Note to Self...

A Note to Self: Thursday, August 31, 2017:   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4685-note-to-self

How to: Make Simple Wooden Triangle Shelves

Executing a well-designed project doesn't always have to involve high-end materials, elegant shapes, and complicated techniques. Sometimes, the most affordable wood will do, and to bring it together: just a little math.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/3303-how-to-make-simple-wooden-triangle-shelves

How to: Make a DIY Surplus Ammo Can Speaker Box

Okay, begin witty caption contest for this rugged DIY speaker system...now! "You can play your explosively good music?" "For use only when you really need to blast your tunes?" "Only plays songs that charted number one with a bullet?" "Solder up this stereo, soldier?"… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/2153-how-to-make-a-diy-surplus-ammo-can-speaker-box

7 Idioms, Adages, and Classic Sayings That Are Actually Pretty Good Pieces of Advice

You know the ones. Those classic, advice-supplying stock phrases that might be from Shakespeare but could be a religious text and/or folk wisdom, yet we all seem to absorb nonetheless. Those simple, stock phrases that are always shared by well-meaning people in sometimes appropriate, but often in irrelevant situations that don't actually apply.

But, I suspect that we all have a few of these things that actually do make sense to us. True, "a penny saved is a penny earned," doesn't really resonate with or motivate me. But I know it's a code that many people honestly organize their lives around. Nor do I agree that you should "never go to bed angry." In my experience, nothing gets truly resolved when you're both worn out; and sometimes, eight hours of rest is exactly what you need for both of you to realize you got triggered, but you still love each other and the new day is a fresh start. In my view, the better aphorism should be "never have a hard conversation after 9:00pm," because, seriously, no one is at their best when you're exhausted.

But there are a few of these sayings – some old chestnuts and some a bit more contemporary – that I really do say to myself often, and they work for me. So, these are the ones I keep around, and perhaps they'll be helpful to you, too. I'd love to hear which ones motivate you as well.… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4684-7-idioms-adages-and-classic-sayings-that-are-actually-pretty-good-pieces-of-advice

BOSTITCH N66C-1: The best Coil Siding Nailer? Read this Review!

The BOSTITCH N66C-1 1-1/4-inch to 2-1/2-inch Coil Siding Nailer is a powerful nailer that can be used to drive wire weld and plastic inserted coil nails. It is a reliable performer that will handle the vast majority of jobs you can throw at it and that has a number of good design features that make it an all-round great choice for many home improvement fans and other professionals

But of course, just because it’s a good nailer, that doesn’t mean it’s the right nailer for you! We put this tool through its paces for a few weeks to see how it held up on repeated use and so that we could deliver you an in-depth review!

Product Description: Never Fail to Nail

To look at, this already feels like a relatively premium nail gun with a nice glossy orange finish and a very ergonomic handle that feels good in the hand. This is an important point, seeing as you can find yourself using these for long periods and it’s crucial that they don’t get uncomfortable to use after a while. It uses an aluminium housing, so it is a little more high-end than a plastic tool but it’s also not going to weigh a ton. This is again important if you plan on using the tool for a long time.

To use, the nail gun is powerful and precise. It will work with a large number of siding materials, including soft woods and steels and in our tests it never backed down from a fight. The pressure is of course adjustable and has a range of 70-120 PSI. This will ensure that the nails go in to the right depth and provides a driving power of 515 in/lbs. It can work with nails of a variety of sizes and will also work with a range of air compressors.

For those who are new to nailers, do note that this does require an air compressor. If you buy this tool on its own, then it won’t have a power supply and for that, you’ll need a battery operated nailer (these are rarer and less powerful). Air compressors are a good investment: they are useful for a wide range of different applications and they are relatively affordable and last a long time. Just don’t buy this tool without one!

Pros and Cons: Siding Made Easy

The positives here are the lightweight construction, easy use and impressive power. This is a nailer that you’ll be happy to use for extended periods and that’s also possible thanks to the impressive 350 capacity magazine. This means you can go a long time without needing to reload.

