Woodworking has been a hobby of mine for over 30 years and in that time I have made a lot of stuff: furniture pieces, custom gifts for family members, shelves and home features, and plenty more I’m likely forgetting. A lot of this wouldn’t be possible without the free woodworking plans I’ve collected over the years. Today I’m sharing my favorite FREE woodworking plans from my favorite builders and sites. These plans have helped me develop my woodworking skills and create one-of-a-kind pieces for myself, and my friends and family, and I hope to spread that experience to you.

We are sharing A LOT of woodworking plans today, but we organized them to make them a little easier to sift through.

If you don’t see a free woodworking plan for a specific woodworking project then please LEAVE A COMMENT and we will do our best to find a plan for you.

Woodworking Plans for…

• Beginners
• Home & Decor
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Home Exterior
• Gifts

FREE Woodworking Plans for Beginners

Here are some of our favorite free woodworking plans for those just starting out. These projects are great for learning how to use the tools and basic principles of woodworking.

• Farm Table by Ana White
• Farm Table Benches by Ana White
• Bed Frames
• Bench with Hairpin Legs
• Outdoor Rustic Pallett Bar

BONUS! Recommended Woodworking Tools & Kits

For recommendations on woodworking tools and kits we have a few Tools in Action articles to help with that:

• 5 Woodworking Kits on Amazon
• 10 Essential Power Tools for Woodworking
• 10 Essential Hand Tools for Woodworking
• SHOKARI: How to Make Wood Look Distressed in 4 Simple Steps

Back to Guide

FREE Woodworking Plans for Living Spaces & Home Decor

• Fold-out Coffee Table Bed
• Mission Style Piano Bench
• Built-in Window Seat Bench with Open Storage
• Built-in Window Seat Bench with Hidden Storage
• Built-in Bay Window Seat with Storage
• Cubby Bench
• Organizer & Storage 3 Cubby Bench
• Built-in Bookcase
• Rustic Side Table

Back to Guide

FREE Woodworking Plans for Kitchens

Dining & Seating

• Farm Table by Ana White
• Farm Table Benches by Ana White
• Fluted Round Dining Table
• Bench with Hairpin Legs
• Kitchen Banquette
• Pallett Corner Bench

Kitchen Islands

• Kitchen Island on Wheels
• Kitchen Island with Side Storage
• “Sleek and Narrow” Pacific Kitchen Island
• Kitchen Island with Open Storage
• 3D-effect Butcherblock Countertop Island

Cabinets

• Basic Cabinet
• Chimney Cabinet
• Corner Cabinet
• Fold-out Pantry Cabinet

Misc. Storage, Decor, & Entertainment

• Modern Wall-Mounted Wine Rack
• Standing Wine Rack
• Wall-Mounted Spice Rack
• Slide-Out Cabinet Spice Rack
• Bread Board
• Scrap Wood Designer Cutting Board
• Kitchen Pantry
• Cocktail Bar with Mini Fridge Insert
• Wet Bar with Fish Tank Insert
• Barn Door Bookcase

Back to Guide

FREE Woodworking Plans for Bedrooms

Check out woodworking plans for various sizes and styles of bed, nightstands, dressers, and more. If you just need some basic plans, Kreg Tool has great plans for all your conventional bed sizes and styles.

Beds

• Adjustable Baby Crib
• Mid-Century Modern Baby Crib
• Storage Crib
• Wood Pallet Rocking Cradle
• Traditional Toddler Bed
• Toddler Floor Bed
• Farmhouse-style Twin Bed by Ana White
• Twin Murphy Bed by Ana White
• Floating Platform Bed (twin, full, queen, king, and California king)
• Twin Bunk Beds
• Twin Loft Bed
• Trundle Bed on Wheels
• Kids Clubhouse & Loft Bed
• Daybed
• Queen Bed with Twin Trundle
• Queen Modern Farmhouse Bed
• Queen Storage Bed by Ana White
• Queen Canopy Bed

Storage & more…

• Dressers
• 3-drawer Nightstand
• Modern Floating Nightstand
• Modern Nightstand with Top Drawer and Arched Cubby
• Rotating Bookcase
• Metric Bookcase
• Frameless Bookcase – any size
• Bookcase with Storage Cubbies
• Modern Dollhouse Bookcase
• Open Toy Chest
• Dollhouse
• Jewelry Cabinet

Back to Guide

FREE Woodworking Plans for Outdoors

• Woven Back Sitting Bench
• Outdoor Bench
• Garden Bench
• Outdoor Bar
• Outdoor Rustic Pallett Bar
• Garage or Storage Shelves

Back to Guide

FREE Woodworking Plans for Custom Gifts & More

• Desk Organizer
• DIY Baby Doll Crib
• Elegant Bench
• Child’s Workbench
• 3D-effect Butcherblock Countertop Island
• Modern Wall-Mounted Wine Rack
• Bread Board
• Scrap Wood Designer Cutting Board
• Fold-out Pantry Cabinet
• Cocktail Bar with Mini Fridge Insert
• Napping Bench
• Padded Stool
• Compact Folding Workbench with Storage
• Dollhouse
• Jewelry Cabinet

Back to Guide

MORE FREE Woodworking Resources

If you browsed this list then you may have noticed a few names pop-up again and again. So, if you’re still interested in more woodworking projects that weren’t on this list then there are a few sites I recommend:

• Kreg Tool
• Ana White

MORE Tools in Action articles on woodworking…

• Woodworking VS Carpentry: What’s the Difference?

The post FREE Woodworking Plans & Tutorials for Amateurs and Wannabes appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Toolz, TIA’s very own Elf on the Shelf, had so much fun here last year that he’s back! He has another great list of crafts and projects to help keep his friends busy over winter break.

Last year, Toolz put together a great list of woodworking and craft projects for kids. He has an all-new list this year, and just like last year’s projects, these are fun things to make and do. Kiddos will have fun learning new skills while making some super cool stuff. And best of all, many of these can be given as gifts.

Cardboard Boxes, Friendship Bracelets Galore!

If we saved all our cardboard boxes, over time most of us would have enough to build a small city. Recycling them helps, but it seems such a shame to just toss them out. Toolz wants you to know there are sooooo many fun projects you can use them for. There is a limitless variety of kits with tools, braces, screws, and bolts to create hundreds of things out of those cardboard boxes: forts, airplanes, animals, costumes, and on and on. Below are three favorites, but you can follow this link for more great ideas and supplies.

Elmer’s Build It Tools Starter Set

Toolz used the tools and connectors in this kit to make his house (pictured above). Toolz says he likes this set but wishes the screws were a bit longer.

Amazon Review: This would make a great gift – This was like a great gift for any child that like to build with building blocks and other things like that because you don’t have to buy extra blocks you just have to make sure they have cardboard to make their new projects. You can also buy extra screws if they keep losing theirs.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Makedo Discover Cardboard Construction Toolbox

This kit comes in three sizes; Explore has 50 pieces including two tools, Discover (shown below) has 126 pieces including four tools, and if you really want to help your kiddo build an actual city in their room give them the Invent version. It has 360 pieces including three tools.

Amazon Review: The Coolest Toy I’ve Seen In A Long Time – This open-ended cardboard construction kit is incredibly cool. The screws hold very well and go through many layers. The cutting tools are safe and effective on cardboard. With the amount of boxes we get delivered to our home and business, it is wonderful to have a way to recycle the boxes into something creative!

Where to Buy: Amazon

Cardboard Box Engineering

This 176 page book might be Toolz’s favorite. Your child will never look at regular household items the same way again. They will find pages and pages of instructions and diagrams on how to make everything from animatronics to robots, with things found around the house. “STEAM activities, such as the ones featured throughout the text, foster creativity, problem-solving, and teach the value of repurposing items.” They will be introduced to the fields of audio and optical engineering, aeronautics and nautical engineering, mechanical engineering, and energy.

Amazon Review: I really wish I’d had a book like this when I was a kid, and I think any young person who gets their hands on this book is really lucky. Who knows what kind of awesomeness this will inspire? I can’t think of a better way to get kids away from screens and working with their hands, thinking, and inventing. This book might even change the world!

Where to Buy: Amazon

Friendship Bracelets Kit

Just like all those cardboard boxes it seems like friendship bracelets are everywhere. Toolz loves all of his! (Did you see them in his profile picture?) So he wanted to make some bracelets to share with all his friends. He’s here to tell you there are not only kits with beads and strings and all the things needed to make bracelets to wear and share, but there are also lots of ways to make paper beads. Two of his favorite kits are below.

This kit has enough beads to make a bracelet for every relative at the next family holiday party. Toolz thinks grandpa would love a bracelet from his favorite granddaughter.

Amazon Review: Swiftie Fans Will Love This – My 6 year old and I have used this kit to make several bracelets for ourselves and for others. She loves making them for her teachers and comes up with the cutest designs with all of the color options available. There are so many beads and so many different styles you can create. It has a ton of letters and symbols. I will buy again when needed.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Recycled Paper Beads Kit

Toolz likes this kit because it has everything needed to make one-of-a-kind beads for bracelets and necklaces, or even garland. He also likes that you can (re)use old magazines and newspapers to make the beads. And he wants you to know there are lots of other ways to make these paper beads. You can just wrap the cut strips of paper around a toothpick, straw, or wooden skewer, then use paper glue or even nail polish to finish off the beads. Here’s a video on how to make cool paper beads using a straw and some paper glue.

Amazon Review: Easiest recycling project – Easy to use, my students (5th grade) loved it, even the young men were volunteering to make paper beads. It turned out amazing, the whole class was involved. It doesn’t come with a bottle so we used an old 2 liter bottle to attach the roller to. It worked out so well, for being a small attachment it withstood the use we put into it.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Plush Keychains Making Kit

While Mom and Dad are preparing the family’s Thanksgiving feast, the kids can be making gifts and gift tags for that other holiday that is just around the corner, like these Plush Keychains. Toolz would love for some of his Elf on the Shelf cousins to bring these kits before Thanksgiving so everyone can be busy with holiday preparations.

Amazon Review: Cute and Fun to Make! – This is a really cute craft for kids to make. My 9-year-old daughter was able to read and follow the instructions on how to make this even without me helping at all. She made two out of the three characters up and said she had a lot of fun. These are key chains but can be used as little toy characters by removing the loop that holds the keychain in place. I do notice that the “puffs” can come out easily if they are not put in well enough. The quality seems to be nice and these were a lot of fun for us to do together. The instructions were clear and everything was easy to figure out!

