Is IntraLase a Safer Alternative for Your Eyes?

Choosing LASIK surgery for vision correction is not the same as it was 10 or 12 years ago. In 1994, when Baltimore ophthalmologist Anthony Kameen had LASIK surgery to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism, his options were not very extensive: a small mechanical blade, called a microkeratome, created a flap on his cornea, after which a conventional excimer laser was used to reshape the tissue underneath so that the cornea would be able to focus light directly on the retina, as it would in a normal eye. That was, in a nutshell, the only way LASIK was performed then. Now, of course, the technology is much more advanced including smoother and more precise lasers, allowing patients to achieve better vision than ever possible before. The newest technological addition to Dr. Kameen's refractive surgery office is a machine called IntraLase, which allows patients to avoid operation via a metal blade, using a special laser that is used only for the purpose of flap creation.

IntraLase in Practice

Touted as "all-laser" LASIK, the most significant claim of the IntraLase machine is that it can greatly reduce the risk of flap complications associated with microkeratome created flaps. When a microkeratome is used, there is the possibility that a flap will be cut too thin, will tear, or will not cut completely. With IntraLase these possibilities are negated. Dr. Trevor Woodhams has used the IntraLase system in his Atlanta office for the past two years and reports very few major complications, and a re-operation rate similar to that with a microkeratome, about 5%. Dr. Kameen reports even better results during his year of use. In fact he has only needed to do "touch-ups" on 6 of his approximately 960 procedures, compared to an 8-9% rate with the mechanical device. Of this statistic he says, "I personally didn't believe it. I thought it was just marketing hype. I am a believer now."

However, this does not mean that it will eliminate flap problems, in fact flap wrinkles and other related problems are still possible, though less likely, with the IntraLase laser. Proponents of the IntraLase created flap, such as Dr. Woodhams and Dr. Kameen, use the system for the majority of their LASIK patients, claiming that they can achieve better visual acuity while cutting down on the occurrence of major complications. Detractors say that there is no clinically substantial evidence that better vision is possible or that such risks are significantly reduced, while surgery takes longer and additional complications are introduced.

How IntraLase Works

During flap creation, the IntraLase laser beam places a series of small bubbles inside the cornea, removing corneal tissue, and allowing the flap to be dislodged and exposing the cornea. Because the surgeon can determine the depth and diameter of the flap, the result is a more precise and usually smoother cut. With the laser, surgeons have better control, and even have the ability to make adjustments after beginning the cut. While using IntraLase on one of his patients, Dr. Kameen realized halfway through that the flap wasn't centered correctly so he stopped, re-centered, then continued the cut. This would not have been possible if he were using a mechanical blade. In addition, many practitioners say that they can achieve better vision with IntraLase. Dr. Woodhams says that recently about 94% of his patients are achieving 20/20 vision and all reach 20/30, though studies, he says, are ongoing.

The Learning Curve

The biggest knock against IntraLase is that it has an unacceptably high rate of late occurring photophobia (abnormal sensitivity to light). Dr. Woodhams noticed this trend, and even stopped using the machine in his office for two months. IntraLase made adjustments, introduced a new laser, and Dr. Woodhams began using the system again in August 2004 without the problems of photofobia. He says, "I have been impressed with the way the company has been responsive to user complaints."

As with any device, there is also the learning curve factor. Dr. Kameen had a short period during which the machine in his office had energy settings that were too high. While he emphasizes that no one was hurt as a result of this miscalculation, there were instances of post-operative inflammation and additional patient discomfort. Dr. Woodhams agrees that learning to get the energy set correctly is an issue for beginners. He also says that the more you use it, the more you develop a softer touch, better accuracy, and even achieve better visual acuity for patients.

Supplemental Differences

Of course, not everyone agrees with Dr. Woodhams and Dr. Kameen's findings. In a report published as a supplement to the November/December 2004 issue of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today, studies showed that there were no significant differences in visual acuity and instances of higher order aberrations between eyes with IntraLase created flaps and eyes with flaps created by the Hansatome microkeratome manufactured by Bausch & Lomb. In addition to not offering any statistically better outcomes, the report showed that IntraLase introduced its own possible complications including photophobia, inflammation, and a less-than-smooth stromal bed (the part of the cornea exposed after flap creation). As mentioned above, however, some doctors believe that the risk of these complications can be avoided after significant experience and setting changes. The additional negatives sighted by the report included a higher cost that is passed along to the patient at the price of about $250 per eye and a longer operating time.

