TH Family Handyman

BUILD IT. FIX IT. LIVE IT!
TM
WAY
8
Beautiful & Durable TO AVOS
SUBWAY
PLUMB ID
I
LEAKSNG
TILE
YOU ca n d o
Easy to build
it!
MEDICINE
CABINET
with a surprise!
7 STEPS TO RENEW
YOUR CAR’S INTERIOR
SPACE-SAVING
WINE RACK
OC T/NOV 2017
USB POWER
RIGHT WHERE
YOU NEED IT FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM
Contents
ƨƜƭƨƛƞƫƧƨƯƞƦƛƞƫƁſƀƆ
EXPERT
DIY ADVICE
SINCE 1951
ON THE COVER
Give a boring bath-
room high style with
tile wainscoting and
a medicine cabinet
you make yourself.
Photographed by
Tom Fenenga
34
Master the Art
42
Build Your Own
of Subway Tile Medicine Cabinet
Add wainscoting to The clever interior even
your bathroom walls includes a secret spot
for a fresh, new look! for a few valuables.
52
Space-Saving
60
Super-Easy
Wine Rack USB Outlet
Keep a few bottles on You can get rid of
hand right under an charger clutter with
upper kitchen cabinet. one simple project.
2 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM NOTE: Skipped pages represent advertisements that are not included in this digital edition.
egopowerplus.com
Available at
and EGO Authorized Dealers
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On November 20th, 2016 three explorers embarked on an expedition to Antarctica to prove
that the EGO POWER+ Snow Blower can conquer the coldest, windiest, harshest environment
on Earth. Featuring EGO’s Peak Power™ Technology, it combines the power of two ARC Lithium™
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9,500 miles, traveled across three continents, and only pushed the start button one time.
5 6 V L I T H I U M - I O N T E C H N O L O G Y • 3 5 F E E T T H R O W I N G D I S TA N C E
S E E I T I N A C T I O N AT E G O S N O W B L O W E R . C O M
Get Social!
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
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TheFamilyHandyman and click “like.”
19
7
64
DO YOU PIN?
All of our best projects and tips are on
Pinterest, including everything you need
to do to prep your house for winter. Go to
7 Stuff We Love 64 Home Care + Repair pinterest.com/family_handyman
A cordless air compressor, a Make your garage floor last,
compact garage heater, and keep your backup generator
stylish sink accessories. dry, and tackle that pink slime.
12 Handy Hints® 68 Car + Garage

A paint organizing system, Seven steps to deep clean your
pop-can picture hooks, and a car’s interior—it will look and
tip for tearing masking tape. feel brand new again.
19 DIY Essentials 72 What’s Wrong

Bench grinders are handy With This Picture?
for sharpening tools, polishing New heights of ladder insanity,
metal, and so much more. gravity-defying deck beams,
and no-escape exit windows!
26 Share Your Stuff
Send us photos of your latest 82 Reader Info
projects and we’ll help you Want to know how to sub-
show them to the world. scribe, renew, send us a hint, START YOUR PROJECT RIGHT
and more? Check out this page. AT FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM
You’ll find indispensable how-to advice
28 Best Pro Tips from our experts, easy-to-use project
Finishing up a plumbing job? 84 Great Goofs® plans, and videos on all kinds of
Be sure to check for tiny leaks Things that crack—and the home improvement topics.
and sediment in the lines. DIYers who made it all happen.
4 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM

Stuff We Love
Our favorite DIY tools, materials + gear. By Mark Petersen
A cordless air compressor? Really?
A
where I need it, one short ball valve at the tank bottom,
which makes it easy to drain
TFH, I use air strap for the hose. the condensation at the end
The R0230 is perfect for of the day. The truth is, I
haven’t used any of our other
several months, my go-to compressors since I started
compressor has been the using this one.
18-volt battery-powered The compressor sells for
1-gallon unit from Ridgid $200 at The Home Depot. The
tect floors from damage, batteries and charger are sold
My work often takes me to and it’s quieter than most separately. If you already own
small electric compressors. other Ridgid 18-volt tools,
you’re all set.
hassle finding outlets and JOSH RISBERG,
LEAD CARPENTER
Since I can carry it right to
FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 7

ST U F F WE LOVE
HAND FRIENDLY
A new grip for

your tool handles Rubber
G
ot a slippery handle on your hammer or Cover
rake? Wish your wheelbarrow handles were
Plastic
a bit more comfy? The Re-Grip (re-grip.com) Coil
makes it easy to add or replace rubber handle covers on all
kinds of tools. No gluing or heating necessary—you just insert
the handle of the tool and pull on a plastic tab to unwind the plas-
tic coil from inside the rubber cover, which then shrinks to fit
around the handle. Re-Grip comes in three sizes, which cost $9 to
$17 online.
HOT TICKET
THIS SMALL
GARAGE HEATER
ALL WHEEL DRIVE PACKS A PUNCH
I bought this little NewAir heater (model
G56) a couple of years ago for my garage
GREAT MOWER FOR HILLY YARDS workshop. I live in Minnesota, the land of
ast summer I moved into a new house with a steeply sloped subzero temps, where it does a fantastic job
L IURQW\DUGVR,ILJXUHGLWZDVWLPHWREX\DVHOIĥSURSHOOHG
lawn mower. After reading a few reviews online, I bought a
ĥLQ7RUR5HF\FOHUZLWKDOOĥZKHHOGULYHĪPRGHOWRUR
of getting my mostly insulated two-car
attached garage from 40 to 60 degrees F in
about 30 minutes. That’s plenty warm for my
FRPī7KLVWKLQJLVDZHVRPH,WFOLPEVKLOOVZLWKHDVHDQG needs. You’ll need to have an electrician
TOP PHOTO: RE-GRIP
PXOFKHVJUDVVLQWRILQHSDUWLFOHVWKDWIHHGP\ODZQ$QGWKH install a dedicated 30-amp, 240-volt circuit

VSHFLDOO\GHVLJQHGHQJLQHQHYHUQHHGVRLOFKDQJHVĦ\RXMXVW to power it. NewAir model 56 costs about
FKHFNDQGDGGRLODVQHHGHG7KLVPRGHOFRVWVDERXWĲ $170 online. You can learn more and order
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JASON WHITE, ASSOCIATE EDITOR JASON WHITE, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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OPPOSITE PAGE: ELKAY
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Color Label
EDITORS: RICK MUSCOPLAT AND JASON WHITE
Stir-stick paint organizer

When you buy custom-mixed paint, the paint clerk slaps the mix
label on top of the can. I always ask for an extra label to wrap around
a stir stick. When I’m done with the project, I let the stir stick dry and
drill a hole near the top of it. Then I label both the stick and the can
with the name of the room where I used the paint. I hang the stir
Color Label sticks near the cans of leftover paint. With both the color formula and
a dried paint sample in view, I don’t have to pull down every can to
find the right one for touch-ups.
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DIY Essentials
Our best tips for getting your project done right. By Jeff Gorton
Bench
Grinder
Basics
A
bench
grinder is
probably
not a tool you’ll use
every day. However,
if it’s available and
set up correctly,
you’ll be surprised
how often it comes
in handy for every-
thing from sharpen-
ing tools to
rounding over
thread ends on a
cutoff bolt. We’ve
assembled these
tips to help you get
the most out of
your grinder.

D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Aluminum
Oxide
Bath
Silicon
Carbide
Keep a container
of water handy
Most chisels and other cutting
tools are made of tempered steel.
Friable If the steel gets too hot and turns
Aluminum bluish black, it’s overheated and
Oxide won’t hold an edge very long.
To avoid ruining the edge of a
Grind small
tool by overheating, keep water objects safely
nearby to cool the tool. A good Hold small objects with locking
technique is to move the tool once pliers. This keeps your fingers a
across the grinder for no more than safe distance from the grinding
Match the a few seconds. Then dip it in the wheel and protects them against
wheel to the job water. If the steel edge does over- burns from the hot metal. It also
Most bench grinders come with heat and turns color, grind the edge gives you better control over the
one coarse- and one medium-grit back to good steel and start over. grinding process.
aluminum oxide grinding wheel.
These are fine for everyday grind-
ing on steel. But there are better
wheels for special tasks like
sharpening tools or grinding alu- Friable
Aluminum
minum, copper, brass or stone. Oxide
Here are a few key points to Wheel
remember when choosing wheels.
Q Grits go from coarse to fine,
which are indicated by numbers
like 80 grit or 220 grit, with larger
numbers indicating finer grits.
Q Coarse grits cut fast but leave a
more ragged edge.
Q Fine grits cut slower and leave a
more polished surface.
Q For tool sharpening, look for
“friable” aluminum oxide wheels.
Friable means that the grit breaks
off easily as you grind to constantly
expose fresh grit. This keeps the
metal cooler. Friable wheels are
Consider a low-speed grinder
usually white. for sharpening
Q For most sharpening tasks, a Unless they’re variable speed, most grinders run at about 3,450 rpm. If
60-grit and a 120-grit wheel are a you’re careful and keep the wheel dressed (more on that in another tip),
good combination. these high-speed grinders work fine. But for sharpening, a low-speed
Q Don’t grind soft metal or stone on grinder running at 1,750 rpm is a better choice. The lower speed reduces
aluminum oxide wheels. To grind the chance you’ll overheat the edge of your tool.
these materials, look for a silicon Another advantage of a low-speed grinder ($100 to $150) is that this
carbide wheel. See “Grinder Safety” type typically includes friable white grinder wheels, which do a better
on p. 24 for more precautions about job of sharpening than the gray grinder wheels usually included with
grinder wheels. high-speed grinders.