Where to Buy: Amazon

Cross Stitching Keyrings Kit

We love when kids are having fun and learning, and this kit delivers both. Kids will begin to learn how to cross stitch plus improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Amazon Review: Fun and Excellent Motor Skills Tool – I bought this for my 5 year old boy and we worked on it last night. It is a good challenge for him and was a lot of fun creating something. He had to use his thinking and motor skills for it. We worked on the unicorn pillow and the bunny key chain. First thing he said this morning was that he wanted to cross stitch! I’d say that is a win. It reminds me of working on a cross stitch picture when I was very young.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Sewing Keyring Kit for Kids

This kit makes six adorable keychains that kids can keep or give as gifts. Toolz says they will be having so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning basic sewing skills as well.

Amazon Review – Fun – Soft – Easy – What a great introduction to sewing for little hands! I had a blast doing these with my grand girls (ages 4 & 6). The instructions were super easy to follow, everything was included even the fluff to stuff inside. The needles are large with a big eye so it’s easy for them to put the thread through. You have the back portion and the fur-like cutouts both have holes. All you do it line them up and start sewing! There are several dog and cat patterns to choose from, so this kit has allowed us to spend special visits doing these more often. The 2 yr old also helped in doing one of the cats, which I had her pulling the needle on each pass. She loved it! The features are stickers made with felt toppings, perfect for the eyes, nose, ears, etc. This project with the girls took about an hour, what great memories!

Where to Buy: Amazon

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Modeling Clay Arts & Crafts Kit

Most of us grew up with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC as the best known source for all things nature and environment. So when we saw this all-in-one air-dry pottery kit from NG, we had to check it out. The kit can make five holiday ornaments AND four leaf shaped dishes. And not only will kids learn the fundamentals of air-dry pottery making, with the included full-color Learning Guide, they will learn what clay is, the history of clay pottery, and the many ways cultures have used clay over time.

Amazon Review: High quality kit–after painting the clay items really look great! – This kit was actually pretty impressive. My seven year old made an acorn ornament that looked okay but then once he painted it with the included paints it looked just really good–significantly better than I expected. We used our normal kitchen rolling pin to squish the clay down, but other than that everything else we needed was included in the kit. He’s successfully made two acorns, but the tree cracked in half…now full disclosure, my seven year old was handling the tree when it broke and I don’t think it was completely dry at the time.

There is enough clay included with the kit to make a ton of ornaments/trays and there is also plenty of high quality paint. For the price ($17) I think this is a really good activity for an artsy child.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Cookie Cutters for Everything!

We love this set because it has shapes for the whole year, not just the holidays. You can make some traditional sugar cookies to decorate, follow this recipe to make cinnamon applesauce ornaments, or use these with the clay and markers in the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Modeling Clay Arts and Crafts Kit shown above. Or all three ways for endless projects of gifts, gift tags, and goodies.

Amazon Review: Love the selection – I was a little iffy on them since they are plastic but they work surprisingly really good. They feel fairly sturdy. I love the selection of different cookie cutters. Something for every occasion. Definitely makes making cookies more fun. I’ve been looking around for cookie cutters for a while. Lots were pretty expensive with only a few. Happy I found these!

Where to Buy: Amazon

Elf on The Shelf Baker Outfit

Imagine how great Toolz would look baking cookies with this baking set.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Christmas Tree Ornament Decorating Kit

All of the BIG kids here at TIA asked Toolz to bring us one of these the next time he visits. This looks like too much fun.

Amazon Review: Great Fun for Busy Little Hands! – Purchased as a pre-Xmas gift for the 5 & 6 year old to decorate their Xmas tree. It is one of their holiday highlights! I know they will enjoy decorating their own ornaments!! So fun!! Bet Mom and Dad get involved, too!! Even ordered the extra ornaments. All parts seem to be sturdy and are lightweight. Kit is complete with ornaments, markers and the spinning machine. Can’t wait to see the completed works of art, on the tree!!

Where to Buy: Amazon

Wind Chime Kits- Arts and Crafts for Kids

Toolz really hit the mark on this one. This kit will make three gifts that can be enjoyed year-round. Gift for grandma … check. Teacher’s gift … check. Gift for Auntie Sally … check.

Amazon Review: So much better than I expected. – You get three wind chimes, plenty of paint. This was a great craft project for my 10 year old grandsons to make as gifts. They did need help putting the chimes together, which made for a very pleasant family time.

Where to Buy: Amazon

3D String Light Kit

We think you should get two or three of these sets because every kid that makes them will want to keep them for their room. You’ll need some extras if the kids want to give a few away as gifts.

Amazon Review: So fun! – This is really one of the cooler at home art projects for kids. Such a fun process and my daughter and I both had a great time using it!

Where to Buy: Amazon

3Doodler Start+ Essentials (2024) 3D Pen Set for Kids

3-D printing technology is everywhere. This safe (no hot parts) 3-D printing pen will be your kid’s introduction to this technology. “Cut back on children’s screen time with 3Doodler Start+ and let them enjoy hours of play and learning as they make real-world connections to a variety of STEM concepts in a matter of seconds.”

Amazon Review: 3-D doodler set – Absolutely awesome gift for kids ages five through 12. Kids can use this to create 3-D artwork. It is a great price but the refill can get costly. It certainly keeps kids entertained that is fun to use. Many kids may start in their stem labs or maker space.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Toolz Loves Toywoo Tools

Toolz could only carry the Toywoo Toolbox today, but he says he really loves the Toywoo Tool Bench he has at home.

Toywoo Tool Bench

Amazon Review: Just buy it!!! – We’re totally in love with this work bench. We also bought the toolbox (for more screws etc) and it’s a total fit. Our little one (1year) just loves it. Every day he’s playing with it and improving his (fine) motor skills. It’s well made and easy to assemble. Yes, the wood‘s not that hard and you see scratches very fast BUT it’s a work bench so it needs scratches to show that your working on it and in the end we won’t inherit it to our grandchildren… ? Absolutely recommend it!!!

Where to Buy: Amazon

For kids big enough to use “real” tools, Toolz says give them the Wood Shop: Handy Skills and Creative Building Projects for Kids book and some real tools. They’ll spend hours learning basic woodworking skills. And maybe even make a few great gifts with these tools and some lumber.

Yougfin Drill Sets Power Tool Combo Kit

Amazon Review: Powerful, Precise, and Perfect for Every DIY Project – I am positively impressed with this electric drill set! The 18+1 clutch settings and torque control offer excellent precision for all my drilling needs, whether it’s for larger fasteners or delicate tasks. The two-speed settings allow me to tackle various projects without worrying about damaging surfaces. The battery life is fantastic, and the fast charger ensures I’m never stuck waiting around. The ergonomic design makes it comfortable to use, even for extended periods, and the LED light is a game-changer for working in dim corners. Plus, the 195-piece tool kit is incredibly comprehensive—everything I need is right at my fingertips. Highly recommend this for any DIY lover.

Where to Buy: Amazon

And if you have a really serious woodworker on your Christmas list, now is a great time to check out all the tools and tool sets on sale at The Home Depot.

ONE+ 18V Cordless 6-Tool Combo Kit with 1.5 Ah and 4.0 Ah Batteries, Charger, and 65-Piece Drill and Impact Drive Kit

Where to Buy: The Home Depot – On Sale for $218.97 – Save $105 (32%)

RYOBI also has an extensive line of tools for hobbyists and crafters. These would make great gifts, some are on sale now. TIA and Toolz will keep you posted on any great holiday deals we find at The Home Depot; Black Friday deals have already begun.

Truck Engine Toy – Perfect for STEM Learning

The world needs more great mechanics. Do you have a budding mechanic on your Christmas list? If so, they’ll love “fixing” this school bus (there is a fire truck option as well). “Kids can open the engine cover, remove and rebuild engine parts, and use the oil dipstick for an authentic experience in checking oil levels.”

Amazon Review: Cute – Very cute great quality. Got it for my son who loves to watch his dad work on his car. Thought it would be cute to give him something he can “work” on while he’s outside with him. Very interactive and lots of fun. Worth the price.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Toolz Extra Tips

During Toolz’s visit to the TIA workshop he gave us a great tip for when it’s hard to get him into all those crazy positions and spaces every night. He says this Elf Flex will help him be much more flexible, bendable, and cooperative. He doesn’t mean to be difficult, and after all who couldn’t use a little help now and then?

Along with all these great ideas Toolz had a few more things to share with us. He told us that his Elf on the Shelf family has an official website, elfontheshelf.com. On the website you’ll find the rules (who knew?) for Elf on the Shelf as well as more great ideas, props, and games. There are also tons of ideas and props on Amazon.

Toolz says he’d love to hear if any of his Elf on the Shelf cousins bring these this year and he wishes everyone happy and healthy holidays.

The post Christmas 2024 Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Toolz! appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Welcome to 2024! This is the year you vowed to keep your garage and workshop more organized, right? Then you’re going to need a good storage system. Today we’re reviewing different types of wall storage for tools. With the right system, anyone can keep their garage or workspace clean. So, let’s check out different kinds of wall storage and find the one that works best for you and your space.

Tool Wall Storage Guide

• Benefits of Wall Storage
• Pegboard
• French Cleat
• Steel & Magnetic

Benefits of Wall Storage for Tools

Here are some of my favorite reasons why wall storage for tools works great in a garage or workshop:

• Makes use of walls which otherwise could be seen as wasted space.
• Floor space is usually for workspace and should be open. So there isn’t a lot of room for tools. The walls allow you to utilize vertical storage.
• Great visual storage system.
• Wall storage is generally customizable. This allows you to store even the weirdest shaped tools that don’t seem to fit anywhere. Tools can also be stored to be more accessible.
• Easy to DIY and can be done on any budget.

These are all my favorite reasons to use wall storage for tools. Did I miss anything? Leave a comment about why you use wall storage for tools and more.

Back to Guide

Types of Wall Storage for Tools

As we mentioned there are a variety of wall storage systems. Some may be more common than others and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We are going over all of this so you can choose the best system for your garage or workshop.

