VersaLaser

versalaser.com: Versalaser is a desktop "printer." However instead of printing on paper, this 20-watt laser device etches marble and ceramic, and precisely cuts thin sheets of wood, plastic, fabric, paper, glass, leather, and rubber, etc. (but not metal). For about $10,000 you can fabricate complex parts in your shop based on a computer drawing. So now instead of struggling with a Dremel to carve out pieces for a dollhouse, I can compose my artwork on an ordinary drawing program (we're using Corel Draw), then select "print" and the type and thickness of the material, and the magic begins. VersaLaser's VL-200 can transform material as large as 16 inches by 12 inches. Their printer driver for Windows leaves a lot to be desired, and you'll have to work around it until a better one comes along. Optional, but very wonderful, is the powerful base unit that vacuums away smoke or dust created in the laser burning process. Description via Cool Tools

Equipped To Save

remodelingmagazine.com: "Small business owners should plan their vehicle and equipment purchases around two changes to Section 179 of the IRS code allowing owners to take the depreciation for capital purchases in the year of the purchase. First, the amount of the deduction increased from the previous $24,000 to $100,000 for 2003 and $102,000 for 2004. Second, the government applies this deduction to vehicles over 6,000 pounds -- which includes sport utility vehicles. On top of the capital purchases depreciation, Section 179 includes off-the-shelf software service after 2002."

Small heaters

desa.com/vanguardheat: "If your bathroom is chilly, help is on the way. These Vanguard heaters are specially designed for bathroom installation (your choice of propane or natural gas). Federal law states that bathroom heaters may not exceed 6,000 Btu."

Tool Test: Impact Drivers

ebuild.com: "Since the test group is all over the voltage map, picking a single winner requires some qualification, as some of these tools really shine in certain applications. For bulldog power, I like Hitachi's 14.4-volt WH14DMB. It's basic and a little big, but has a ton of muscle. Milwaukee's 14.4-volt 9081-22 is a close second here. For trim and cabinets, the super-compact 12-volt Panasonic EY6506NQKW is superlative. But for general purpose work, Hitachi's 12-volt WH12DM2 - about $235 - is the most versatile and the overall favorite. It's compact, light, and great on trim sites, but also has awesome power for digging into lags and heavy-duty work, proving itself the fightin'-est dog on site. Next, both DeWalt tools are comfortable and powerful. Panasonic's EY7201GQW is an advanced, versatile tool."

Production hole cutting

pythontools.com:

"The Python Perfect Cutter is a complete hole cutting system with interchangable templates for metal and plastic electrical cut-in boxes. It includes a vacuum system, router, template system, custom bits and carry bag. Cuts no-mess electrical holes in lathe and plaster, ceramic tile or kitchen island cabinet wood in seconds. No gaps; no ragged edges; a snug, level perfect fit with no mess. But it costs over $900."

Mortar for Flagstone and Paving

askthebuilder.com: " The hydrated lime you read about is a dry fluffy powder made by adding a very specific amount of water to regular lime and mixing the two in large mechanical mixing machines. The small amount of water activates the calcium oxide in the lime but does not turn it into a paste or putty. Hydrated lime takes the guesswork out of mixing mortar and as such is very user-friendly. Hydrated lime is not a necessary mortar ingredient. You can make mortar with just Portland cement, sand and water. The plasticity or workability of the mix will improve. When hydrated lime is added to the mix, the sand and the cement do not separate. The final mortar is also more waterproof. Shrinkage cracking can often be eliminated or minimized when hydrated lime is added to the mixture. Replacing 10 to 15% of the total volume of cement with hydrated lime usually produces optimum results. use this recipe for the mortar: 3 five gallon buckets of dry sand, 6.38 gallons of Portland cement and 1.12 gallons of hydrated lime. Blend these ingredients together well before adding any water to the mix. Add water slowly until you get a mixture that resembles regular bricklayers mortar. Only mix as much mortar as you can use in one or two hours."

Modernist prefab

fabprefab.com - a web resource dedicated to tracking developments in the realm of ‘modernist prefab dwellings’.

Safety: Stop the blade

sawstop.com ...a technology that stops saw blades within 5 milliseconds of contact with the human body.

100's of alternative builder links

ourcoolhouse.com and here at Dirt Cheap Builder, the papercrete.com folks from northern California.

The Great Battery Shootout

imaging-resource.com: "'Which batteries are best?' Here's the bottom line, the results of over two years of off-and-on battery testing."