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D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Pencil
Line
Diamond
Wheel Watch for the sparks to come over the top
Dresser
When you’re sharpening a chisel or other tool, you can tell when the edge
is getting sharp by watching the sparks. When the edge is blunt, the
sparks are deflected downward. But as the edge gets sharper, the sparks
roll over the tool and cascade down the surface facing you. When you see
this start to happen, be careful about grinding much more because a thin
edge is very vulnerable to overheating.
Dress wheels
frequently MAKE AN ANGLE GAUGE
Wheel dressing squares the face of Chisels and other cutting tools work best if their edges are ground at
the wheel, but more important, it the correct angle. You can search online to find the optimal angle for
exposes new grit for more efficient whatever tool you’re sharpening. Most wood chisels should be ground
cutting. As a wheel is used, the WRDERXWDĥGHJUHHDQJOHZLWKDVHFRQGDU\PLFURĥEHYHODQJOHRI
spaces between the cutting grit can degrees on the tip of the blade. An angle gauge allows you to set the
become clogged, and the grit itself tool rest at the desired angle. You can make an angle gauge from a
dulled. A wheel in this condition can thin piece of cardboard using an inexpensive protractor.
cause overheating and slows mate-
rial removal. A wheel dresser like
the one shown here ($15 to $30)
has a bar with diamond grit impreg-
1.
b
MARK THE
ANGLE ON
CARDBOARD
nated in it. Holding the bar against Align the center mark on the
the spinning wheel cuts away the Center
protractor with the top edge
surface to expose new grit, squares Mark of the cardboard. Then turn
the face of the wheel and rounds the protractor until the
the wheel. desired angle is also aligned
To use a dressing tool like this, with the top edge. Draw a
Align line along the protractor to
start the grinder and wait for it to
Angle mark the angle. Don’t forget
reach full speed. Then press the Here to label the angle. Cut along
diamond wheel dresser against the the line to create the gauge.
spinning wheel, holding it perpen-
dicular to the face of the wheel. Be
sure to wear a good-quality dust
mask. The fine aluminum oxide
dust is very bad for your lungs.

b TOOL
ADJUST THE
REST
Set the cardboard on the
tool rest and adjust the angle
Draw a pencil line on the wheel
of the tool rest until the
before you start to help you gauge wheel contacts the center of
when you’ve removed enough the angled portion of the
material from the wheel. Dress the cardboard gauge.
wheel just until the pencil line
disappears.

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$ 21999$299
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ITEM 63255
ITEM 69955/69594/42292 shown ITEM 62915/60600 shown 63254 shown
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FLOOR JACK • Weighs SAVE 60%
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ITEM 42429/69471 shown ITEM 61253/62326/61282 shown ITEM 62281/61637 shown ITEM 69645/60625 shown
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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare” or “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 1/11/18. or above the “Compare” or “comp at” price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by
location. No other meaning of “Compare” or "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Tool
Rest
Make your grinder portable

Most home workshops don’t have enough bench space to devote a sec-
tion to a bench grinder. A good solution is to mount your grinder to a
board or small stand so you can clamp it to the bench when you need it,
Upgrade the tool rest and store on the shelf when you don’t. The compartment on this grinder
Inexpensive grinders have tool stand is a good spot to keep your dressing tool and safety glasses so
rests that are finicky and difficult to they’re handy when you need them. For a fancier version, build a little
adjust. If you do a lot of sharpening drawer to fit the space under the grinder.
or simply want a tool rest that’s The stand is built from two 12 x 16-in. pieces of 3/4-in. plywood sepa-
easier to adjust, consider adding a rated by two 4 x 12-in. uprights. We used two 5/16-in. bolts with washers
stand-alone tool rest ($60 online or and nuts to attach the grinder, leaving enough space in front of the
at woodworking stores). grinder to mount a stand-alone tool rest.
There are several variations, some
made for specific tasks like sharpen-
ing lathe turning tools. This Veritas
model has two adjustments for
positioning and aligning the tool
rest, and levers for easy tightening. Cotton
Buffing
You can also buy an attachment that Wheel
holds chisels or plane irons.
GRINDER SAFETY
Q Wear safety glasses with side
shields, goggles or a face shield
when grinding.
Q Turn the grinder on and stand aside
until the wheels come to full speed.
If there’s a problem, you won’t be in
the path of flying debris. Polishing
Q Inspect grinder wheels for cracks or Compound
damage. Before you install a new
wheel, suspend it by a screwdriver
through the center hole. Tap the
wheel lightly with the plastic
handle of another screwdriver. The
wheel should ring. If you hear a dull
Set up a polishing station
thud instead, the wheel is probably A bench grinder fitted with a wire wheel ($15) on one side and a cotton
cracked and should not be used. buffing wheel ($8) on the other side, or buffing wheels on both sides,
Q When you install a wheel, don’t makes a great cleaning and polishing tool. You’ll also need a set of polish-
overtighten the nut. Just snug it
up. Overtightening could crack ing compound sticks ($14). Polishing compound sticks are color coded to
the wheel. indicate the grit, from coarse to very fine.
Q Keep the shrouds and spark shields To use the polishing wheel, hold the stick against the buffing wheel as it
in place. And maintain a 1/8-in. or
less gap between the tool rest and spins to transfer some polishing compound to the wheel. Then hold the
the grinding wheel. object lightly against the wheel and let the compound polish the surface.

✴
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see bradford.exchange.com. Limited-edition
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Best ProTips Expert advice from the job site. By Gary Wentz
FINISHING UP A
PLUMBING JOB How to spot tiny leaks and
ŴXVKGHEULVRXWRISLSHV
CHECK
SHUTOFF
VALVES
Simply using a
shutoff valve
can create a
leak where the
valve stem
meets the pack- FIRST, DRY OFF
ing nut. In most EVERYTHING
cases, you can Any moisture on
stop the leak plumbing lines
just by tighten- or the floor
ing the packing below can be
nut. mistaken for a
leak. Wipe the
surfaces dry.
W
hen the job is done and you’re ready to pack up your tools,
take the time to do a final check for tiny leaks and sediment
lingering in the lines. There’s no 100 MEET THE EXPERT
When Gary Wentz,
percent prevention for either problem, but if you editor-in-chief, did a
stint as a journeyman
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B E ST P RO TIPS
Spot
Tiny
Leaks
Don’t Get
Fooled by
Condensation
In high humidity, a cold
water line will sweat, making
it almost impossible to
detect tiny leaks. Here’s how
to work around that: Run the
water just enough to fill the
line. Then take a coffee break
while the water in the pipe
warms to room temperature. Stress-Test Drain Lines
When it’s warm enough, To test drain lines under a sink, don’t just turn on the faucet. Instead, com-
wipe the pipe dry and look pletely fill the sink. (Fill both bowls on a double sink.) Then open the drain
for leaks. Condensation may to release a gush of water. In humid conditions, fill the sink with lukewarm
also be caused by cold water water. Cold water will cause condensation on the lines and prevent you
in drain lines. from finding leaks.
Detect
Drips
with
Paper
Paper towels or
newspaper are
great leak loca-
tors. You’ll
immediately
Flush Before You Caulk see—or even
A small leak at the toilet flange leads to a puddle. hear—leaks as
soon as a drip Trouble!
But if that puddle is dammed up by caulk around
the toilet base, it may not show up for months. So hits the paper.
before you caulk, flush a couple times and probe for
leaks with a strip of paper.
Check
Sink
Rims
Dribble water
around a sink
rim to check
the seal. Rim
leaks rarely
show up right
away, so wait
Locate Leaks with Tissue a few minutes
A wet spot on a tissue is a lot easier to see than a before
small droplet on a pipe. So wipe with a tissue and inspecting
look at it after each swipe. from below.