In contrast to this report, however, there have been several other findings suggesting that the IntraLase system does offer better vision along with lower instances of complications. One, in fact, was published as the March 2004 supplement to Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today by Dr. Daniel Durrie, in which he stated, "the INTRALASE FS laser was at least equal to or better than the Hansatome in every category. I consider these results impressive across the board."

A Case by Case Basis

Looking solely at report statistics, however, will probably not determine what option will offer the most benefits to a given patient. IntraLase flap creation offers more potential benefits for specific patients, while for others it may not even be a good option at all. For this reason, patients may be better served trying to answer the question "is IntraLase a better option for me" rather than, "is IntraLase better than a microkeratome?"

For patients who have had RK (radial keratotomy), a surgical refractive surgery, in the past, IntraLase cannot be used (other vision correction surgeries could make the use of laser flap creation undesirable as well). In addition, patients needing only minor correction, especially patients with only mild myopia, or nearsightedness, may not necessarily find the benefits that IntraLase can offer them any greater than what a microkeratome can, and may view the extra money and longer surgical time as unnecessary.

On the other hand, Dr. Kameen will use only IntraLase on patients with any amount of hyperopia, farsightedness, never a microkeratome. Because IntraLase offers better control and more flap precision, the flap is wider and is removed in a more symmetrical shape. When hyperopia is corrected with LASIK, it is the periphery of the cornea that is treated, and the wider flap that IntraLase provides offers the possibility of better surgical correction. In addition, IntraLase makes LASIK available to patients for whom it would not have been a good option before. These types of patients include ones with high myopia or thin corneas. Again, because flap creation can be tailored to meet the specifications of an eye individually, creating laser flaps in these patients can greatly reduce the risks and offer better possible vision.

IntraLase and Custom LASIK

IntraLase also seems to offer greater advantages when it is combined with wavefront-guided lasers, in which a specialized computer maps specific corrections for each individual eye. In studies in which wavefront lasers were used, often referred to as custom LASIK, instead of the older technology of conventional LASIK, the visual results achieved with IntraLase are substantially better than those achieved with a microkeratome using the same technology. The anecdotal information reported by Dr. Woodhams and Dr. Kameen, both of whom use wavefront LASIK almost exclusively, corroborate the results of such studies.

IntraLase has been FDA approved since 2001 and has been used in the treatment of more than 250,000 eyes. Through the years the technology has been adjusted and doctors have honed their technique, and, in many instances, patients are reaping the benifits of LASIK without the blade.

Source: http://www.locateadoc.com

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Comparing the LASIK Lasers

Since the late 90's when the first excimer laser received FDA approval for LASIK eye surgery, several companies have developed their own version, touting top of the line technology and making claims that illustrated the advantages of their machine over the competition. Some companies continued making improvements, introducing new models, or funding studies that might illustrate a proven advantage to their machine: anything to gain a competitive advantage in the market place.

Of course, let's not forget marketing to the consumer. If you've spent anytime reading up on LASIK on the Internet at all, you've no doubt seen some advertorial, press release, or other company propaganda telling you why should trust your eyes to no other machine than the one in this ad.

Well it's not true of course. There are differences, usually minor or insignificant, but it is hard to sift through everything that is out there and find out why a doctor would choose one machine over the other, or which laser might offer any few small advantages. So we found out for you, asked doctors why they use the laser they do, found out what exactly might help your outcome, and asked questions to find out if the laser really does make difference.

LASIK Lasers in the United States

If you take a look at the list of FDA approved lasers you will see that there are several models that have been approved for use in the U.S., though there are four systems that dominate the marketplace: these are machines made by Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Nidek, and VISX. Of these four, Nidek is the only one not currently FDA approved with Wavefront technology, which gives the LASIK machine a detailed map of the eye.

Usually when patients are looking into LASIK they are concerned with how likely they are to reach that mark that all glasses wearers are shooting for: 20/20 vision. When using this measurement, most doctors will tell you that all the available machines will perform about the same. Here is what ophthalmologist Dr. Richard L. Lindstrom has to say about how the lasers compare: "we have all 4 laser platforms in the TLCVision system (the company for which Dr. Lindstrom works) and in over 100 locations with over 300 surgeons and 200,000 procedures per year. There is no clinically significant difference in visual outcomes as measured at 20/20 or better at 30-90 days postoperatively between platforms. Custom Wavefront driven laser treatment is statistically better than conventional (just over 10% more 20/20 with one treatment and a 50% reduction in the enhancement rate) so I and TLCV recommend Custom Wavefront driven treatment whenever possible."