Safety: Toxic Teflon Gases

mikeholt.com None of the testing protocols for communications cable (which is placed in the air systems) measure toxicity or corrosivity (both are extremely significant threats to life and property). The current tests measure fire and smoke but disregard toxic gases. We have had to reappraise our thinking about the safety of the communications cabling workplace. There is a new focus on removal in order to reduce the fuel load approximately 8 1/2 million miles of abandoned cable in the workplace. This information comes from the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook.

Mother Earth News

motherearthnews.com Full texts of articles from the first issue in 1970 through 2003.

The Most Efficient Things In The World

reactual.com: "An average household spends... nuff said. Information on Lighting, Refrigeration, Stoves, Washers & Dryers, Televisions, Cooling, Heating, Air Conditioning, Indoor Plants, Toilets, Water Filters, Rain Water Harvesting, Hot Water Systems, Deep Cycle Batteries, Rechargeable Batteries and Paint."

Safe paint?

safecoatpaint.com: "Back in the early 80's, no one was thinking about indoor air pollution or chemical toxicity in household and building products. But AFM was working with environmental medicine physicians and their patients - people with allergies and chemical sensitivities - to formulate products that do not leave irritating chemical residues in the air after use, and therefore do not contribute to the 'chemical soup' created by ordinary materials. Every AFM product has been used successfully even by those most sensitive to environmental pollutants. Today, we remain the only company to provide a complete range of chemically responsible building and maintenance products."

Lime Paint: This paint is made from natural ingredients and does not contain acrylics or other plastics. The lime in it is slaked, meaning it cures by reacting with oxygen in the air. Other ingredients include a type of clay, marble dust, a natural glue and water. Lime paint works on all wall surfaces, from wood to drywall to masonry. It is intended for interior surfaces. Painted on and left to dry, lime paint has a lush, velvety look. Polished, the paint glows in a way that's unlike any other surface treatment. Walls appear to have texture, but they feel smooth. People will want to touch them. Price Per Gallon: $48 Purchase from: Environmental Home Center Link from reactual

This book has incredible photos of softly sculpted lime plasters, and tinted lime washes. Including a photo of a tiny tiny bathroom with a dreamy ocean blue limewash on the walls. Also details authentic alternatives for treating plaster walls without resorting to inappropriate "plastic" paints and it provides simple recipes to create beautiful historic paints that are otherwise nearly impossible to acquire. From www.dirtcheapbuilder.com Also see http://www.papercrete.com

Charmaine Taylor at dirtcheapbuilder says, "Don't let using "lime" confuse you..it has been used for more than 5,000 years as a building material..and is finding new favor today for building." Read more on this ancient lime putty here.

Explosive demolition

ImplosionWorld.com: "Worldwide source for news and information on building implosions, blowdowns and all other types of structural blasting projects."

Steel, Stainless, Brass, Bronze

boltdepot.com: "Nuts, Bolts and Screws by the individual piece or full box with no minimum order."

Low cost home automation

misterhouse.net: "MisterHouse is an open source home automation program. It's fun, it's free, and it's entirely geeky. It has a web interface to allow control and feedback from any browser, either on a local intranet or on the internet."

How to use eBay

freebiddingtools.com: "Create your own RSS feed for your favorite eBay search..."

Any other paint tests?

Consumer Reports tested the 33 leading brands of home paint a couple years ago. They tested the three most popular colors: white, tan and blue.

Only three paints did well in all three colors. Those are:
- Glidden Dulux Endurance Satin
- Sears Best Weatherbeater Satin
- California Fres-Coat Velvet Acrylic Flat

They all sell for between $22.00 and $25.00 dollars a gallon.

Garage Deck 

Framers are freaking

toolsofthetrade.net: "Testing shows that ACQ [alkaline copper quaternary] pressure-treated lumber is much more corrosive than the phased-out CCA [chromated copper arsenate], posing a serious threat to the fasteners and hardware holding the material in place. People are worried that even 1/2-inch anchor bolts aren't safe in contact with ACQ-treated lumber. And I'm worried that the lumber industry, in trying to solve one problem, has created another, leaving cost, confusion, and corrosion in its wake. Wood producers were recommending a minimum of stainless steel fasteners or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners that meet ASTM A153 standards, and connectors that meet ASTM A653 Class G185 sheet or better. Many tool and fastener manufacturers, including Senco, Stanley-Bostitch, and Paslode, jumped into early action to test their fasteners so they can guide customers to products that withstand ACQ, and a few have introduced new products specifically for the new materials. Another important player in this drama is Simpson Strong-Tie, which has conducted extensive tests on CCA, ACQ, and a promising sodium borate treatment called DOT. Borate-treated lumber is already available; is actually less corrosive than CCA, and more environmentally acceptable; it's not suitable for outdoor use and soil contact, but may be the best option for framers to use for sills and plates because no change in fasteners and hardware is required."