WHAT YOU DO
DEPENDS ON THE PIPES
FLUSH OUT There’s no need to take every
flushing step on every job. It
THE SEDIMENT depends on the age and type of
plumbing. In a newer home with
Water supply pipes contain sediment: corrosion, mineral PEX plumbing, for example, you
deposits, pipe dope or solder. Plumbing work shakes that might only have to remove the
aerators before flushing.
VWXIIORRVH:DWHUIORZZLOOFDUU\WKDWORRVHJULWWRIL[WXUHVħ
and possibly plug them. To prevent that, run water through the
lines to flush out the sediment.
Flush Before
You Connect
Sediment trapped in a fill
valve can make a toilet fill
slowly or run constantly. To
flush out this sediment, run
water into a bucket before Old galvanized steel
pipes, on the other hand, usu-
you connect the supply line. ally contain a lot of debris and
call for every trick in the book.
B E ST P RO TIPS
Let It Run
When flushing lines, you’ll be tempted to shut off the water after 10
seconds. That’s not long enough. One minute is the minimum. In a
large house with long runs of supply pipe, let it flow for several min-
utes. Better to waste some water than to repair plugged faucets.
Start at a
High-Volume,
Low-Risk
Valve
To flush out debris, you
need a high-volume flow
of water. That makes out-
door hose bibs and wash-
ing machine supply lines
great for this purpose.
These faucets have
another advantage too:
Unlike kitchen or bath fix- Protect the
tures, they have big,
simple ports that are less
Showerhead
likely to get plugged or Low-flow showerheads have tiny
damaged by sediment. openings that can be plugged by
Just keep in mind that any a single particle. So run the tub
faucet you choose for faucet before the shower. In a
flushing should be down- dedicated shower (no tub spout),
stream from the work area. remove the showerhead and flush
Watch out! Washing the line.
machine hoses often have
screens that can become
plugged. Luckily, they’re
easy to remove and clean. Flush Hot and
Cold Separately
To get maximum flow through a
single-handle kitchen or bath
faucet, swing the handle to one
side and run the water full blast.
Then switch to the other side
and do the same.
Screen
Remove
Aerators Aerator
Small particles that

flow through a
faucet often get
caught in the aera-
tor. So always
unscrew the aera-
tor and run the
water after a
plumbing job.

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MASTER
THE ART OF
Subway
Tile
Transform your bathroom
in a couple weekends.
By Jeff Gorton
WHAT IT TAKES
TIME COST SKILL LEVEL
1 or 2 About $5 Beginner to
weekends to $25 intermediate
per sq. ft.
TOOLS Tile cutter, tile saw, drill,
nipper, notched trowel, level, tape
measure, grout float, grout sponge,
buckets. Optional: diamond hole
saws

A
dding tile wainscoting is a perfect
DIY project. It doesn’t require a
huge investment in tools, and the
results are stunning. And tiling a
wall is much easier than most
other tile jobs. Unlike floors or showers, tile
wainscoting doesn’t have to withstand foot trafĥ
fic or daily soaking. So you can set the tile directly
over your existing walls using premixed mastic
DGKHVLYHħQREDFNHUERDUGZDWHUSURRILQJRU
KDUGĥWRĥPL[DGKHVLYHQHHGHG
)RURXUEDWKURRPZHFKRVHJOD]HG[ĥLQ
subway tile with matching cap, pencil and base
tiles. The walls were already painted, providing
an adequate base for the tile.
Shop for tile Getting started

First, measure your walls and Before doing any tile project,
draw a sketch of the room it’s important to check that
TILE: THE BEST you plan to tile. Take the

sketch to a home center or
the floor is level and the
walls are flat. Use a level and
BATHROOM WALL tile shop where the salesper-
son can help you order the
straightedge to see if the
floor is level. If the floor
• WATER-RESISTANT right amount of tile and trim slopes, find the lowest point
• STUNNING APPEARANCE pieces. We chose to add the and mark it. Then hold the
matching base (skirt), cap straightedge against the
• EASY TO CLEAN
(cornice) and a long, thin walls in the areas you plan to
• LASTS FOR DECADES piece called a “pencil.” tile. If you find low areas, fill
We also ordered bullnose them with setting-type com-
tile for the outside corner, pound to flatten the walls
and special outside corner before you start tiling.
pieces for the base and cap. Another thing to check at
The field tile cost us about this stage is how your cap
$6 per sq. ft., and the special tile will look when it butts
trim pieces cost about $10 into your window and door
each. As you shop, you’ll dis- moldings. If the cap
cover that not all tile has
matching trim pieces. If the MEET THE EXPERT:
tile you select doesn’t have “Subway tile is
trim pieces, you may be able the same but
different,” says
to find a trim in a comple- expert Dean
mentary color. Remember to Sorem. “In most
ways, it installs
choose a grout (including just like any
the color) while you’re shop- wall tile. But
ping. We used sanded grout because it’s set
in a brick joint
to fill the 1/8-in. grout spaces pattern, some steps are a little
on this tile, but if your grout different and a little trickier.”
spaces are narrower, use Dean has installed acres of
subway tile, and in the follow-
unsanded grout. Look for ing pages, he’ll show you how
polymer-fortified grout that to get it right.
you mix with water.

Shift Layout
to Avoid Skinny
Tile Here
Base Tile
Pencil Tile
Cap Tile
bPLAN THE LAYOUT

Arrange rows of tile on the floor, including the spacers. Shift the rows left or right to determine the width of the end
VSDFHVDQGWKHORFDWLRQVRIWKHSOXPEOLQHVĪVHH3KRWRī7KHQVWDFNDFROXPQRIWLOHVWDUWLQJZLWKWKHEDVHDQGHQGLQJZLWK
WKHFDS8VHWKLVPRFNĥXSWRGHWHUPLQHWKHILQLVKHGKHLJKWRI\RXUZDLQVFRW
protrudes past the moldings, one

fix is to add a strip of matching
wood, deep enough to hide the
Offset the
end of the cap tile, around the
Tile by Half moldings. You can see how we
of Tile Width modified our trim on p. 39.
Planning the tile layout is critical
to a great-looking tile job. Photo 1
shows how to get started. Arrange
rows of tile and stack all the parts
Mastic Line on the floor to determine the exact
measurements you’ll need to plan
the tile layout. Check the height
measurement against light
Vertical switches and outlets on your walls.
Starting Line Add or subtract from the wainscot
height to make sure switches and
outlets land either above or below it.
Next, you’ll need to draw vertical
layout lines for starting the tile. For
a running bond (brick joint) pattern
like ours, you’ll need two vertical
lines, half a tile width apart. Start
by assuming the first line will be
centered on the wall. Then draw a
Level layout for two rows of tile, offset-
Ledger
Board ting the joints by the half tile width.
Check to see what size the cut
pieces on the ends of the two rows
of tile will be. If any of the cuts are
skinny, it will look better if you shift
the layout a quarter tile width. For
bDRAW LAYOUT LINES

our 8-in.-wide tiles, we moved the
,QVWDOOOHGJHUVWRSURYLGHDOHYHOVXSSRUWIRUWKHILUVWURZRIWLOH7KHQ starting line 2 in. off center, and
GUDZD³VWRSOLQH´LQEHORZWKHWRSRIWKHWLOHWRVKRZZKHUHWRVWRSVSUHDGLQJ then drew a second vertical line 4
PDVWLF0DUNWZRSOXPEOLQHVRIIVHWE\KDOIWKHWLOHZLGWKWRFUHDWHDUXQQLQJ in. from the first (Photo 2). Shifting
bond pattern. the layout like this increased the

width of the skinny cut by 2 in., cre-
ating a better-looking final result.
Go through this same routine on
every wall, carefully planning how
the end cuts will look. Plan outside
corners, taking into account how Mastic
the trim pieces and bullnose tiles
line up. If you’re unsure, an easy
way to do this is to draw each
piece full scale on the wall to
expose any potential problems.
The easiest and most accurate
way to make sure your tile installa-
tion is straight and level is to screw 1/4" x 1/4"
a level ledger board to the wall Notched Trowel
and stack your tile on top. Add the
height of the base tile to the width
of one grout joint. Then add 1/16
in. to this measurement for a little
space under the base tile. Make a
mark on the wall at this height,
bSPREAD THE MASTIC

above the lowest point on the floor,
and draw a level line around the 8VLQJD[ĥLQQRWFKHGWURZHOVSUHDGRQO\DVPXFKPDVWLFDV
room from this mark. Align the tops \RXFDQFRYHUZLWKWLOHLQDERXWPLQXWHVħXVXDOO\DERXWVTIW,I\RX
of your straight ledger boards with OHDYHWKHDGKHVLYHXQFRYHUHGWRRORQJLWZLOOGU\RQWKHVXUIDFHDQGEHFRPH
this line and screw them to the OHVVHIIHFWLYH+ROGWKHWURZHODWDVWHHSDQJOHWRPDNHWKHPDVWLFULGJHVDV
wall. If the floor isn’t level, you’ll KLJKDVSRVVLEOH
1/8" Spacer
bSET THE FULL TILES

/LQHXSWKHHQGRIWKHILUVWWLOHZLWKRQHRIWKH
SOXPEOLQHVDQGHPEHGWKHWLOHLQWKHPDVWLF6HWWKHUHVWRI
bMARK THE END TILES
+ROGHDFKHQGWLOHLQSODFHDQGPDUNLWIRUFXWWLQJ
6XEWUDFWWKHZLGWKRIWKHJURXWMRLQWZKHQ\RXPDNHWKH
WKHIXOOWLOHVLQWKHURZUHVWLQJWKHPRQWKHOHGJHUDQGVHSDĥ PDUN,QVWDOOWKHWLOHZLWKWKHFXWHQGDJDLQVWWKHZDOO
UDWLQJWKHPZLWKVSDFHUV6WDUWWKHQH[WURZE\DOLJQLQJWKH
HQGRIDIXOOWLOHZLWKWKHVHFRQGYHUWLFDOOLQH%XLOGDVWDLU
VWHSDOWHUQDWLQJWKHWLOHMRLQWVDVVKRZQ
Rubbing
Stone
Tile Cutter
bCUT THE END TILES