Pegboard Wall Storage

A pegboard system may be the most common style of wall storage for tools. It’s likely this is because it’s a very affordable system that is easy to DIY. The materials for a pegboard wall can be found at most hardware and craft stores and some supermarkets.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: A pegboard system is affordable and easy to install and customize.
• Cons: Pegboard is lightweight and has a max carrying weight around 100 lbs. This max is lighter than some other options.

Pegboard Materials

We found standard pegboards along with hooks and accessories at The Home Depot, ACE Hardware, and Amazon. The standard style pegboards range from around $15-$40. Hooks and accessories (many available as kits) were anywhere from $9-$35.

A pegboard and your choice of hooks and accessories are all you need for a pegboard wall. Installing the wall is pretty simple as well. The only tools you need for that are a measuring tape, drill, screws, level, circular saw, stud finder, pencil, and eye and ear protection.

How to Hang a Pegboard

The Home Depot has a great video tutorial that walks you through all the steps of hanging a pegboard.

Back to Guide

French Cleat Wall Storage

Pegboards may be the most common type of wall storage, but French cleat shelves may be one of the oldest and most reliable storage systems. In fact, French cleats date back to the 1800s.

A French cleat is generally made from a piece of wood that has a 45-degree angle that points down and the flat top rests on the back of another piece of wood. The angle allows the cleat to sit securely into place and has fairly a strong hold. It also results in a clean look that hides screws and anchors.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Strong carrying weight capacity, it looks nice, completely customizable, easy to rearrange, and can be made from scratch or with store-bought materials/systems.
• Cons: From scratch systems can be time consuming and require some construction skill (or you’ll gain some), can be expensive, and more labor intensive to put up or take down.

French Cleat Storage Wall Materials

As we mentioned, French cleat storage system kits are available. However, if you want to make your own, custom French cleat storage wall then you are going to need a lot of plywood, measuring tape, a level, circular or table saw, stud finder, pencil, drill, screws, and eye and ear protection.

The materials you need for a French cleat system are not much different than what you need for a pegboard system. However, if you’re going the custom route it’s just going to take a lot more time, precision, and skill. You can also use a lot of similar accessories, such as hooks and baskets.

How to Build & Install a French Cleat Storage Wall

The Family Handyman has a great step-by-step article on building a French cleat tool storage wall.

Back to Guide

Steel & Magnetic Wall Storage

[Special mention: TIA reviewed the Wall Control System back in 2019. We liked it then and still think it is a great pegboard/magnetic hybrid system. Pictured above, Wall Control 4 ft. Metal Pegboard Standard Tool Storage Kit with Black Toolboard and Black Accessories on Amazon for $133.51. You can use Wall Control Hooks and Accessories, as well as any magnetic hooks you like. There are even some hook-and-loop magnetic straps that offer even more storage and organizational options.]

All-magnetic storage walls are probably the newest wall storage system for tools, at least that we’ll talk about today. These systems are getting more popular because magnets are getting better. Magnets also allow you to not just use your wall, but any magnetic surface in your garage or workshop. This can include tables, toolboxes, work benches, and so on.

There are a few different systems out there. Metal magnetic pegboards have been around for a while. They add a little extra holding power to your traditional pegboard system. Steel wall mount or steel bar storage system are other options. With this style you have freeform magnets, hooks and accessories that you can place anywhere you want and are not limited to peg holes or fixed shelves.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Strong carrying capacity, can offer a more secure magnetic hold, and can be used on any magnetic surface, easy to install and modify.
• Cons: Magnetic walls, hooks and accessories cost more, especially magnets strong enough to hold tools. Also, unless you have an auto-release magnetic they can be difficult to adjust.

Magnetic Storage Wall Materials

A magnetic pegboard or steel wall mount, plus magnetic hooks and accessories is all you need for the actual board.

For installation you need drill, screws, level, stud finder, and pencil. Some magnetic steel bars only require the adhesive they come with, but I recommend something stronger for tool storage. But all-in-all you actually need less supplies than the other storage walls.

How to Install a Magnetic Storage Wall for Tools

Gator Magnetics has a tutorial on how to install steel wall mounts. This process is actually pretty similar to magnetic pegboards and other magnetic wall systems.

Back to Guide

Wrap-up

So pegboard, French cleat, and magnets are the most popular styles of storage walls for tools. Which one do you like the most or think you are going to try in your space? Better yet, share your setup with us! Show us what interesting items you’ve managed to store with your wall storage system.

Did you like this article on organization? Stay tuned for more articles this month to help you stay organized in 2024.

The post Different Types of Wall Storage for Tools appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Look at who showed up at the TIA workshop. It’s Toolz, our Elf on the Shelf, or Elf on the workbench in our case! He must have heard us talking about him. He’s here to share his own special DIY Elf on the Shelf activities to do over winter break.

We are all parents here. Some of us have grown children, some have wee ones. And almost all of us have done, or are still doing “Elf on the Shelf”.

So when Toolz showed up in our work shop were were sure happy to see him. This year he wants our help getting as many kids as possible into woodworking and crafts – two things he loves!

If your kiddos are going to be home for a few weeks and you’re looking for some fun things for them to do; Toolz to the rescue! He has some great projects for your kids, and with a bonus. His ideas are projects your kids can proudly give as gifts for the holidays.

Here’s some Elf on the Shelf ideas for you.

Elf on The Shelf Activities Guide

• Tools & Supplies
• Elf on the Shelf Activities
• Recruit Your Own Elf
• More TIA Craft Projects

Not only are we giving you Elf on the Shelf ideas (you’re welcome), we’ve included links to all the props we used. And here’s the big bonus, these will keep your kids busy while they are home on break from school (you’re welcome, again).

Elf on the Shelf Tools from Toolz

“I brought you some tools so you can make this birdhouse for Grandma for Christmas. I’m sure she’ll love it because you made it. Working with tools can be dangerous, but I know you’ll be careful.” ~Toolz

REXBETI 10-Piece Real Hand Tools Kids Tool Set with Tool Bag

These are not play tools. This kit is made with tools for kids 8 and up. It comes with a hammer, a wrench, two screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, tape measure, two rulers, safety glasses, and a tool bag to put it all in. Don’t think of these as play tools. These are just slightly shrunken-down versions of their parent’s tools and are great for introducing kids to construction projects.

• Amazon Review: “I bought this for my son and he loves it. The tools are small for little hands but they work great and are actual tools. Would also make a good tool kit to just have in the house.”
• Where to Buy: Amazon

Paint Smock

“These projects could get a bit messy. Make sure to wear your paint smock, and try not to get any paint on mom’s furniture.” ~Toolz

Available in two sizes for kids ages 5-14.

• Amazon Review: “Perfect for my 4year old granddaughter who loves to paint. Very colorful and protective as well. And she loves it!”
• Where to Buy: Amazon

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

Elf on the Shelf Activities

Toolz shared with us his list of Elf on the Shelf activities. However, he had a little trouble with the computer, so we went and found some activity sets to make gathering your supplies a little easier.

Build a Birdhouse

Maybe Grandma would like something else constructed by her favorite grandchild? Or maybe you’ll see a kit or two that you know your kid will want to construct and keep. You could grab one or two for them to work on over their school break, and perhaps Santa could bring a few more if you see your kids is a budding carpenter.

To build from scratch, check out our TIA article How to Build a Birdhouse. Prefer to have the materials sent to your house? We like this birdhouse kit on Amazon.

• Amazon Review: “We just made these with our boys (8 and 11). They only needed a little bit of help and quite enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see if we get some birds some time after we hang them in our trees. If not, they are a beautiful decorative item for our yard anyway!”
• Where to Buy: Amazon, or
• Build from Scratch: TIA article How to Build a Birdhouse.
• More Options: More birdhouse kits on Amazon.

Hand-Painted Custom Ornaments 

Toolz heard that Mom, Grandma, and Auntie all need some new ornaments for their trees. Let your kids gift them ornaments with their own festive flare!

There are tons of great ornament kits on Amazon, but this one is our favorite ornament painting kit.

• Amazon Review: “I hate writing this review. This is a quality craft kit—the wood ornaments are beautiful. Laser cut and sanded very smooth, makes painting on them an absolute joy.”
• Where to Buy: Most ornament kits range from around $8-25 on Amazon.

More Kids DIY Activities

Toolz really enjoyed the TIA article Home Improvement & Craft Tools for Kids & Adults. That gift guide has more projects he’d love to help the kids with.

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

Elf on the Shelf Accessories

Toolz is positively flattered that you enjoyed all his tools and accessories. Lucky you, he told us where he got everything and even how to send one of his own elf friends to hang out on your shelf!

Recruit Your Own Elf

• Amazon Review: “This little guy has a lot of spunk. He never stays in the same place, and we find our things moved around a lot. He doesn’t steal anything, so he isn’t malicious. Of course, he sits perfectly still when we are looking at him, but after dark is when he seems to be the most active. We’re hoping he gets a job so he can start paying his share of the bills, as we now go through milk and cookies like never before. Other than that, he’s pretty cool.”
• Where to Buy: Toolz and his friends charge a one-time fee around $9-25 to continually add a little festive spirit to your home year after year.

Elf on the Shelf Props & Accessories

Elf on The Shelf Activity Props & Accessories

1 of 3

• Tool Set & Toolbox: Amazon
• Paint Palette: Amazon
• Mini Birdhouse: Amazon

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

More TIA Craft Projects

Did you enjoy this Elf on the Shelf activity? Toolz may be out of ideas but TIA certainly is not! Check out some of our previous DIY articles.

• How to Make a Charcuterie Board
• How to Make a Cutting Board
• Hanging Planter with Chalkboard Tutorial

The post Meet Toolz! He’s Here to Share Elf on the Shelf Activities for Winter Break! appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Should you remodel your house or move? That is the question.  For us, it was an easy answer to the question since we love the town, it’s safe and it has good schools for our kids.  So for us, the only answer was remodeling the house.  So we did our research and knew exactly the problems we would run into and what we could avoid, well at least we thought.

As you know there is a lot to this subject and people have written books so I am not going into every little detail.  I am going to view this from some other experiences that I ran into such as different products. No, not expensive products but products that made the job easier or harder.

The Project

Our remodel was a two-part project.  Our goal was to work on the front of the house which was the existing house.  Then once that was complete, we would start the addition in the back of the house.

The Expected

Remodel

The house was built in 1924 so I knew the remodel part wouldn’t be smooth.  Since I was doing a majority of this project, I knew there wasn’t going to be a problem with contractors, etc.  This was more on me and whether my budget was good or bad.

