-
DIYed linseed oil fence treatment
Just two ingredients, low cost, and a smell that brings back childhood memories. It nourishes the wood beautifully, and the saturated timber will last much longer. It not only extends the life of a fence, but also makes it look far better. Plus, it’s easy to apply. All the ingredients are available locally, at least when you live in rural Ireland, so you can jump into your Jeep, buy them cheap, and mix up a batch of oil yourself. Until that day, I hadn’t even realised that linseed oil was used for horses, but in the pursuit of inexpensive wood…
-
Trim repairs: baserail replacement
Replacing the baserail on wooden stairs isn’t an everyday task, but it’s a recognised part of staircase renovation or repair projects. Homeowners take on this job to refresh the look of their staircase, improve safety, or fix damage. While not as common as replacing spindles or handrails, it plays a key role in more comprehensive staircase overhauls. In this case, I needed to replace the flooring, and the existing trim shape wasn’t ideal for attaching Scotia beading. I wanted a flat edge rather than a profiled one, and that edge had to extend all the way down to the concrete…
-
Modified jig for sharpening knives on a belt grinder
The original knife sharpening jig I had wasn’t designed for use with belt grinders or, to use a more technical term, linishers. It was designed for grinding wheels, so it could take advantage of the curvature of a wheel, and it didn’t have to be so thin. A proper knife holder would be slimmer, which would be the main difference. While the jig I had worked well with sharpening wheels, it wasn’t 100% compatible with flat sanding belts and its protruding knobs were always in the way. It could only be used on one side and couldn’t be flipped over.…
-
Wooden fence with a gate
I am not a big fan of wooden fences with posts set directly in the ground, whether in a concrete base or wrapped in a plastic membrane. That makes them difficult to replace or repair. Easy maintenance was the primary factor influencing this build, but other considerations included improving existing ideas. It turned out that the old stakes were set too shallow in the ground (less than 1 foot!), hammered straight in with no rubble or concrete! I needed something more professional. What I had in mind was a properly anchored fence made from pressure-treated timber, with a few galvanised…
-
Lean-to roof
Probably the biggest project I’ve ever undertaken, both in terms of dimensions and cost. I had to acquire new skills and familiarise myself with new terminology, but fortunately, I already had most of the necessary tools in my workshop. I was aware that constructing a sturdy frame could pose a challenge, but it had to be done correctly. It needed to strike a balance between solidity and visual lightness, complementing the shed it was going to be attached to. Maintaining visual consistency between the existing structure and the new addition was one of the key objectives. Additionally, the lean-to had…
-
Soft-start module on DeWalt DWE7492
This is a fairly inexpensive upgrade that is quite easy to implement and, most importantly, significantly prolongs the saw’s lifespan. With this soft-start module installed, the saw starts slowly and gains speed gradually, which helps save the bearings and the motor. The whole process can be reversed to the factory setup, ensuring that the warranty isn’t voided. All the pictures shown below can be viewed in full size to make understanding each step even easier. Additionally, at the end of the post, I have included a short video to demonstrate the difference between before and after the module was installed.…
-
Various trim repairs
There was a need to repair certain parts of the wooden trim in the house, parts that were either incorrectly installed or hadn’t stood the time well. That series of individual projects which involved woodworking and some creativity, not only helped to improve the look of the house but also built up my carpentry skills. Hiring somebody wasn’t considered as it all looked manageable and had to be done neatly – no silicone, no nails and no mess. There were more jobs successfully completed in that process and those were repaired skirting boards (with internal and external mitres), the stairs…