Indeed, Dr. Lindstrom’s feelings are the same ones stated by doctors throughout the country and frequently proven in studies that test functionality and results of the different machines. Of course, there is more to vision than just being able to make out objects at a given distance.

Seeing at Night

One of the biggest concerns for many LASIK patients has been the ability to see clearly at night without visual aberrations like halos and night glare. New studies are beginning to compare the different lasers and their ability to offer sustained night vision. In a recent study authored by Dr. Steven Schallhorn, director of cornea and refractive surgery for the Naval Medical Center, the four different lasers were compared to study differences in visual outcome and night driving ability.

Though there was no difference in visual acuity (the ability to see objects at a distance that is measured with 20/20 as its standard), there was a difference in night vision that was dependent upon which laser was used. In this study only the Alcon and VISX machine were used with Wavefront technology. About 20-25% of patients had worse night-driving abilities following LASIK with the Wavefront machines, while about 40-50% of patients saw worse at night after being treated with the other two machines. It was also reported that VISX offered better identification at night than the other three lasers.

Though studies that compare the available lasers are just recently gaining popularity, it is likely that many more will take place in the near future, offering even better information for the discriminating consumer.

Cost Concerns and Other Intangibles

All decisions are not just based on studies and statistics. There's also cost, and the laser you choose may make a difference in this all important factor. If you're going to choose Wavefront LASIK it is going to cost you: anywhere from $200-$400 more per eye. In addition to that, the Nidek company is the only one that does not charge surgeons a royalty every time they use their machine. In many cases (though not always) practices will offer a slightly lower price when using this machine.

Then there's the upkeep; after all, it is important for the machine to work correctly every time, not just when it's new. According to Dr. Richard Mauer of Mauer Eye Center, one of the reasons that he chooses to use the VISX machine in his office is because they have a very good service record and a good response rate to service calls. He also says that "[it] offers the smoothest ablation pattern and the smoothest disc." (A smooth disc could mean fewer complications and better ability to see at night).

When asked, though, if a patient should sift through the research and try to decide which laser would serve him or her best, Dr. Mauer said that "[the patient] would be better of finding a doctor that [he/she] trusts."

So ultimately it comes back the hands that use the machine and not the machine itself, but knowing the differences can really help you prepare for surgery and see a better outcome.

Source: http://www.locateadoc.com

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LASIK Basics

What is LASIK?

The most well known name in refractive eye surgery, LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) provides vision correction through the use of a laser by reshaping the cornea and changing its focusing power. Since 1993, LASIK has been performed in the United States on millions of patients with the use of a wide variety of different lasers. This procedure can be used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (misshapen cornea).

How It's Done

Before you undergo LASIK surgery, or any refractive surgery, you will be instructed to discontinue the use of contacts for 1 to 4 weeks prior to surgery to allow the cornea to return to its original shape. The day of surgery, you will go to your ophthalmologist's office or surgical center where the procedure will be performed. A mild anesthetic will be given, usually orally, before surgery, and numbing eye drops will be administered, which eliminate the element of pain, although some patients do experience some discomfort.

A small device, called a microkeratome is attached to a suction ring placed on your eye, the blade of which is used to cut a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. The flap is folded back, exposing a layer of tissue called the stroma, which is inspected for debris and dried.

Flap is created
exposing cornea tissue

You will then be asked to focus on a fixed spot as your doctor begins the laser, cutting and removing corneal tissue based on the measurements taken at the initial examination. The flap is then repositioned and left to heal. Because no stitches are used, you will be required to wear an eye patch to prevent rubbing, irritation, and pressure that might disturb the

Laser is used to
reshape cornea

Both eyes can be operated on at the same time if you are healthy enough and have ample recovery time. In some cases, however, doctors will recommend that their patient receive monovision treatment, which is the correction of only one eye for near or far vision. LASIK surgery typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye.