Here are a couple of pictures of before and after.  This is just the upstairs where we took the attic and converted it into a playroom.  As you can see I still had to work on the banister.  If you want to see a little more about the project, take a look at the WindsorOne as I have some pictures there.

1 of 2

Addition

So we knew that our project would cost more and take longer than we expected.  So no issues there, but it is still frustrating.  We had a concrete company set up to pour concrete in the fall of 2018 so I could enclose the house and work on it in the wintertime.  Well as you would guess, he flaked out and the job never happened.  So I had to wait until next summer.

My framers also backed out because it was a busy time and business was good.  So they realized they underbid the project and bolted.  So I had to go with another company that ended up being a nightmare.  Again, these are things that happen and we were prepared but never the less, still aggravating when things like this happen.

There were other smaller items but that is for another article down the road.  I really want to jump into things that I never read or things that were never told to me about various products.

The Unexpected – Products

The biggest surprises were not the inspections, the budgeting or the workers, it was the products I used.  This was something I never thought about before I started.  Everything I researched never talked about this. This was something that blew my mind because not only did I waste time and money but it was frustrating as heck because it makes something easy more difficult than it should of been.  Now during this project, there were about ten items that I will never use again but I also found a bunch of products that were well above my expectations and made life easier.  I am only going to talk about two items here today because my point is that before you start a project, understand all the materials and products you will be using to help relieve stress down the road.

Scotch Blue Tape

The first product is Scotch Blue Tape.  I am not sure why they sell this tape because it’s pure junk. We used it for painting, epoxy, trim, measuring and more.  The tape tears so easily when trying to take it off and it curls when trying to apply the tape to a surface.  I wasted so much time taking the tape off painted surfaces and it was impossible with the epoxy projects.

I ended up switching over to Frog tape and what a difference.  After painting, the Frog tape came off easily and especially when we used the epoxy for the shelves.  If you want a good tape, go with Frog tape.

Deck Mate Screws

The second item is Deck Mate Screws.  Again, not sure why they sell these because they are pure junk.  I can’t tell you how many had either a head where the bit wouldn’t fit properly or worst yet, it wouldn’t grab the wood to start the fastening application.

Even the times when it would grab, it seems like you had to apply so much pressure to get the screw to grab and work.  Over the years, I have used a wide variety of fasteners and have never seen anything like Deck mate screws. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and maybe I had two bad boxes.  I do know they sell them in the big box stores so they have to be somewhat good or maybe that is the only option on the market but I didn’t have good luck with them.

I ended up switching to other screws and what a difference.  Again, it was more frustrating because of the time I had to spend going to the store, coming back to the house and trying to sink the screws, then going back to return them and get a different brand.  Just a frustrating experience.

My point here is not to complain about products but I wanted to give you two examples as to why one of the unforeseen items is products and something I never thought about before I started the project.

So with that, just make sure you account that things like this will come up and cause a kink in your day, week or month.  Either way, it is a hassle and frustrating.

On the good side, here is just one example of a product I found that was awesome, Ram Board.

Ram Board is awesome.  The only thing I was saving in the house was our hardwood floors so I used this product and it performed better than I thought.  I spilled paint, oil and walked all over the Ram Board and it held up like a champ. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than competitors but well worth it.  For me, I didn’t buy the Ram Board tape as that was expensive.  I just used Duct Tape as it was less expensive.

Wrap Up

In the end, you will always run into unforeseen issues with either workers, the inspection, the products you use or something else, it’s inevitable.  If you go into a project and understand that issues will arise, while it won’t make it less stressful, it will make it easier to handle.

The biggest unforeseen issue with me was products.  For the rest of the items like contractors, money, and inspections, I was aware and prepared for this.  So before you jump into a project, take time and learn about certain products you are going to use because a little research now can save time, money and hassle down the road.

The post What I learned from my House Remodel Project appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Back in 2012 we installed a Blaze King Fireplace insert, the princess model.  At the time I loved it.  I loved the look, the qualities, the features and pretty much everything about the insert.  My only question was how would it hold up over time?  So here we are 8 years later and I don’t know how many tons of wood I have burned over those years.

Blaze King Princess – Information

• Name – Blaze King
• Model – Princess 29
• Where to Buy – Dealer Search
• Original Review – Original Review in 2012
• 1st Update – Update in 2015
• Blaze King – Blaze King Website

Blaze King Princess – Revisit Information

1 of 3

If you take a look at the older pictures, I have made changes to the tile and back but one thing that hasn’t changed is having the Blaze King as the center stone of our living room.  The Princess is just such a beautiful looking insert.  We want this to stand out and when we remodeled the house, one thing we knew was that whatever tile we used, we wanted the insert to stand out, which it does.  When you walk in our house, the first thing people comment on is the insert since it’s in the first room people see. Over the years I can not believe how many people have asked us about the insert, from our readers to people who come into my house.

The insert has a built-in fan and on the top, you can see three fins that help heat up and blow the warm air into the house.  On the top there is a heat gauge which I did have to replace but only because when we were doing the demo in the house, I dropped plaster and it bent the indicator.

As you can see the paint and the glass has held up.  Sure I have some scratches over the years because of kids, the demo work and just dropping stuff but overall, the paint looks great.

Even the handles look awesome.  The stain and color haven’t changed or worn off.

1 of 2

When you open the door, the rope seal is still in place and not frayed.  The glass is dirty but I have been running it on low.  Once you turn the heat up, the glass clears off.  Each spring when I do the cleaning, I scrape the glass and it looks just as good as it did the first day.

On the right side is where you control the damper.  I haven’t had any issues and it still turns easily.

The fan is located on the left side.  As with the damper, the fan switch is easy to turn and no issues.

1 of 2

It’s hard to see because I am using the insert but the only problem I have is one of the bricks cracked but I am pretty sure that is because I threw a piece of wood in there and it probably cracked the brick.

Blaze King Princess Update – My Thoughts

We get a lot of emails asking me how the Blaze King is holding up.  So I figure I would do this update with the pros and cons to this insert and my experience over the years.

Pros – The pros outweigh the cons by a mile.

• Efficiency – I love the efficiency of the insert.  I can put wood in the insert before bed and when I wake up, 8 hours later, the insert is still hot and has plenty of heat so I can put new wood in and keep the fire going.
• Quality – I love the look and the quality of the unit.  The insert is solid and works like it did on day one.
• Converter – I haven’t had to replace the converter but it’s easy to take out and clean.  I know this can be pricey to change so I am happy it has lasted 8 years.  The last time I took it out, last spring, it was in good condition.  A few minor cracks but still in great shape. I will probably have to replace it this year or next year and will keep you up to date.
• Fan – The fan has lasted all these years.  I have the fan on all winter and it never turns off so that says a lot about the build quality.
• Heat – The insert does an awesome job.  We pretty much leave it on the lowest setting and it heats my four rooms plus my upstairs.  Occasionally I will turn it to high to burn off the stuff on the glass and converter. I am in the process of putting a house fan in and will be able to circulate the heat around the whole house which will be nice.

Cons – Not much to complain about

• Noise – Since it’s all-metal, occasionally I do get some rattling going on in two places. Where the shroud meets the top plate, it rattles.  As you can see I have a piece of paper in there to stop the rattling.  The other place is by the damper.  There is a chain and when the insert hits the right temp, something in there will rattle and I think it’s either the chain or the cover. Don’t get me wrong, 97% of the time it’s quiet but occasionally when the fan is running, it will cause some noise.  The fan also will rattle sometimes which can be annoying.  If I change the speed, it goes away but still is annoying and shouldn’t happen.

Tips and Tricks

You will learn a lot about the insert over the year but here are three good tips:

1. Clean your insert every year.  I noticed I didn’t clean it for two years straight and the third year, when I would open the door, smoke would always come into the house.  Since then I clean it every summer and never have any issues with smoke coming in the house.  Yes, you will get a little but I think you understand the difference.
2. When you get wood, always get a couple of full pieces that aren’t cut.  Sometimes I love throwing these in the fire before bed as they slow burn and if I sleep in the next morning, it’s still nice and hot and can add wood.
3. Make sure you run the stove on high at least once a week.  See the owner’s manual as it might be different but I have mine on low almost all the time.  When you run it on high, it cleans the glass and cleans the converter.

Blaze King Princess Update – Wrap Up

Bottom line I love this insert.  The Blaze King is beautiful and built to last.  If you are looking into getting a Blaze King Princess Insert, I highly recommend buying it.  I know it’s a big purchase but trust me, you will be happy and absolutely love it.

The post Blaze King Princess Update appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Birdhouses are one of those first projects that every kid remembers. As a child, I remember building some in Girl Scouts and I have already built several with my own kids. Mine was likely the one covered in far too much paint and glitter but you better believe that thing was never coming apart! I am thankfully more minimalistic in decor today. When thinking of a fun project to include in this Mother’s Day Series that kids could be a part of, a birdhouse seemed only natural. To check out my plans and learn to build your own with a few simple tools and a single cedar fence picket, read on!

Design

I played around a bit with some really cool designs, but nothing felt quite as good as the classic A-style framed birdhouse. Sometimes classic is the best direction because it’s iconic. Like aviator sunglasses, it will never go out of style. To make it a bit more interesting, I added larger ventilation and I encourage a million times over to add some unique touches.  Ill include some ideas later in the post, but be sure to go with what feels best!

Supply List

• Cedar Fence Picket- 6ft
• Twine or a hook to hang it with
• Wood Glue
• Narrow Crown Staples or Brad Nails
• Nail for perching

Tool List

• Narrow Crown Stapler or Brad Nailer
• Miter Saw
• Table Saw (optional)
• Drill
• 1.25-inch Hole Saw

Cut List

• 2-8-inch boards (sides)
• 2-11-inch boards (roof) ( one trim to 5-inches wide with a table saw)
• 2-10.5 inch boards (front and back) (cut at 45 for the peak)
• 1-9.25 inch board (bottom)

Instructions

Start by cutting your fence picket down into each smaller board.  You will have a small piece left over

You will cut the front and back pieces at a 45-degree angle, on each side to form a peak.

Next, you will want to cut a hole in the front of your front board using a hole saw. Try to keep the hole center, and for this, I used a 1.25-inch hole saw. I used part of my 13 piece Hole Dozer set from Milwaukee for this, which cut easily through the cedar.

