Canadian Home Workshop - Winter 2014

CONTENTS
W I N T E R 2014
16
34
28
44
38
DIY PROJECTS
HOME IMPROVEMENT
DEPARTMENTS
22
44
High-tech tools and heritage projects.
The Maple Leaf Flyer
Updated & Upgraded
Some sleds, like this classic model,

never go out of style.
Replacing your kitchen faucet is

an easy DIY upgrade. Gary Rudy
4 Editors Notebook
Douglas Thomson
7 Letters
A motorcycle maker.
Rick Campbell
28
14 Toolbox
Beauty in a Box
Learn new techniques while
creating a unique trinket box.
46
Steve Maxwell
Rick Campbell
Get into Hot Water
50 Pauls Place
Hide and Seek
34
Installing an electric water heater is

denitely within the DIYers
purview. Michel Roy
Reminiscing about projects gone

wrong. Paul Rush
Stow away your unnished puzzle

until next time with this
ingenious holder
Hot
Wayne Lennox
38
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: ROGER YIP
How I became a legacy woodworker.
2014
Tools
16
Rock On!
2014 Hot Tools
Give your guitar the royal treatment

with its own elegant stand.
Dont be the last to know about

the newest toolbox innovations.
Ryan Shervill
Jay Somerset
For more projects, tips & techniques, visit us at
canadianhomeworkshop.com
Shop
Talk
New tool reviews, timesaving tips, expert how-to

advice and workshop news
9 Ask a Pro Built-in cabinet

questions for Michel Roy.
9 Holiday Idea Trim the tree

with handmade ornaments.
14 Testimony Protect your deck

in two coats.
14 Shop Tip How to resize holes

accurately.
c a na d i a nhomework s hop.com /// WI N TER 2014
TOUGH
Editors
Notebook
Rugged,
Rip it, Stick
it, Done
BY DOUGLAS THOMSON
We love tools
that actually help
us build things
better (or make
a job safer)
TAPE
Old School, New School

Heritage projects and high-tech tools!
of Canadian Home Workshop, youll find our annual feature

on some of the new and innovative workshop tools that have caught the
interest of our editors over the past year.
Like most workshoppers, we love our tools here at CHWa lot. But not
new tools just for the sake of new tools. (We got over our tools-as-trophies
stage long ago.) We love tools that actually help us build things better
(or make a job safer). Not to mention that sometimes putting a new tool
through its paces just makes a challenging project more fun. As you might
have expected, battery technology is at the top of the new and improved
list again this year. And these little rechargeable powerhouses have given
cordless tools significantly longer run times and loads more power. (Ryobi
40-volt hedge trimmer, Im thinking of you!). But theres also some cool and
truly innovative gear, like the tool bag/speaker combo that will make you
wonder: Why didnt I think of that?
N THIS ISSUE
Made in USA
With its double-thick
adhesive, heavy-duty
cloth backing and rugged
outer shell, Gorilla Tape
sticks to rough, uneven
and unforgiving surfaces.
Its Gorilla Tough, every time.
For the Toughest Jobs

on Planet Earth
www.gorillatough.com
2013 The Gorilla Glue Company
PROJECTS TOO, OF COURSE!

Weve also included full plans for four great
woodworking projects in this issue. In their own
unique way, each of these projects are worthy of
heritage project status (which Steve Maxwell
explains in his Toolbox column about legacy
woodworking on page 14). Considering the time of
year, its also worth noting that all of these projects
would make great gifts for a loved one.
The sled (page 22), designed and built by CHWs
longtime contributor Rick Campbell, perfectly
illustrates what I mean by heritage project.
THIS CLASSIC sled is a perfect
Campbell has lent his accomplished craftsmanship example of a heritage project
to this classic piece, a project that I know will be
a big hit with any child on your list. How do I know? My son Hunter, who
is pictured on the cover of this issue, absolutely loved it! Campbell used
an old toy catalogue picture for reference and created the sled from there.
I think it turned out exceptionally welland, perhaps most important,
Hunter did too. I know if you take this project on, it certainly will be
cherished for a long time.
Of course, the same could be said for the pagoda-shaped trinket box, the
guitar stand and even the puzzle keeper. Projects like these are both beautiful
and usefuland thats a recipe for something that will be loved and cherished
for a long time to come. Theres something very satisfying about that.
WINTER 2014 /// c a na d i a nhomework s hop.com
Lets face it. Most recip blades cant keep up with the saws that power
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SUPERIOR METALLURGY
Metal quality is the frst reason Diablo Demo Demons cut
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for all nail-embedded wood applications, featuring bi-metal
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spikes and bolts just like hacksaw blades.
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The Diablo Demo Demons advanced dual-tooth blade design

resists breakage in nail-embedded wood by preventing nail
shanks from shearing off larger teeth. Performance gets
even better thanks to Freuds unique Perma-Shield coating.
It makes the most of recip saw power by reducing blade
friction. You can also count on rapid, skate-free plunge cuts
thanks to the dual-tooth blade tips.
Swiss-made Diablo recip blades come in more than 50 congurations, including

ne-tooth metal-cutting blades, abrasive blades for cast iron and plastic, plus ultra
high-mileage carbide blades made with Freuds legendary TiCo high-density carbide.
Diablo recip blades cut faster, last longer and cost less per cut. But no one expects
you to believe a magazine ad. Results are the only thing that matters, so try
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The NEW Diablo line of Recipricating Blades available

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GUARANTEED RELIEF
FOR DRY HANDS THAT CRACK & SPLIT
WINTER 2014 VOLUME 37, NUMBER 2

Editor-in-Chief & Brand Manager Douglas Thomson
Senior Editor Tara Nolan
Before
Art Director Amy McCleverty

Technical Editor Steve Maxwell
Contributing Editors Charise Arscott, Rick Campbell, Len Churchill,
Matt Filion, Wayne Lennox, Paul Lewis, Stephen MacEachern,
Jodi MacLean, Rose Pereira, Susan Peters, Matthew Pioro,
Michel Roy, Paul Rush, Ryan Shervill, Jay Somerset, Dave Starrett,
Hendrik Varju, Gary Walchuk, Roger Yip
After
Publisher Al Zikovitz
Director of Marketing & Advertising Randy Craig
National Sales Manager Robert McClatchey
Advertising Account Managers Greg McLeod,
Margot Pengelly, Rosemary Bubanovich
Retail & Classied Account Manager Katie Hunt (on leave)
Acting Retail & Classied Account Manager Mylne Tomkin
Advertising Coordinator Rizielde Roculan
7KHOHDGLQJKDQGFUHDP
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1.800.275.2718
Production Manager Jodi Brooks

Assistant Production Manager Denise Gray
Circulation Director Sarah Watt
Circulation Manager Nancy Parker
Circulation Coordinator Amanda Beattie
Canadian Home Workshop is published by
Cottage Life Media, a division of Blue Ant Media Partnership
President Al Zikovitz
Chief Operating Ocer Terry Sellwood
Director of Content Development Penny Caldwell
Assistant to the President Rena Bennett
Controller Laureen Chung
Senior Accountant Albena Ianakieva
Accounts-Receivable Administrator Theresa Cressatti
Junior Accountant & Oce Assistant Patrix Gao
Oce & Merchandise Manager Dawn Yager
Editorial Consultant Wendela Roberts
Canadian Home Workshop (ISSN 1485-8509) is published six times
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Subscription inquiries
Telephone: 1-800-465-6183 (Canada and U.S.)
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Email: subscriptions@canadianhomeworkshop.com
Editorial oce
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Email: letters@canadianhomeworkshop.com
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2013 Canadian Home Workshop Magazine. All rights reserved.
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Letters
FROM AROUND THE SHOP
Tablesaw
Tune-Up
Im in the process of tuning
up my cabinet saw using
Hendrik Varjus tune-up
articles (Summer 2010 and
March 2013) as a guide.
Hendrik recommends adjusting the trunnions of the saw so that a 10"
blade at full height is canted away from the right-hand mitre slot by 0.003"
to 0.005" at the rear. Unfortunately, I cant gure out where to make any
adjustments to the trunnions on my saw, other than the stop screws to limit
travel.
From what I understand, it seems that Hendrik recommends that the
back of the blade be slightly farther from the right-hand mitre slot than
at the front. (I imagine this would ensure that the rear teeth of the blade
would stay clear of the workpiece being cut.) If my understanding of
the cant is correct, then wouldnt it be easier to achieve the desired
result with an ever so slight twist of the tabletop so that the right-hand
mitre slot would be angled away from the back of the blade by the
recommended 0.003" to 0.005"? Is this, perhaps, what Hendrik meant?
Many thanks for your help!
Olaf Kraulis
via email
On a cabinet saw, the trunnions are attached to the cabinet and not the
tablesaw top. So, if this is the type of saw you have, youre right simply
to loosen the four bolts that hold the top to the cabinet and swivel the
top instead. However, on a contractors saw, the trunnions are attached
to the underside of the saws tabletop. There are usually four bolts
(two at the front and two at the back) that secure them to each other,
although Ive seen six bolts as well. If this is the type of saw you have,
you need to loosen these bolts instead and rotate the trunnions relative
to the top. Its best to loosen all the bolts but one and just barely
loosen the nal bolt so that you can rotate on it. These adjustments are
absolutely tiny, so take your time. Hendrik Varju
BIG FANS
My wife and I have been getting your
magazine since 1998 and we are
big fans! In the past, we have been
able to purchase binders to hold the
issues with directories for each year.
Are they still available?
Randy Torhjelm
via email
Thank you for your letter, Randy.