Tool counterfeiting hits U.S.

ebuild.com: "The Power Tool Institute is warning consumers that tool counterfeiting - a practice that began in Europe - is now starting to occur in the United States. According to PTI, people impersonating sales representatives of major power tool makers are selling grinders, rotary hammers, cordless tools, and combo kits - from brands such as Bosch, Hilti, DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee - at low prices out of the trunks of their cars under the ploy that they are samples from trade shows. In addition, some of the tools are showing up on Internet auction sites."

9Volt LED flashlight

9voltlight.com: "A tiny 4 gram chip sits atop a regular alkaline 9-volt battery which acts as body, handle, stand and power source. Two modes: high (75 hours) and low (600 hours). High mode produces about as much light as a candle, only steadier, harsher and whiter. Gives continuous light up to 8,760 hours (a year?) on one lithium battery says Kelly's Cool Tools.

Build a better place to live

tndhomes.com
The Ins and Outs of Infill from a Web site that provides neighborhood-friendly building plans that can become the basic building blocks of a community. Here you'll find single-family homes, townhomes, out-buildings and commercial structures, plus feature articles, tours and resources that will help to speed you on your way.

Guide to small construction equipment

compactequip.com

Vermiculite warning...

toreal.blogs.com: "Health Canada is warning that attic insulation in some homes may contain might contain tremolite asbestos that is a known cancer-causing agent. The insulation in question is a form of vermiculite produced from the Libby Mine in Montana from the 1920s to 1990, and sold in Canada as Zonolite Attic Insulation. The mine accounted for most of the world's supply of vermiculite until it was closed in 1990. Not all vermiculite produced before 1990 contains asbestos fibers. However, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it is reasonable to assume that if a building has older vermiculite-based insulation, it may contain some asbestos. Does not apply to vermiculite used in potting soil or other horticultural products."

Woodworking software...

woodbin.com: "Woodworking software, furniture design info and plans, wood properties, woodworking supplies, wood products, and other woodworking stuff. "

Wood Profile - Hemlock

woodmagazine.com: "During the last century the bark of hemlock was sometimes worth more than the wood. The leather-tanning and fur-processing industries demanded hemlock bark for its high tannic acid content. Hides and skins infused with a tannic-acid solution become soft and strong. Tragically, stands of hemlock in the eastern United States and Canada were stripped of their bark, then left to die.

It wasn't until the '40s boom in wood-frame house construction that hemlock came into its own as lumber. And then the eastern hemlock's West Coast cousin provided the raw material. Today hemlock lumber from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (where the species represents 60 percent of the mature coastal forest) feeds home construction and millwork manufacturers. Hemlock even gives some hardwoods a run for their money as a lower cost, yet strong, easy-to-work furniture stock. In fact, this softwood actually grows harder with age!"

Builder's helper???

aonevitamins.com: "100% Purity White Crystalline Powder Caffeine, Caffeine Information. Add 1/16 teaspoon to juice or soft drinks."

And on the same note, scientists demonstrate best way to use caffeine with some useful news you can use. Morning "big gulp" coffee drinkers are misusing the power of caffeine. Researchers at the Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago along with colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have shown that caffeine is best administered in a larger number of smaller doses with the doses coming later in the day. Most of the population is using caffeine the wrong way by drinking a few mugs of coffee or tea in the morning.... This means that caffeine levels in the brain will be falling as the day goes on. Subjects who took the low-dose caffeine performed better on cognitive tests. They also exhibited fewer accidental sleep onsets, or microsleeps.

Dislike the taste of other energy drinks? Take fate into your own hands and create your own energy drink using your favorite juice or soda and an Umph tablet. Umph has just a hint of a lemon-line flavor so it's virtually flavorless. $9 for 20 tablets.