One last cut to make is on the table saw. For your roof pieces, in order to be symmetrical, you will need to trim one down to 5 1/8 inch.

Now that all of the cuts are made, we can move on to assembly!

Pull your front and back pieces as well as the side pieces out. (This front did not have the hole driven yet, but it is easier to add it prior to assembly.)

To assemble the main structure of the birdhouse you will attach the sides to the front and back. Use wood glue on the short end of the sideboard and position the front board so the bottom is flush.

The top of the sideboards will not be flush with the flat of the front board. That allows for ventilation. Secure with either crown staples or brad nails.

Attach the other side piece the same way. With wood glue and the narrow crown stapler.

Attaching the base is the last step before the roof. Always dry fit this piece a bit and trim if needed. I noticed some slight warping of the boards could adjust the base 1/8 of an inch or so. Attach using nails and glue.

The last pieces left, are the roof boards.

Prior to attaching the roof, you have the option to drill two small holes into the roof to run twine through to hang the birdhouse.

Attach the narrower roof panel first, being sure to get it as flush with the peak as possible. Use the crown stapler and wood glue to attach.

Ready to hang!

An alternate hanging method is to attach the remaining scrap with wood glue and a few nails to the back of the birdhouse allowing an easy way to attach to a fence or structure.

Attach the screws to the front so that your winged friends have a place to perch, and you are done!

Conclusion

Birdhouse Tutorial

1 of 3

Both of my kids got into the mix on this project!

This birdhouse is an easy and fun to make project! Any person who enjoys the outdoors will love seeing birds make nests in them and even more so, will love the thought that went into them. Decorating is also a fun part that kids will really enjoy, so don’t be afraid to get really creative! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #TIAcrew on social media so we can be sure to check out your creations!

Tips and Tricks

• You can always seal your birdhouse, but its a matter of preference! If you decide to paint it, or your kids do, be sure to protect that effort!
• If you do not have a Narrow Crown Stapler or a Brad Nailer, you can always use small nails and a hammer. I’ve done many projects that way!
• I used a waterproof wood glue on this birdhouse, while not required, it does help add a but more protection from the elements.
• If you do not have a table saw, don’t stress about it! One roof panel being wider than the other is no big deal! If anything, incorporate it into your design!

The post How to Build a Birdhouse appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

A few weeks ago, I was asked if I could help out with a simple “how to” series for Mother’s Day.  The idea was to come up with a simple build that could be done in a weekend and given away as a Mother’s day gift.  I thought this was a great idea and of course, I was on board.

I had remembered seeing barrel staves for sale at a Rockler that I had visited recently and that reminded me that I had a few of those left over from a job that a bar wanted me to do for them.  I know that wine barrel projects are pretty popular now, so I decided to make something simple and a little bit trendy.  The bulk of this project can be done in about an hour or two.

Supply List

• Barrel Staves
• 1/2″ dowel rod
• Danish Oil
• Wood Glue
• Polycrylic (or any other top coat product)
• Foam Brush

Tool List

• Sander
• Forstner Bits (1/2″ and 2″)
• Saw (Miter saw, table saw, bandsaw or hand saw)
• Drill (Drill Press preferably or a hand-held drill)

Instructions

The very first thing to do for this project is to pick out the two barrel staves you are going to use.  For this design, I like to use two staves of different thicknesses with the larger of the two making up the top part of the candle holder.

After you have identified your staves, it’s a good idea to give them a sanding.  This step is going to put you on the path on how your final product is going to look.  Most of the time when you sand a project, its done as one of your final steps and the point is to get as fine of a finish as possible.  With this project, you need to decide if you want this to look rustic or finely finished.  For me, I just wanted to take the red color off of the staves and keep it a little rustic looking.  The staves are made of oak and I wanted to be able to see some of the wood characteristics in my final product.

The size of this project is completely up to you.  If you want to use the full length of the barrel staves, then you won’t need to do this next step, but for me, I like to have the bottom barrel stave shorter than the top one.  In order to shorten the bottom stave, I cut a little from each end on my Ridgid table saw.  If you don’t have a table saw, you could use another type saw such as a miter saw, bandsaw, or handsaw.  Just take your time and be careful because the barrel staves have a curve to them.

After you have your pieces sanded and cut, its time to drill the holes to receive the 1/2″ sections of dowel rods.   Find the center of the barrel staves by measuring the width of the stave at both ends.  Then find the center point of each end and draw a line connecting the two points.  Since the stave is arched, you will need to use a flexible ruler or a string.

From there, find the center of the barrel stave and measure back 2 inches on both sides of the center.  This is where we will drill our holes with a 1/2″ Forstner bit.

Next, you will need to cut two pieces of your 1/2″ dowel rod.  The length of these pieces are completely up to you, but for this project, I believe I cut them to 2-inch lengths.  Take your two pieces of dowel rods and glue them into the top and bottom barrel staves.

1 of 2

After your glue has had time to set up, it’s time to cut the recesses to hold the tea lights.  Now, since the top barrel stave is curved up, you will be cutting level flat bottom holes to keep your tea lights in a safe position.  The best way to do this is with a 2-inch Forstner bit and a drill press.  Just like a couple steps before, find the center of your top barrel stave, and mark it.  Then measure in 4 inches from each end and put a mark in the center.  These will be your three holes for candles.  Be careful when cutting these out on the bandsaw.  Forstner bits work best if the center of the bit makes contact with the wood first, but in this circumstance, the outside of the bit is going to have to cut in first.  This is where it is really nice to have sharp Forstner bits.

1 of 2

We are now in the final steps.  You can do just about anything you want to finish this project.  For me, I like to use Danish oil on projects like this.  Its super simple to use and I like how it makes rustic projects look.  Just wipe it on, let it soak in for about 15 minutes and if you want, add another coat.

At this point, you could call it done if this look is what you want.  I wanted to give this project a little bit of shine, so I added three coats of Polycrylic Clear Matte finish to it.  Before adding a top coat Danish oil, its recommended to let the Danish oil dry for three days.  So, if you want to be done in a weekend, you will need to skip this last step.

1 of 4

Conclusion

I really enjoyed this project.  Mostly because of speed at which it can be completed.  I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on this build and may have to make some more in the future to fill requests.  Ironically, my wife is not a fan of the look and this project is going to end up going to someone else.

If you decide to try this project, I would love to see how it turns out for you.  Go over to the Toos In Action forum and share some pictures of it.

The post How to Build a Wine Barrel Stave Tea Light Candle Holder appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

For our next project in the Mother’s Day Series, we are going to do something totally different. There is something about art that in general that I have never understood. I don’t think of myself as unrefined but the workings of Picasso get a bit lost on me. Ironically, there is nothing that speaks to my artistic side more than working with wood. The imperfections in wood are what makes it so beautiful to work with and learning to bring out the best in wood is one of my passions. Art adds the finishing touches to a home, much like the Moms in our life do too. What better way to show them how much they mean to us than to create art they will enjoy every day in the home.

Design

Designing these types of things happens two ways for me. Sometimes I’ll sketch something really awesome out and I will recreate that idea exactly. Other times, I will go out to the shop and just do what speaks to me. This time I had an idea in mind, and after making the first few cuts, I decided to switch it up a bit. This was a sketch I did after the fact, again not an artist by any means but I always try and keep ideas in a book for reference. I purposely used wood that was inexpensive and somewhat rustic to minimize cost, but I also think it adds to the homey feel of the piece. What is amazing about the process of this project is that you really can’t go wrong!

Two notes for you guys as you start the instructions, I made this project quite a while ago, and I’ll be honest I never measured a thing except the initial plywood and frame. I know that seems strange, but for these types of projects, I like to try and go with the flow. While precision is so important in building furniture, or really any assembly, this project relies on your vision and creativity. This project also has a lot of variables that could slightly change measurements, such as slight warping of the wood, or a slightly off miter saw. So while I include measurements as I go, they will likely have some changes for you if you choose to replicate the idea entirely. Also, I have since switched how I do the photos so forgive the imperfect shots!

Supply List

• 1- 1/2 inch plywood sheet cut to 2X4 feet
• 4-1X3 8 foot pine furring strips
• 2-1X2 8 foot pine furring strips
• 4- 1X4 8 foot pine furring strips
• 2-1X2 8 foot common boards
• Various stain colors
• Wood Glue
• 1-inch pin nails
• 1 1/4 inch brad nails (for the frame)
• Measuring tape and speed square

Tool List

• Miter Saw
• Pin Nailer
• Brad Nailer

Cut List

As I mentioned previously this project was done in a “cut as you go” fashion. Generally, I will include cut lists, but for this project look for measurements throughout the tutorial.

Instructions

One thing I want to explain that you will see in the instructions. I am sure there is a technical term for the way these are cut, but the top is a better view of what I call a “parallel” cut, and the bottom is a perpendicular cut or opposite. I always think parallel because if the line of the angles continued they would run parallel to each other, and perpendicular because if they continued they would eventually intersect, or run in opposite directions. Dry fitting is your friend in this project and will save you a ton of headaches later on.

Initially, I lay my plywood flat and find the centers to mark. Depending on how complex a design is, I may make several measurements in quarters as well, but since this is center justified I marked the midpoint horizontally and vertically. I had my wood cut at Home Depot before I brought it home, and generally, it won’t be perfectly square. It’s always best to measure and be precise so you can prepare for adjustments.

After Marking, my plywood looks like this.

Cut- 4-1X3- 17 inches with 45-degree parallel angles

The first few cuts made are the center pieces to the main X in the center. These 1X3’s are cut at 45-degree angles and measure 17 inches long, but notice the angles run parallel when cut.

Cut 4-12-inch 1X3’s  with 45-degree angles

Next, to continue the X pattern going towards the sides, I cut 12-inch 1X3’s with 45-degree angles cut opposite The pattern would naturally extend past the ends, but since it terminates, we cut it to fit the board.

Cut- 4-1X2 16.75 inches at 45-degree perpendicular angles

4-1X2 at 12 inches with 45-degree angles parallel

4-1X2 at 7.5 inches with 45-degree angles perpendicular

The 1X2’s framing the X run 16.75 inches from longest point to longest point, and are cut at 45 degrees opposite each other. Similar to how you would cut for a picture frame.