(And, for the compliment.)
Unfortunately, the high cost
of printing (and postage) has

prevented us from offering
this type of directory. Our best
suggestion is to use our website,
canadianhomeworkshop.com, as a
resource to help nd past articles
and projects. The Editors
MOTORCYCLE MAKER
I have been a subscriber to Canadian
Home Workshop for several years
and have taken on projects from the
magazine with great success!
THE MOTORCYCLE Rocker has proven to

be a popular project with CHW readers
Im well down the road to

building the motorcycle rocker
project for a grandson who will
soon be two years old. However,
Ive been trying to nd a Canadian
outlet that carries 134" maple dowel
rods without success.
Also, Ive found several brands of
two-sided tape that can fasten the
hardboard templates for routing, but
they are all marked permanent.
I am concerned that using one of
these could cause damage to the
wood surfaces or affect staining the
wood when it is being removed.
What would you suggest I use?
Steve Goldwasser
Thornhill, Ont.
I used 134"-diameter dowel

because I had some laying around
the shop, but Ive made more
rockers using 114"-diameter dowel.
Youll have to make an adjustment
to the spacers between the forks
(the dowel) and the front tire. Just
measure and cut a piece of dowel
to t in between.
If youre worried about the tape
leaving behind residue that would
affect the staining process, you can
attach the hardboard template to
the side of the wood that would
be attached to the frame. The tape
also removes easily without leaving
residue.
Matt Filion
Shoptalk
NEW TOOL REVIEWS + TIME-SAVING TIPS + EXPERT HOW-TO ADVICE + WORKSHOP NEWS
Strokes of
Brilliance
Theres no denying that a
fresh coat of paint is the
easiest way to refresh and liven
up a room. In fact, its probably
harder for most people to
choose just the right shade than
it is to put that brush to work!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUAN LUNA
WI NTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c anadian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m
Shop
Talk
The experts give you the right advice

for your DIY and woodworking projects
askapro
LASER FOCUS
Trim the tree with handmade

wooden ornaments
BY TARA NOLAN
WHAT DO A meditating Santa and
Michel Roy
Roy, a Prince Edward Island-born
woodworker and expert renovator, now
lives and works in New Westminster, B.C.
He has been one of CHWs primary go-to
experts since submitting his first project
to the magazine more than 10 years ago.
FAVOURITE TASK Putting the last lick of
nish on a project
LEAST FAVOURITE Sanding a project just
before applying the last lick of nish
a partridge in a pear tree have

in common? They are part
of two lines of ornaments
launched by Tradeworks
Womens Workshop,
a course that teaches
carpentry skills to women
with various employability
barriers. In the months leading
up to the holidays, 25 women
who have already participated in
the program are hired to create
the decorations out of recycled, pine beetle-damaged wood. The
line was designed by Toni Glick, also a past student, who now
works for Tradeworks.
The ornaments are available to purchase online at tradeworks.
bc.ca/store, at Rona and at certain boutiques throughout B.C.
SAWDUST
WITH A SMILE
A comedienne aims to take
the mystery out of the
wood shop
C.C. BOYCES WOODWORKING
CABINET MATERIAL
Im building some built-in cabinets

in my basement and Im not sure of
the best material to use. Im guessing
I could use paint-grade veneered ply,
MDF or particleboard. The built-ins will
be painted. Can you recommend one
material over the other?
ORNAMENT PHOTO: WENDY D
Marvin Jeerson
Georgetown, Ont.
Adding built-in cabinetry is a great

way to increase utility and add value
to almost any space in your home. But
of course, as you are aware, the quality
of the materials and the workmanship
will separate a brilliant, value-adding
storage solution from a lacklustre one.
I construct quite a few built-ins for
website rst appeared on our

radar via Kickstarter (a site
that relies on the kindness
of strangers to fund creative
projects). The L.A.-based
comedienne was looking to
create a series of informational woodworking videos with a
twist. Says Boyce: I was watching Jerry Seinfelds web series
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and thought to myself:
Man, how funny would it be to teach Larry David how to use
a bandsaw? So far, Boyce has created four videos with the
funds she raised. Each one features a guest comedian and goes
over the basics of a certain task, such as how to use a drillpress
or a tablesaw. Ive always had tools and made things out of
other things, says Boyce, who hung out in her dads basement
workshop growing up. But I started woodworking classes at El
Camino College in February 2012 and havent looked back!
You can watch Boyces videos on her website, few-bits.com.
Tara Nolan
+CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Shop
Talk
DASHING THROUGH
THE SNOW
Ever gazed at a fresh snowfall and
thought about taking your woodworking skills outside?
BY SUSAN PETERS
PAUL TERPSTRA MADE his rst pair of
wooden skis as a birthday gift for his wife.

However, once he had the jigs set up, the
30-year-old woodworker thought, Why
not make more?
Based in Hamilton, Ont., Terpstra is one
of only a dozen people in the world who
still make wooden skis. He insists his oldstyle skis with the leather bindings work as
well as their modern cousinsat least for
recreational skiers.
Retailing for $400 to $800, Terpstras
cross-country and backcountry skis are
sold as props for movies, lm shoots and
as a decor item for restaurants and cottages.
Terpstra makes two types of wooden skis.
He crafts traditional, solid-wood skis using
a hand plane and spokeshaves, nishing
with linseed oil. I use ash, really for its
properties of being exible and it steambends nicely, he explains. Steam-bending
creates the curved tip, along with the rest
of the skis camber.
Terpstra also makes laminated skis,
using waterproof glue and a simple
mechanical press to squeeze together
wood layers in the curving shape of the
ski. A hickory sole gives strength and
durability when the skis go over rocks.
Pine tar helps to waterproof the hickory,
while a marine nish is used all over to
prevent any accidental delamination of
the wood. In general, the challenge is to
design a ski that preserves the retro look
of wooden skis while offering modern
functionality.
Wooden skis are a niche industry,
but they did introduce Terpstra to the
world of building wooden sets for lm
productionsnow the bulk of business
for his company, Terpstra Woodworks
(terpstrawoodworks.com). But the skis
remain a labour of love: Everything we do
is custom. Everything is always different.
clients, and I can tell you

without any reservation
that particleboard has
only very limited utility
in cabinetry or shelving.
Raw particleboard
really is suitable only as
a substrate for customveneered panels and,
even then, medium
density breboard (MDF)
usually is a way better
option. Particleboard is
relatively heavy, soaks
up dampness easily,
doesnt paint well and
has little structural
strength.
On the whole, Id avoid
particleboard for your
project. That leaves you
with your stated options:
a choice between MDF
and veneered, paintgrade plywood. I use
both of these materials
regularly in my work,
and they each have
characteristics that make
them suitable for various
applications. MDF paints
like a dreamas long
as you prime it properly
and ll and seal the
cut edges to prevent
uneven paint absorption
in these areas. I like
to prime the edges of
MDF with Kilz Original
primer from a spray
can. Apply two coats,
allowing for a quick
drying and light sanding
in between coats. Youll
nd this process does
a great job of sealing
up the cut MDF edges,
which otherwise are
prone to absorbing
paint unevenly. Another
alternative is to iron on
some maple or birch
edging tapejust as
though you were edging
plywood, before priming
+CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
10
W INTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c ana dian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m
Shop
Talk
Testimony
COATS OF ARMOUR
Shield a wooden deck or porch
from the elements
BEHR
PREMIUM
DECKOVER
Protect your
deck in two
coats
Price: $45
I TOOK ADVANTAGE of a warm autumn day to stain the

wooden front porch of my house. The dark brown stain had been
on only a couple of years, but the daily wear and tear (and a few
winters worth of snow shovels) had taken its toll. My rst thought was simply to
restain with a solid stain. However, based on past experience, I knew that likely
would last only a year or less before it started to show signs of wear. Then, I came
across Behrs new DeckOver product, which promised much greater durability.
After picking up a gallon, I got out my brushes: a 2"-thick full brush looked perfect
for the job. Its not my best brush (I save that one for ne interior work), but its thick
and able to hold a lot of paint with each dip. I used the brush to get in between the
wooden slats of the decking rst (a little time-consuming, but necessary for complete
coverage). Then, I used a roller to cover the rest. The textured nish of the DeckOver
was very obvious when rst applied; but, once the nish had
dried, it was much less noticeable. This product doesnt look
exactly like regular stain, but it does look good, and the semitextured surface provides a bit of extra traction underfoot.
So far, the nish has proven to be very durable. The real
test will come this spring (once the new nish has been
subjected to a full winter of snow shovelling). For more
info, visit behr.com.
Sandra Cheung
SHOP TIP
RESIZING HOLES
We recently received a question from
Canadian Home Workshop reader Jim Ball.
After Rick Campbell so handily replied,
we thought wed share it here:
QUESTION: I have a glider rocker that takes eight 1" OD bearings that I cant get
anymore. I have tried a bearing supplier and several other places, and they tell me
they cant get that size anymore. I can get 1" bearings with the other dimensions
that I need. So, I want to resize the holes for the bearings to 1". How can I resize
the holes accurately?
RICK CAMPBELL ANSWERS: Fortunately, there are a couple of quick and easy
solutions to this problem. Its a good idea to practise both techniques on scrap to
determine the approach that works best for you.
The rst option is to plug the pockets with a 1"-diameter dowel rod that is glued
in place and trimmed ush with the workpiece. After this, its simply a matter of
drilling new pockets with a 1"-diameter Forstner bit.
You also could x the problem using a router and a bearing-guided, ush-trim
bit. Create a template by drilling a 1"-diameter hole in a piece of scrap. Using a
few strips of double-sided tape to hold the template in place, centre the guide hole
directly over one of the undersized pockets. Now, power up the router and expand
the openings by following the template with the bearing-guided, ush-trim bit.
12
and painting.
Ive found that MDF can
be used for constructing
just about any
component of a built-in,
but you have to be aware
of its limitations. For
example, an extra-long,
heavily weighted shelf
(like one used for storing
books, for example) will
be prone to sagging over
time unless its supported
midway across the
span. The most durable
material of the three
options you mention is
the veneered plywood.
Plywood spans larger
distances and holds
shelf pins and fasteners
quite well. Plywood
also paints well and
always is dimensionally
stable. Of course, its
also considerably more
costly and challenging
to work with than MDF.
Cross cuts in plywood
are prone to leaving
splintery edges, and
the core voids in many
of the sheets we get
today can throw a
wrinkle into your plans.
Cut edges, of course,
have to be treated with
edging tape or shopbuilt edging. For very
sturdy construction in
which cost is not a big
consideration, go with
the plywood. To save
some bucks, where
long-term durability
is not a great concern,
MDF is much cheaper
and should do the trick.
MAIL
ASK A PRO, Canadian Home Workshop,
54 St. Patrick St., Toronto, ON M5T 1V1
EMAIL
askapro@canadianhomeworkshop.com
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Ideally, the best woodworking

also is about launching
something exceptional into history
Toolbox
BY STEVE MAXWELL
THE CARVED staircase in

Steves home is part of his
ongoing theme of classic,
decorative details
One for the Ages
Or, how I became a legacy woodworker

matter how
frustrating or satisfying,
eventually comes to an
end. Luckily for woodworkers,
the end is something real, a piece
of yourself that now exists in
the world. Something like this
has the potential to transcend
the usual limits of life, a feature
not particularly common to most
hobbies. Thats because building
beautiful things isnt just about
making something practical
for immediate use. Ideally, the
best woodworking also is about
launching something exceptional
into historysomething that
should last well beyond any
woodworkers allotted days while
also pointing toward something
bigger. I call this approach legacy
woodworking. Heres how to reach
for the stars:
STEP 1: LEAVE YOUR MARK
Everything you make is only half
14
A STEEL stamp and

wooden chisel handle
(right) from Steves
great-grandfather,
Robert Maxwell,
provided the
inspiration for the
brand (below) that
Steve has used to
mark his own work
since 1986
the story. The other half is you.

