutting a 4.5m long 2x6 in half with a circular saw
My question is about cutting 2x6 boards in half with a circular saw ("Skil"-saw). Now, I've looked around, and there are many sites describing how to cut off a small piece from a larger piece, the ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Advice on supporting a sagging bay window
We have bay window that has sagged enough that that windows are out of square and no longer open or align properly to get a good seal. As such, they are drafty in the winter and we can't open them in ...
2
votes
4answers
244 views
Nails sticking out of balusters
Recently purchased a house and noticed some nails sticking out of the balusters on a staircase. They are pretty sharp so I'm worried about someone stepping up brushing their foot up against it.
What ...
1
vote
3answers
91 views
Base for refrigerator wine shelf
I have a wine refrigerator that has shelves for wine bottles - image on this question.
I want to use this refrigerator and its shelves as a regular refrigerator. So I need to put something on the ...
1
vote
2answers
225 views
Buckling notched jack studs - how to remedy?
Some past "plumber" decided it was OK to cut a notch for a 1-1/2" PVC pipe directly through all the 2x4 studs on one end of a window header. The result, shown in the photos, is a buckling wall.
The ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Do I need to replace the foundation under porch posts when replacing them?
I need to rebuild my porch this summer. I think its circa 1970 and the flooring is starting to rot through. The only part of the job that is really throwing me is replacing the load bearing columns (I ...
2
votes
2answers
93 views
Mitering an outside crown molding?
I need to miter a new crown molding to an existing outside crown molding.
Similar to this stock photo:
My old school crown molding looks like this:
Can I assume the angle is 45 degrees?
Is this a ...
0
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3answers
142 views
Attaching swing bolts to sistered 2x10’s
I have 2x10’s that I will be sandwiching together to make a big stiff beam for an adult swing set.
I’m about to put it together, but then I thought “how do you drill the screws for swings into a ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
how to repair bi-fold door with fallen slats?
A piece of this bi-fold closet door has warped, and as a result many of the slats have pulled out of one or both of their end-points. It seems like it should be possible to repair this with clamps, ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
Joist hangers “droop” when installed?
Whenever I use hangers I end up with something that looks wrong.
Hangers have two sets of screws. One, the "flat" screws, drive into the wood your hanging onto. The others, the "diagonals" drive into ...
15
votes
9answers
3k views
Basic power tool set for Home repair and simple projects
I have a feeling this has been asked before, but I didn't find it here. I've read a number of websites and there always seem to be a little fluff and maybe this favorite tool or that.
I'm thinking ...
0
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0answers
383 views
Untreated pine wood - do I really need to treat it? (indoor usage)
I have a piece of furniture which is made from raw pine wood. It has relatively fine
sanded surface and I like that it is not sealed or stained.
What if I just leave it so, i.e. do not apply any seal ...
21
votes
6answers
8k views
How can I fix this gap between bookcases I made?
I just built two bookcases to line the wall of a room in my house and apparently didn't build them square enough so, when I put them next to each other, I get this giant gap. (I think the one on the ...
0
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2answers
56 views
noise reduction from a wooden ball wall
My husband and sons built a wooden wall in our backyard to use as a ball wall for soccer and lacrosse. Our boys bounce the ball off the wall to practice. It is about 10X10 frame with plywood affixed ...
0
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2answers
99 views
Identify this plaster cornice coving from the UK
I am in the UK and need to replace some coving, and am not sure how to track it down. It's probably 20 years old now, but I'm not sure if it's a generic size?
Thanks!
0
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2answers
124 views
Toe Nailing Studs to Plates
Perpendicular set studs sometimes shift during toe nailing to flat plates, top and bottom. Is there a way or a tool to clamp 2x4 perpendicular?
-1
votes
1answer
32 views
carpentry: base for a media shelf [closed]
I want to build a DVD/blueray/CD shelf of 7 feet high x 6.5 inches depth x 32 inches width. The dimensions are right and have to be respected. When I make a rectangular framework, it's quite unstable, ...
1
vote
1answer
911 views
Split/broken rafters a concern?
I'm buying a home and had a building inspection yesterday. The only major defect the inspector found was two split/broken rafters inside the roof. Can anyone tell me if these are a major conern?
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