Now that the focus of the piece is done, we want to start deciding what colors to use and how. This process is always the most fun. I play around with stain colors I have in stock, but I also played around with different paints I had too.

For the center 1X3’s I used Minwax Dark Walnut. I love a rich deep brown, and nothing is prettier than a bold contrast against it.

To create a contrast and a bit of a pop of color, I wanted a blue for the 1X2’s bordering the center X. I played around with a blue stain but felt it lacked the vividness I was going for. (left sample is stain, right is two different diluted shades of blue, I decided on the darkest shade)

I wanted to try something new, so I took good old craft acrylic paint and watered it down a bit and applied it to get that perfect color without hiding the beauty of the wood. It looks bright here, but it’s actually a deep midnight blue.

You will notice I only stained one side, and didn’t stain the end grain. You absolutely can, but once framed and attached you won’t see these pieces at all.

Once all of these pieces have dried, I start actually attaching them to the board. I use a small amount of wood glue and several pin nails. I love how easy it is to hide those pin nails, especially in stained wood! Take your time in laying these pieces to be as precisely positioned as possible.

It may seem strange to not do this all at once or to stain in phases this way but the best way to use multi tones is to break it up. In my experience trying to assemble and then stain always ends in disaster. Also, when you actually nail these pieces down you will find that there will be slight shifts and it makes the next step easier to account for measurement changes.

Cut 4- 1X4 at 9.75 inches one side is at 45-degrees, and one is at 90-degrees.

Now we start our cuts for our 1X4’s! These become the background of the piece and have a lot of power to really enhance the main focus. Now that our center X is set and done, measuring becomes easier as there won’t be any shifts in the X. I start assembly in the center, and these center most boards measure 9.75 inches from tip to end.

Cut- 4 1X4’s at 6.5 inches- one side 45-degrees, one side 90 degrees to complete the center. ( we will do the small triangles last).

To begin the sides diamond inserts-

4- 1X4’s at 13 inches both ends cut at 45 degrees perpendicular to one another.

4- 1X4’s at 6 3/8ths both ends cut at 45 degrees.

Cut- 4 1X4’s at 18.5 inches- one side will be 45 degrees, the other will have a 45-degree angle but a small area will be trimmed to 90 degrees to terminate at the end of the plywood. It should look something like this, only longer.

Next- we fill in the blanks. These triangles can be tough to cut precisely. My best advice is to use a 45-degree angle on your board and cut an additional angle like so.

The center portion has a 3-inch triangle. The biggest thing here is to watch for grain orientation as this will shift how you cut the wood in relation to the angle cuts.

No matter how precise you are, you will have some variance between corners. The far most corners measured 4.75 inches on their longest side. A lot of time though, marking it by hand and following the cut is easier.

So, here we are! The hardest part is over!.

Now, to pick the perfect stain to complement the rest of the piece. I have a lot of shades on hand, but no matter what I do, I seem to never quite love the stock shade. I am not sure how often other people do this, but oil-based stains are amazing to mix! You can layer too, but for this I wanted it to not be too dark and even with light stains pine tends to drink it. I used a mason jar and mixed classic gray and provincial from Minwax together and got the bottom vs 100% provincial on top.

As with before, after staining, use wood glue and pin nails to attach to the plywood. You may still notice some errors so take your time on this part. Always attach the biggest piece in a section before you move on.

It’s starting to really come together now!

When looking from this angle, you’ll notice a few imperfections. I am by nature a perfectionist, but I purposely left some small fluctuations to show you how easily the frame will cover it.

Cut 2- 1X2 common boards at 49.75 inches

2- 1X2 common boards at 25.5 inches

When you start the frame, there are two huge key things to remember. Using straight edge common board will give you a more level place to attach the second part of the layered frame. You won’t see this as much as the top, but keeping it tightly attached and taking your time in measuring and nailing is the key to a clean looking frame.

Once I was happy with the inner frame measurements, I stained them the same Dark Walnut as the center X and let them dry. I then attached the frame using wood glue and a combination of brad nails and pin nails. You don’t want to overuse the brad nails, you need them for strength but they can easily damage the piece if not shot low enough. Try and shoot them low and into the plywood to avoid them damaging the front of the piece and rely on the more level edge of the plywood. Shooting additional Pin nails add additional security and aren’t as prone to damaging the wood allowing you to be more liberal with them.

Looking good, right? If you want a cleaner line, feel free to stop here. I normally would, but I wanted to give an option to cover any slight mistakes and give some more boldness to the frame.

The top of the frame is assembled similarly to the bottom. The key here is that you want it to slightly overlay this frame on both sides.

Cut 2- 1X3 at 52.5 inches

2-1X3 at 28.5 inches.

The slight overlay conceals any errors when hung, and adds a lot of character to the piece.

Take your time and be sure the corners are mitered tightly. This can be a little tedious but ensuring this really enhances the finished project.

From the underside, this is what the frame will look like. Attach using pin nails and wood glue. I ran several nails on each board.

We are done!

Conclusion

Wood Wall Art is one of the most rewarding and creative projects you can do. Every single day the person you made this gift for walks past it, they will be reminded of your thought and time spent creating something beautiful just for them. Use this idea and take some tips from my process and create a masterpiece that is perfect for your space and decor. I can’t wait to see how this idea is replicated, and as always be sure to tag #TIAcrew whenever you post your creations so the whole team can check out your work!

Tips and Tricks

• One of biggest tricks with this project is to take breaks. I assembled this in phases to prevent burning out.
• If you have attached a piece of wood and notice it is overhanging a bit, once the glue has dried you can always trim it using a jigsaw. Just be sure the wood is secured to the board first.
• When cutting, I would rather slightly overcut rather than undercut. In most projects the goal is to make a single cut, no doubt it is more efficient, but in this, it is better to be able to make slight adjustments.
• You can certainly switch the inexpensive furring strips to a straight edge common board, or even mix in some other woods to add additional depth.
• Buy extra wood! I left some room for error but if you make a mistake on a cut, don’t give up. Always save those pieces because areas like the corners need strange sizes, so they can always be reused!
• I hung this using a French Cleat. I definitely recommend that for a project this heavy!
• Be patient when nailing to prevent the nail going into the wrong place.
• Write a quick note on the back, telling your loved one how much they mean to you!

The post How to Build Wood Wall Art appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

For our next Mother’s Day project idea, we are going to make a gift that all mothers would love to have…… a custom hand built cutting board.  I’ve been making cutting boards for quite a few years now and every board I make is unique.  I love making cutting boards because it’s a very simple build that yields beautiful results.  So let check out How to Make a Cutting Board.

In this build, I’m going to show you the way I make a cutting board and in case you don’t have the same tools as I am using, I will give you some ideas on what tools you can use as a substitute.  Like I said before, I’ve been making these for years and have made these same type boards using many different tools.

Design 

Every board I make tends to be right around 1″ to 1-1/4″ thick by around 16″ long by around 12″ wide.  I typically start off my project on the larger size to give me some wiggle room in case I make a mistake or find a flaw in the wood.  I can always go smaller with my work.

Choosing the right wood for the project is important.  The best choices for this are domestic hardwoods like walnut, maple, cherry, and ash.  Red Oak is the one hardwood I stay away from with cutting boards.  I don’t recommend using red oak because it is so porous.  To really make my boards stand out, I like to sprinkle in some exotic hardwood with unique colors and patterns such as purple heart.  Purple heart can be a bit expensive compared to domestic hardwoods and is by no means necessary.

Supply List

• Mineral Oil
• waterproof wood glue (titebond 3)
• orbital sanding pads up to 220 grit
• hardwoods

Tools Needed

• Miter Saw
• Table Saw
• Random Orbit Sander
• Thickness Planer
• Drum Sander  (can substitute belt sander or hand planer)
• Clamps (parallel, pipe, or bar clamps)
• Jointer
• Router

Instructions

I typically begin by cutting my hardwood stock to 16″ lengths.  I do this first because it helps me keep everything lined up in the end.  If you don’t have a drum sander, you might want to consider keeping at least a few pieces about 4 inches longer than the rest.  This will help eliminate snipe from your thickness planer. 

I like to make sure all of my boards have a uniform thickness so I run them through the thickness planer.  I’ve done this in the past where the boards looked uniform in thickness but were not.  So to prevent any issues, I just run all of the boards I am using.

If you end up with some snipe from the thickness planer, you can get rid of it by running it through a drum sander or by using a random orbit sander.  You will want to get rid of the snipe because the face of the board is going to be the side you glue up later on and this ridge could cause cracks between the boards during glue up.

1 of 2

There is one more step left in prepping our wood.  We need to have at least one straight edge to ride on the table saw fence.  If you buy your wood from a big box store, chances are, you can skip this step.  A good deal of the high wood prices in these stores is due to the finished edges and faces.

Our next step is going to be cutting all of the boards into 1-1/4″ strips  These strips make up the initial thickness of your cutting board.  I like to keep the pieces from every individual board stacked separately.  This way I know when I pick a piece up from a stack, it will be the same thickness, have the same grain pattern and color.

1 of 2

Now in order to create some really interesting thin strips on my boards, I like to take the 1-1/4″ strips of wood, stand them up on the table saw and cut really thin strip.  Since I have my blade up over 1-1/4″ in height and I want to make sure I have consistent uniform cuts, I am using a thin rip table saw jig.  After each cut, I just move the fence until the piece of wood hits the bearing on the jig.  To my knowledge, this is the safest way to cut thin strips on a table saw.

1 of 2

After you have all of your strips cut, now its time to have fun.  Play around with the different colors and sizes until you find a pattern you like.  Then role every strip, except the for the last one to the left 90 degrees.  You will then cover each of the pieces that were rolled over with glue.  Roll each piece back to its original orientation and then clamp up.

1 of 4

After you glue has dried, this is the worst your project is going to look.  I like to run my boards through the thickness planer to remove all of the glue on the surface of the board and to flatten it out.  Of course, my next step from here is to the drum sander, where I use 150 grit paper.  Just as before, if you don’t have a drum sander you can do this task with a belt sander or a random orbit sander.

1 of 3

To clean up the ends of the cutting board, I go to the miter saw and trim a little bit off all of the strips.

To give the cutting boards a softer feel, I like to use a round off bit on all of the edges.  Here I’m using a router table with a 3/8″ round off top bearing bit, but you can also use a handheld router as well.