It also has a redirectable nozzle, which means you can ensure that the exhaust isn’t blown in your face. This is a nice touch, as it can get pretty irritating after a while otherwise! The soft foot is also useful to prevent damage to softer woods.

Most importantly, this product is very reliable. We never had any jams during our review and we never experienced any misfires.

Of course, it’s also important to remember that this is a siding nailer specifically. That means it is designed to be used to add siding to your home or to fix up what you already have. Does that mean that it won’t work for a range of other applications? Not at all – but it is worth noting that it isn’t designed as a general ‘all round’ tool specifically.

The only other downside is that there is no switch for changing the nature of the trigger – you need to switch them out manually. Not a big issue!

Conclusion: On Your Side

To conclude, the BOSTITCH N66C-1 1-1/4-inch to 2-1/2-inch Coil Siding Nailer is a great choice if you need to nail down some siding. It’s affordable and reliable. Unlike some other products, we never had any problems with jams or misfires and the design is very smart with a few clever touches. Of course you might be able to get a little more power at a higher price but you’ll see diminishing returns. For siding in particular, this is a great buy and comes highly recommended.

Source: http://www.toolerant.com/bostitch-n66c-1-the-best-coil-siding-nailer-read-this-review/

source https://toolerantcom.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/bostitch-n66c-1-the-best-coil-siding-nailer-read-this-review/

Yes, Kolache are the Ultimate Breakfast Food. Here's How to Make 'Em.

Lately, I've been on a quest to find better breakfast foods. Without getting into much personal, and overbearing, health details, most breakfast foods just aren't all that great for you. Whether it's a pile of dried wheat or a sugary toaster pastry, grabbing something good on the go can be so dang hard! Well, no more! Kolache to the rescue!

… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/bryson/posts/3817-yes-kolache-are-the-ultimate-breakfast-food-here-s-how-to-make-em

6 Simple Tools Every DIYer Needs

Have you ever had to cook dinner at a friend's kitchen only to find out they don't even own a cutting board? Not only have I had that happen for me, I've noticed this kind of thing happening in my friend's workshops. It's easy to get caught up in… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/bryson/posts/3313-6-simple-tools-every-diyer-needs

Shop Update: Rehabbing & Fixing Up My New 8" Delta Jointer

For the last couple of years, I've been mostly set on woodworking tools. I've been collecting my large, stationary machines for nearly ten years now, and although I do plan to upgrade a few of them, I've been able to accomplish most of what I've set out to do with a little creativity and patience.

The one standard machine that's been missing from my shop is: the jointer. I knew I didn't want to buy a tiny benchtop machine, or even a too-small 6" model. I told myself I'd wait until I was in my "forever" shop, then get the machine I wanted; one I could use for the rest of my life.

Once we bought our house last year, I started a Craigslist alert, and painfully watched every listing from ubiqituous Harbor Freight tools to overpriced secondhand things from people who have no idea that what things are actually worth.

Over the last eighteen months, only a few 8" models even came up for sale. The woodworking community in my town snatched them up as soon as they were listed, and so I waited. And waited.

And then - enter this Delta DJ20. Built in the 80s when machines were machines. Complete with parallelogram beds, dead flat and coplaner tables, and an awesome fence, this was being offered at less than the price than the new Grizzly it's based on, plus no shipping, no assembly or degreasing, and it came with a mobile base.

I made my offer, went to check it out, and - boom! - I'm now the owner of a vintage 8" Delta jointer.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4683-shop-update-rehabbing-fixing-up-my-new-8-delta-jointer

7 Things I'm Totally Obsessed with This Month (August 2017 Edition)

These are thoughts, the artwork, the news stories, the tools, the food, the conversations, and whatever else we just can't get out of our heads this month.      … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4682-7-things-i-m-totally-obsessed-with-this-month-august-2017-edition

(How I Totally Screwed Up) Trimming Out My Shop Windows

When I built out my basement shop space last fall/winter, there remained a couple of unfinished spots that I knew I'd need to deal with. Case in point: this obscure glass window. (This half of the shop was intended to be a bathroom, and this would have sat right over the tub.)

