My wife found a wonderful project that she wanted to complete on her own. The only help that she needed (wanted) from me was the purchase of a few packs of shims.
I purchased 2 different types of shims and it turned out that the grain pattern between the 2 was wildly different. This allowed for some nice contrast in the mirror.
The first was a cedar contractor shim and the second was a more common 8″ shim. The 8″ shims were pine and had a nice striped grain. The cedar shims were clear and much longer. The length of the cedar shim provided a natural way to mix up the pattern.
Click on the image to view the large view of the shim mirror. This project really turned out terrific and will make a great addition to our home.
Are you looking for office space in the Buffalo area?
We will have an office available on 10/01/2011 that is a perfect space for 1-3 people. This office is in a professional office building with tenants that include and Allstate Insurance office, credit card processor, attorney, web developer, and accountant.
Lancaster office for rent
This office is clean and bright and is located on the second floor.
All utilities are included in the monthly rent payment of $395.
Free Internet service (wired and wireless)
All utilities included
NO common area fees
The location is at: 3725 Walden Avenue, Lancaster NY.
This is a growing commercial corridor in Lancaster, NY. The office is a perfect space for a manufacturers rep or a professional service provider. Please contact us today to see the space.
If you are looking for area rugs, you might want to attend the Carroll rug auction on 9/2/2011. Most of us from Western New York are familiar with Carroll rug and know that there is (was) some quality product sold there.
Cash Cunningham is holding an auction of the remaining inventory.
Begins: Saturday, September 03, 2011 at 10:00 AM EDT
Location: 3291 Walden Ave, (Just East of Transit Road), Depew, NY 14043
Anyone who has turned a screwdriver has probably experienced a stripped wood screw. There isn’t much to it. In fact, if you are hanging a door, you will marvel at how easy it is to strip the hole. Fiixing that hole is not as difficult as you might think. I have a few quick solutions for you to try.
The most common case of the stripped wood screw comes in the form of door hinges. A door is heavy, is often abused, and the factory screw might only be 5/8″ – 3/4″ long. There isn’t much for the screw to bite into, and in many cases it will be a material such as MDF. It essentially turns to dust once crushed. If you remove the screw and send it back in on a different thread line, you will destroy what little holding power was left.
Fix a stripped wood screw
Here are the three methods that I use. The method that I use can depend on the material and supplies that I have present. It can also depend on how much time between returning the screw to the stripped hole.
Toothpicks and glue.
This is a method that my father showed me some 30 years ago. Don’t over-think this one. Slip a toothpick or two into the hole and snap them off where they exit the hole. If the hole is all the way through the material, you may want to wedge a couple in there. Adding some wood glue to the hole isn’t necessary, but I know that if I need to pull the screw from that hold in the future, it will hold my repair in place. (Again, don’t over-think it, it could be Elmer’s white glue, construction adhesive, etc). If you don’t have any toothpicks on the job site (who does) simply shave some material from a shim, or any other wood that you have nearby. If you are a golfer, and the hole is large enough, grab a golf tee. It might just be the perfect size to fill. If you do use a tee, you might want to drill a pilot hole so you don’t crack your material.
Sawdust and glue.
This method is more for filling a hold that you wont be using any more. Mix up some glue and sawdust (more saw dust than glue) and pack it in the hole. If you have the same saw dust as the material, you will end up with a close color match. Once packed, dust the surface with a bit more of the sawdust to get the color a bit closer.
Sandpaper.
This is a method that I realized was very effective. During the finishing stages of a recent project I had 3 stripped screws on a door hinge. I didn’t have any wood handy and happened to have a bit of sandpaper. I simply tore the sandpaper and rolled it up so that I could slip it into the hold. It worked perfectly. The grit on the paper was facing out and did a terrific job in biting the wood. The paper on the back worked great to allow the screw to turn in and seat.
There you have it… 3 simple solutions for securing a wood screw in a stripped hole. Seems like such common sense to most of us who do this type of work. It wasn’t until I helped a neighbor with a project that I realized many people have no idea how to correct these issues. In fact, he asked if he needed to replace the door!
I have heard this question many times. How do I cut crown molding?
Quick note for everyone. Buy more crown molding than you think you will need. The extra 10′ of molding will be a lot less money than the time and money you will spend on gas.
I still remember the time I asked a worker to put crown molding up in a room only to come back 2 hours later with 1 single piece of molding up in the room. I asked what was taking so long. He told me it took him over an hour to adjust the 2 angles on the saw. Unfortunately, I assumed he know the “simple crown molding trick“. Crown molding can be incredibly tricky unless you know the trick.
The simple trick to cut crown molding:
Angle your mitre saw at 45 degrees
Place your crown molding on the saw upside down at the angle that it would be placed against the wall/ceiling
Make your cut
Place and adjust
The key is STEP 2. Place your crown molding upside down on the saw at the angle that it would be placed against the wall/ceiling
View the video below and click on the image for a larger view of the diagram to cut crown.
It isn’t often that you find a real estate bargain on a body of water. However, certain times of year are better than others. If you purchase a property in September, don’t expect to be using it until next year. In NY State, a closing will take from 45-60 days. Even with a cash deal, the time that it takes to complete the search, survey, and title work is significant. If you add to that the time that it takes for the lawyers to work you into their schedule, you will understand why it can take so long.
In any event, if you are seeking a lake bargain, this might be the time of year. Many who have decided to sell will plan to list and sell at the end of the useful summer season.
The following is located 7 doors in from the lake on a canal. The township is North Harmony. According to the real estate listing, the cottage “needs work”. Many would call this a handyman special. I am always a bit concerned when there are no interior photos of the property. When purchasing something like this, you might want to expect it to require a cash deal.
To my eye, the exterior looks nice. The location on the water is a huge plus and at $79,999 (as of 08/30/2011) you won’t find many properties at a lower price with water frontage. The benefit of the canal front properties is the ability to tie your boat up in your back yard.
Click on the picture to view the complete listing on the Chautauqua County Board of Realtors site.