Now, this next step is completely optional.  I have a lot of people request juice grooves.  These take a little time to set up but it is a fairly simple task if you want to try it.  You will need to create a simple jig where your router base rides along an edge and the cutting board is held snugly in place.  You will want to use a cove core router bit and the key to getting good results is to move the router bit down a little at a time.  Don’t try to take off the entire depth in one pass, you won’t like the results.

1 of 2

Now comes the sanding.  There are three things you will need to sand.  First, you will want to work on the juice groove and I’ve found rubber contour sanding grips work really well for this task.  You will also want to sand the face and edges to 220 grit.

1 of 2

At this point, the build is complete and all there is left to do is condition your board.  There are several ways to condition a cutting board, but I’ve found the most simple way to do this is with mineral oil.  All you need to do is pour some mineral oil on the board and spread it so the entire board is covered.  The mineral oil soaks into the board keeping them from drying out and cracking.  The mineral oil also fights against bacteria growth and aids in digestion.

To make sure the cutting board gets an adequate amount of mineral oil soaked in, I like to keep my boards in a mineral oil bath overnight.  This only makes sense because I make quite a few boards.  If you are only going to make one or two, then applying the oil with a rag is much more cost-effective.

Board Maintenance

If you want the cutting boards to keep from getting dried out, you will want to periodically coat the cutting board in mineral oil.  There is a rule of thumb for conditioning and maintaining a cutting board and it is as follows.

1. Once a day for a week,
2. Once a week for a month,
3. Once a month for a year,
4. Once every year

Also, you won’t want to clean these cutting boards in the dish washer……soap and water hand cleaning only.  These are good things to tell the person who is going to receive the cutting board.

Conclusion

Cutting board builds are a quick, easy and a lot of fun.  I’ve made about a hundred cutting boards so far and none of them are exactly alike.  I’m always trying to come up with unique looks.

If you haven’t tried to make a cutting board yet, go for it.  I’m sure you will be pleased with the reaction you get after giving it your mother or wife on Mother’s Day.

The post How to Make a Cutting Board appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

For our first tutorial in the Mothers Day Series, we are going to start with a fresh take on a DIY planter. When I started creating different concepts I considered the common gifts you see for Mother’s Day, one of which is flowers. We all love fresh flowers but the idea of them lasting longer than a week is appealing. Originally I was designing a planter box that would go on a porch but I just didn’t think it was quite unique enough. What I love about this one is that the added chalkboard element creates a bit of a whimsy and made the ability to personalize it all the better. So let’s get started on the Hanging Planter with Chalkboard Tutorial!

Design

Each thing I make starts with a sketch, usually like this with a million messy notes. I do want to say, that I am not an artist! Often times I’ll change the idea completely or make adjustments that make it more structurally sound. The end result of this project stayed pretty close, as you can see here. Another element I kept in mind while I designed this was structure. The interior frame is structurally the most important, and keeping it simple with a basic rectangle simplifies lining it up and keeping it square. It is more difficult to have tops and bottoms that are angled and side supports off the edge and keeps it level. Plus, I like the aesthetic of stacked wood, especially when working with 2X4s.

Supply list

• 3 2X4 8 foot pine boards ($3.52 X 3)
• 1 2X6 ten-foot pine board ($6.05)
• Hook for the basket- I used ($1.18)
• Chalkboard material cut to size  ($9.99)
• Orbital Sanding Pads- 80 and 120 grit
• Wood Glue
• Stain and Sealer of choice
• Shop towels
• Measuring supplies- tape measure, square and pencil
• Small chip brush
• Kreg 2.5 inch screws- 16 total

Tools Needed

• Finish Nailer with 2.5 inch nails
• Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
• Miter Saw or a miter box with a handsaw
• Orbital Sander
• Corner clamps or trigger/bar clamps with a corner squared support to level from
• Standard Drill Bit
• Hand Drill

Cut List

• 2-2X4 at 36 inches
• 3-2X4 at 20 inches
• 1-2X4 at 27.5 inches, 30-degree angle on edges
• 1-2X6 at 27.5 inches, 30-degree angle on edges
• 2- 2X4 at 8 inches with 30-degree angles on edges
• 1-2X4 at 6 inches
• 2-2X4 at 4 inches
• 2-2X4 at 10 inches with 45-degree angles on edge
• Cut Chalkboard material to 5.5 X 20 inches
• Instructions

I began by cutting the interior frame. This consists of 2 2X4 at 36 inches and 3 2X4 pieces at 20 inches.

I drilled pocket holes into the 20-inch pieces using my Kreg K-4. Always be sure to adjust the bit and depth on your Kreg jig based on the size stock you are using.

At this stage, I always sand the cut boards using the 80-grit sanding nets from Diablo before I assemble them. Sanding nets work the same as sanding discs but allow for longer use and quicker sanding, with less propensity for clogging.  Sanding also happens once the assembly is complete, but doing a light sand as you go prevents any missed corners later.

You want the pocket holes all facing down, generally, you would place them all facing in on a frame. However, because we are putting a piece on the bottom doing it this way allows for less exposed holes.

I then clamp the corners using a 90-degree corner clamp. This one is by Bessey.

There are a lot of ways to do this and if you don’t have clamps my best advice is to use trigger clamps against a square edge, but honestly, patience is the key with angle joining.

For the centerboard, which will hold the screw for the basket and above it will be the chalkboard, I used a scrap of 2X6 for proper spacing and to keep it level.

I next cut the top and bottom, one 2X4 at 27.5 inches and one 2X6 at 27.5 inches. These are cut at 30 degrees and I always measure from the longest side. I use my miter saw for this as well, but if you don’t have one you can always use a miter box with a hand saw.

I start by flipping the piece on its top and do the bottom 2X6 first. The long side will be facing up, the short side will attach to the top of the frame. Using trigger clamps and wood glue I secure and center the top piece, being sure it is centered ( there will be about a 1.25-inch overhang on either side).

Using my Ryobi Cordless Angled Finish Nailer with 2-inch nails to reinforce the bond. Once the nails are in you can remove the clamps, as they are used purely to prevent shifting while you attach the piece.

You will do the exact same for the top 2X4 as well, with the long side facing up. (Again, a 1.25-inch overhang).

This is what the piece should look like at this point.

Now for what I call Fancy Feet. These are optional, and I added them more for visual interest, but feel free to adjust the design however you want.  You will cut 2 2X4 pieces at 8 inches with 30-degree angles and one at 6 inches for a center support.

Attaching the feet is very similar to the top and bottom of the frame, you want to center the feet on the 2X6. I spaced them in slightly from the edge to be in line with the frame. This is an element you can play around with a lot to get the look you want.

I apply glue and clamp while I nail it in using the same Ryobi Cordless Angled Finish Nailer to secure them.

The center support should be centered between the two feet and attached the same using wood glue and a few finish nails.

Next, we need to add a support for the chalkboard to attach to. I used 2 4-inch 2X4 pieces attached using pocket holes.

You can always attach something like a scrap 2X2 to the center support on the frame using nails as well. Its all a matter of preference.

The last step prior to finishing is attaching the interior angled pieces. While these do add some structural support, I added them more for visual interest. These will measure 10 inches, cut at 45-degrees.

These are attached using finish nails as well as wood glue, but some may prefer brad nails for a smaller gauge.

These require a bit of finesse to keep them perfectly squared so take your time in attaching them. you want to make sure they are spaced correctly and centered. the center gap is ___ inches. We want to leave ample room to attach the hook later.

Finishing-

Once the piece is assembled you can choose to fill the pocket holes. Generally, I use plugs or wood filler but I chose to leave mine exposed since they weren’t easily seen but its a matter of preference.

You now want to go over the whole piece lightly with 120-grit sandpaper and an orbital sander. This Dewalt has been my companion for years! How much sanding you do is really a matter of preference. Since Pine tends to drink stain, I think its always important to smooth it out a bit, but I wouldn’t go too crazy because it is an outdoor piece.

Next, you want to apply the stain. I prefer Minwax oil-based stains over really any others for workability but any stain will do. I am playing around with a few other brands so I will report back if this opinion changes! I just used some I had on hand which was Minwax Espresso. There are dozens of ways to apply stains such as staining pads or brushes, or towels. I personally use shop towels with gloves on.

Once your stain has set, your last step is sealing. I have a small spray gun called a Critter that I love to apply sealer with. For this, since the area I will be putting this is exposed to the elements, I used Helmsman spar urethane in Satin. If you don’t have a sprayer, I would recommend wipe on poly or using a brush to apply polyurethane or something similar. It really is a matter of preference and where the piece is going to go.

To hang the basket I used this hook.

First drilling into the center 2X4. To ensure a tight fit, I always use a slightly smaller bit and work the screw in slowly. I inserted the hook about an inch in.

The next step is attaching the chalkboard. I used premade chalkboard material that is readily available at Home Depot. I trimmed it on my table saw to 5.5 inches, and trimmed it to 20 inches to fit perfectly in between the top and middle support of the frame.

I used wood glue and ran a few pin nails into it as well using my Ryobi Cordless Pin Nailer. This is optional, you can also clamp it. An alternative that would work great for the wood glue here is any sort of epoxy or product like liquid nails. Be sure to let the glue set.

The finish line is here!

Next, hang a flowering basket and get the kiddos in on a sweet message for their Mom and you’re done!

Conclusion

This project was a lot of fun to make, and I think it has a lot of potential for personalization to suit your style! This is an easy and fun build, great for a beginner but still fun no matter what your experience level is.  Remember you know the recipient best, so make the idea your own! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #TIAcrew and share with us your projects!

Tips and Tricks

I don’t mind the few exposed nail heads on the top, but if this bothers you, you can allow the glue to dry and skip nailing it. Nailing saves you time, and the few small nail heads didn’t bother me for this project. You can also countersink and patch the holes.

Insert the pocket hole screws slowly, going to fast is a sure way to change the angle of the joint. If the joints aren’t set correctly when you attach the Kreg screws you will absolutely knock it off center. You can also add wood glue to the joints to add security but if done correctly the pocket holes provide a lot of strength.

I will let you in on a bit of a secret, I keep staining ultra simple. For me, I use a shop staple, disposable shop towels. These work the best at being able to control the penetration and are budget friendly.  I use an ultra cheap chip brush to get into tight corners or grooves and always wear gloves.