Thats why all good work should
bear the mark of its maker. I rst
discovered this in a meaningful
way as a boy, when my grandfather
entrusted me with a small metal
stamp once owned by his father, my
great-grandfather, a cabinetmaker
who came to Canada from England
in 1902. All my great-grandfathers
PHOTGRAPHY THIS PAGE: STEVE MAXWELL
VERY PROJECT , NO
PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE: ROGER YIP
chisels and planes bear the same

small impression on the wooden
handles made by a stamp: R.
Maxwell. His surviving woodwork
still carries this same mark too. I
keep the stamp in a drawer in my
workshop, and its what rst got me
thinking about how I should mark
projects of my own.
Just as a painter signs his canvas,
anyone who cares enough to make
beautiful things should leave a
mark. And its easy to do with a
piece of 116"-diameter piano wire.
Thats what I used to make a couple
of branding irons. Although piano
wire is too stiff to work with as it
comes from the store, its easy to
heat to a malleable cherry red using
a propane torch.
Purchase more wire than youll
need from a hobby shop for practice,
then work the red-hot metal into the
shape of your initialsone branding
iron for each letterusing two pairs
of needlenose pliers. Leave one end
of the wire long (to use as a handle)
and a short end, beyond the letter, to
support your hot branding iron with
pliers as you press it into the wood.
Permanent, elegant and unique
thats the mark youll leave behind.
STEP 2: PURSUE OUTRAGEOUS
QUALITY
Everything I build is meant to be
a statement against a sad reality of
our world: the prevalent idea that
cheap, throwaway goods are OK
robs both us and future generations
of a great deal of joy. Its a shame
that so much manufactured
furniture delivers only short-lived,
supercial beauty. This is one
reason I rail against the trendin
my own, tiny wayby pursuing
outrageous acts of craftsmanship.
Id love to see more people do the
same.
If you came to my house, I could
show you freestanding wardrobes
Ive made with full frame-and-panel
backs and hand-carved cabinet
details that whisper beauty. Then
there are the ongoing traditional
stoneworking projects I do that
keep an almost-dead building
tradition alive. My clothesline post

looks like a timber frame from an
18th-century barn.
Its a bit extreme, I suppose.
Pursuing outrageous craftsmanship
is impractical, time-consuming and
expensive; but its needed more
than ever these days because the
growing alternative is so shoddy.
STEP 3: PASS CRAFTSMANSHIP
FORWARD
Why do you work with wood? The
answer is likely to be far deeper
than you realize. Theres always
something bigger behind everything
we do. Some of us were born to be
makers, and Ive come to realize
that the force that drives me is a
deep, inner longing for a version
of the world as it should be. Its a
longing toward the ultimate source
of beauty, peace and permanence.
The urge to make good things
with my hands is one small way I
can bring my corner of the world a
little closer to a place where beauty,

peace and permanence reigns. My
efforts wont do much good in the
larger scheme of things, I know, but
Im going to do it anyway.
Twenty-two years ago, I wrote my
rst Toolbox column in Canadian
Home Workshop, and its been
my privilege to share what I
know with loyal readers in each
of the 150+ issues since. Every
column is a hands-on invitation to
develop a particular skill, idea or
approachmy advice on bringing
a little more craftsmanship and
beauty into the world. Passing on
my passion and vision to others
is the last, most important part
of legacy woodworking. But you
need to have passion to pass on.
And you might be surprised that
one particular song has always
recharged me in this way.
Look up singer-songwriter Jason
Castro, and listen to his version of
Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
STEVE PLANING lumber

in his Manitoulin Island
workshop (above). The
carved, white pine bench
(right) sits in the handquarried stone mudroom
he built. Steve made the
desk (below) in 1985
The world he sees while singing

this song is the same world I
hope my woodworking, my
craftsmanship and even myself are
worthy of being part of. How about
you?
15
2014
Hot
Tools
DONT BE THE LAST TO KNOW ABOUT
THE NEWEST TOOLBOX INNOVATIONS
BY JAY SOMERSET
HERE S NEVER BEEN
a better time to be
a home workshopper. A big statement,

perhaps. But after taking a look around
at all the sophisticated yet easy-to-handle tools

now on the markettools now sold at reasonable priceswe know were living in great
times. From brushless technology to workdaylasting batteries and more, heres a roundup of
whats new and cool in the world of tools.
BOSCH
HEATED JACKET
$230
BOSCHTOOLS . COM
Wind- and weather-resistant, this powered jacket oers
three levels of heating for those days spent working outside
or in a cold, dank basement. Powered by a 12-volt battery
that oers six hours of run time (on the lowest setting), the
jacket has two heat loops on the front and one on the back.
A USB port on the battery connector lets you charge other
portable electronics, such as your cellphone.
MILWAUKEE LED
LIGHT
$110
MILWAUKEETOOL . COM
The problem with work lights has
always been one of heat. With
halogen, you could cook an egg
on the surface (should you get
hungry). Not so with this LED
oodlight from Milwaukee (Model
2361-20 M18 comes without a
battery). Built with eight LEDs,
this caged beauty provides 1,100
lumens and is built to withstand
use and abuse. Octagonal design
allows for multiple angles, so
youre never left out in the dark.
16
MAKITA GOLD IMPACT DRIVER

BITS
$5 (2/ PK )
MAKITA . CA
Theres nothing worse than a worn bit. These
high-quality, impact driver-grade drill bits
proport to have 10 times the life of a standard
bit, thanks to whats called Xtreme Torsion
Technology, which allows the bits to ex
during application. The gold coating isnt just
pretty; it protects against rust and corrosion
too. Available in 1" and 2" lengths.
DEWALT
RADAR SCANNER KIT
$250
DEWALT. COM
This 12-volt, handheld MAX scanner
lets you detect wood, ferrous
and non-ferrous metal, PVC and
live electric wires behind walls
without having to tear a hole in your
drywall, plywood, concrete, ceramic
tile or, for the fancy homeowner,
marble. Includes LCD display and a
tracking bar that displays the entire
mapped area (almost 10 feet).
RYOBI 18-VOLT NAIL GUN

$200
RYOBI . COM
If youve been on the fence about
purchasing a nail gun, the 18V ONE+ System
(Model P854) makes a convincing case. This
18-gauge, cordless brad nailer eliminates the
need for a compressor, bulky hoses or gas
cartridges. This means faster setup and more
exibility. Got some trim to install? Drive up
to 700 nails per charge, just enough to keep
you going between coee breaks.
STANLEY FATMAX
ANTI-VIBE HAMMERS
$40-$45
STANLEYTOOLS . COM
Available in 14- and 17-ounce
models (FMHT51249 and
FMHT51244), these incredibly
absorbent hammers are constructed
with a two-piece steel core that
isolates vibration to the hammers
head. Both hammers feature
black exposed steel under the
head, which provides overstrike
protection. The 17-ouncer has a
checkered face to reduce slippage
and includes a built-in magnetic
nail starter.
17
2014
Hot
Tools
GENERAL PORTABLE DUST

COLLECTOR
$400
GENERAL . CA
If every serious woodworker needs a dust collector,
then you might as well have a portable one. The
1-hp, 10-030CF M1 is mounted on a steel base with
one swivel caster and two wheels. The unit features
a 10-inch impeller for smooth and quiet operation.
Say goodbye to airborne dust. Trust us, your lungs
will thank you.
GENERAL CAST-IRON
ROUTER TABLE
$400
GENERAL . CA
Ideal for workshoppers with smaller shops,
this heavy-duty table bolts right onto the
edge of any cabinet saw, such as your
tablesaw. As opposed to the standalone
table (40-200C), this exension version
(40-070EK) is an eighth of an inch shorter
in each direction, but with a pro-sized 16"
x 27" top. If you dont have the space for
both a tablesaw and a dedicated router
table, this is your best bet.
BENCH DOG
SHELF-PIN JIG
$20
ROCKLER . COM
Sold by Rockler, this jig is perfect for
the ne-furniture maker who only
occasionally needs a shelf-pin drilling jig,
which lets you drill ve holes at a time.
This jig is full of handy features, such as a
self-centring drill, an indexing pin, a slot
for viewing layout lines and an easy-tograb, rubberized handle. Of course, you
also can clamp it. Small and inexpensive,
this tool will prove itself indispensable.
18
W INTE R 2 0 1 4 / // c anadian h o m ewor ks h
CLC SPEAKER
TOOL BAG
$140
GOCLC . COM
Rather than toting around your tools in any old bag, get
this rugged, zipper-mouthed number and enjoy some
music as you work. The built-in speakers let you connect
your cellphone or MP3 player for maximum sound. A clear,
plastic sleeve protects your music device. Its powered
by an AC adapter or four D-cell batteries. Oh, and the bag
itself is cool too, with 18 inside pockets and 21 on the
outside, enough to keep you organized.
KING 14" BANDSAW