Place the tile in the cutter with the edge against the
fence. Line up the mark with the cutter. Push down gently
bSMOOTH THE CUT END
The cutter may leave the end of the tile a little
rough. Use a rubbing stone to grind off the rough edge.
on the cutter handle and slide the handle forward to score 6HYHUDOEDFNĥDQGĥIRUWKVWURNHVLVDOOLWWDNHV
the tile. Then pull the handle back until the breaker is over
the center of the tile and push down to break the tile along
the scored line.
have to trim some of the base tiles

to fit (Photo 12).
Install the tile

Start by spreading about 10 sq. ft.
of mastic on the wall (Photo 3). We
used premixed water-based tile
mastic and spread it with a 1/4 x
1/4-in. notched trowel. When you
purchase your tile, ask the sales-
person what size trowel to use.
Larger tiles require larger notches.
Also, if you’re installing tile in a wet
area, use thin-set adhesive instead.
Photo 4 shows how to get
started installing the tile. Setting
tile in a stair-step pattern helps
keep everything lined up.
When you reach the ends, you’ll
have to cut tile to fit (Photos 5 and
6). For glazed tile like ours, with a
soft bisque core, a tile cutter like the
one shown in Photo 6 is fast and
convenient for making straight cuts.
But if you’re using porcelain, stone
or glass tile, you’ll have to cut it with
a diamond wet saw instead. How-
ever, you’ll still need a wet saw if you
bMITER THE TOP CAP

7KHLQVLGHFRUQHUVRIWKHFDSSLHFHVPXVWEHFXWDWDĥGHJUHHDQJOH
where they join in the corner. Make these cuts with a wet saw tilted to cut a
have trim pieces to miter (Photo 8)
or notches to cut. You can rent a wet
saw for about $50 per day, or buy
ĥGHJUHHEHYHO one for $100 and up.
Wood Strip
Build out the

trim if necessary
:HDGGHGDĥLQ[ĥĥLQ
wood strip around the perimĥ
eter of our window and door
trim to cover the end of the
cap tile. If your cap tile
GRHVQ¶WH[WHQGSDVWWKH
window and door moldings,
you can skip this step. bINSTALL THE MITERED CAP
Embed the mitered inside corner in mastic. Use spacers under the cap to
create a grout joint.
Mitered
Pencil Tile
Outside
Corner
Cap Tile
Bullnose Space
Tile for Grout
10. INSTALL THE BULLNOSE

Finish the outside corner with bullnose tile.
When you set the tiles on the side opposite the bullnose,
11. ADD THE CORNER CAP TILE
Spread a small amount of tile mastic on the back
edges of the corner piece and press it into place. If the piece
make sure to cut them so they’re back from the corner the feels loose, use masking tape to hold it in position until the
width of a spacer to allow room for a grout joint. mastic sets up.

Leave Grout Space
Upside-Down
Base Tile
1/16" Shim
12. MARK THE BASE TILE

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EDVHWLOHXSVLGHGRZQDQGUHVWLWRQĥLQVSDFHUV7KHQPDUNIRUWKHFXW
PDNLQJVXUHWRVXEWUDFWIRUWKHJURXWMRLQW&XWWKHWLOHDWWKHPDUNDQGLQVWDOOLW
Mitered
Base Tile
13. MITER THE BASE AT INSIDE CORNERS

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QHUV/HDYHDJURXWVSDFHEHWZHHQWKHWZRPLWHUHGEDVHSLHFHV
Grout
Float
14. GROUT THE TILE

0L[WKHJURXWDQGVSUHDGLWZLWKDJURXWIORDW5HPRYHH[FHVVJURXW
ZLWKWKHHGJHRIWKHIORDW$IWHUWKHJURXWVWDUWVWRILUPXSEHJLQFOHDQLQJLWZLWK
DGDPSJURXWVSRQJH:KHQWKHJURXWLVILUPFRPSOHWHWKHFOHDQXSZLWKDPLFURĥ
ILEHUFORWK
If the cut ends of your tile will be After you’ve finished installing the corner joint or the 1/16-in. gap at
visible, clean up the jagged edge wall tile, let the adhesive set up for a the floor.
with a rubbing stone (Photo 7). few hours before removing the Wait about 15 minutes, depend-
You’ll find rubbing stones for about ledger boards. Then install the base ing on the room temperature and
$10 where tiling tools are sold. tile. Photo 12 shows how to mark a humidity, for the grout to begin firm-
If the holes for plumbing pipes tile for cutting. Remember to sub- ing up. Pressing your fingertip into
fall near the edge of the tile, you tract the width of the grout joint the grout should barely leave a mark.
can simply mark the hole location when you make the mark. Cut the Then begin working the grout with a
and nip away the tile with a tile base tiles to fit, and set them in place damp, not wet, sponge. Wring out
nipper. Or you can use a wet saw on top of 1/16-in. shims. Miter the the sponge frequently in clean water
to cut a series of fingers and break inside corners of the base (Photo in a bucket (not a sink). When all of
them off. 13). Finish up by gluing in the out- the grout is removed from the face
Cutting a hole in the center of a side corner piece. of the tile, and the joints are consis-
tile is trickier. One method is to use a tent and smooth, let the grout set up
diamond hole saw. You can get a
1-in. hole saw large enough for
The last steps: for an hour before polishing the tile
with a damp microfiber cloth.
copper water supply lines for about grout and caulk Finish the project by filling the
$20, but a larger one for the drain When you’re done setting tile, let the inside corners with caulk that
will run you about $40. mastic dry overnight. Then mix your matches the color of the grout. If you
The base and cap style we chose grout according to the instructions have a wood floor, don’t caulk the
was available in outside corner on the package. Mix only enough gap at the floor.
pieces (Photo 11), so we didn’t have grout to cover about one wall at a
to miter the outside corners. But we time. Spread the grout with a grout
still had to miter the inside corners. float (Photo 14), making sure to
We used a wet saw for this (Photo pack the joints completely. Wipe off
Tons For more tips, details
8). Remember to cut your miters excess grout with the edge of the
of tile and projects, go to
tips familyhandyman.com
short by one half of the grout joint float, working diagonally to the tile. and search for “tile.”
width to allow for grout. Avoid getting grout into the inside
online!
HIDDEN COMPARTMENT
MEDICINE
CABINET
Style and quality at a bargain price. By Jeff Gorton
:
b
ith medicine cabinets, your choices are mostly high cost or
low quality. And sometimes both! The medicine cabinet we
GHVLJQHGLVEXLOWIURPVROLGZRRGDQGJRRGĥTXDOLW\KDUGZDUH
so it will hold up to the rigors of everyday use. The materials aren’t expenĥ
sive. And it’s relatively easy to build, making it a good project for an interĥ
mediate woodworker or an experienced DIYer.
Secret Compartment
Secret
Motion
Hiding
Sensor
Light Place
The small comĥ
partment is a
handy place to
hide prescription
medicine or
Front jewelry. The front
Panel panel is held on
with magnets. The
EDWWHU\ĥSRZHUHG
PRWLRQĥVHQVRU
lights make the
compartment look
like a lighting
valance.

This medicine cabinet has open shelves on
the sides that can be used for display or WHAT IT TAKES
storage. The mirrored door is mounted on
self-closing cup hinges for maximum adjust- 2 days $180 Intermediate to advanced
ability. There are adjustable shelves inside,
and even a hidden compartment disguised TOOLS Standard woodworking tools, miter or
as a light valance. You can paint the cabinet, table saw, router and 3/8-in. rabbet bit, biscuit
apply a clear finish to let the grain show joiner, 35-mm and 3/8-in. Forstner bits
through, or stain and varnish it.
We’ve kept the construction simple to
allow even intermediate woodworkers to
build this medicine cabinet. The carcass is Figure A Medicine Chest
assembled with butt joints that are screwed OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 36" tall x 31" wide x 6-1/4" deep
together. We covered the screw heads with
wood plugs, but you could substitute trim- A
head screws and just fill the screw holes with
wood filler. G
E
Skills, tools F
and materials C
Even though the joinery is simple, assembling H
the door and cabinet requires careful measur- D
ing, accurate cutting and attention to detail. B
We used a table saw fitted with a table saw
sled to cut the parts, but a miter saw would
also work for making the end cuts. The door is
held together with wood biscuits, but you D
could use dowels or pocket screws instead. B
You’ll need a router and a 3/8-in. rabbeting
bit to make the recesses for the cabinet back D
and door mirror.
It’s critical that you choose boards that are
flat and straight, especially for the door.
Sight down the boards and reject any that
are twisted or crooked. The boards should lie
flat when you stack them. We built this cabi- D
11"
net from inexpensive aspen, which looks
great when painted. Pine or poplar would
C
also be good choices for a painted finish.
You’ll find full-overlay cup hinges at home
centers or woodworking stores, or you can A
order them online. We purchased the mirror
and glass shelves from a glass shop, but
some full-service hardware stores also supply
them. To save money, you could substitute
wood shelves.
MATERIALS LIST CUTTING LIST