Last week, I got a new, very large, very heavy stationary woodworking machine (more on that soon), which I'd planned to store right along this wall. So, I figured if I didn't trim it out now, I'd never do it, and it'd look exactly the same in twenty years. 

So, I got to work. And it was kind of a disaster.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4681-how-i-totally-screwed-up-trimming-out-my-shop-windows

This is the Only Way You Should Be Wrapping Up Your Headphones

Yesterday, I offered the thesis that if you're only going to learn to tie one knot, it should be the bowline: it's simple, can be easily untied, and is incredibly versatile for all sorts of situations. 

And all that is true. But, it's not the "knot" I employ most often. Because the reality is, most of us don't handle rope on a daily basis. We do, however, in the age of smartphones and podcasts and the entire history of recorded music available at your fingertips, engage with another long, stringy thing that needs to be dealt with on the regular: your headphones.

Or ear buds. Or ear phones. Or whatever you call those wired transducers that deliver all that sweet, sweet audio to your brain. And because you take them with your everywhere, they regularly get knotted and tangled up in your pocket or bag.

This is completely unnecessary. Because there's a five-second "knot" that can completely eliminate this problem, and it doesn't take any longer than other storage methods. So, now, I present to you, the actual most useful knot in the world.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4680-this-is-the-only-way-you-should-be-wrapping-up-your-headphones

According to Science, the Most Important Ingredient in Your Whiskey is...Water

Here's the kind peer-reviewed scientific study and journal article that we can all get behind: how to make your whiskey taste better. This year, scholars Björn C. G. Karlsson & Ran Friedman took a look at the molecular makeup of whiksey, and specifically, how dilution with water affects the presence of flavorful compounds that make the sipping experience even more enjoyable.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4679-according-to-science-the-most-important-ingredient-in-your-whiskey-is-water

How to Tie the Most Useful Knot in the World

This how-to is not for sailors. Nor anglers, mountaineers, first responders, or anyone else who need to know a huge diversity of knots, their strengths and weaknesses, and what situation calls for each.

This is for the rest of us. Those of us who go through normal life and its adventures, and encounter rope, twine, string, line, paracord, and the like, and when we need to secure it, say "Should I tie this like my shoes, or in a square know that I know will be nearly impossible to get off when I'm done."

The truth is, at this point in our lives, we're probably not going to learn how to tie a complex calvalcade of knots, and even if we did, would probably not have enough opportunity to practice them in real world situations in order to commit them to long term memory.

But, still, we should all know how to tie at least one pro-level option, and so we say to you — if you're only going to know how to tie one kind of knot, let it be:   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4678-how-to-tie-the-most-useful-knot-in-the-world

Shop Skills: How to Care For Your Cast Iron Table Tops

If you're like me, the cast iron in your shop sits atop the most prized tools you have. Those tops are solid, durable, stay dead flat, and make working wood just a bit easier. But to keep them at their best takes a bit of routine work, fending off rust and staining doesn't take much but make sure you do it. Here's how.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/david/posts/4676-shop-skills-how-to-care-for-your-cast-iron-table-tops

How to Stop That Annoying First Song from Playing Every Time You Plug Your Phone Into Your Car

It might not happen with every smartphone and car stereo combo, but if you know what we're talking about, this tip is for you. You get in, you fasten your seat belt, you turn the car on, you plug in your phone, and.... 

THE. SAME. &*$%. SONG. COMES. ON. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

It's easy to figure out why this devilish contrivance occurs. It's the song who's title comes first alphabetically in your library. On my phone, it's A.M. 180 by Grandaddy; on my wife's, it's Vampire Weekend's A-Punk. And it just... starts playing, at whatever volume your stereo is set to.