$1,400
KINGCANADA . COM
Kings new 14" bandsaw has a full
12" of resawing capacity, as well as
all the features youve come to expect
(rack-and-pinion height adjustment,
a cast-iron table that tilts by 50 to
the left and by 45 to the right, as
well as two 4" dust chutes for
collector hookup). The saw
comes complete with blade,
mitre gauge and an aluminum
rip fence with resaw guide.
And, typical of King Tools, what
this unit doesnt come with
is the best parta big
price tag!
At $1,400, the
KC1502FXB is a good buy.
STANLEY
RATCHETING
WRENCH
$20-$25
STANLEYTOOLS . COM
Rather than having to reposition your wrench after every
turn, the FatMax wrench, both the eight-inch FMHT72184
and the 10-inch FMHT72185, lets you rachet back and
forth in the unlocked position. This makes for quick
work, especially in nicky spots where its hard to get
the wrench into position. Of course, you also can use this
wrench in traditional, locked ways. Includes laser-marked
jaw marking for fast and accurate sizing.
BOSCH DEMO
HAMMER
$380
BOSCHTOOLS . COM
Ideal for demolition in tight spaces, this 12-lb.
hammer is perfect for removing wall and oor tiles,
repairing joints, cutting slots in concrete and, well,
demolishing everything in sight. This tool also is comfy
to work with, which is why its so good in tight spots. It
has a variable-speed trigger and 12 locking positions.
19
2014
Hot
Tools
Worlds best value

router table and
fence system is
Canadian.
MILWAUKEE 18-VOLT
MULTI-TOOL
$300
MILWAUKEETOOL . COM
By denition, a multi-tool must be versatile, useful
in a wide range of applications and easy to handle.
And thats what Milwaukee oers here. This 18volt, cordless wonder is ideal for everything from
ooring to maintenance to electrical work and
other otherwise awkward reno jobs. Tool-free blade
changes make for quick work.
Freuds Canadian-designed DELUXE ROUTER

TABLE SYSTEM not only does everything a really
great router table should, it also comes at an
exceptional price $450 to $600 depending
on the version. But like all good tools, this
success didnt happen overnight.
*O'SFVEBTLFE$BOBEBTUPQXPPEXPSLFSTUP
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BOJNQPSUFEUBCMFXIFOZPVHFURVBMJUZBOEWBMVFSJHIU
IFSFBUIPNF
DELUXE FEATURES
t UIJDL QPXEFSDPBUFETUFFMMFHTEFMJWFSSPDLTPMJECBTF
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t wUIJDLBMVNJOVNJOTFSUQMBUFXMFWFMJOHTDSFXT
t QSPHSBEFwUBMMFYUSVEFEBMVNJOVNGFODFXJUIEVTU
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t GSPOUNPVOUFEQPXFSTBGFUZTXJUDI
Deluxe Fence & Plate
Deluxe Table
The DELUXE Freud Router Table

System available to order or
purchase NOW at your local dealer.
DEWALT GYROSCOPIC
SCREWDRIVER
$100
DEWALT. COM
We know what youre thinkinganother
screwdriver? But this ones dierent.
Besides running on marathon-worthy
Li-ion batteries, the MAX has several
unique, pro features, including a battery
gauge, adjustable clutch settings and
an LED light for working in dark spaces.
If you buy one more rechargeable
screwdriver, make it this one.
RYOBI 40-VOLT
HEDGE TRIMMER
$190
RYOBI . COM
A cordless trimmer? Yep, and a powerful one, to boot. This 40-volt, Li-ion
hedge trimmer (Model RY40610) is all about portable power in an easyto-handle machine. The large, 24-inch, dual-action blade creates clean
cuts with less vibration, making this tool easier to hold over long periods.
Theres also an attachment that sweeps away clippings as you work.
FIND
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MAGAZINES
EVERY WHERE
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SHOP FORSUBSCRIPTIONDEALSNDTHESTORECLOSESTTOYOU
VISIT CanadasMagazineStore.ca
Insta
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VINTAGE SLED
Skill Level
Novice
Expert
THE
Maple Leaf
FLYER
Some sleds never go out of style
BY RICK CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROGER YIP
HE INSPIRATION FOR
this proj-
ect came from page 28 of the

1901 Nerlich & Co. Fall/Winter
catalogue. Founded in 1858,
Nerlich & Co. was a popular
Toronto-based wholesaler that
distributed merchandise to Canadian retailers. This

sled is based on the Sport model, which wholesaled
for the bargain price of $11.80 per dozen.
Besides being
the perfect
companion for
gliding down
snowy slopes,
this sled makes
for a classic
living-room
accent
A CANADIAN classic, this

reproduction wooden sled
works especially well on
hard-packed slopes. The
metal-capped runners and
retro paint scheme make it
a durable and eye-catching
alternative to plastic sleds
23
In keeping with the original, I built

my version of the sled from solid
maple and decorated the top with
a hand-painted design. I even came
up with an easy way to replicate
the metal shoes that protect the
bottoms of the wooden runners.
And, besides being the perfect
companion for gliding down snowy
slopes, this classic sled makes for
an antique-style living-room accent.
RUNNERS UP
The first step is to create the
runners, which involves a
technique called pattern routing.
As the name suggests, the process
uses a pattern and a table-mounted
router equipped with a bearingguided, flush-trim bit to duplicate
these irregularly shaped parts.
To begin, use the grid diagram
included in the plans to create a
full-size cardboard pattern of the
runners. Dont forget to mark the
locations of the screws that connect
the runners to the crossbraces,
as well as the openings for the
handgrips. Cut out the pattern with
a pair of scissors, then trace the
outline onto a piece of 34"-thick
MDF. Now, use a jigsaw to cut out
the shape and a sanding block to
smooth the rough edges.
Next, cut 512"-wide x 4012"-long
blanks from 34"-thick solid maple.
Trace the outline of the pattern
onto the blanks, then return to
the jigsaw to cut out the profiles.
Always remain 116" to the outside
of the layout lines. Next, use strips
of double-sided tape to secure
the pattern temporarily to one of
your runners. Install a bearingguided flush-trim bit in your
table-mounted router, then follow
the contours of the template as you
trim the waste from the edges of the
runner. When youre done, pry off
the template and repeat the entire
process to clean up the edges of the
second runner.
The next task is to create the
openings for the handgrips. Mark
the locations using the cardboard
pattern, then drill 1"-diameter holes
at the ends of each grip opening
24
WINTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c anadian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m
You Will Need

PART
MATERIAL
SIZE (T x W x L*)
Runners
Shoes
Crossbraces
Deck
maple
aluminum bar
maple
maple
3/4" x 5 1/2" x 40 1/2"

1/8" x 3/4" x 48"
1 1/4" x 1 1/4" x 12 1/2"
1/2" x 12" x 24"
QTY.
2
2
2
1
*Length indicates grain direction

RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Tablesaw, table-mounted router, jigsaw, hammer, punch, utility knife, drillpress,

bench grinder, spindle sander, drill driver
THE VINTAGE red paint scheme and detailing, along with the metal-reinforced
runners, remain true to the 1901 original
using a spade bit. To avoid tearout,

drill partially through from one side,
then flip over the board to complete
the job from the other direction.
Next, take your jigsaw and make
cuts to remove the material from
the centre. Sand the rough edges
smooth, then install a bearingguided, 14"-radius bit to round over
the lip on both sides, which creates
a more comfortable grip.
STEEL SHOES
The original sled featured steel
strips on the bottoms of the runners
to protect the wood from damage
and to help to reduce friction in the
snow. Rather than steel, I used a 34"wide x 18"-thick flat aluminum bar. I
chose aluminum over steel because
its much easier to shape and drill.
Start with two 4' sections of flat bar
and mark the screw holes in pencil.
(Refer to the plans to see exactly

where they need to be positioned.)
Now, create a small divot using a
hammer and a punch to mark the
centre of each screw location. The
punch mark will help to prevent the
bit from wandering when you drill
the holes. The drillpress is your best
bet for boring holes, but a handheld
drill also will get the job done.
Start by using a 18"-diameter bit to
drill holes all the way through the
metal to accommodate the screws,
then switch to a countersink bit to
flare the entrance to the holes so
that the screw heads will sit flush
with the runners.
Next, round off the ends of the
metal strips to remove any sharp
corners. A quarter makes a perfect
template to lay out these curves,
and a bench grinder or hand file
takes care of shaping the ends.
PLANS FOR THE MAPLE LEAF FLYER
template
bearing
on top
of bit
workpiece
PATTERN ROUTING DETAILS
deck
runners
1 square = 1"
crossbrace jig
crossbraces
shoes
tapered wooden plug
2 1/2"
2"-dia.
2 1/4"
roundover
13"
1
/2"
2 1/4"
1 /4"
HANDLE DETAILS
CROSSBRACE JIG
1 square = 1"
ILLUSTRATIONS: LEN CHURCHILL
8 3/4"
4 1/4"
4 1/4"
6"
6"
RUNNER DETAILS
2 1/2"
6"
8 1/2"
6"
6"
25
When this work is done, youre

all set to bend the shoes while
fastening them to the wood.
Begin by clamping one of the
runners onto the surface of your
workbench with the bottom edge
1
2" in from the front edge of the
benchtop. The close proximity
to the front of the workbench is
necessary to provide easy access
for a drill driver along the edge.
Starting from the back and working
progressively toward the front,
attach the shoe with #6 x 58"-long
stainless-steel flathead screws
installed in predrilled holes. When
you reach the front, bend the flat
bar around the tip of the runner to
form a gentle loop. Now, grab a pair
of pliers to crimp a tab on the end
that will sit flat on top of the runner.
Anchor the tab to the runner with
another predrilled screw.
Follow the same process to
install the shoe on the other runner.
BRACE YOURSELF
Two horizontal crossbraces connect
the runners to the sides and support

