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There are two basic ways to purchase wood, one is to obtain natural planks of wood (lumber) and the other way is to buy man made or manufactured wood (examples are veneers, plywood and composite MDF boards). Wood is to be found everywhere and working with wood is easy and only a few basic carpentry tools are required to create beautiful wooden objects. It is well worth taking the time to develop woodworking or carpentry skills which will allow to tackle all the DIY and repair work in the home. Wood is very cheap, as well as being strong for its weight, so for both of these reasons it is used extensively as a construction material. As well as in large construction, smaller items of furniture such as tables, chairs and shelving are made of wood.

Generally speaking, wood when it is secured together by means of a screw (as opposed to being nailed together) will stay intact for a very long time. When using screws to attach pieces of wood together it is a good idea to drill pilot holes for the screws to allow the threads to be cut easily. These holes need to be smaller that the screw size in use. It makes no difference whether an electric or a hand drill is used as the holes are small pilot holes and not difficult to drill manually with a bit and brace. Screwdrivers will drive the screws home quite easily but if your DIY project is substantial then hand driven screws will tire you easily and for big jobs I would recommend an electric screwdriver or an electric drill with a slow speed function (and attachments) for driving screws. Many tools are now electric and they do help enormously but very few DIY jobs can be completed without involving hand tools at some point.

How To carpentry tools, DIY, electric drill, electric screwdriver, hand drill, hand tools

Plumbing is not always about the toilet. Anything that connects to a drain in your home involves plumbing and that includes a bathroom tub. Venting a bathroom drain is an important step, especially if you noticed that the tub is emitting some nasty odors. What this means is that there is a lot of junk, probably hair and moisture causing mold, that has built up down inside the drain.

Venting a drain is a very quick and simple process that you can do on your own no problem. First locate your bathroom vent. You may need to remove some bricks for this purpose. Choose a site for the bathroom vent that is close enough to the bathroom drain it will work but not in an area where it is going to look unsightly. Once you find the right spot you can get to work on installing the vent.

For this job you need a screwdriver, vent kit, screws, a hammer and some caulk. Fit the vent frame in and then add the vent pieces in.

After this you only need to worry about finishing everything off. To do this you simply use caulking to cover in the gaps. There tends to be a lot of moisture in bathrooms and this will help make sure that moisture does not cause a buildup of mold or mildew. Use a generous amount of the caulking but do not go overboard and make a big goopy mess for yourself.

Mold-resistant caulk is best to use as this gives the most secure seal and is intended specifically for use in the bathroom and other areas with a great deal of moisture.

This is all there is to it. Once you have vented the drain it will be ready to use. You did not have to call in a professional plumber or even any of your own help to get the job done. You should notice the smells start to dissipate as soon as you have completed work on your vent.

This basic plumbing tip is brought to you by Atlanta Plumbers Online, the #1 source for unbiased plumber reviews of metro Atlanta plumbing companies.

How To plumbing basics, plumbing help

Having a butcher block table added to your kitchen is a nice thing to consider. These types of tables can be used for a variety of different tasks. But like a lot of people our budgets are tight and buying one might be too expensive. But you can still have one if you decide to make it yourself.

The popularity of butcher block is understandable because not only are they a great table for a variety of things but they are also quite attractive and add a nice touch to your kitchen.

So if you are considering making your own, you need to do one thing before even going and getting the wood. And that is decide what kind of wood you would like to make it with. Two woods should be avoided at all times and those would be spalted maple and oak. Woods that are used often are hard maple, ash, beech, and walnut, all lovely woods to use.

After you have chosen the wood that you want to use, you can then go and get an unfinished pre-made butcher block table or you can actually make your own. It is important that the thickness is at least one and a half inches thick if not more. The thicker it is the better it will hold up against a lot of use. If you have no woodworking experience at all it would probably be wise if you did buy the unfinished pre-made butcher block table top.

If your final decision is to make it completely yourself then you will need to follow a few instructions that will help you put your project together. Start by taking the end or side grain of the wood and this will be where you make your cuts. By cutting on the grain you will have a far more sturdy finished project.

To make your own, take your butcher block and cut it into one by two inch pieces that are cut about one half inch longer than what the actual table length is going to be. These pieces all need to be glued together along the two inch side which will make the side grain will show up in one inch pieces. The amount of strips that you will need will depend upon the actual size of the table. So if your table is say two feet by four feet you would need overall 32 pieces.

Now that all the strips have been cut and are ready to be glued, you will use a very strong wood glue to accomplish this. Once you have the pieces glued together you will need to make sure that you apply clamps that will hold them firm while the glue dries. After the wood has dried you should take some fine sandpaper and sand off any excess glue.

The step you will now take is while using a table saw cut off all the individual ends to where they are all even with each other for a smooth edge. This will also even out your table top.

Take sandpaper or a sander if you have one and begin sanding both the top and the bottom of the butcher block. You want the wood to be as smooth as possible.

The next step includes the handmade and store bought table top. You will need to take a router and round each of the table tops corners. With a router you can make the corners look a little more attractive. Either way, the reason why the corners are rounded is for safety and it makes it easier to clean.

After the edges are rounded nicely the next thing you will do is add oil to the surface of the table. The best oils to use are either mineral oil or olive oil. Once you have rubbed it in make sure to let it soak into the wood. Now, you will sand it one more time before adding a second layer of the oil. A smart thing to do to keep the wood in good shape is to put oil on it one time a month if possible.

If you are a very good woodworker you will probably want to make your own legs, but most people end up purchasing ready made legs because they come in a huge variety to pick from. They range anywhere from steel to different types and shapes of wood ones. This final stage is only limited to your creativity. So find something that will make your butcher block really stand out, so that it accents your kitchen.

How To Butcher Block Table