James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - May 18, 2011, 1:46 am
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - May 23, 2009, 8:22 am
For most of you, I don’t have to go on about what this entails. But it seems that many people have missed out on the tribulations and of course the absolute joy of hands on, head scratching labors. See this New York Times article. I’ve been erratic in my postings of late. My knees and ba...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Apr 2, 2009, 9:36 am
When I first saw one of these Makita mini-sliding compound miter saws on a job site, it looked like a play school version of a grown-ups saw. It’s a tiny thing, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to use it in place of my 12-inch sliding compound miter saw. But, you know the old saying: Big t...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Mar 28, 2009, 11:29 am
While I know this has damn little to do with carpentry, it has to do with my day to day partner in the truck. I take my dog, Liza, to work with me as often as I can. She’s a great ice breaker and doesn’t let anyone near my (her) truck. Last night, my wife let her out at 3 a.m. after chas...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Mar 18, 2009, 2:54 pm
It’s a sure fire, son-of-a-bitch moment when you’re about to install a tricky piece of trim and you hear a hiss so loud you think it’s a snake with a megaphone. But the reality is, you’ve damaged your compressor hose. It happens. You don’t have to toss the hose, though....
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Jan 21, 2009, 8:11 pm
Last year I had to install bamboo plywood instead of drywall along the interior walls of an addition. Talk about pricey. The architect had specified a solvent free construction adhesive to be used for the installation, and I remember one carpenter saying, “This stuff’ll never hold, smell...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Jan 5, 2009, 8:22 am
Collins Miter Clamps are the third hand I’m glad I have. When dealing with a fussy assembly, whether it’s on the job or for a woodworking project in my shop, these little spring clamps are a real help. Before discovering these clamps, I’d span the miter with my hand, apply pressure...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Dec 19, 2008, 11:32 am
Courtesy of Toro Tools Hot-Diggity-Dog my life just got a w(hole) lot easier. With spring still a ways off for us in the Northeast, planning for a great outdoor project is the right antidote to winter. Many of you are thinking decks, fences, pergolas, or gardens. Such plans rarely consider the ...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Dec 10, 2008, 2:40 pm
I run a few miles of crown molding every year, or so it seems. That’s a lot of overhead work. And having a lightweight nail gun is a blessing. My Bostitch N62FNK-2 15 Gauge 1-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch Angled Finish Nailer weighs in at a tidy 3.8 pounds and is one of the lightest 15-gauge guns on the ...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Nov 26, 2008, 12:20 pm
In the upcoming issue of The Journal of Light Construction, Gary Striegler outlines his take on what makes a great walk-in closet. You can read that article here. DeWalt has its own version of reality TV with “Top 17 Finish Carpenters.” I’ve had a blast checking over the entries a...
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James K. posted an article on carpenter confidential - Nov 24, 2008, 4:18 pm
I hate wrestling cumbersome sheets of plywood or MDF onto my table saw. In fact, I’m never going to do it again. Instead of pushing a 4 X 8-foot sheet of plywood through a saw, I now use my circular saw and a guide track. The product I use is the Eurekazone SGS-1 EZ Smart Guide System. I like...
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