the deck on top. Cut the crossbraces
to size from 114"-thick material,
then sand the edges. The runners
are attached to the crossbraces
using weatherproof glue and a pair
of stainless-steel screws at each
junction. The installation process
goes better if you make a jig to hold
the braces in position while you
attach the runners to the ends of the
crossbraces. All you really need is a
pair of 214"-wide boards that stand
on edge to support the braces at the
correct height. Cut 12"-deep notches
in the top edges to prevent parts
from sliding out of position while
you work. (Refer to the diagram of
the jig included in the plans on page
25 for the measurements you need
to make the temporary supports.)
After preparing the jig, use your
cardboard pattern to locate the
mounting screws positions on the
inside faces of the runners. Predrill
holes in the marked locations, then
counterbore to 516" in diameter to
receive the tapered wooden plugs.
HARDWOOD RUNNERS (left and top) oer strength and style, with handgrip cutouts
that make carrying the sled easy. Aluminum strips (right) protect the wooden runners
from wear and tear
26
When youre done, grab the glue

bottle and clamps for final assembly.
With a generous coat of glue applied
to the ends of the crossbraces, place
these members in the jig supports
and position the runners at their
ends. Once all the parts are aligned,
secure the entire assembly with a
couple of long clamps.
Now, you can drill pilot holes
in the ends of the crossbraces and
permanently fasten the joints using
#10 x 114"-long stainless-steel
screws. Leave the clamps in place
until the glue fully cures. Later,
glue maple plugs in place to cover
the screw heads, then sand the
ends flush. You can purchase maple
plugs from most building stores or
make your own using a commercial
plug cutter in your drillpress.
HIT THE DECK
The sled deck is nothing more
than a flat panel with decorative
profiles on the front and rear edges.
Begin by cutting the 12"-wide x
24"-long panel blank from 12"-thick
material, then create a cardboard
pattern to lay out the profiles
on the ends. (The grid diagram
in the plans includes all the
information you need to prepare
the pattern.) Transfer the pattern to
the deck panel, then use a jigsaw
to cut along the outside of the
layout lines. A spindle sander or
sandpaper wrapped around a piece
of dowel will smooth the rough
edges of the curved profiles.
Next, install a 316"-radius bit in
your table-mounted router and
round over the edges on both sides.
Leave the side edges square. The
deck is secured to the crossbraces
using four #10 x 1"-long flathead
stainless-steel screws installed
through the top. Predrill and
countersink the heads flush with the
surface of the deck. No glue is used
here so that the deck can be removed
for finishing and refinishing.
PAINTING PROCEDURES
Intricate, hand-painted designs
were common on sleds made
during the early 20th century.
MAPLE LEAF FLYER PLANS, CONTINUED
1 square = 1"
Admittedly, Im not much of an

artist, so I had to come up with an
easy way to create a graphic design
that required no special artistic
talents to complete.
I started by preparing the surfaces
of the deck for paint by sanding
with 220-grit sandpaper. Next, I
applied three coats of red acrylic
paint with a foam brush to create
a contrasting base for the design.
After each coat, I sanded lightly
with 600-grit paper. I chose acrylic
craft paint for this project because it
dries quickly and is available in an
array of colours.
Next, I used narrow painters tape
to lay out the pinstripe border on
the top surface of the deck. Using a
small artists brush, I applied three
coats of white to fill in the taped
pinstriped border. After peeling off
the tape, I discovered that white
paint had seeped under the edges

in a few spots. I took care of this
problem by flaking away the white
residue with the tip of a utility knife.
After painting the border, I used
my computer and graphic-design
software to lay out the lettering and
the maple leaf image.
Next, I purchased a roll of
adhesive-backed shelf paper and
used a pair of scissors to cut out
sheets that fit my inkjet printer. I
printed the lettering that appears at
the front on the top of the deck on
one sheet of shelf paper and used
another for the maple leaf image.
After peeling off the backing, apply
the shelf-paper sheets to the deck
panel. Sneak the rolling pin out
of the baking drawer and use it to
press the sheets firmly into place.
Now, use a sharp utility knife
carefully to cut out the letters and
Reproduce at 625%
for full-size templates.
design. Use the tip of your knife

to help to lift the film from the
graphics to be painted. Grab a brush
and begin painting the letters with
whatever colour you like. After
three or four coats, peel off the
surrounding mask to reveal your
masterpiece.
THE FINISH LINE
Start the final finishing process
by removing the shoes from the
runners and applying a couple of
coats of black outdoor paint to the
surfaces of the metal. Next, protect
the wooden parts with several
coats of marine spar varnish. When
all this work is done, reinstall the
runners and reattach the deck to
the crossbraces. Guide a pull rope
through the loops on the fronts of
the shoes, tie it in a firm knot and
this bad boy is ready to glide.
27
PAGODA BOX
Skill Level
Novice
Expert
Beauty
IN A
Box
Learn new techniques while

creating a unique trinket box
BY RICK CAMPBELL
HERE S THE BEST
place to store unique, irreplaceable, valuable items?
How about in an equally unique and striking trinket box, one with gently
sloping sides, richly figured grain and ebony accents. This project, which
was inspired by the shape of a Japanese pagoda, might seem unconventional. However, building it requires only basic, standard workshop tools, including a tablesaw
SIDES AND COVES

When youre building something
small and decorative, materials play
into the overall design in a much
bigger way. Thats why I took extra
time to search for the perfect board.
In the end, I handpicked a spalted
maple plank featuring distinctive
dark lines sweeping across the grain.
Spalting is the striking discoloration
that often occurs when fungi invade
a tree. The hidden treasure you find
buried in your lumber dealers wood
racks may reveal features that will
give your project a unique look.
First, you need to build the boxs
sides. Start by planing and jointing
the board to a finished thickness of
138", then cut out a blank that is 512"
wide and not less than 28" long.
28
The tablesaw technique we are

going to use to create the curved
profile is called cove cutting. It
involves running a board diagonally
across a spinning saw blade to form a
scooped groove along the middle. By
changing the angle, you can alter the
width and shape of the cove profile.
Whenever you are experimenting
with a new technique, practice on
scrap first. For the setup, clamp two
long boards to the tablesaw to form
a channel that will guide the blank
over the blade. The gap between the
edge of the boards and the tip of the
saw teeth must be the same at both
the front and the back of the blade.
To replicate the cove profile here,
set the fence boards so they meet the
blade path at a 30 angle. (Google
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROGER YIP
with a 10" combo blade, plus a little woodworking know-how.
When youre building

something small and
decorative, materials play
into the overall design in
a much bigger way. Thats
why I took extra time to
search for the perfect board
cove cut calculator and youll

find a few nifty online utilities that
will help you complete the angle
calculations for future projects that
may use this technique. And, if you
still have questions about the setup,
refer to the diagram in the plans.)
After completing the setup, lower
the blade below the surface of the
table and guide your blank through
the channel with the tablesaw
turned off. Youre checking to make
sure the material travels smoothly
along the path without binding or
significant side-to-side movement.
Now, raise the blade to 116" above
the surface of the table and switch
on the saw to make your first pass.
Your feed rate should be very slow
to give the blade enough time to
cut cleanly along the entire length.
Move the wood forward using
jointer pushpads. After the first
pass, flip the board by 180 and
take a second run. This guarantees
a symmetrical profile, even if the
blade isnt perfectly centred in the
channel. Now, raise the blade in
1
16" to 18" increments and repeat the
two-pass approach until the cove
depth reaches 1". After the last run,
sand the coved surface with 100grit paper to smooth the roughness
left behind by the blade.
Now, remove your temporary
guides and position the fence to
slice the board down the centre.
Your objective is to end up with
two matching pieces 258" wide.
As you make the cuts, the coved
profile needs to face up.
Next, install a dado blade and cut
a 14"-wide x 14"-deep dado 14" up
from the bottom, with the thicker
edge of each strip on the flat inside
faces to receive the bottom panel
of the box, which youll add later.
Now, cut the sides to length with
45 mitres on the ends. Ensure the
sides are exactly the same length to
avoid gaps at the joints when the
parts are assembled. The easiest
way is to clamp a stopblock to the
tablesaws fence.
After completing the sides, cut
out the bottom panel. Finish-sand
the bottom panel and interior walls
30
You Will Need

PART
MATERIAL
SIZE (T x W x L*)
Sides
Bottom panel
spalted maple
spalted maple
1 3/8" x 2 5/8" x 6 3/4"

1/4" x 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"
QTY.
4
1
Bottom trim
Lid insert
Lid trim
Handle supports
Handle
ebony
spalted maple
ebony
ebony
ebony
1/4" x 1" x 7"

1/2" x 4" x 4"
1/4" x 3/8" x 4 3/4"
1/4" x 3/4" x 5/8"
1/4" x 3/4" x 3 3/8"
4
1
4
2
1
*Length indicates grain direction

RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Tablesaw, planer, jointer, mitre saw
INTERLOCKING JOINERY on this three-part ebony handle has an Asian look reminiscent
of full-size pagodas. The dark wood provides a striking contrast to the spalted maple
of the box with 220-grit paper.

Dry-fit the parts together first, then
spread glue on the surfaces of
the joints and assemble the sides
with the bottom panel in place.
Youve probably already figured
out that the curved sides will make
it impossible to use conventional
clamps to secure the corners while
the glue dries. Instead, stretch some
clear, elastic-type packing tape over
the joints. The tension from this
tape provides just enough pressure
to form a solid bond.
To add pizzazz to the design,
I made contrasting trim for the
bottom of the box. The dark ebony
I used typically ranges from a
rich chocolate brown to midnight
black. If you cant find ebony, there
are other interesting exotic and
domestic woods to choose from.