Something like 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another every single day. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams (mg) of caffeine every day, making it America's most popular drug by far. More at howstuffworks.com

Here's a site that lists reviews of energy drinks.

Cable Stripper

joneakes.com: "This item is the proverbial better mouse trap. I ran across this item at a trade show in Chicago and it blew me away. It's so simple yet so fantastic! If you've ever struggled stripping the outer sheathing off Lomax electrical wires or scratched one of the wire's insulation while using a standard Lomax stripper you won't believe your eyes when you use this Electrician's Cable Stripper. It has a razor edge, hidden and protected by a little ball which zips open Lomax safely, quickly and effortlessly. It's not widely available. So while we wait for it to become the standard stripper throughout North America (it's that good!), you can get it right here! $15"

Sears mail order housing...

searsarchives.com: "From 1908-1940, Sears, Roebuck and Company sold more than 100,000 homes through their mail-order Modern Homes program. Over that time Sears designed 447 different housing styles, from the elaborate multistory Ivanhoe, with its elegant French doors and art glass windows, to the simpler Goldenrod, which served as a quaint, three-room and no-bath cottage for summer vacationers. (An outhouse could be purchased separately for Goldenrod and similar cottage dwellers.) Customers could choose a house to suit their individual tastes and budgets. "

Thin clear epoxy

epoxyproducts.com: "ESP 155 is a very thin, low viscosity, moisture tolerant, epoxy designed for priming and sealing. Use on wood and fiberglass to improve adhesion of urethanes and other paints. Firm up damaged wood. Unlike our competitor's penetrating epoxy, we pack 75% resin (vs. their 30%), enough to generally seal and prime in one coat (instead of several) yet with enough solvent (25%) to penetrate deeply. Also used as a concrete primer to reduce outgassing when top coating with solvent-free topcoats. A 1/2 gal kit will seal about 100-125 square feet of wood. Alternative product: add solvent to our solvent free LOW V epoxy. One gallon kit - $36 -- much less than average. Also scroll this archive page for additional epoxy links."

Reasonable blow up...

For making large images from photos or digital files, these are cheap. 16 x 20 inch print is $22, 2 foot by 3 foot print is $60, 4 foot by 8 foot print is $350. Online ordering. Send Pictopia non-photographic files, like maps, charts, or computer renderings. For big pictures this is the way to go.

Three-way refrigerator...

loftyshelters.com: "A little fridge rugged enough to go where you go. Built to last for years, flexible enough to go the distance. Power on 120 Volts in the house when you are loading the fridge. Wheel it to your vehicle then quickly remove the wheels and handle and plug into 12 Volts using your cigarette lighter. Use propane gas to power when you are camping. Comes with a safety thermocouple and push button piezo ignitor. Runs all weekend on a small propane cartridge. Oops, $380."

Ladder safety...

levelok.com

"If you're looking for a standout stabilizer that will fit in a smaller space (for a budget under $25) than look at Levelok's aluminum Standout Brackets. Weighing 1.5 lbs., these sturdy aluminum brackets can be attached to most extension or sectional ladders with open rungs by simply compressing the two bracket ends and slipping them into the rung openings.

They are held securely in place by the tension and the angle on the bracket. To detach them, just compress and pull. Once installed, our Standout Brackets will protect gutters and windows, and span 12 inches beyond each side of your ladder, providing a standoff distance of 12 inches."

Why use tapered drills?

bitsnbores.com: "W. L. Fuller, Inc. has been manufacturing taper point drills for over 40 years. Many articles have been written and debates have developed over their use as compared to other methods of pre-drilling for wood screws. The diameter of the drill used to pre drill for the threaded portion of a wood screw should be the same size as the root diameter of the screw. The depth of the pilot drill should be about 1/8” shorter than the depth of the wood screw. The diameter of the taper point drill is designed to match to diameter of the shank of the wood screw. The tapered portion of the drill is designed to pre drill for the threaded portion of the screw. By adjusting the drilling depth of the taper point drill, you can adjust the force required to tighten the wood screw.

Believe it or not, a true Forstner Bit does not have a center point. It's designed to rub on the wood. The rim around the outside of the Forstner bit acts as a guide to keep the tool centered. The Forstner Bit is designed to be able to cut half hole on the edge of the wood or cut on a angle.

Small plug cutters are commonly 1/4” although it's possible to use Fuller's Type ‘J’ Countersinks to cut small diameter plugs from 3/32” to 3/16”."