ITEM QTY. KEY QTY. MATERIAL DIMENSIONS PART
1x6 x 6' boards 4 A 2 1x6 board 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 29-1/2" Top and bottom
1x3 x 8' board 1 B 2 1x6 board 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 36" Sides
1/4" x 4' x 4' plywood 1 C 2 1x6 board 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 34-1/2" Dividers
ILLUSTRATION: JEFF GORTON
3/8" flat-top wood plugs 32 D 4 1x6 board 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 5" Shelves
1-1/2" multipurpose screws, 1-lb. box 1 E 1 1/4" plywood Cut to fit Back
1" nails, small box 1 F 1 1x6 board 3/4" x 4-1/2" x 18" Compartment bottom
Magnets 2 G 2 1x6 board 3/4" x 4-1/2" x 3-1/4" Compartment sides
1/4" shelf pins 12 H 1 1x6 board 3/4" x 4-1/2" x 17-7/8" Compartment panel
Screen fasteners, package 1 J 2 1x3 board 3/4" x 2-1/2" x 36" Door stiles
Full-overlay cup hinges 2 K 2 1x3 board 3/4" x 2-1/2" x 14-1/2" Door rails
Mirror—cut to fit 1 L 1 Mirror Cut to fit (subtract 1/8") Mirror
Glass shelves—cut to fit 3 M 1 1/4" plywood Cut to fit Mirror back
Mr Beams Night Lights (MB723) 1

Wood
1. Mark the boards for Scrap
shelves and screws
Cut the cabinet box parts and arrange them as
shown. Square the assembled boards by plac- Side
ing a framing square against the ends. Then
use a scrap of the same wood to check the Divider
length of the dividers (C). If the dividers are the
right length, the scrap will line up with the ends Divider Shelf
of the sides. Next, mark for the shelves using Marks
Figure A as a guide. Then flip the boards over
and draw a single line to indicate the middle of Side
the shelves. This is where you’ll place the
Framing Square
screws. Also mark screw locations for the divid-
ers on the top and bottom boards.
2. Prepare the
boards for
wood plugs Plug
Mark screw locations 1 in. Holes
from each edge of the
boards along the center lines
you drew in the previous
step. Then drill 3/8-in. holes 3/8" Forstner Bit
about 3/8 in. deep at each
mark. You’ll glue wood plugs Shelf
Center
into these plug holes to Lines
cover the screws. For clean-
edged plug holes, use a
Forstner or brad point bit.
Door Biscuit
Screen
Fastener
M
L
J
3. Assemble and clamp the parts

Arrange the parts with the shelf marks facing the inside. Line up the
shelves with the marks and lightly clamp everything together. Tap
the parts with a hammer to align the edges perfectly before tight-
ening the clamps. Drill 3/32-in. pilot holes for each screw, using the
divot left by the tip of the Forstner bit as a centering guide. Then
drive 1-1/2-in. screws to hold the cabinet parts together.
Cut Your Own
Wood Plugs!
3/8" x 1/4"
Rabbet
Watch a video on how
to cut your own wood
plugs. Search for
“wood plugs” at
familyhandyman.com
4. Cover the screws 5. Cut a recess

with plugs for the cabinet back
Apply a little glue to the edges of the plugs and tap Mount a 3/8-in. rabbeting bit in your router and set the
them into the holes. Leave the plugs slightly proud of depth to 1/4 in. If you don’t already own one, consider
the surface so you can sand them flush later. purchasing a rabbeting bit with a set of interchange-
For our painted medicine cabinet, we purchased flat- able bearings ($25 to $40) that allow the bit to be
top wood plugs at a home center. If you plan to apply a used to cut several rabbet sizes. Place scraps of 2x6
clear finish, or a stain and clear finish, and want the alongside the cabinet to create a more stable base for
plugs to be less conspicuous, shop for face grain plugs the router. Cut slowly in a clockwise direction.
or cut your own plugs from the same
wood you use to build the cabinet.
Sharp
Chisel
Back
1" Nail
6. Square the corners 7. Nail on the back

The rounded corners left by the rab- Measure the height and width of the rabbet and cut a piece of 1/4-in.-
beting bit need to be squared off so thick plywood to fit. Make sure the plywood is perfectly square by
the plywood back will fit. You’ll need a measuring diagonally from opposite corners. The two diagonal mea-
sharp chisel for this task. Start by mark- surements should be equal. Run a bead of wood glue in the rabbet
ing the corner. Align a short straight- and insert the plywood back. Check to make sure the cabinet is square
edge with the edge of the rabbets and using the same diagonal measuring technique. If opposite diagonal
make pencil marks for the corner. Then measurements aren’t equal, nudge the cabinet until they are. When
carefully chisel out the wood to create you’re sure the cabinet is square, attach the back with 1-in. nails
the square corner. placed about 6 in. apart.
Making
Biscuit Biscuit Joints
Joiner
Tool
For instructions on
how to make biscuit
joints, search for
“biscuit joints” at
Rabbet
familyhandyman.com
Door
No. 20 Biscuit Biscuit

Center Mark
Door
9. Cut a rabbet for the
Rail mirror and mirror back
Biscuit Slot
Cut a 3/8-in.-deep rabbet to accommodate the
1/4-in. back and 1/8-in.-thick mirror. Cut the
8. Slot the door parts for biscuits rabbet using the same 3/8-in. rabbeting bit
Cut slots to connect the door rails (top and bottom) to the stiles you used for the cabinet back. Make a first pass
(sides). The No. 20 biscuits are a little too long, so rather than with the router set to about 3/16 in. deep. Then
center the slots, offset them so the biscuits will protrude from the set the router to cut 3/8 in. deep and make the
top and bottom of the door where they won’t be noticeable after final pass. Square off the corners like you did
you cut them flush to the door edge. Make marks 1 in. from the for the cabinet back. Next, measure for the
top and bottom of the stiles and rails and center the biscuit slots mirror. Subtract 1/8 in. from the width and
on the marks. Glue biscuits into the slots and clamp the door, height and take these measurements to your
making sure it’s square. local hardware store or glass shop.
Cup
Hinge
35-mm
Forstner Bit
Hinge
Plate
10. Drill for the 11. Mount the 12. Mount the
cup hinges cup hinges hinge plates
Mark the hinge side and the top of Press the cup hinges into the hinge Attach the plates to the hinges.
the door to keep the orientation holes. Measure to make sure the Then set the door into place on the
straight. Center the top hinge 8 in. center of the hinge mounting holes cabinet and align the top and
from the top of the door, and the are equal distance from the edge bottom edges. Shim up the door
bottom hinge 3-1/2 in. from the of the door. This will ensure the with two thicknesses of thin card-
bottom of the door. Check your hinge is properly aligned. Drive board and mark the screw locations
hinge specifications to see how far the included screws into the for the hinge plates. Remove the
from the edge of the door to mounting holes. door and unclip the plates. Drill
center the 35-mm hole. Drill a pilot holes at the marked screw
1/2-in.-deep hole with a 35-mm locations. Then mount the plates to
Forstner bit for the hinge cup. the cabinet with the included screws.
Continued on p. 51
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Mirror Back
Mirror
Magnet
Screen
Fasteners
14. Build the hidden
13. Install the mirror compartment
Cut a piece of 1/4-in. plywood to fit the rabbeted opening. Set the Build the compartment using Figure A as a
mirror into the frame and place the plywood on top. Secure the guide. Attach magnets to the cabinet and
back with plastic screen fastener clips, available at home centers metal plates to the removable cover to hold
and hardware stores. For an easier and neater paint job, remove the cover in place. We mounted Mr Beams
the mirror and all other hardware before painting the cabinet. MB723 ($30 for three) motion sensor lights
Then reinstall it after the paint is dry. to the bottom of the compartment.
Center
Outside
Edge
Stud Location
1/4"
Bit
Wood
Stop
15. Drill
shelf-pin holes
Cut a scrap of 1/4-in. pegboard to
4-5/8 in. x 29-3/4 in., making sure
the distance from the holes to the 16. Install the cabinet
edges of the template is the same Hang the cabinet by screwing through the back into one or two studs. Start
on the sides and the top and making two marks, level with each other and about 30 in. apart, to indicate
bottom. This will avoid confusion by the top of the cabinet. Apply a strip of masking tape to the wall so its bottom-
allowing you to position the tem- edge marks align with these marks. Mark the cabinet center on the tape. Then
plate without regard to its orienta- measure out 15-1/2 in. in both directions and make marks to indicate the
tion. For 2-in. hole spacing, draw sides. Finally, use a stud finder or other means to locate any studs in the area
lines across alternate sets of holes. where the cabinet will be mounted and mark them on the tape.
Use a 1/4-in. brad point bit with a Transfer the stud locations to the cabinet back to mark the mounting
wood stop to limit the depth of the screw positions. If you hit only one stud, use toggle bolts or snap-toggle
holes to 3/8 in. Press the pegboard bolts to provide an additional hanging point. Prop or hold the cabinet in
against the back of the cabinet to position and drive one screw at the top. Then use a level to plumb the cab-
drill the back holes. Clamp it flush inet sides before driving another screw at the bottom. Add the second set
to the front for the front holes. of screws or toggle bolts to complete the job.

