Hot Tools & Equipment How-Tos
How To: Level sand
Yes, it is possible to level sand. Watch this video to learn how to do it. Slide your level across the surface of the sand. Level sand.
How To: Use a sheet metal nibbler
In this series of diy metalworking videos, our sheet metal expert will show you how to use a pneumatic nibbler to punch small holes in metal. A nibbler allows you create a hole in the middle of a sheet without having to cut up to that hole.
How To: Use a reverse drill bit
Tim Carter demonstrates how easy it is to remove damaged screws with a reverse drill bit. Quick-and-easy solution for a drilling problem.
How To: Make a simple latex mold using liquid latex rubber
In this DIY guide from the folks at the TAP Plastics, we learn how to produce a simple latex mold using liquid latex rubber. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about seven minutes. For all of the details, take a look.
How To: Polish a stainless steel roller using Autosol
Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish a stainless steel roller using Autosol. In this polishing tip we polish a stainless steel roller using Autosol Metal Polish. The tutorial includes detailed work instructions and best practices.
How To: Use an engraving tool
In this tutorial, we learn how to use an engraving tool. It doesn't matter how old your engraving tool is, just make sure it has different speeds on it to help control it while in use. Now, place a piece of aluminum down and adjust your power level to the lowest level. Push down on the aluminum and write the word you want to so you can see how the pressure effects the aluminum. Now, set the tool at the highest setting and push down on a sledge hammer to see the pressure you need to push to ge...
How To: Install and use a dado blade on your table saw
If you plan on making any kind of cabinetry or beds or anything else like that, having a dado blade is a useful and handy tool. What this does is make a u-shaped cut into your piece of wood that is perfect for combing two pieces together to form a sturdy, solid joint. So if you want to find out more about dado blades and how to install and use one check this tutorial out. Enjoy!
How To: Remove an armature bearing using a vise
If you don't have a bearing puller available and need to remove an armature bearing, you're in luck! You can actually use a cheap vise available at any hardware store remove an armature bearing if you don't have the bearing puller or if there is not enough space between the bearing and the armature.
How To: Easily weather seal your garage door
If you have a garage door attached to your home, it's important to know that it's a space that needs proper insulation as well. Not doing so can lead to a room that is cold to walk into and can cause other rooms in your home to become cold as well. In this next tutorial, you'll find out what you need to do in order to easily weather seal your garage door. Enjoy!
How To: Bend acrylics (like Plexiglas) with a hot air gun
Have you ever wanted to bend a small piece of acrylic? Well now you can with the help of a traditional hot air gun and this informative video. Make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves before trying this project. Clamp the acrylic to a work table, and proceed to turn the gun on and heat up the piece of acrylic, using a steady back-and-forth sweeping motion. As it heats up, you can use your fingers to gently bend the acrylic upward. Leave it at 90 degrees to cool down for a couple minutes, a...
How To: Make an easy drill bit depth gauge
Home improvement expert Danny Lipford helps you figure out a way to get the perfect hole depth when drilling. Watch this video tutorial to see how to make an easy drill bit depth gauge.
How To: Use an adjustable hip square to frame a residential hip roof
If you're not a carpenter, you may be completely overwhelmed by the information in this video. They have a tough job. Just like electricians, there's a lot of math involved in carpentry, and one of the calculations laborers struggle with is constructing a hip roof. If you're not sure what a hip roof is, you should just stop right here… don't go any further…
How To: Use a stud finder to locate your wall studs
In this tutorial, we learn how to use a stud finder to locate your wall studs. First, you will use your stud finder tool and place it against a wall. It will go off when it has found the edge of a stud. Place the finder against the wall then slowly move it until the red light on the top beeps. Move it around to make sure you know exactly where the stud would be located. The finder will go off wherever the edges of the studs are to help you pinpoint exactly where the stud is. You could get wro...
How To: Replace brushes on a DeWalt DW988 18v cordless drill
Replacing the brushes on a DeWalt DW988 18v cordless drill takes about 5 minutes to do, which could in turn add a longer life to your drill and keep more money in your pocket. Rather than having to replace a whole drill due to wear and tear, you can replace the parts on them easily, especially if you have a hard time parting with your tools.
How To: Make a zero-clearance dado insert for your table saw
If you're having a problem with chipping when it comes to using your table saw, it may be the type of saw you're using or it could be the lack of a zero-clearance blade insert. Although it may not sound important, a zero-clearance blade insert is an important piece that helps lessen the chance of chipping and it can be a real money saver when you need to make cuts into pieces of wood that don't come cheap. In this tutorial, you'll find out more about a zero-clearance insert and how it will he...
How To: Make your Zippo like new
Put the life back in your Zippo lighter. Learn how to repair and restore your Zippo lighter with this how to video.
How To: Use a bull float
Watch this video to learn the correct way to level wet concrete with a bull float.
How To: Replace a broken belt on your vacuum cleaner
One of the most common problems that vacuum cleaners can have is the belt that drives their brush. They are actually pretty cheap and easy to fix yourself, and this video will show you everything you need to know to remove the old belt and install the new one quickly and easily.
How To: Keep Your Tool Box Organized with Foam Floor Mats
In this episode of Mechanical Mashups, Dave will show you how to keep your tools organized by cutting tool shaped spaces out of foam floor mats. Never let a wrench or hammer slip out of place again with this genius way of organizing your garage.
How To: Replace the deck belt on your lawn tractor
Owning a lawn tractor is a big responsibility. Just like a car, there are many areas that need constant care and attention. One area that needs to be checked regularly is the law tractor's deck belt. This is needed to help spin the blad that is located underneath the machine.