To make the trim, cut out a
few 1"-wide strips from 14"-thick
material, then cut four segments
to length with 45 mitred corners.
Round over the outer edges by
sanding lightly. With glue applied
to the joints, assemble the segments
into a square frame. I used more
stretchy tape here to secure the
joints, plus spring clamps to keep
the corner surfaces aligned while
the glue dried. Later on, apply more
adhesive to the underside of the
box and clamp the frame in place.
TOP IT OFF
The lid for this box may look
complicated, but its quite simple
to make. Start by cutting a square
panel that fits perfectly within the
PLANS FOR THE PAGODA BOX
/4"
handle
3
5
/8"
/8"
handle supports
15
3
lid insert
/4"
HANDLE SUPPORT DETAILS
lid trim
side
bottom panel
2 5/8"
bottom rim
2 5/8"
side
side
1"
15
/8"
/8"
1
2 1/2"
/4"
4"
ILLUSTRATION: LEN CHURCHILL
6 3/4"
1
/4"
1
/4"
/4"
1"
SIDE VIEW
1 /8"
/8"
COVE-CUTTING DETAILS
31
COVE-SHAPED SPALTED maple sides, dark ebony trim and an

ebony handle (above) work together to create an exotic look.
Each box side is half of a cove prole cut on a tablesaw (top
right). The lid (bottom right) is nely crafted, even on the inside
opening of the box. For my lid, I

used more of that stunning spalted
maple. Now, were going to create
a lip around the edge using the
same accent wood you chose for
the base. First, cut 38"-wide strips
from 14"-thick material, then cut the
parts to length with 45 mitres on
the ends. When you do this, its best
to make the segments a little on the
long side to start, then progressively
trim the ends to sneak up on a
perfect fit. When all the segments
are ready to go, glue the parts in
position around the perimeter of the
lid insert. Make sure all the surfaces
are flush on top before leaving the
assembly to dry. After removing
the clamps, sand to round over the
upper edges of the lid.
HANDLE IT
The Asian-style handle for the top
is made from more of the 14"-thick
accent wood. Start by preparing a
strip that is 58" wide and roughly
12" long. This is more than you will
need, but the extra is necessary to
keep your fingers well clear of the
32
blade when cutting these small

parts to size. Study the plans and
youll see how the handles cross
member engages with the notched
upright supports. Since these
supports are so tiny, its much easier
to notch the top edge of the material
before cutting the parts to size.
With a backerboard in position
to prevent tearout, pass the strip
on edge at 90 over the blade to
create the 14"-wide x 38"-deep slots.
When youre done, tilt the blade by
15 from square to cut the upright
supports off each end. When you
do this, youll need to cut one
side, then flip over the piece to
form the complementary angle
on the opposing end. Plan your
cuts so the notches end up being
perfectly centred on the top edge
of the completed supports. After
preparing both supports, use the
same blade angle to cut the handle
to length.
After a little sanding to round
over the top edge of the handle
slightly, youre ready to glue the
handle to the notched supports.
Before the adhesive fully cures,

spread some more glue on the
bottom edges of the supports, then
clamp the entire assembly to the
top of the lid. When you do this,
leave the ruler hanging on the
pegboard; your eyes will do a better
job of ensuring that the handle
looks centred.
FINISHING UP
One of the benefits of working
with beautifully figured wood is
that you dont need to stain it.
All thats required for this project
is a few coats of wipe-on poly.
Sand lightly with 400-grit paper
between coats, then wet-sand
with 600-grit wet/dry paper after
letting the final coat cure for about
a week. This procedure results
in a silky smooth finish. After
successfully completing your first
box, try altering the dimensions
and experimenting with different
combinations of wood and
cove profiles to produce eyecatching designs from your own
imagination.
PUZZLE HOLDER
Skill Level
Expert
Hide & Seek

Stow away your unfinished jigsaw puzzle until next time
with this ingenious holder BY WAYNE LENNOX
34
PHOTOGRAPHY: STACEY BRANDFORD
Novice
TORING A JIGSAW
puzzle
assemly in progress
is a bit of a challenge.
My solution, a puzzle tote, has

an inner top tray for your halffinished masterpiece that rests in
a larger tray for extra pieces. Felt
liners minimize movement of
the pieces, and a clear plastic lid
holds everything in place, allowing for display when the tote is
stored vertically between puzzle
sessions. I used poplar for the
outer frames and Coroplast
(corrugated plastic sheets) for
to minimize weight.
PUZZLE SESSION over, just cover your work with the Plexiglas, plop the top tray into
the frame and turn the toggles to hold everything in place. We used a large childrens
puzzle piece to make a template for the toggles
THE UPPER TRAY

1. Cut the 1x2 pieces for the tray
frame to length.
2. Rip a 732"-thick x 34"-wide strip
from each of these pieces for the
frame.
3. Using a straightedge and a utility
knife, cut a piece of Coroplast to the
size indicated in the plans.
Coroplast is available at many
building-supply outlets, but only
in stock sizes (e.g. 2' x 4'). Sign
companies also use this product.
You could visit one and ask to have
a piece cut to exact size.
4. Trim the frame strips to fit the
perimeter of the Coroplast. Apply
contact cement to both the poplar
strips and the Coroplast. (Trace the
outline of the strips on the sheet to
minimize overapplication.) Wait
the required time, then carefully

glue the materials together.
Remember that you only get one
chance with contact cement.
5. Sand and finish the frame; tape
off the Coroplast before painting.
6. To apply the felt, use spray
adhesive or wipe the surface of
the tray with a damp cloth and
spread polyurethane glue evenly
with a spatula. One edge of the
felt should be cut straight. Lay
the felt into the tray, keeping
this edge tight to one long side;
firmly smooth out any bubbles or
wrinkles. Let set for at least 10
minutes. Beginning at a corner,
press the blade of a wide putty
knife firmly against the inside edge
of the frame and carefully cut away
the excess felt with a sharp utility
the upper and lower tray bases
knife. Work your way around

the perimeter. Check again for
wrinkles. Full cure takes 24 hours.
THE LOWER TRAY
1. Rip each of the four lower tray
frame pieces to 1"-wide x 34"-thick.
2. Cut a 532"-wide x 14"-deep
rabbet in each piece, as shown
in the plans. Drill a 38"-diameter
countersunk hole 38" deep in each
end of the longer pieces, above
the rabbet, then inside these, drill
pilot holes for the screws. Cut four
tapered plugs and leave aside. (If
you dont have a plug cutter, use
ready-made, tapered plugs.)
3. Cut the Coroplast base and
assemble the frame around the
sheet, using polyurethane glue in
the rabbet and carpenters glue for
35
the frame pieces. (Polyurethane

glue expands as it sets, so you may
get some squeeze-out.) Allow to dry
on a perfectly flat surface; if the tray
does not lie flat, place weights on
the corners to hold them down.
4. With a Forstner bit, drill two
7
8"-diameter finger holes 716" deep in
the short ends of the tray. The hole
centre is close to the inside edges,
so, to prevent the bit from drifting,
clamp a piece of scrapof about
the same thicknessto the inside
edge of the frame.
5. Add the dowel plugs, trimming
them with a chisel or a flush-cut
saw after the glue sets.
6. Sand and finish, taping off the
Coroplast before painting. Apply
the felt, as you did before.
You Will Need

PART
MATERIAL
SIZE (T x W x L)
Upper tray base

Lower tray base
corrugated sheet plastic

corrugated sheet plastic
5/32" x 23 1 4 " x 31 1 2 "

5/32" x 23 5/16" x 32 1/4"
1
1
Trim stock
poplar
3/4" x 1 1/2" x 10'*
Tray liners
Clear cover
Puzzle toggles
felt
Plexiglas
birch-veneered ply
22" x 32"**
1/8" x 21 5/8" x 29 7/8"
3/8" x 2" x 4 1/2"
2
1
4
HARDWARE
Small handle and screws

1
#6 x 1 1 2 " screws
4
#8 x 1" brass screws
4
#8 brass cup washers
4
Small washers
4
3 8 "-diameter tapered wooden plugs
4
Finish of your choice (we used Benjamin Moore paints: Danse du soleil, CC-212, for the
inner tray frame; and Grasslands, CC-590, for the outer frame)
* Total length required **Oversized pieces, cut to t trays
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
tablesaw, jigsaw or scrollsaw, sander, drill, saw, le
THE PLEXIGLAS LID

I had a piece of Plexiglas cut to
size at a glass shop. Stock sizes are
often available at building-supply
outlets. Cutting is simply a matter
of scoring the surface and breaking
along a straightedge. I smoothed
the edges and corners with a metal
file. Be careful not to scratch the
surfaces. Carefully drill a single
7
8"-diameter finger hole in one end
of the plastic.
FINISHING TOUCHES
1. Attach a small handle to one
long edge of the outer tray. Any size
thats comfortable will do.
2. Trace any large puzzle piece you
have to make the toggles, then cut
them to size from veneered plywood.
Since I dont have a scroll saw, I had
to use an old-fashioned coping saw.
This could be a good opportunity
to involve the kids: get them to cut
out, sand and finish these pieces.
Remember to cut with the good side
of the plywood away from you.
3. Drill pilot holes in the frame of
the outer tray. Screw the puzzle
toggles to the frames; there should
be some friction when the pieces
are turned. Add a brass cup washer
under each screw head, and a
washer between each toggle piece
and the frame, creating a thin gap,
to eliminate wear.
36
QTY.
WITH THE attached handle,

moving your unnished puzzle
out of the way is a snap
PLANS FOR THE PUZZLE HOLDER
UPPER TRAY
puzzle toggle
clear cover
/4"
/8"
tray frame
/32"
/32"
tray base
UPPER TRAY
DETAILS
upper tray
frame
felt
upper tray base

