Questions tagged [carpentry]
The carpentry tag has no usage guidance.
195
questions
4
votes
6answers
968 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
98 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
97 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
53 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
86 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
45 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
75 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
votes
3answers
56 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
40 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
42 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
votes
0answers
72 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
votes
2answers
16 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
votes
2answers
92 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
votes
2answers
66 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
31 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
364 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?
...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
Framing corners
Is there a prefered method to framing an interior wall corner?
I am re-finishing my basement and in the process of framing my small bathroom, hallway, small bedroom and living area.
Just trying to ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
I tightened a Titus Minifix Cam too hard and now I have to take it apart. Is that OK?
I put together this TV stand, and used a cam/bolt dowel for the first time when I got to the step of attaching the top of the TV stand (A) to the two stand panels (E). Since I assumed the cam had to ...
1
vote
1answer
147 views
3" perfect wooden round hole in cabinet
I need to make good round 3 inches hole in the wooden cabinet (see blue circle) to pass feed and load wires to a subpanel I'll put outside the cabinet.
What's the best way to make that hole? My ...
0
votes
1answer
792 views
Which router bit should I use to recess a door hinge using a template
I've just made my 1st template and used it to rout out a set of hinges . I was very surprised to learn that the usual approach was to use a guide bush and a straight 2 fluted bit. This involved ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
How to make a 19' bannister sturdy?
There's still about a foot of play in the middle.
I put wood glue and finish nails in the loose spindles but very little improvement made. Both newell post are solid.
3
votes
1answer
663 views
What is the point of this doorway “header”, and can I simply remove it?
We're remodeling a room with a severely undersized doorway - it is much shorter than the standard 6'8", so much so that I hit my head on the jamb if I don't duck when walking through it.
After ...
0
votes
0answers
67 views
fascia compound angles
Alright so hopefully I can explain this properly.
I'm replacing a fascia board where the corner can't be a straight cut. There is one board that spans the "bottom" of the roof and one that goes up ...
2
votes
1answer
215 views
What type of wood is suitable for fascia?
I'm replacing some fascia boards, I am looking for something that is rot-resistant but I am hesitant to use pressure treated lumber due to shrinkage as it dries out and I don't want gaps (project has ...
1
vote
0answers
83 views
Strengthening a Bamboo Ladder (After a Mistake)
I am a newbie to this so please be gentle. I had some dried out bamboo lying around and for some reason, I decided to make a ladder out of it.
I got one of my measurements wrong and cut out a notch ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
How to install a vinyl fence gate on a pool deck?
I am trying to install a vinyl fence between a deck and the pool in a backyard. The homeowner wants the fence (Wam Bam Vinyl Fence system) to run the width of the backyard until it gets to the deck ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
Using angle grinder to shave wood?
I have several 4-ft x 4"x4" pieces of wood, and I need to shave off a few millimeters of wood.
Can I use an angle grinder for this? It doesn't have to be perfect, and I would only be shaving the ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Which insulation for gap between plasterboard and subfloor?
I have a room built under the roof on top of the garage, so eaves are directly behind the side walls. I removed the skirting boards to install the a new flooring and realized that there is a sizeable ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Garage shelf supports splitting and need to be supported. What is best?
The shelves in my garage have some cracks in the wood on two fo the horizontal supports. They haven't grown much, but the cracks are growing slowly. I would like to fix the issue without taking all of ...
0
votes
1answer
294 views
How to secure privacy lattice to top of existing fence gate?
I want to fix some privacy lattice installed along the fences at a property I maintain. Most of the lattice installed along the actual FENCE is solid - I’m assuming because the bottoms of the lattice ...
0
votes
1answer
240 views
What's the proper height above a subfloor, for an exterior inswing door threshold? Carpet? Tile? Hardwood?
I need to build a custom door threshold for an in-swing exterior door where there's no exterior overhang or porch.
At the moment there is only subfloor, no finish floor.
How high above the subfloor ...