How To: Pick a lock easily with 2 paper clips
ZurplusFaction shows viewers how to pick a lock easily using 2 paper clips. First, you need to take your first paper clip and fold one end out. Fold it out again and straighten this out. Next, take the folded out in and fold in again so it forms boomerang shape with the paper clip. Now, take your pliers and squeeze this folded part together tightly. With a bigger paperclip, and use wire cutters to cut of a straight piece of the paper clip with a curve at the top. Now, you are ready to pick yo...
How To: Cut flagstone without power tools
Flagstone is a beautiful natural stone that looks great in your yard. Learn this easy solution to custom cut flagstone without power tools with this how to video. Cutting flagstone can be a lot easier and neater than you may think with the steps in this tutorial from the DIY network.
How To: Use a nail holder to hammer a nail in tight spots
There's many times when you're improving your home that you'll find yourself in a tight spot when driving a nail. Don't hit your thumb. Let home improvement expert Danny Lipford show you how to use a nail holder to hammer a nail in tight spots.
How To: Install a band saw tire step by step
If you work with wood on a regular basis then your band saw probably gets a lot of play time. The more you use your band saw, however, the faster your band saw tire will wear out.
How To: Replace a KitchenAid blender coupling
Now that the holiday season is right at our doorstep, you'll probably be doing a lot of blending, cutting, brining, and baking over the next two months. Which means it's more important than ever that all your kitchen utensils are in tip top shape.
How To: Make your own charcoal
In this video, we learn how to make your own charcoal. First, you want to make a stack of wood you have laying around, anything you have from scraps. Now, push the wood into a small empty pant can until you cannot fit anymore. Then, place the top onto the can so no oxygen gets into the can. After this, load the cans into a large barrel that has large air holes in it, then wait for the wood to turn into charcoal! This is a process that does take a long time and when finished, the can is going ...
How To: Screw drywall to studs with a drywall screwgun
Bob Schmidt teaches us how to screw drywall to studs with a drywall screw gun. A countersink bit is a great option to help you screw drywall studs in. This will fit in a variable speed drill for setting counters and drywall. Use a DeWalt screw gun, which is specifically made to install drywall. It has a clutch driven head with different adjustments on the head for different screws. The gun should be inexpensive and doesn't have a very large motor, so it's perfect for a homeowner. If you just ...
How To: Make a butter knife out of sycamore wood
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a butter knife out of sycamore wood. First, you will take a log then you would split it in half. After this, cleave off a flap off of this. Next, take a knife to flatten it out. Take the width down so it isn't thick anymore. Use a knife to sharpen out the knife so it will be sharp enough to cut into something. Mark the shape so it is in an arrow shape, then make the end of it into a handle shape so you can hold it. When finished, you will have a homemade...
How To: Easily replace the pad on an orbital sander
If you, for some reason, damaged the pad on your orbital sander, it's not the end of the world. The pad can easily be replace by just locating and removing the screws on the sander. Once that's done you can easily screw a new one in without much of a fuss.
How To: Change Lawn Mower Oil
For some people, Spring and Summer, are two of the most busiest times for a cutting grass. The best tool to use of course, the lawn mower. These useful machines make cutting so much easier and keep your yard free of any mulch. But one of the importat aspect of owning a lawn mower, is keeping it maintained. So in this tutorial, you'll find out how to change the lawn mower oil easily. This should be done about once a year. So good luck and enjoy!
How To: Start a STIHL blower or any other leaf blower
Description: The New Stihl ‘simplified starting procedure’ eliminates the chance of flooding your machine during cold starting by mispositioning the choke.
How To: Cut metal with aviation snips
This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Aviation snips cut small metal like aluminum, but not big pieces like nails. Nails and large pieces of metal should be cut with bolt cutters. Use eye protection during all cutting of metal. This video shows the cutting of pipe straps.
How To: Use an edge sander
How to properly use an edge sander; get professional tips and advice from an expert carpenter on precision sanding tools in this free woodworking video series.
How To: Change the oil in a push mower
This is a step by step DIY tutorial of how to change the oil in your push mower.
How To: Tune up a circular-saw
You don’t have to take your circular saw to the shop for a tune-up; we’ve brought the shop to you. Learn how to extend the life of your saw with simple cleaning and general maintenance. There's no 3,000 mile rule here, but if your saw starts running slower than normal, or you see sparks coming from the back of the housing, it’s time for a tune-up. Tune up a circular-saw.
How To: Make a story stick
Kitchen cabinets have multiple pieces that must fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. A story stick will help keep the measurements accurate when transferring them from the installation site to the layout and fabrication shop. Watch and learn how to build this helpful tool. Make a story stick.
How To: Use cut out tools
In this expert video series, John Olson describes how to use cutout tools. He demonstrates safety tips, and he shows us how to mark, cut, and install an outlet box. So, whether you are cutting through drywall or wood, familiarize yourself with cut out tools today!
How To: Keep a portable generator quiet by building an enclosure
Having a portable gas-operated or diesel-operated generator available for your home can be very helpful, but can also be very noisy. If you want to quiet a loud electric generator, take a look at this video to soften that sound on a budget. With a little wood and a few other materials, you can build a fan-cooled 'doghouse' to keep a generator quiet.
How To: Adjust the miter and bevel angle on a miter saw
In this DIY guide from the folks at eReplacementParts, we learn how to adjust the miter and bevel angle on a miter saw using an adjustable square. For step-by-step instructions, and to learn how to adjust the miter angle and a bevel angle on a miter saw yourself, take a look.
How To: Use a Paslode impulse framing nail gun
The Paslode Framing Gun is operated by a gas cartridge and battery so an air compressor is not needed. The tool also has a large range of nails available for different job requirements from 50mm To 75mm. Watch this video tutorial for a demonstration on how to use a Paslode impulse framing nail gun.