MFDQGNKD
felt
lower tray frame
LOWER TRAY
lower tray base
EQ@LDRHCD
EQ@LDDMC
/4"
/2"
1"
/32"
/4"
BNTMSDQANQDC
GNKDENQ3/8CH@
plug
OHKNSGNKD
OUTER TRAY CORNER DETAILS
1 square = 1/4"
TOGGLE TEMPLATE
37
GUITAR STAND
Skill Level
Novice
Expert
Rock
On!
Give your guitar the royal treatment

with its own elegant stand
BY RYAN SHERVILL
THE CONTRAST of dark and light

woods, plus the owing overall
design, earns this stand a place
in the fanciest of rooms
F YOU PLAY
guitar, chances are good youre as proud of the guitar
itself as you are playing. This stand allows you to show off your
instrument. Its fun to build, and uses curves and contrasting woods
in an elegant design that is far easier to create than it looks. Simple

joinery and a little router work is all it takes. I built my stand using
1"-thick lumber, but only because thats what I had on hand. You can
use whatever thickness you like, as long as its between 34" and 112". The
only variation to the plan you may need to make concerns the dimensions of the notch in the head of the stand that holds the guitars neck.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROGER YIP
ELEGANT CURVES and stunning

wood make this guitar stand
beautiful even without the
guitar. Hidden joinery and a
traditional oil and wax nish
highlight the design
Since this stand

wont see much wear
and tear, I was more
interested in using a
finish that makes
the grain stand out
than delivering
maximum durability
Begin by marking a grid of 1"
squares directly on your leg stock (I
used African wenge) with a pencil,
then follow the plans (see page
41) to draw the shape of one leg.
Using a bandsaw or a jigsaw, cut
this first leg, staying approximately
1
32" on the waste side of the lines,
then complete the leg by sanding
up to your lines. When the first leg
is perfect, use it as the template
to mark your remaining stock for
the second leg, then repeat the
rough-cutting process, again staying
outside the lines.
At this point, attach the finished
leg to the roughly cut one using
double-sided tape, then head over
to the router table. Install a bearingguided template bit (also known
as a flush-trim bit) and adjust
the height so that the bearing rides
against the finished leg only. With
light cuts, rout around the perimeter
of the joined parts to end up with
two identical pieces. Finally, with
the two legs still attached together,
bore 38"-diameter holes through both
legs using a drillpress, with holes
centred from side to side on the leg,
338" up from the bottom.
Now, separate the two legs and
set them aside before building
the dowel holes, neck, head and
support pieces.
BUILD THE SUPPORTS
Select the stock that you will be
using for the neck (I chose birds-eye
39
maple) and draw the shape as shown

in the plans. Just as with the first leg,
cut out the neck with a bandsaw or
jigsaw, then sand to the lines.
The headpiece is made much
the same way, except for a few
details. You will need to vary the
length between the notches to
accommodate the body depth of
your particular guitar.
Cut out the headpiece using a
bandsaw or jigsaw, making the rear
notch slightly undersized at first.
This lets you chisel the size of the
front notch for a perfect fit for the
guitars neck. Next, create the notch
for the guitar neck to rest in: make
two marks 114" in from the front
edge and 114" in from each side of
the headpiece. Affix a 78" Forstner
bit in your drillpress, then drill
through the stock at the marked
locations. Finally, use a jigsaw to
cut out the waste, starting with
straight cuts 1" in from each side
and a straight cut across the back.
Making the support pieces is a
little more complex, as they require
laminating your two woods together
to make the decorative tips. I
started by cutting two 114"-wide
pieces of 1"-thick maple to 1434"
long, plus four blocks of 1"-thick
wenge to 34" wide x 134" long. Glue
the wenge blocks in place at each
end of the maple pieces. (See plans
for correct placement.) Once the
glue has dried, mark the curves and
cut them on the bandsaw before
refining the workpieces with a
sanding drum.
A WELL-ROUNDED LOOK
With all the pieces cut and
sanded, I softened the overall
appearance and eliminated sharp
edges with a roundover bit at my
router table.
To start, I used a 38"-radius,
bearing-guided roundover bit on
both sides of the legs, with the
exception of the straight portion
that will be glued to the stands
neck. I then used the same bit to
round over the supports sides.
Next, I used a 316"-radius bit
to round over all of the neck
40
You Will Need

PART
MATERIAL
SIZE (T x W x L*)
Neck
Headpiece
birds-eye maple
wenge
1" x 3 3/4" x 16 1/2"

1" x 4" x 5 1/2"
QTY.
1
1
Supports
Legs
Standos
Pads
birds-eye maple/wenge
wenge
birds-eye maple
self-adhesive cork
1" x 2 3/4" x 14 3/4"**

1" x 7" x 25"
3/16" x 1" x 2 3/4"
1 1/2"-diameter
2
2
2
9
*Length indicates grain direction **Cut later to make four supports

RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Table-mounted router, drillpress, bandsaw/jigsaw, drum sander
EXTRAWIDE SUPPORTS can accommodate a range of guitar sizes without modication.

The top of the stand can be removed and customized for dierent guitarneck widths
and headpieces edges. The only

exceptions: the rear notch in
the headpiece and the top of the
support shelf on the stands neck.
With all pieces cut, rounded and
sanded, there are only a couple
more tasks before assembly: cut
the support to length and drill to
their adjoining ends for dowels.
Wrap masking tape around the
supports at the location for your
cuts (to reduce tearout), then mark

and cross cut the supports at the
8" mark to make two 8"-long rear
legs and two guitar supports, each
about 634" long. These are big
enough to accept guitar bodies
right up to Dreadnought size.
Finally, drill centred 38"-diameter
holes, 114" deep in each cut face
of the support/leg pieces to accept
the dowels for joinery.
PLANS FOR THE GUITAR STAND
NO ROUNDOVER
NO ROUNDOVER
headpiece
headpiece
7
/16"-rad.
neck support shelf
cork pad
1 1/4"
1 1/4"
3
/16"-rad. roundover
NO ROUNDOVER
neck
leg
neck
3
/8"-rad.
roundover
REAR LEG
SECTION
legs
1 1/4"
cut here
1 1/4"
GUITAR
REST
SECTION
standNs
3
cork
pads
/8"-dia.
hole
support
3 3/8"
1 square = 1"
support
(rear leg section)
support
(guitar rest section)
Reproduce at 350%
for full-size
SDLOK@SDR
rst leg
/8"-dia. x 3"-long
dowel
second
leg
bearing
on top
of bit
PATTERN ROUTING DETAILS
41
THE CONTOURED headpiece holds the neck of a guitar securely.

Remove the wooden plug and screw to change the headpiece to
suit another instrument. Cork pads protect the guitars nish
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Begin assembly by applying a bead
of glue to the mating surfaces on
the legs, and glue them on either
side of the neck piece with dowels
in place. Centre them front-to-back,
ensuring the two legs are aligned,
then clamp and set aside to dry.
Next, attach the supports to the
legs by spreading a little glue on the
centre section of 3"-long dowels,
then insert the dowels into the holes
in the legs, leaving 1" protruding
out each side. Spread glue inside
the holes in the support pieces and
slide them over the dowels, butting
them firmly against the faces of
the legs. Ensure the supports are
oriented correctly with the guitarsupport and leg tips pointing
straight up and down, respectively;
then allow the glue to cure fully.
The headpiece can be glued to
the neck as is or you can attach it
with a single, hidden screw. This
latter method is wiser since it
allows you to change the headpiece
42
EACH SUPPORT/REAR leg section, cut from the same piece of

wood, appears to continue through each leg. The dark wenge
tips draw the overall design together
to suit different guitars. I drilled

a 18"-diameter hole through the
headpiece and into the shelf on the
neck, followed with a 38"-diameter x
3
8"-deep counterbored pocket in the
headpiece. Secure the headpiece
with a 1"-long pan-head screw, then
cover it with a tapered maple plug.
I rounded the top of the plug and
left it proud of the surface, in case I
ever want to take it out.
The final step is to add two
standoffs to prevent the guitar from
rocking from side to side on its neck.
These also gave me the opportunity
to introduce a little more birds-eye
maple as an accent to tie the project
together visually. Cut a scrap piece of
birds eye to 1" x 234", rounding over
the ends before ripping two 316"-thick
facepieces on the bandsaw. Sand the
sharp edges to ease the corners, then
glue these standoffs in place.
FINISH IT OFF
Since this stand wont see much
wear and tear, I was more interested
in using a finish that makes the

grain stand out than delivering
maximum durability. Thats why I
chose a traditional tung oil and wax
finish. I first applied a heavy coat of
polymerized tung oil, letting it sit
for 30 minutes while occasionally
applying more where it had soaked
in fully. After wiping off all the
oil that I could, I let the stand
sit overnight to cure. Repeat this
process two more times over two
more days, then apply paste wax
and buff it off on the fourth day. I
used Minwax walnut-colour paste
wax. The result is a finish with a
soft glow that really shows off both
the colour of the wenge and the
figure of the birds-eye maple.
Finally, to protect the guitars
finish, apply 12"-diameter round
self-adhesive cork pads wherever
the guitar body contacts the stand.
I used nine in all. Then, all thats
left to do is to move the stand into
the music room and introduce your
guitar to its posh new residence.
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Get the
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on buying a
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With advice on
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Dont miss this

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Available exclusively
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December 2 and at
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edition from iTunes, or go to cottagelife.com/digital-editions
FAUCET REPLACEMENT
Skill Level
Novice
Expert
Updated
& Upgraded
Replacing your kitchen faucet is
an easy DIY upgrade BY GARY RUDY
NSTALLING A SHINY
new faucet is a simple
kitchen upgrade that can be completed in

an afternoon. The price range of faucets
is wide, depending on features and finish,

but look for a known name and an accompanying warranty to help to ensure peace
of mind. Of course, special features and finishes also will affect the price. This model
was finished in basic chrome (typically, the
most economical finish) but featured a builtin retractable spray head, which was a big
improvement over the builders basic model
that came with the new house.
STEP 1. Like most other plumbing projects, its a good idea to shut o the water rst. If you dont have under-sink shut-os, youll
have to shut o the water at the main. Its also a good time to install under-sink shut-os now, if you dont have them in place.
STEP 2. Begin by removing the old faucet (this one had no spray function, hence the replacement). Have a bucket and towel on hand
to clean up any spills.
STEP 3. If youre installing the new faucet in a three-hole sink, youll need to use the single-hole escutcheon (it comes with the
faucet) to cover the old holes and provide support for the new single-hole faucet.
44
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVE STARRETT
STEP 4. Guide the single-hole faucet down through the top. Its a good idea to have
another set of hands to help to orient the faucet, keeping it properly aligned.
STEP 5. The faucet is secured to the countertop and sink with a layered arrangement of
backing plates and a special washer.
STEP 6. The washer and backing plate are installed from below. Best give your back a
stretch before contorting yourself to work under the sink.
.
STEP 7. Connect the water-supply lines.
The faucets braided lines are labelled
to indicate which line to connect to the
hot and cold supply lines.
STEP 8. Feed the braided sprayer hose
through the faucet and into the area
under the sink.
8
SHARK
BITTEN
hark Bite ttings require

no solder nor even Teon
tape. They are a bit costly,
somewhere around $5 to $8
per tting; but, if youre not
experienced with soldering
ttings, they will make your
work faster and eliminate
potential leaks. I love to
use them. The orange collar
releases the lock and allows
the tting to be removed and
reinstalled.
S
9
10
STEP 9. Attach the counterweight to the sprayer hose. The under-sink area has to be
kept clear of snags or the sprayer wont extend and retract smoothly.
STEP 10. Its a good idea to ush water through the new plumbing before connecting
the spray head. Completing this ushing process will help to eliminate small bits of
debris that can clog the spray head. Once ushed, connect the faucets retractable
spray head to the hose. Now, shut o the faucet and inspect all the connections under
the sink, as well as the connection to the spray head, for leaks.
45
WATER HEATER
Skill Level
Novice
Expert
Chances are,
if you already
have an electric
model installed,
your wiring
and plumbing
will be ready
to handle a
replacement
GET INTO
Installing an electric water heater is definitely within the

