DIY Life

I'm a green gardener. I'm loathe to use toxic chemicals in my yard. However, there are certain situations when only toxic will do. Like, for example, when I recently had to kill a tree. Read on if you're in the same boat and would like some tips. Oh, and be sure to check out my photo gallery, too!

The Camphor Laurel: An Invasive Pest

First up: a bit about the tree in question. The offending plant was a camphor laurel tree (cinnamomum camphora), a native of East Asia that has become an invasive pest here in the US and in other countries, like Australia. Yes, this plant is the source of stinky camphor oil, which is found in products like Vicks® cold remedies.

In my backyard, the camphor is a big pain-in-the-butt-plant. My nemesis. My arch-enemy. It self-sows everywhere. I must have pulled hundreds of tiny seedlings by hand since learning (the hard way) to be more vigilant. Hand weeding camphor seedlings is a nuisance, but it sure beats trying to eradicate them once they become established.

This week, instead of talking about a particular project, I'd like to talk about one of the most important and versatile tools in the shop: the benchtop table saw. The fact of the matter is that although I'd love to have a contractor table saw or cabinet table saw sitting in the middle of my wood shop, that's not an option.

Sure, it's a two-car garage, but it contains everything else as well. Workbench, lathe, a pile of lumber, power stool storage, paint storage, and of course room enough to actually assemble a project.

The latest models have really come a long way from the earlier models. Manufacturers weren't born yesterday, and recognizing the huge market, responded with plenty of R&D. The newer ones have virtually eliminated vibration issues.

Benchtop saws spin 10 inch blades, so there's no problem with common hardwood lumber sizes or sheets of plywood. And if a chunk of stock happens to be just a hair too thick, you can always do the old trick of cutting half way through and then flipping it over and finishing the job. I'd recommend having a helper if you try this!

And along with that disclaimer, here's another one: always wear those safety glasses or goggles.

Read on to learn the advantages of a benchtop saw, accessories available for it and more.

I live in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where this winter we have been slammed with one snow storm after another. This has meant a couple of snow days for my three children that have left me wondering just how to fill the long afternoons without turning on the television and plugging in the video games. The obvious answer is to head out into the great white wonder, but there is only so much my three kids and I can do before we get cold and bored. One of my newest ideas is to build an igloo with them. When my brother and I were kids, my parents would help us pile a huge mound of snow that we would then pound do to create a compact mountain. Once done, we would tunnel into the mound until we had created enough space in which to sit and feel pleased with ourselves. However, I am picturing something a bit more grand for my three offspring the next time we venture outdoors.

I recently found a site outlining the basic steps of igloo assembly. The instructions are simple and the graphics look easy enough for my group to follow. The needed tools are few, just a snow shovel and a small. flexible saw. The very top of the igloo looks a bit more detailed than the bottom, but if we end up with a skylight atop our icy home we will have a better vantage point to watch the flakes fall.

You're bound to make mistakes while you're learning to woodwork, and even as a seasoned woodworker. The real separation is in those who know how to fix them and those who don't. A good woodworker can fix his mistakes so seamlessly that you'd never know there was one when looking at the final project.

Canadian Home Workshop compiled a list of these 10 woodworking mistakes and how to fix them:

1. Removing Router Burn
2. Tightening Sloppy Mortise-and-Tenon Joints
3. Eliminating Gaps in Face Frame Joints
4. Adjusting a Too-Deep Hinge Pocket
5. Removing Mystery Glue Smears
6. Repair Dents in Wood
7. Widening Cabinet Doors That Are Too Narrow
8. Fixing Nail-Split or Screw-Split Wood
9. Salvaging a Bubbly Finish
10. Lengthening a Board You Cut Too Short

Number 10 sounds more like a job for for a magician then a woodworker. I'll share that secret with you after the break.

My sister has a wooden tree swing in her yard. The children love it, often choosing it over the metal swing set that sits nearby. It's a nice place to sit and watch the children play, or just swing for a while, taking in the crisp autumn air. The wooden swing was there when they moved in. It probably had years of enjoyment before them, and they will leave it for the next family, I'm sure. If you think this would get the same kind of use in your yard, why not build one yourself?

Jon Vivian teaches us how to build a sturdy wooden tree swing. He refers to the swing as something "your children and grandchildren will remember you by." He says that you don't need any major carpentry skills. It's a project the whole family can get involved in. After the break I'll tell you how.

Squares are useful in planning your work, checking angles, and making sure that your cutting is accurate. There are 7 different kinds of squares, each with their own use. Knowing when to use each one will make your jobs much easier and prevent mistakes.

1. Combination square
2. Drywall square
3. Framing square
4. Try square
5. Sliding T-Bevel square
6. Folding square
7. Measuring square

Do It Yourself has this great article describing all 7 types of squares, their characteristics and uses. Next time you are planning a project use this handy reference to know which square you need to pick up.