1-HOUR SPACE-SAVING
PROJEC T WINE RACK
It’s easy to build with just three boards!
By Travis Larson
T
here’s a lot of
usable space
below many
upper kitchen
cabinets, and
it’s the perfect place to
store your favorite vin-
tages. This easy-to-build
wine rack requires just two
1x4s the length of the
under-cabinet bay (Photo
1) and a strip of 3/4-in. ply-
wood that same length and
8 in. wide (Photo 8). If you
have painted cabinets,
poplar is a good choice for
the 1x4s. Prime it and paint
it to match the cabinets. If
you have natural wood
cabinets, select and finish
the wood to match.
WHAT IT TAKES
1 hour $10–$20 Beginner
TOOLS Drill, 3-1/8-in. hole saw,
any type of saw, 1-1/2-in.
drum sander, clamps

3/4" Lip
1-5/8"
Measure the cabinet bay Locate the holes

1. Measure the bay opening on the underside of the cabiĥ
net. Subtract 1/8 in. and cut two 1x4s to that length. Also cut
2. 0DUNDOLQHĥLQIURPWKHWRSHGJHRIHDFKERDUG
3ODFHWKHERDUGVQH[WWRHDFKRWKHUDQGPDUNWKHFHQWHURI
DQĥLQĥZLGHSLHFHRIĥLQSO\ZRRGWRWKHVDPHOHQJWK HDFKKROH7KHFHQWHUVVKRXOGEHDWOHDVWĥLQDSDUW
Modify the
wine rack Figure A
to fit your Wine Rack
cabinets
8" 3/4"
Y
ou can use any of
Plywood
the bays under the
upper cabinets 1-5/8"
you wish. The wider the Screws
bay, the more wine you
can store. Our instruc-
tions will work for any
size cabinet bay. Most
cabinets have a 3/4-in.-
deep lip surrounding
each bay so the plywood
will be hidden. If you
have lips that are deeper
than 3/4 in., shim down
the plywood. If your lips
are shallower, use thinner
plywood.
This wine rack will hold
the most common bottle
diameters, but not all. If 1x4
you’re a serious wine col- Figure B
lector, measure the diam-
Hole Locations
ILLUSTRATION: JEFF GORTON
eters of the bottles in

your collection. Select a 3-3/4" 3-1/8"
1-5/8" Center
hole saw at least 1/8 in.
3-1/2"
larger than the largest

bottle. If you need to drill
holes larger than 3-1/8
in., substitute 1x6s for
Cabinet Space Minus 1/8"
the 1x4s.
Intr Advan
odu ced
cing Air S
Mic ystem
roS
o ot –
# he!
N THE U.S.A
EI
.
MA
W IT E
H P RID
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Auxiliary
Handle
Clearance
Hole
Start the bottle holes Drill clearance holes

3. Clamp the wood over a 2x6 scrap or wider to protect
your work surface from the hole saw. Then score each hole
4. 8VLQJDVSDGHELWGULOOĥWRĥLQFOHDUDQFHKROHV
DGMRLQLQJHDFKKROHĥVDZNHUI
with the hole saw about 1/4 in. deep.
CAUTION:
Drill with the slow speed and use the auxiliary handle if you
have one (Photo 3). Don’t force the cut, and never use the
trigger lock. Hole saws can catch and cause bodily harm.
Clamp
2x10 Scrap
Drum
Sander
Complete
5. the holes
Finish cutting the wine
bottle holes. Rock the drill HAMMER TIP
slightly as you cut. That 6DQGEHIRUHÀQLVKLQJ
enlarges the kerf, reducing
friction on the hole saw and
Tap or pry out plugs after
each hole. 6. Smooth the holes with a drum sander and ease the
HGJHVDURXQGWKHKROHVE\KDQGĥVDQGLQJZLWKĥJULWSDSHU
speeding up cutting. Finish the boards before screwing them to the plywood.
Warms your feet to help
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83
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Adjust firmness on Senses and automatically Foot warming— Gently raise your Control your comfort and
each side—your responds to you designed to help you partner’s head to help see how you’ve slept with
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Support
Board
Assemble the rack Install the rack

7. Drill pilot holes and fasten both boards to the plywood
EDFNHUZLWKĥĥLQVFUHZV%HVXUHWRSODFHWKHVFUHZV
8. Clamp the rack to the cabinet and prop up the back
ZLWKDVXSSRUWERDUG'ULYHĥĥLQVFUHZVWKURXJKWKHFDEĥ
between the holes. inet bottom into the 1x4s. Position the screws between the
holes so the screw tips won’t show.
Hole-saw smarts
Q Running a 3-1/8-in. hole saw will tax all but the most powerful
drills. If you have a drill press, use it instead of drilling by hand.
Q For handheld hole-saw work, use a corded drill instead of a
battery-powered one if you have one.
QFeel the motor housing as you drill. If it starts getting hot, let it
cool down before continuing. Excess heat will destroy the motor
whether the drill is corded or battery-powered.
Q Space the board up from the workbench on 2-by scraps to
eliminate tear-out and anchor it with two clamps or the board
will spin free (Photo 5).
Q After you score each hole about 1/4 in. deep, drill a 1/2- to
3/4-in. clearance hole adjoining each score (Photo 4). This will
provide a place for sawdust to exit, which will keep the hole saw
Mandrel with cooler and speed up drilling.
Pilot Bit
Q Take your time and let the hole saw cool off after about 15 sec-
onds of cutting or you’ll scorch the wood.
Fence
Tools & materials

Everything you need to build this wine rack is
available at any home center.
Q 1x4s: Choose straight, knot-free boards.
Sacrificial
Board Q 3/4-in. plywood: You’ll find 2x4 partial sheets at the home
center, enough to do a few wine racks. Any type of plywood will
work.
Q 3-1/8-in. hole saw: The hole saw itself will run you about $15.
Cast Iron
Table If you already have other hole saws, buy the same brand so your
mandrel will work in the new one. Otherwise, you’ll need to
spend another $15 for a mandrel/pilot bit to operate it.
Q If you don’t have spade bits, pick up a Drum Sander
Got a drill press? Use it! 3/4-in. bit for drilling the clearance holes. and Sleeve
Q A small box of 1-5/8-in. No. 8
P
rotect your hole saw from damage by
clamping or bolting a sacrificial board screws will take care of all
over the cast iron drill press table. Then fastening needs.
clamp a fence to the board, positioned to Q 1-1/2-in. drum sander: For less than
exactly locate each hole from the edge $10, you can get a drum sander kit that
without any guesswork. A speed of about comes with several sandpaper sleeves of
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Super-Easy
USB Outlet
$GGLQJD86%RXWOHWLVHDV\HQRXJKIRUD
ILUVWWLPHHOHFWULFLDQ%\%UDG+ROGHQ 1-HOUR
PROJEC T
%
b
esides the tangled mess they create, bulky chargers
devour outlet space. For a clean solution, add a USB
wall outlet at a more convenient height than a
typical wall outlet. Doing this is fast and
easy if you place the new USB outlet in
the same cavity as an existing outlet.
Then you won’t have to cut into
walls to run cable through studs.
WHAT IT TAKES
1 hour $40 Beginner
TOOLS Stud finder, dry-
wall saw, wire stripper,
noncontact voltage tester,
basic hand tools

What you’ll need
This a great project for electrical Figure A
beginners, and everything you need WIRING AT THE NEW OUTLET
is available at a home center. If you At the new junction box, each wire from
the cable needs two pigtails, as there are
don’t own any electrical tools, expect two outlets. Strip the wires and use wire
to spend about $15 on the basics. nuts to connect two black pigtails to the
Before you shop, determine New black wire, two white pigtails to the white
Outlet wire and two bare copper pigtails to the
whether your cable is 12- or 14- ground wire. Connect the pigtails to their
gauge; you’ll need the same size corresponding terminals on each outlet. If
cable for your new outlet. For ref- your USB outlet has prewired leads, use
those in place of pigtails for that outlet.
erence, 12-gauge wire is about the
thickness of a nickel, and 14-gauge
is about the thickness of a dime.
The new junction box you’ll use Neutral Wires
is called an “old work” box. It Hot Wires
mounts on drywall and doesn’t
need to be fastened to a stud. We
chose a “two-gang” box that
allows for a second outlet. It also
requires a larger hole in the wall,
which makes feeding cable into
the existing box much easier.
Outlets with USB ports come in
various configurations and cost
$15 to $30 at home centers. For a Ground Wires
wider selection, shop online.
To comply with electrical code
changes, you may have to buy an
AFCI outlet ($30) to replace the
existing outlet. Ours is protected
by an AFCI circuit breaker.
New
Getting started Cable
Figure B
USB ports don’t draw much power,
WIRING AT THE EXISTING OUTLET
so you can add a USB outlet to any You’ll have three cables in the existing
existing outlet except a switched box: a power supply, a line feeding down-
outlet or a dedicated outlet for an stream outlets and your new cable. Make a
pigtail from each colored wire. Connect
appliance, such as a stove or each pigtail with the rest of the same col-
refrigerator. ored wires from each cable, using wire
Existing nuts. Connect the pigtails to their corre-
Once you’ve chosen your power Outlet sponding terminal on the old outlet.
source outlet, switch off the
breaker for that circuit. Then use a
noncontact voltage tester to verify
that the power is off. New
Cable
YOU MAY NEED A Power