DIYers purview BY MICHEL ROY
EED TO REPLACE
your water heater? You could put in a gas-fired heater,
but youd need the help of a licensed gas fitter. Likewise, installing a
high-efficiency, tankless water heater isnt exactly a DIY-level project.
But putting in a standard electric water heater is. To do this, all you need is a basic
grasp of plumbing and wiring. A relatively simple model with a six- to 10-year
warranty will run you around $500. But having it installed for you can more than
double that price. If your local bylaws allow, do it yourself and save.
46
1.
The rst step is

pulling out the
old heater. Turn
o the electricity breaker to
the heater before beginning.
Shut o the cold-water
input valve or the main
water supply, then drain the
tank from the valve at the
bottom. (A garden hose run
to a lower location should
do the trick.) Open a nearby
hot-water faucet to let air
into the system to drain the
tank fully.
PHOTO TOP LEFT: ISTOCK; STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOGRAPHY: LYLE STAFFORD
Hot Water
2.
Once the tank is drained, undo the

plumbing, either by twisting o any
unions or by cutting the existing pipes if
your heater was sweated into place. Disconnect the
wires in the heaters junction box. There should be
two hot conductors and a groundwire. If your main
water shut-o valve or the cold-water supply valve
is not reliable, save this project for next weekend
and spend this weekend repairing or replacing your
main water shut-o.
3.
Heaters are heavy, even when empty, so use a dolly to

manoeuvre the old heater out of place. Dont forget to close the
drain valve at the bottom of the tank, and watch out for dripping
water if you need to pass through a nished space.
4.
Heaters must
be installed
in a drain pan
to minimize damage
should a leak occur.
Drain pans come with
either a side or a bottom
outlet. As the old heater
had no pan, I installed
one here. The outlet
on this one drains to an
unnished crawl space
below the oor. A hose
clamped to the drain
leads any leaked water
to a drain in the crawl
space.
47
5.
After installing the new heater in the pan, reconnect the plumbing.
Use either sweated or compression ttings on copper, but dont
sweat (heat and join with solder) ttings right onto the tanks water
input and output nipples. Plastic dielectric sleeves inside the nipples will be
damaged by the heat. Instead, solder joints together as components on a bench,
then thread these onto the nipples afterward.
6.
cold-water input nipple, the top leg gets the valve and the side
7.
leg is connected to the water supply. Food-safe pipe dope or

Teon tape will work to make threaded connections watertight.
threaded connections, prevent torque damage to components

or already tightened joints by using two wrenches.
Next, install a vacuum breaker valve on the coldwater input line. Build a T from ttings to install the
valve onto. The bottom of the T is threaded onto the
You can use water heater-rated hoses to jump from

the house plumbing to the tank. These hoses make
the connections exible and easy to disconnect the
next time you want to replace the heater. When spinning on
SO, YOU BOUGHT

A WATER HEATER...
8.
Some heaters come with a temperature- and pressurerelief valve pre-installed. If not, install one and
attach a relief tube to the valve. In the event that

pressure builds up too strongly in the heater, this valve will
release it. The relief tube should direct the hot, pressurized
water down into the drain pan.
48
WINTER 2014 /// canadianhomeworkshop.com
efore purchasing your water heater, heed

these rules:
Heaters with longer warranties generally are
designed for longer operating lives. Typically, they
fail when the tank inside fails. When bringing a
new heater home, dont lay it down on its side.
Keep it upright in the box to avoid cracking the
tank liner.
Ensure your new heater will slip into the old
space. Manufacturers websites are pretty good
at listing specs, including the dimensions of
the units available. Chances are, if you already
have an electric model installed, your wiring and
plumbing will be ready to handle a replacement.
Most heaters will be fed o a dedicated 240volt, 30-amp, double-pole circuit. A proper
installation requires three valves: a temperatureand pressure-relief valve on the heater, a coldwater shut-o valve leading to the tank and a
vacuum breaker valve at a point higher than the
tank itself.
9.
After reconnecting the

pipes, its time to do the
wiring. Use properly sized
marrettes to make the connections
in the heaters junction box and use
an approved cable clamp to secure
the cable to the box.
To ll your tank, leave a nearby
hot-water faucet open, then turn
the water supply back on. Air
will be bled through the faucet
and the tank should be full when
water begins to run from the
faucet. Only after the tank is full
should you turn on the power
to the water heater. Turning the
elements on in an empty tank will
damage them. Assuming all went
well and the water in the heater
unit turns warm, its time to hit
the showers.
the
Products, Services, Ideas & Info for the Do-It-Yourselfer
FAMILY OWNED
AND OPERATED
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We specialize in
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Pauls
Place
BY PAUL RUSH
My great skill is in getting things

wrong. And then writing about them
A History of Good Intentions
ANY PEOPLE HAVE great skill when it comes to

building decks, erecting houses, carving wood,
crafting tables. But not me. My great skill is in
getting things wrong. And then writing about them.
Throughout these pages, I am the man who, lacking a
car, tried to transport three sheets of drywall balanced
on his bicycle. I also am the man, still carless, who was
seen walking five long blocks with a specially cut sheet
of 34" plywood balanced on his head. And, later that day,
seen with another because I had mismeasured the first.
Or, you might remember the adventure in which we
built an armoire that somehow grew almost as big as the
room in which we intended to put it. (Yes, I cut it up
into boxes. Big ones.)
I always felt my tree-felling was better than my
measuring, but I recall cutting a white pine by the power
line and watching in horror as the tree simply sat back
on the saw and waited for the wind. (My wife got me
out of that one by dashing into town and bringing back a
come-along to haul the tree in the right direction.)
Speaking of boats, I am the man who commuted
to his island home by paddling a battered fibreglass
canoe over a narrow stretch of water. In November. The
dangerous part being that the canoe, lacking thwarts,
was held together in the centre by a bungee cord.
50
W INTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c anadian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m
Cords have played a role in my life. I think it was

when I lived on that island that the accelerator of my
ancient car kept jamming at full throttle. I saved the
dayso to speakby fastening a cord around the gas
pedal so I could pull it up in moments of stress.
Equally inept is the summer at a different cottage,
when I tried to shore up my septic bed with 12 dumptruck loads of bush dirt. The trucks couldnt back over
the tile bed, so I started moving dirt with a wheelbarrow
on which I had stuck a temporary wheel that flattened
under Load 1. I tried moving dirt in small pails before I
gave in and hired a front-end loader.
Surely, Paul, you say, there must have been a few
successes. Well, I have built some decent walls and, 14
years ago, I started carving Noahs ark animals for my
grandchildren. Im up to five.
I once installed a window that leaks only in heavy
rain, and I have built any number of bookshelves.
Although I must remind you of my first: I cut two sides
and four shelves out of 1x8 pine; I took 16 nails and
nailed it all together, then stood back and admired it.
When I put my dictionary on the top shelf, the whole
structure (lacking braces) subsided into a graceful
parallelogram.
I do believe it was an omen. Thanks.
ILLUSTRATION: STEPHEN MEACHERN
Reminiscing about projects gone wrong

Canadian Home Workshop - Winter 2014

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CONTENTS

High-tech tools and heritage projects.

The Maple Leaf Flyer

Updated & Upgraded

Some sleds, like this classic model,

Replacing your kitchen faucet is

Get into Hot Water

Hide and Seek

Installing an electric water heater is

Reminiscing about projects gone

Stow away your unnished puzzle

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: ROGER YIP

How I became a legacy woodworker.

2014 Hot Tools

Give your guitar the royal treatment

Dont be the last to know about

For more projects, tips & techniques, visit us at

New tool reviews, timesaving tips, expert how-to

9 Ask a Pro Built-in cabinet

9 Holiday Idea Trim the tree

14 Testimony Protect your deck

14 Shop Tip How to resize holes

c a na d i a nhomework s hop.com /// WI N TER 2014

Old School, New School

of Canadian Home Workshop, youll find our annual feature

For the Toughest Jobs

PROJECTS TOO, OF COURSE!

WINTER 2014 /// c a na d i a nhomework s hop.com

INNOVATIVE TOOTH DESIGN

The full line of the NEW DIABLO DEMO

The Diablo Demo Demons advanced dual-tooth blade design

Swiss-made Diablo recip blades come in more than 50 congurations, including

The NEW Diablo line of Recipricating Blades available

WINTER 2014 VOLUME 37, NUMBER 2

Art Director Amy McCleverty

2013 OKeeffes Company

Production Manager Jodi Brooks

We acknowledge the nancial support of the Government

Thank you for your letter, Randy.

of printing (and postage) has

THE MOTORCYCLE Rocker has proven to

Im well down the road to

I used 134"-diameter dowel

c a na d i a nhomework s hop.com /// WI N TER 2014

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUAN LUNA

WI NTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c anadian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m

The experts give you the right advice

Trim the tree with handmade

a partridge in a pear tree have

Im building some built-in cabinets

ORNAMENT PHOTO: WENDY D

Adding built-in cabinetry is a great

website rst appeared on our

wooden skis as a birthday gift for his wife.

clients, and I can tell you

W INTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c ana dian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m

I TOOK ADVANTAGE of a warm autumn day to stain the

W INTE R 2 0 1 4 / / / c ana dian h o m ewo rks h o p. co m

Cut. Sand. Scrape. Grind.

Available at your local Bosch dealer.