Technology

There are now several different lasers that have received FDA approval for LASIK surgery. There are different lasers for use in myopic and hyperopic patients, but most allow for correction of astigmatism. Because the lasers are capable of vision correction within a specified refractive range, patients with uncommonly poor vision may not be a candidate for LASIK, but may benefit from other refractive procedures such as IOL implants.

Wavefront LASIK

The newest technology in LASIK is the wavefront laser. The first of these types of lasers were FDA approved in 2002. Wavefront technology sends a wave of light to the retina. The light then bounces back to a sensor, which measures the irregularities of the cornea and produces a 3-D map of the eye's visual system.

The data from the sensor is then translated into a mathematical formula that the doctor uses to program the computer that controls the refractive laser. After wavefront LASIK, 90-94% of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better as opposed to 80% with traditional LASIK.

Recovery / Post Op Expectations

After surgery your doctor will schedule you for a follow up exam within one or two days in order to remove the eye patch and gauge recovery, and he or she may also wish to see you at periodic intervals throughout the next six months. Soreness, a burning or itching sensation, and the feeling that something is in your eye are all typical for the first several hours to few days following surgery. Vision is usually hazy or blurry for the same period of time, and tearing or watering is not uncommon.

It is important to remember to not rub your eyes as this might interfere with the healing process of the flap. Strenuous activity, contact sports, and swimming should be discontinued for the first one or two months following surgery, although you may feel comfortable enough to return to work as early as three days after surgery. Your doctor may place additional restrictions on your activity and return to work based on your individual case. If pain becomes intolerable you should see your doctor immediately.

Complications

During surgery, complications related to the cutting or hinging of the flap occur in less 0.5% of patients. Other complications occurring at less than a 1% rate include the development of an irregular astigmatism due to scarring, healing, or beam problems, infection, or other vision problems (halos around lights, blurry night vision) due to decentration, surgery performed off the center of the pupil due to surgeon error or the inability of the patient to focus on a fixed point.

Am I A Candidate?

Candidacy for LASIK surgery can vary depending on your doctor and the type of laser that is used. The minimum requirements are that a patient must be at least 18 years old and has had no drastic change in vision over the past year. For patients with severe refractive errors LASIK may not be an option, but with the advancements in refractive surgery, almost anyone with stable and healthy eyes can be treated with some type of surgery.

Cost

There has been a lot of hype and attention about the cost of LASIK surgery. Some firms claim that they can perform the surgery at a starting cost of $299 per eye. Of course, no one actually gets the surgery at that cost, and patients should beware of such advertisements; you get what you pay for. On average, the cost of LASIK is about $1,700.

Source: http://www.locateadoc.com

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Homemade Back Acne Treatment - Could These Natural Face Masks Cure Your Back Acne?

While prescriptions and over the counter medications can be a good choice for treating back acne, a homemade back acne treatment can be a desirable option for people who like to keep it natural and reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals and drugs.

Keep in mind that using a homemade back acne treatment can be effective, but it can also take a lot longer for you to notice an improvement. If you can control the reasons why you suffer from back acne breakouts, you may also be able to improve and lessen the intensity and frequency of breakouts. Bacne can often be caused by irritation of your skin, or basically something rubbing on the skin that helps to trap dirt in the pores and then may lead to infection or bacne.

The irritation can be increased if you tend to carry a backpack which also rubs on your back or any tight fitting clothing that does not allow air to circulated in between the clothing and your skin. Choosing clothing that is more breathable, such as cotton, is also a very good idea.

So what kinds of homemade back acne treatment are there? Some people swear by things they make up out of their own fridge. There are certain items that will work if you make up a mask. There are a variety of masks that you can create at home that you can apply to your back. You can create a mask by combining various ingredients into a paste and then applying it. A lemon mask is a combination of lime juice and rose water. Obviously, this will not be a paste mask, but you can apply it with cotton balls and allow it to dray on the skin. The naturally occurring astringent in lemon helps to reduce skin oil.

A simple tomato mask is made from crushed tomato pulp. Apply crushed tomato pulp directly to the affected area, allowing it to dry and remain on the skin for half an hour. The vitamins in tomato - A and C help to reduce the size of pores.

Oatmeal is another helpful ingredient. Cook the oatmeal, allow it to cool and add honey to it. Apply it to your skin and leave it on for twenty minutes. Oatmeal also removes excess oil from the skin and helps to prevent breakouts.

