Dust collection is often the last thing abeginner thinks about. We all seem to start in the garage with atable saw and nothing much else. Eventually fine wood dust coverseverything. The proper dust collection system comes much later. Idon't think this will ever change; even given the health problemscaused by dust. This is the way things are.

I hope to at least get people thinking about proper dustcollection. Here is the order I recommend new woodworkers on abudget buy their dust collection equipment.

1) Begin with

Wood glue comes in many forms. Each manufacturerclaims that their stuff really gets the job done. So, what is thebest glue out there. The answer turns out to be relativelysimple.

PVA Glue Type I

This glue is as good as it gets (

Project planning has moved from pen and paperinto the digital world. Today the fastest and most powerful way tocreate models and plans is your computer.

Google SketchUp is a free design program you should take a lookat. It might just take your shop to the next level.

What is it

Google SketchUp is a powerful tool in any woodworker's toolbox.Before any sawdust hits the shop floor, SketchUp helps youvisualize your future creation. Most pieces of furniture can berecreated in half an hour in the virtua

All cast iron, if left unprotected, eventuallydevelops rust. Tools bough from private parties are often coveredwith it. What are the options to get rid of rust?

1) Use a rust remover

Resist the urge to go after the rust with sand paper. We did notget that far yet. Start with using a rust remover.

I have found that

All cast iron surfaces need to be covered with aprotective coating. Otherwise they develop rust when exposed to airand water.

Simply applying any product to your machine's top won't do. Theproduct cannot be tacky. That would keep the stock fromsliding.

Some products have a negative effect on any wood they come incontact with. Oils, for example, will soak into the pores of woodand prevent any finish from taking hold. The result is spots allover your work.

Apply a coat of wax

Painting the outside of our homes is somethingwe all dread. Hiring a painter is expensive, and it's a lot ofwork. You can do this yourself for relatively little money. Paintand supplies are not going to add up to the thousands of dollarspainters are charging. The high price tag comes from the amount ofwork required to get the job done. You have to be prepared to spenda couple of weekends painting.

Two story homes make the work much harder to do. An extensionladder is often all you need, but the work becomes a hassle. Makesure all

Tools with gas engines need special care whenstored for more than 2-3 months without use. Gasoline deteriorateswith time. It turns into a gummy substance that will clog vitalpassage ways in the engine. Unthreaded gasoline will last about 6months before the deterioration becomes noticeable. You can extendthis time by adding a fuel stabilizer. These products are not snakeoil. They actually work. Fuel treated with a stabilizer will lastabout 1-1.5 years.

Your gas engines need to be winterized to minimize damage due tocondensation an

You have some old carpet, a piece of furniture,a tree in your back yard, or simply junk to get rid off. What to doabout it? In the age of the internet your options are moreplentiful than the city dump.

Here is a quick list of places that will take your trash. Theyare ordered from the simplest, to the most inconvenient.

1) Post an ad in the 'Free' section on craigslist

You would be surprised what people will take off your hands. Oldcarpet you would not want to use again is perfect to soak up

All fresh water pipes in your home eventuallyclog. Deposits and debris in the water build up on the inner wallsof the pipe until the flow of water slows to trickle. This isnormal. All pipes will have to be replaced eventually. You canprolong the life of your pipes using the back pressure trick.Plumbers have used it for ages.

The idea is to make the water in the pipe flow the other way.This generates back pressure. Most often this will dislodge atleast some of the buildup in your pipes. Eventually, however, thistrick will no longer wor

Getting rid of bee, wasp, and hornet nests iswithin the reach of a careful and smart homeowner. These insectscan be dangerous, but do not have to be. Firstand foremost you have to worry about personal safety. Peopleallergic to venom should not attempt to handle insects. Whenapproaching a nest, always have an escape route. For yourself, andanyone else present. Don't approach the nest from a vulnerableposition, like a ladder or the roof. Make sure you can run. Alwaysprepare for the worst case scenario.

If you h