Home Journal News

August 28, 2009

How to Apply Enamel Paint to Doors, Windows and Trim

Enamel is is one of many misleading home improvement terms. Here are some times for applying it correctly....
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How and When to Use Polyurethane in Woodworking

Developed as a substitute for rubber during World War II. Today, when a woodworker says “poly,” the polyurethane under discussion is a tough, moisture-resistant film finish available in various levels of gloss....
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August 26, 2009

How and When to Use a Lagscrew

All screws have one thing in common: a helical thread, or groove, that winds its way around a metal shaft. The largest wood screws are called lagscrews, and you'll find them in your local hardware store in sizes ranging from 1/4 in. in diameter to 1/2 in....
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How to Pour Concrete Safely

Anyone building with concrete should keep in mind these two facts: One, it will probably be around forever (think Roman aqueducts), because two, it’s awfully hard to get rid of (think pneumatic hammers and hard hats). Making it, though, is easy....
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August 20, 2009

Making Level Stringers for Stairs: PM Tool Tips

We don’t think about what holds stairs up when we walk down them. You might guess it was the walls below the stairs, but actually stairs are self-supporting structures that are held up by their stringers, the long pieces to which each tread is fastened....
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August 7, 2009

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Does the Topsy Turvy Tomato Work? As Seen on TV Lab Test

The Topsy Turvy is an inverted growing apparatus that promises not only to prevent your tomatoes from dragging on the ground and rotting, but to grow them faster and more heartily. We tested the Topsy Turvy tomatoes and tasted the results....
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July 28, 2009

Does the Wearable Towel Work? As Seen on TV Lab Test

The Wearable Towel fills some unnamed, unknown need for a hydrophilic textile that "keeps you totally covered, and gives you the freedom to use your hands." We measured its absorbency and fit after numerous dips in a creek....
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July 23, 2009

5 Ways to Work with Copper Pipe: PM Tool Tips

Although the words “pipe” and “tubing” are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Unlike pipe, tubing is thin-walled and may be rigid or flexible.Here are tips on cutting, reaming, cleaning, fluxing and soldering copper tubing....
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How to Work with Roof Shingles

To a roofer, carpenter or a handy homeowner, the humble shingle is a joy forever—well, maybe not forever. Sooner or later sunlight and weather will degrade it, but better examples of the breed can last for decades....
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July 20, 2009

When to Use a Halogen Bulb: PM Tool Tips

A halogen bulb is a long-lasting and far more energy-efficient form of the standard incandescent bulb—it can yield a 40 percent savings, by some accounts, depending on bulb type. Problem is, it runs a lot hotter—too hot for many rooms....
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Out Now: Best of '09

In November, PM awards the breakthrough products and peoples of the year. This issue celebrates the innovators and inventions that have and will change the world. Also look for DIY stone work, Jay Leno and more.

2009 PM Car Makeover

Eco-Muscle
Almost everyone agrees that hybrid cars are the next big step on our way to an all-electric future. But what if we use two parallel powertrains, gas and electric, to drive a full size car? That way, we can offer the muscular V8 performance that buyers crave, yet still produce zero emissions around town.

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Fisker's GM Plant

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