There are some important safety tips to keep in mind when working with squares. When using a square as a saw guide, clamp the square so that you are controlling the saw with both hands. This won't just save your hands, but it will also encourage accuracy. When using framing squares, you'll want to wear gloves. The sliding T-bevel can be dangerous with its blade. Always close it back into the handle when you're not using it. Keeping these safety tips in mind and choosing the right square and using it properly will go a long way towards your project success.

If a designer calls her site "Monster Crochet," she's practically required to have some horror-themed patterns on it. And so it is with Regina Rioux Gonzalez, whose awesome designs you might have seen in magazines like KnitScene and Crochet Today.

Regina's latest pattern is this Bloody Saw Scarf, which I first saw over on Craftster. It's made in a basic, worsted-weight wool yarn: the entire saw portion of the scarf is crocheted in gray, then the "blood" is crochet-embellished on top of it, on the "toothed" edge. Look closely, and you'll see that there are even handles at the ends of the saw!

Some of you will dig it because you're into the Saw horror franchise, others will make it for a horror fan friend, still others will just think this is attractively witty, silly, and/or gross. Whatever your interest in it, you can get the pattern from Regina's site for $5. While you're there, check the sidebar: you might be interested in patterns for her Wearable Web spider-web shawl ($5), her Dem Bones Scarf that looks like connected bones ($5), and her "monster fingers" pattern (free).

Let's say that Halloween crept up on you. You never saw it coming, and suddenly, there it is, staring you right in the face. You haven't purchased any candy, you haven't bought a costume, and worst of all, you haven't carved your pumpkin yet.

DIY Life has the solution for you. It's called speed pumpkin carving and it'll get you out of a Halloween bind every time. Just grab your reciprocating saw from the tool box, strap down that pumpkin, and you can quickly create the next sequel to the latest Hollywood slasher movie series. Watch the video below to see how it's done!

The Robert Bosch Tool Corp and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of 811,000 Skil circular saws.

These saws have a faulty trigger switch that can get locked in the on position or be turned on with out the use of the safety lock. This can cause the saw to operate unexpectedly and without the user's knowledge. This can pose a serious injury risk and laceration hazard.

The recalled saws include the model numbers 5650, 5700, 5750 and 5755 and date codes 28101 - 29231, 38101 - 3923, 48101 - 4923, 58101 - 5923, 68101 - 6923. No other model or date codes are effected. The saws were sold at various home repair and hardware stores from January 2002 through December 2006 for between $70 and $80.

For more information and pictures of the recalled products please see the CPSC press release or Skil's recall page.

If you have one of the recalled products please contact the Robert Bosch Tool Corp at 866-761-5572 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for information on receiving a free repair for your saw.

To celebrate the second week of Toolstravaganza, we're giving away our biggest prize yet: a 10-inch table saw from Grizzly. This table saw is sturdy and feature-filled. Having a 30-inch ripping capacy doesn't hurt either. Features include a dust hood underneath with a 4-inch connector port, regular and dado blade inserts, 1 1/2 HP motor, heavy-duty miter gauge with adjustable bar, easily adjustable fence. This is the table saw for the DIYer.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and validate it. Entry period is 5AM-11:59PM EST on July 30. Full rules available after the jump and on our Toolstravaganza page. Good luck and thanks for reading!

It is day ten of the DIY Life Toolstravaganza giveaway, and today's prize is useful and a little bit too much fun. A reciprocating saw, or "saw's all" is useful for cutting jobs of all kinds, although it isn't always going to leave an elegant or clean cut. During my brief stint in the construction biz, we used these babies to cut off almost anything in our way, extra bits of drywall, small pieces of wood or metal flashing, and like all great construction workers we probably bit off more than the saw could chew at times.

Here's hoping the winner will treat this nice Porter-Cable quick-change Tiger Saw a little better. It features variable speeds at 0-2,000 strokes per minute, a 10-amp motor and a 1-1/8 inch stroke length. And of course, Porter-Cable makes some durable stuff (this is rated professional grade but it does lack the counterbalance sometimes seen on the higher end models). It does have a quick-change blade clamp so you don't need a tool to swap out saw blades.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and make sure to validate the comment (so it appears in the comments section). Read the full rules on our Toolstravaganza page or after the jump.

Ah the Dremel tool, pervasive hobbyist element that does so much. My first college roommate used his Dremel to decorate his dorm room by drilling holes in cinder block and sawing dowel rods. Not really recommended, but it shows you what a Dremel can do! Now's your chance to win one in our 30-day giveaway, Toolstravaganza.

This Dremel rotary tool goes from 5,000 to 25,000 rpm and can be used with all Dremel accessories. Plus, it has a lithium-ion battery for long life and regular use. Set includes a base station and several accessories including: cutters, bristles, cones, polishers, sanders and more. A little bit of everything in a convenient, powerful package.

Leave a comment on this post to enter, and don't forget to validate. Check out our Toolstravaganza page for previous prizes and full rules. Entry period for this prize is from 5AM-11:59PM on July 24. Good luck!