You want to stain the base first and the underside to the framing as well. I lay the piece on its side on a moving blanket. Any soft surface will do, but these are better than canvas drop cloths to me as they insulate the piece from the concrete.

You also want to take your time drilling the hole for the hook so you don’t drill right through the 2X4. You can see the hook I used was just a bit too long, but I wanted the thickness of the gauge and pickings were slim at Home Depot that day. Ultimately a dozen alternatives exist, but this one worked perfectly too!

One thing to note here is an alternative. I was a bit disappointed in the way the material cut, so an alternative if you have it is to use MDF and finish it. Chalkboard paint (not the same as chalk paint) is sold for about 4 dollars at Home Depot or Lowes. you could easily paint the MDF and it would probably give you slightly better results since you would be painting after cutting. Just be mindful of the potential for water damage if MDF is properly sealed.

Remember if you don’t have a Table Saw you can also have the chalkboard material cut at Home Depot.

One thing I love to do on homemade pieces like this is to add a signature or special note to the project somewhere. The back of the chalkboard or the bottom of the piece is a perfect spot on this one. You can also use a Dremel and carve it in, that’s always super sweet!

You can skip staining and opt for paint as well, its all a matter of preference!

The post Hanging Planter with Chalkboard Tutorial appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Since our install, we have made some updates.

• Blaze King Update – 2020

Back in 2012, we installed a wood burning stove insert into my house.  There were a lot of brands to pick from, but we ended up going with the Blaze King Princess Insert.  After a lot of research, it just seemed like the Blaze King was the top dog and had many happy customers.  Along with this insert, we also used the Duravent Liner.  Since it has been three years and winter time is almost here, I figured this would be a great time to do a revisit and let you know how things are going with this insert.

As far as the insert, I have to say I am extremely happy.  While this insert cost more than some of the other inserts, it’s worth every penny.  First it’s stainless steel, so I don’t have to worry about rust.  However the most important aspect of this liner is the ability of it to create a draft.  If you remember this liner is a double liner which means there is an outside and inside liner.  Between the two liners is insulation.  My liner runs about 20′ high, which means there are times where less expensive liners would work, but just not as efficient.  With the double liner, I can create a draft very quickly and get my stove up to operating temperature pretty fast.  As you know hot air rises and cold air sinks. Since this liner is insulated, it holds the heat extremely well and allows me to create a nice draft right from the start.

As far as the Blaze King, this has been an incredible fireplace insert.  If you are looking for a fireplace insert, I would highly recommend a Blaze King.  As you can see by the pictures, the outside is still in great condition and this is even with two boys in my house who tend to destroy everything in their path.  The paint has held up great and don’t have any chips in the paint even with all the toys that have been thrown at it over the years.

As far as efficiency, I can’t give it a true rating but their website says its 85% efficient.  I have to say when it comes to burning wood, this is the king.  I can fit plenty of wood in the unit, even fit long pieces.  The inside seems much bigger than other inserts I have seen.  When I put the unit on low, depending upon the wood, I can have this easily burn up to 18 hours.  One of the main reasons this unit is so efficient is the catalytic, which re-burns the smoke to help produce heat.  Since this insert is so efficient, there isn’t much ash in the unit.  Besides not producing a lot of ash and the insert being so deep, I really only need to clean it out once in the winter time.  One thing I do which is probably not efficient is burn whole logs.  I always grab a couple logs that were not split and burn them in the insert.  Not sure, but these always seem like they last a long time.

I could go on and on about how much I love this stove, but the main idea behind this is to let you know that I am just as happy today as the day we got it.  The fan does a great job spreading the heat, the finish is still like new and the whole unit just rocks.  My only complaint would be the metal that goes around the fireplace to cover up the opening sometimes rattles because of the design.  I ended up buying some rubber mats, cutting them up and putting them in place.  You can see the rubber and it does stop the rattles. If you are looking for an insert, I would highly recommend checking out a Blaze King along with the Duravent liner.

Here is a handy little guide to wood burning fireplaces and inserts.  If you already have one, here is another guide to maintenance.

The post Blaze King Wood Burning Insert Update appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Replacing a furnace or boiler is a huge investment, so I wanted to do a revisit of the Crown Boiler we installed over a year ago.  You may remember we replaced an old boiler form the 60’s with this Crown Aruba Boiler.

While most of you know I do have a wood burning insert that I use for a lot of my heat, I still rely heavily on this boiler for a number of reasons.  The ways I use this boiler are first to heat my whole basement.  So even when the stove is going upstairs, this boiler is running for my basement.  The second is I still use it for my main floor heating.  I love my stove, but I don’t always have it on.  If I am going to be out of town, I use this boiler.  Plus I have my house split into zones, so this boiler is always heating my bedrooms.

I don’t think this boiler is classified as a high efficiency boiler, but I really don’t care.  I replaced my boiler from the 60’s with this one, so to me it’s high efficiency.  My gas bill was almost cut in half with this boiler, so that’s efficient to me.

All in all this is one awesome system.  I still can’t believe how quiet this boiler is.  There are times I have to walk over to it and make sure it’s on.  My boiler is located in the basement along with my work area, so you think I would be able to hear the boiler, but the only thing I ever hear is a small swoosh sound when the gas burners kick on.  Even the pump is quiet. I have to put my hand on the pump to make sure it is working, which is hot and for some reason I am always surprised.  You think I would know by now that it’s hot water running through the pump, therefore the pump should be hot.

I understand a boiler is a big under taking in terms of time and money.  The Crown has been perfect and I am so happy I went with this system over any other boiler.

The post Crown Boiler Revisit appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

We have received a lot of emails about the project we did last year which we updated an old boiler to a new Crown Boiler.  I know a lot of you wanted to know how it has been running and am I happy with the boiler.  I guess instead of answering all these emails, it’s just easier to do an update and email the link.  So here is what I have been telling people about my experience with the boiler.

First I couldn’t be more happy with the boiler.  The boiler is quite, runs smooth and best of all, it’s not kicking on all the time when part of the house calls for heat.  What this boiler will do is if one of the thermostat calls for heat and the temperature is still high for the water, only the pump kicks on.  How awesome is this, talk about saving energy and saving money.  I wish I could go into depth on this boiler, but I really covered everything in my first review, which the link is posted below.  This boiler has done everything as advertised.  It’s quite, efficient and just works.  What else can I ask for in a boiler?

One other question I get is how much has this boiler saved me.  This is one question I can’t really answer for a couple different reasons.  First we had an extremely cold winter last year, which was different from the warmer winter the year before.  Second I do have a wood burning stove that I use, so I am not using the boiler all the time.  I can tell you from my previous years of experience with the old boiler that if I would have had the old boiler last year, I would have had to get a second mortgage out on my house.  With the Crown Boiler, I know my gas bill was much smaller, just not sure by how much.

One pointer to anyone who owns a boiler.  Always make sure you exercise your valves.  Turn them on and off a couple of times per year.  This way if you every need to turn on or off a valve, you know it will work.

Read Full Review

Read Update One

The post Crown Boiler Update appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

A while back we did an introduction to our Crown Boiler project.  We had an older boiler from the 60’s that was over-sized and it was time to replace the boiler.  After doing some research, I went with a Crown.  Mainly because they have been in business for a long time, their competitive pricing and high customer satisfaction. So this update isn’t going to be about the unit’s features and benefits as that was covered in the previous article.  This time I am going to talk about what I like and don’t like about this unit, well what my wife doesn’t like about this unit.

From my understanding boilers are pretty basic in how they work.  However I truly don’t understand except that they have burners that heat up water and a pump that moves it throughout the house.  The house stays warm and I am happy.  One thing you have to understand is my house was built in 1924, so as you can assume, there isn’t any insulation.  The house is a balloon construction, so certain areas I was able to blow insulation from the attic down the walls, but obviously not where the windows or other headers are located.

Boiler Control Panel

Not that I use this panel, but I love having it.  This will allow me to make adjustments and help trouble shot any problems.  Again, the boiler is new and I haven’t had any problems with the unit.  My old boiler had problem after problem.  Unless it was the pump or pilot, I really had no idea what was causing any problem.

Boiler Pump

My old boiler had a huge pump and it always had problems.  Another thing to note, it was noisy when it ran.  On the Crown, the pump is much smaller and you really can’t even hear it running.  In fact, when Steve first turned on the boiler, I had to ask when he was going to hook up the pump.  After he told me it was running and I put my hand by the pump, I knew it was running.  I love not having to listen to a pump running.

Run Time

My old boiler, when it fired up was loud and would run for a long time.  It seemed like the burners were running for a long time before the pump even heated up and started moving water.  Once the pump finally started moving water, the burners would stay lit.  This was a sad noise for me because I could just picture my wallet getting smaller every minute.

The Aruba is amazing.  First, when it starts up, you can barely hear it.  I have no idea how long it takes for the pump to kick on because it’s quiet.  I haven’t timed the boiler, but it seems like it only stays on for a couple of minutes and then kicks off and the pump does the rest.  I love it.  One cool feature I have noticed with this boiler is how it’s efficient.  After the boiler kicks off, if one of the zones calls for heat, the pump will kick on and move the hot water to that zone.  It doesn’t have to heat up the water again when there is already hot water sitting around.

Damper

My old damper system, well it didn’t have one.  So when the furnace was sitting idle, cold air would come down the chimney and enter the room.  With the new boiler, there is a damper that automatically opens and closes.  This is nice because I never feel that cold area around the boiler when it’s not running.

Okay, so what don’t I like about this boiler?  Well nothing.  I love this boiler and I am so happy I went with Crown and the Aruba.  On the other hand, while my wife likes the lower bills, she still needs to get use to the noise level.  Our old boiler had many problems.  So when she turned up the heat, she could always hear the old boiler kick on and she knew it was working.  With the new boiler, when she turns up the heat, she can’t hear it kick on.  She has to get use to the fact that this boiler will just work and she needs to trust it’s running.  I know after some time, she will forget about it and just know it is working.

So what about our heating bill?  It’s still a little hard to say at this time.  First, our winter has been pretty cold this year.  Second, we have a wood burning stove upstairs we used a lot last year.  It was much cheaper using the stove than the old boiler, plus the old boiler was loud.  This year we have been using the boiler much more since I know it is much more efficient than the old one.  Now that it’s cheaper to run the boiler than buy wood, it’s nice to just set the thermostat and not have to worry.

The post Crown Boiler Aruba 4 Update appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.