2
votes
2answers
393 views
Why do some door locks require the key to be twisted twice? [closed]
This has been nagging me lately. Why 2 twists? I mean one twist seems enough to keep the door essentially locked. If the extra twist is for strength, wouldn't it be a better idea to implement a ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How to make a long straight cut in a board at an angle?
I have a board about 1.5" thick and 12" wide and 8 feet long.
I need to cut the board diagonally and want the cut to be as straight as possible. (I am cutting the board diagonally. This does not ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
Goal: make hardwood slats for a bed thin to flex, w/o degradation
My goal is to make hardwood slats for a 4' wide bed, (center support, so span is 24"), thin enough so my heavier parts flex, adding comfort so I can minimize mattress. (Ideally, pad will be 1 inch ...
2
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I attach things to the inside of a shipping container without compromising the water tightness?
I just got a shipping container for use as storage/workshop and need to figure out how to attach things to the container walls and ceiling, without causing it to leak.
I'd like to hang a garden tool ...
1
vote
2answers
437 views
Can I use a router on a vertical surface?
I am investigating routing scoop handles on some pocket doors that have already been installed. Is this possible? I would be using a CNC cut template clamped to the door.
Here is what I'm trying to ...
0
votes
1answer
397 views
How do I patch a subfloor over a return duct cavity
I need to patch these holes in the subfloor where the vents are. These holes are from a return vent that is being moved, the joist cavity below these holes is a return duct. I'm assuming using ...
24
votes
5answers
3k views
How do you find helpers for larger DIY projects?
Question: In cases where you have the time and skills to do a project yourself, but physically cannot without a second skilled person to help, how do you go about finding and hiring someone that is ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Mark location of holes with two boards fitted together
I made a small cabinet that had a piece of plywood on top of it as part of a display platform for our Christmas tree. The plywood fastened to the top of the cabinet with screws. (1st image.)
I ...
1
vote
2answers
985 views
How to join melamine sheets for a concrete mould?
I'm planning on making an L-shaped concrete kitchen countertop (2100mm x 2500mm) with a single large piece of concrete (Yes, I know, see below!). As the melamine sheets only come in a max size of ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the guidelines for drilling holes through rim or band joists?
I'd like to bore a 8" hole through 2"x12" rim joist. The hole will be used for a downdraft kitchen vent. Is that 8" hole size ok and up to code?
There are guidelines for boring holes and notches in ...
0
votes
1answer
722 views
Drywall ceiling crack emanating from/near the outside corner of two interior drywall walls
I have determined that this is not a foundation problem (the cracks have existed for at least two years without getting worse, other than in the winter they open up just a little. No other foundation ...
1
vote
1answer
832 views
can a plasterboard ceiling hold a 4 kg projector
i want to mount a 4 kg projector in a plasterboard ceiling but can't find the joint so it will have to go in the plasterboard, i wanted to know if it will hold and what kind of things i'll need.
also ...
1
vote
1answer
408 views
Are floor joists allowed by code to be notched at the ends?
I'm repairing termite damaged floor joists in the crawl space a 1940s house. At the chimney, there are double 2x10 trimmers and headers as you would expect but on each side of the chimney one of the ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
carpentry/ beam question [closed]
i just recently open a wall in my basement but there is a post on the center of the wall that Im contemplating on removing. So, my idea was to apply a steel plate to the side of the beam and some ...
0
votes
1answer
349 views
Adding a sill to a Marvin Integrity window
*I'm sorry about the lengthy description. I'm photographically challenged at the moment.
I went about installing a two side by side, double hung Marvin integrity windows. After doing that, my dad ...
1
vote
2answers
496 views
Does cutting into a joist too close to the top ruin it?
A "carpenter" did this to a big double joist in my house (top floor), I was under the impression that one does not cut a hole this close to the edge of a joist, especially not one this big! Should I ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
US Building Codes - Do I need a handrail on this initial section of stairs?
I realize that building codes tend to vary by jurisdiction, but I'm wondering, in general, do I need a hand railing and/or guardrail on this initial section of stairs as shown in orange? My hope is ...
