Enlarging a DVR Hard Drive

The DVR is a great invention, but like many other electronic devices, we soon exceed its capacity and must upgrade. The hard drive of a DVR seems to always fill up fast with your favorite programs. HDTV recordings are even worse, "hogging" four times as much file space as regular programming. Unless you want to become "enslaved" by your DVR trying to free space on its hard drive or developing a case of "Tivo Disease" (wasting all your free time trying to watch the multitude of programs you have recorded) a bigger hard drive is a must.

Increasing the size of your hard drive can be done easily.-Read More

Tool Review-Starrett’s "OOPS" Arbor

One of the most frustrating things is to drill a hole with a hole saw bit and then find out it's too small. Now the center section is gone, so trying to line up a bigger bit and drill a clean hole is nearly impossible. Fortunately Starrett has found the answer with their "OOPS" arbor. -Read more

Workshop Renovation Part IV-Dust Free Window Blinds

My garage workshop has two large windows that are of no real use other than "curb appeal" from the street. These windows were covered with just roll up blinds in the past. The problem with this was that the old blinds quickly got dirty with saw dust, were a "Bug Collector" and future cleaning would be difficult. As part of the Workshop renovation project a better solution would be needed.-Read More

Tool Review-Jet Panel Joining Clamps

*UPDATED*-Design Pr0blems If you have ever suffered the frustration of trying to align panels together for gluing and clamping, then you know that a third hand is a must. Jet has come up with that third hand with their new joining clamps.-Read More

Workshop Renovation Part III

The third phase of the workshop renovation project was to design and build a modular set of work benches that contained tool lifts and formed a long miter bench. The specifications that these benches required was quite involved, After much designing and modifying, I finally came up with a usable design and built a prototype. -Read More

Repairing Pocket Hole Pull-Throughs

When using pocket screws on soft woods, sometimes the screws will crush the bottom of the pocket hole and allow the screw tip to come through the other side of your piece.

This leaves you with three options:

1. Cut the end of the screw off, but be sure not to over tighten.
2. Plug the pocket hole, move the jig further back and re-drill the hole. This may not make as strong a joint if the screw breaks into the old screw shaft hole.
3. Use a piece of wood dowel to make a washer to fit under the pocket screw head and restore the bottom of the pocket. -Read More

Tool Review-Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander

The Porter-Cable compact belt sander is optimized with an arched back and a rubber grip for one-handed operation. The sander is light weight and balanced, for more comfortable, precise control. -Read More

Tool Review-The Glu-Bot Glue Bottle

The Glu-Bot is the only glue bottle that will not drip or spill, while still putting the glue where you want it. I really like this glue applicator as it eliminates the mess while always maintaining the glue supply when upright.-Read More

Tool Review-EZ Smart Saw/Router Guide & Table System

The Eurekazone EZ Guide System is the best saw guide I have ever used. The guide's main advantage is that it prevents the wood shattering that often occurs on both sides of a sheet of plywood when cut. The basic setup will easily cut up a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. The addition of the cross cut handle make quick, accurate 90 degree cuts across a sheet from the factory edge. The guide quickly lines up directly on your "cut" lines, avoiding the offsets of other saw guides, and the easy to use clamps hold it securely. -Read More

SST-116 - Epoxy Removal

Here's a great tip for getting epoxy glue off project surfaces and your fingers.