LARGER JUNCTION BOX Supply
& Down-
Electrical codes contain strict stream
ILLUSTRATION: FRANK ROHRBACH III
rules about how many wires, conĥ Outlets

nectors, switches and outlets can
go in a junction box. Since you’re
adding wires, your existing box
may not be large enough accordĥ
ing to code. To see the formula,
go to familyhandyman.com and
search for “adding a receptacle.”
For help installing a larger box,
search for “crowded electrical box.”
CAUTION:
Stud
Location If your wires are dull gray rather
than the dark orange color charĥ
acteristic of copper, they may be
aluminum. Making safe connecĥ
tions with aluminum wiring
requires special connectors and
techniques not covered here.
1FIND THE STUDS

Locate the studs with a stud finder and mark them with tape. You can place
the new outlet anywhere between the studs.
New
Cable
Existing
Box
New
“Old
Work”
Box
2TRACE THE BOX

Mark the cutout while holding
the open end of the new box against
3CUT THE HOLE
Stab a drywall saw into the wall and
FXWDORQJ\RXUPDUNV7HVWĥILWWKHER[
4RUN THE CABLE
Reach inside the wall and feed the
cable into the existing box. Then feed
the wall. Be sure to hold the box level. and enlarge the hole slightly if needed. the cable into the new box and install it.

ALL GORILLA.
USB
Outlet
New
Outlet
bMAKE THE CONNECTIONS

Reconnect the outlet at the power source and connect the new outlets.
Our USB outlet came with lead wires. Yours may have terminal screws like
those on standard outlets.
Install the wall, use a box that maintains the

vapor seal to keep out drafts.
box and cable Disconnect the old outlet and
Locate the two studs that flank the then feed the new cable to the exist-
existing outlet (Photo 1) and find a ing box. Don’t skimp on cable; a lit- All Surface. All Purpose.
good position in the wall cavity for tle extra inside the wall is good, and Subfloor Foamboard
the new outlet. Hold the new “old you’ll trim the ends when you’re Mirrors Stone
work” box in place against the wall, ready to make the connections. Run
Landscaping Laminate
making sure it’s plumb and level, cable into the new box, and then
and then trace around it (Photo 2). mount the box to the wall (Photo 4).
Trim/Paneling Ceramic
Cut the hole as accurately as possi- Connect the wires and recepta- Decks Brick
ble (Photo 3). An “old work” box cles in both boxes (Photo 5 and Drywall Tile
relies on a snug fit in the cutout for Figures A and B). Mount the outlets, Tub & Shower Aluminum
stability, as it’s not attached to a stud. reinstall the faceplates, turn the Metal Concrete
If your new outlet is on an exterior power back on and test the outlets. Masonry Fiberglass
Granite Painted Surfaces
Electrical For tons of tips, techniques and expert knowledge, go to Wet Surfaces Plastic
Advice familyhandyman.com and search for “electrical wiring.” Caulking And More!
Galore!
FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 63 www.gorillatough.com

HomeCare+Repair Fix it, maintain it, improve it. By Rick Muscoplat
Make your
garage floor last
Sealing your concrete garage floor is the best way to

prevent damage from road salt and freezing temperatures.
With so many concrete sealing/waterproofing products on
the market, choosing the right product can be confusing.
T
o get the scoop on choosing
the right sealer, we contacted
Dave Barnes, president of
Saver Systems Inc., a manufacturer
of concrete sealing/waterproofing
products. Here’s what we learned
about the pros and cons of each
concrete sealing technology.
Four types of sealers

Film-forming acrylic, epoxy and
polyurethane products seal the
concrete pores and impart a sheen
or “wet-look” gloss to the entire
garage floor for a really sharp look.
These coatings are easy to clean,
but they require more rigorous sur-
face preparation. They’re also slip-
pery, especially when wet.
Power
Silane/siloxane formulas pene- Washer
trate the concrete and react with
minerals to form a “hydrophobic”
surface that repels water, road salt
and other deicing chemicals. The
product won’t darken the concrete
or look shiny, so your garage floor
will still look like dull concrete.
We chose silane/
b Apply cleaner, scrub and power wash
Mask the walls with poly. Then use the power washer to apply concrete
FOHDQHU6FUXEZLWKDSXVKEURRP7KHQULQVHZLWKKLJKSUHVVXUHDQGDĥGHJUHH
siloxane nozzle. Squeegee and let dry.
This garage is in Minnesota, so pre-
venting damage from freezing water
and road salt was critical. We didn’t
care about gloss, but we wanted to
avoid two steps that are required for
many film-forming sealers: acid etch-
ing and roughening the surface. We
chose MasonrySaver All-Purpose
Heavy Duty Water Repellent, a water-
based silane/siloxane. It took 5 gal-
lons (about $30 per gallon) to seal
the floor of this three-car garage.
Paint Pad
It’s all about surface prep

Always start by cleaning the floor
with a concrete cleaner and power Urethane
washer (Photo 1). If you have oil caulk
stains, treat them before you power
wash (search for “oil stain removal”
at familyhandyman.com). Then
apply the sealer with a paint pad to
get an even application and avoid
b )RUFHÀOOHU
into the cracks
puddles (Photo 2). After it dries, fill
floor cracks with a polyurethane
b Apply and spread
Dip the paint pad into the sealer
and spread it evenly across the floor to
Cut a small opening in the tube tip.
Then hold the caulk gun perpendicular
to the floor, pressing the tip into the
crack filler (Photo 3). avoid puddling. Let the product soak crack. Squeeze the trigger and force
in and dry. the crack filler deep into the crack.
MEET THE EXPERT
Dave Barnes is a nation-
ally recognized product
expert in the paint and
CAUTION:
coatings industry, in To avoid electrical shock or carbon monoxide poisoning, always
which he has worked locate your power washer in an open area outside the garage.
IRU\HDUV

HO ME CARE+RE PA IR
Hex-to-
3/8-in.-Drive
Adapter
SAFETY FIRST
Use impact sockets

with impact tools
H
ave you ever chucked a chrome-
plated socket into an impact gun
or cordless impact driver to
tighten a nut or drive a handful of lag
screws? You’re living dangerously if
you do this.
Chrome-plated sockets should never
be used with an impact driver. Regular
chrome-plated sockets can crack or
shatter and send pieces flying.
Use only impact-rated sockets for
impact guns, and impact-rated sockets or
nut drivers for smaller cordless impact
drivers. They’re specially hardened and
much less likely to shatter during use.
1/2-in.-Drive 3/8-in.-Drive
Impact Sockets Impact Sockets
OOPS! SIMPLE SOLUTION
Stay-dry generator
I f you’re using a generator, chances are a storm just
rolled through and you’re likely to get more rain.
Here’s an easy way to add a roof to keep some of the
water off your generator. Cut four lengths of
ĥLQ(07ĪHOHFWULFDOPHWDOOLFWXELQJīDQGVHFXUH
them to each corner of the generator using hose
FODPSV1H[WLQYHUWDFRQFUHWHPL[LQJWXEDQGVHFXUH
LWWRWKHWXELQJZLWKVHOIĥWDSSLQJVFUHZV'ULOOKROHV
LQWRWKHLQYHUWHGOLSRIWKHWXEVRWKHZDWHUFDQGUDLQ
Mixing Tub
Dope about Soap
In our June ‘17 “DIY
Quiz,” we said
Ivory bar soap is
synthetic. Wrong! It
contains sodium
tallowate, which
forms soap scum. To
find a synthetic soap,
look for the terms
“beauty bar” or
“body wash.” Most
products using either
term are synthetic.
DRILLING SMARTS
Pilot hole sizes

Wood screws are almost always easier to drive and less likely to split if you drill pilot holes
first, especially near the end of a board. But what size hole should you make?
For screws, the diameter of the drill bit for the pilot hole should match the inner diame-
ter of the screw—not the screw’s threads. The easiest way to check this is to hold a drill bit
up against a screw with the drill bit eclipsing the screw so only the threads show. MEET THE EXPERT
Travis Larson, a
senior editor at The
Family Handyman,
has drilled about a
zillion pilot holes.
BEWARE THE BRISTLES
Grill brush warning