Here's how to stop that first song from playing when your plug your phone into your car:   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4675-how-to-stop-that-annoying-first-song-from-playing-every-time-you-plug-your-phone-into-your-car

Weekend Project: Make a DIY Reclaimed Wood Wall Bike Hanger

There's a great adage in the home decor and organization field...you've probably heard it on one of those room makeover TV shows. The phrasing varies, of course, but the central idea, "When you run out of floor space, you've got to go up."

… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/3321-weekend-project-make-a-diy-reclaimed-wood-wall-bike-hanger

10 DIY Beard Oil Recipes

Anyone who's read ManMade for more than a week or so can attest: we're never gonna wax poetic about the beard. Some men look better with them, some do not. Some can grow a full one, and some can't. There's no magic in the beard. It's a choice, and if yours looks nice, it's good to have options. Personally, I tend to wear one in the fall and winter, and then go clean shaven in the warmer spring and summer. 

What we do know is: having a beard is much more than just not shaving. You've got to care for it, clean it, trim it, and keep it healthy.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/3549-10-diy-beard-oil-recipes

ManMade Essential Toolbox: The Key to Keep Yourself from Going Crazy in the Workshop

Small-parts storage is one of the biggest steps you can take in creating the perfect workshop zen. When all those little fasteners, nails, washers, odds and ends all have a home you can work in peace, not pieces.

… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/bryson/posts/3890-manmade-essential-toolbox-the-key-to-keep-yourself-from-going-crazy-in-the-workshop

If You're Not Doing This Every Time You Grill, You're Missing Out on Serious Flavor

During summer, it's my goal to bust out the charcoal and chimney starter as much as possible. Call it a masculine stereotype if you must, but I never miss an opportunity to take advantage of extended daylight to cook dinner outside. It avoids heating up the house with the oven, and, of course, makes everything taste amazing.

And, if you want you grilled food to taste even better, here's my tip. It takes all of five seconds to set up, and takes your meal up to the next level:     … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4674-if-you-re-not-doing-this-every-time-you-grill-you-re-missing-out-on-serious-flavor

Shop Skills: How to Clean Your Saw Blades

Maintaining your shop tools starts with keeping those blades sharp and well lubricated. Here's a quick overview on how to tune up your cutting edges.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/david/posts/3680-shop-skills-how-to-clean-your-saw-blades

How to (Safely) Age and Antique Hardware for Your Woodworking Projects

 

Let's face it: modern hardware leaves a lot to be desired. Sure, it's inexpensive and abundant, but visually, it looks...well, cheap. No character. You spend weeks on a project, choosing wood grain carefully, sanding and planing to a glass smooth finish, and then you're forced to add some blindingly shiny yellow brass or bright blue metal to finish your project. 

Of course, there are high-end hardware makers out there producing specialty hinges and components for period furniture, but I wanted a less expensive way to transform general home center hardware into something I actually want to use on my projects.

So, I called my dad.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/4673-how-to-safely-age-and-antique-hardware-for-your-woodworking-projects

Hit the Trails: 6 Next-Level Gear Items to Take with You On Your Next Car Camping Trip

There's something about a winding road. It's still a bit wild and rebellious, like nature hasn't completely given in to the straight line of civilization just yet. That's the kind of highway that I think of when I want to take a road trip, and no road trip is complete without a day or two of car camping. For me, car camping is a great mix between roughing it and going posh in a rented bed. I just seem to find a lot more enjoyment when I can bring just a few more pieces of gear along, but still sleep outside. Here are a few of my favorite pieces I take with me on every car camping adventure these days.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

source http://www.manmadediy.com/users/david/posts/4668-hit-the-trails-6-next-level-gear-items-to-take-with-you-on-your-next-car-camping-trip