Health experts reported this past Meet Miter Fold:
summer that bristles on some grill
brushes can break off and wind up a revolution in box building!
in your food and then your throat,
requiring surgery for removal.
Leaving a grill brush in the sun
can cause the brush head to crack
or warp and shed bristles. Toss
your grill brush if the bristles are
worn or rusted. If it looks good, try
to pluck out a single bristle. If you
can remove a bristle with moderate
effort, it’s time for a new brush.
DEPARTMENT OF YUCK
Pink slime
in your bathroom?
E
ver notice red or pink slime
forming inside your toilet or
on your shower walls? It’s a
bacterium called Serratia marces- Turn a sheet of plywood into a box with just four cuts on
cens, and it can grow in wet areas. your table saw. Once the corners are sliced away with a
Chlorine in city water helps prevent
sharp knife, the sides fold to form continuous grain joints,
it. But if you have an activated char-
providing plenty of glue surface and strength. The Miter
coal filter, you’re removing the
chlorine, according to the North Fold is also a complete dado set, so you’ll have the magic
Dakota State University Extension of the Miter Fold as well as utility of a dado set ... just
Service. Water from a private well another way we help you Create with Confidence!
has no chlorine either. Miter Fold Dado Set (54799) $349.99
This bacterium has been known Not compatible with Sawstop or other saws with
Ʈ]k`%\]l][lagfl][`fgdg_q
to cause pneumonia, wound infec-
RYDAY
tions and urinary tract infections in EVE
hospital settings, so it’s important to For details go to rcklr.co/243
get rid of it. Stains are easy to or call 1-800-279-4441
remove with a general-purpose and mention code 243
cleaner containing chlorine bleach. SHIPPING
On orders of $35
at checkout.
You can also add 1/4 cup of bleach or more
to your toilet tank, let it sit for 20
minutes, and then flush the toilet a
few times to remove all the bleach.
Don’t leave it in your tank—it can For a store near you or free catalog:
damage rubber valves and seals.

Car +Garage
Expert advice on repair, maintenance and gear. By Rick Muscoplat
7 Steps to
Renew Your
Unless you’re fastidious about
your car’s interior, it’s usually the
last thing on your cleaning list.
As the months roll by, grime,
wrappers, dust and junk can just
pile up. Unfortunately, most
of us finally get around to the
deep cleaning when we 1
tape the “For Sale” sign on Vacuum Like
the windshield. But why You Mean It
wait when you can easily Slide the seat all the
way forward and clean
get your car looking its best out all the junk under-
with these tips from profes- neath. You’ll be sur-
prised by what you
sional detailers? Your find. We found a lost
efforts will be rewarded cell phone, enough
pens and pencils to
with a car that looks and equip a small office,
feels brand new. and enough coins for
several vending
machine lunches.
Vacuum the seats,
remove the mats and
vacuum the carpet. Use
a brush attachment for
the dash and door
panels. Don’t forget to
clean out and vacuum
those handy door pock-
ets (another source of
buried treasure).

CA R + GARAGE
3
Clean & Condition 4
the Seats
After a few years, you’ll notice
that the color of the leather or Remember
2 vinyl seats no longer matches
that of the rest of the interior. It’s
the Recesses
Detailing means just that—
not enough just to condition the cleaning all the trim lines and
Clean the Carpet leather. First spray on leather recesses. Wrap a cloth around
Deep-clean the carpeting and upholstery. Use cleaner and rub vigorously with a worn screwdriver (no sharp
a carpet cleaning machine ($90) to get the a clean terry cloth towel. To edges) and spray it with
dirt that settles deep into the fibers of the avoid rubbing the grime back Simple Green or other all-
carpet. (Clean cloth seats this way as well.) It into the seats, keep flipping the purpose cleaner. Move it
sprays the carpet with a solution of water and cloth to expose a fresh surface. gently along the trim lines to
cleaner and then sucks the dirt and grime into Let the seats dry for an hour and pick up dirt, using fresh sec-
a reservoir. A machine like this pays for itself then rub in a leather conditioner tions of cloth as you go. Then
after just a few uses. You can also rent one like Lexol to keep the leather clean around the buttons and
from a rental center (about $30) or use a supple. It’s available at discount controls, and follow up with
spray-on cleaner and a scrub brush instead. stores and auto stores. a rejuvenator like Armor All.
Own the #1 Brand in

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5 Brush
Out the
Air Vents
These louvers are a real
magnet for dust, and a
vacuum with a brush
attachment just won’t get
it all. Take an inexpensive
paintbrush and give it a
light shot of Endust or
Pledge furniture polish.
Work the brush into the
crevices to collect the
dust. Wipe the brush off
with a rag and move on
to the next vent.
6 Wash the
Windows
Don’t forget the top
edges. Ever notice that
line of grime on the
tops of windows when
they’re partially rolled
down? Most people
overlook this detail
when giving their
vehicle a quick wash.
A few minutes with
Windex and a clean rag
is all it takes.
7
Scrape Off Old Stickers
While all of your national and state park stickers may call to mind great
memories, they can be a visual hazard as they accumulate. The high-qual-
ity stickers will pull off if you can get under a corner and carefully pull
them free at a 90-degree angle. Others will leave a gummy residue and
require a bit more attention. Cover your dash with an old towel and dab
on Goo Gone. Then scrape and wipe it off.
WHAT’S WRONG
WITH THIS PICTURE?
We’ll show you the problem—and the fix. By Jeff Gorton
SAFETY RULES
Taking it to
new heights
This window washer is making the
most of a ladder that’s too short.
But if his luck runs out, he’ll pay a
hefty price for ignoring basic
ladder safety rules. Two rules are
being broken here. Can you guess
what they are?
THE RIGHT WAY:

First, work with three points of
contact with the ladder at all
times: two feet and a hand or two
hands and a foot. And second,
never work from the top three
rungs of an extension ladder. The
painter shown below is maintain-
ing three points of contact and is
standing on the fourth and fifth
rungs down. The wide ladder
standoff provides extra stability
and the support to safely reach the
top of the window.
PHOTO: ASHI (RIGHT)
Thanks to our friends at the American Society of

Home Inspectors for sharing photos submitted by
their members. For more, visit ashireporter.org.

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WH AT’S W R O N G
TIME TO LOSE WEIGHT
No egress through this window

The window is the right size for a code-approved egress. But the small
window well prevents the window from opening far enough.
THE RIGHT WAY:

To allow escape in the event of a fire, and allow firefighters easy access,
many basement rooms, including bedrooms, are required by the Inter-
national Residential Code (IRC) to have either an egress door or an egress
window. Egress windows must meet the building code requirements for
size and distance from the floor. In addition, the IRC has requirements for
window well size, including that the window must be able to open fully.
The building code requires a minimum window opening size of 20 in.
wide and 24 in. tall. The net clear opening must be at least 5.7 sq. ft.
And the sill height must be no more than 44 in. from the floor.

DEFYING GRAVITY
FLOATING BEAM
There’s no sense installing a
beam that’s not supported by a SEND
post. But that’s what this deck A PHOTUOS!
If you find
builder did. Maybe the builder so
odd, wron mething
assumed that attaching the g, funny o
dangerous, r
beam to the end of another Unsupported it to us for email
possible
beam would do the trick. Splice publicatio
n.
SHARE W
feedback@ITH US
THE RIGHT WAY: handymanfamily
.com
Splices in beams should be sup-
ported by a post or structural
column of some sort. The post
or column should rest on a foot-
ing that meets local building
code requirements. And the
beams should be connected to
the post with an approved
metal connector. Beams should
be supported by at least 1 in. of
solid wood over posts.
Supported
Splice
At
Least
1"

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AUTO 100 KITCHEN & BATH 104
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Great Goofs Laughs and lessons from our readers
®
THANKS BUT NO
THANKS, DAD
My father-in-law is a retired carpen-
ter, so we jumped at his offer to
help us with our leaky basement.
His plan was to mound dirt against
the foundation, sloping it away
from the house, and compact the
soil so water would run off. Before
long, he was tamping dirt with a
giant, engine-powered soil com-
pactor. However, he lost control of
the machine and sent it crashing
through our basement window.
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ERIC SULLENTRUP
TOILET BLUES CRACKPOT IDEA

My wife came home with a $10 chlorination One cold morning, my
gadget that “self-cleans” the toilet bowl after
uncle found his windshield
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enough, but within minutes I had broken covered with ice. He turned
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEVE BJÖRKMAN
the fill valve assembly at the base. on the engine and defroster
I turned off the water supply and tried and started scraping, but
to loosen the nut that secures the valve the job was taking too long.
so I could replace the part. It was cor- Then he had the brilliant
roded and wouldn’t budge. I decided
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idea of melting the ice by
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The bowl base broke into three With a loud snap, the wind-
EDITOR: TRAVIS LARSON
pieces and water spilled everywhere. shield cracked from end to

My wife and I decided I should
end. After he had a new
quit while I was behind and call a
plumber. The $350 bill was windshield installed, my
painful, but there’s no cleaner uncle went back to scraping
toilet than a brand new one. like the rest of us.
MARCUS CHERLIN EDWIN HITTIG

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