Mint juice and turmeric can be rubbed onto your back and left on for about fifteen minutes. This combination reduces inflammation and lessens the appearance of bacne.

Healthy eating, getting regular exercise and drinking more water are also tried and true when it comes to a homemade back acne treatment. Water helps to flush impurities and toxins from your body. Adding a teaspoon of honey and a half a lemon to the water once daily before you eat is another great home remedy. When it comes to eating right, eliminate refined sugar and fried foods from your diet. There is really no nutritional value in these kinds of foods in any event, so the less you eat of them, the better.

Mike Walden was a long time sufferer of back acne until he used this homemade back acne treatment that finally helped him say goodbye to acne for good.

He's also written many articles, such as this one on back acne treatment at home ideas that help people like yourself treat the acne on your back.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_A._Gutierrez

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Top Five "Get Rid of Spots" Acne Treatments

'll let you in on a little secret: most "get rid of spots" acne treatments never worked for me. Truth is, these so-called acne cures rarely work for anyone. It's all about marketing hype and pretty labels - and worse yet, empty lies.

What you're reading now might just change all of that for you. Instead of looking just for a get rid of spots treatment, what you need to look for is how to prevent spots while getting rid of the ones you currently have. That includes getting rid of live acne as well as the red marks your old acne left behind.

So where should you start? Well instead of heading to your local drugstore, you might make a pit stop at the grocery store for an acne home remedy. That's what I did - and it's done wonders for the acne on my face, back and chest. Check out some of these remedies that are not only cheaper, but are often more effective.

Spot Treatments

Organic honey: It sounds sticky, and it is, but it's really one of the best organic treatments for acne. The thing about honey is, it's antibacterial. Thus, it kills the bacteria in the zit, just like benzoyl peroxide does, except without feeling harsh on your skin.

How to apply: Take a clean finger or cotton swab, and dab a little honey on each zit. Don't plaster it all over your face; just on the individual zits themselves. Then after 15 minutes, rinse it off with warm water.

Ice: And we're not talking Smirnoff. We're talking plain ice, applied directly to the spots to get the swelling down. Once you get the swelling down, you'll also encourage the rest of the zit to go away. However, you'll want to wrap the ice cube up in a paper towel before putting it on your skin, or you'll be in for a frozen face!

Mint: Some people will take mint toothpaste or mint extract mixed with turmeric powder and paste it on their zits for a few minutes. This, in addition to killing germs, will have a cooling effect that relieves the pain the spots are causing you. This get rid of spots treatment smells good, too, unlike other acne remedies.

Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil might seem like a stupid thing to put on zits - after all, aren't you trying to get rid of the oil? Well, not exactly. Your skin still needs oil to stay moisturized, as it will get irritated if you don't. But anyway - about the tea tree oil. Dab a little of this stuff onto each spot. But instead of washing it off, leave it on until it dries.

Witch hazel: Some teens and adults like to strip off their spots with rubbing alcohol. Bad idea! Use witch hazel instead. This will lighten the redness of the spots in addition to cleansing the area and making the skin around it less irritated.

If you want to get rid of spots, these five remedies are some of your best bets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harley_Molina

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The Best 7 Tips for Creating Great Wood Toys

Here are 7 tips you have to take into consideration when thinking about creating great wooden toys for your kinds.

1. Choose All Natural Materials

So many of the toys manufactured today are made from cheap plastic and even recycled garbage. There really is no need to make even more. What makes handmade toys so wonderful is that they are constructed using on natural materials such as: wooden, fabric, stone, clay, silk, cotton, etc.

Toys that are made using these natural materials always look and even feel better and they are relatively easy and simple to make. It is great to work with wood or natural fabric and it is a safer option for people of all ages.

2. Opt for Designs that are Original Toy Designs

Before you begin the project always choose the design carefully. By doing so you will find that it will provide you with some inspiration. Making a toy like this is really impressive and you do not have to stick to the design completely; use it to give yourself ideas. The Internet is a great place to find some really great toys and to help you choose the toy that you want to make.

3. Don't Bite off More than You can Chew

Do not choose a toy that is particularly complicated but rather go with something a little simpler. While there is nothing wrong with choosing a more complex toy it will naturally require more skill and precision on your part. Simple toys do not require as much skill and therefore can be made by almost anyone who has some patience and is willing to practice. If you are a beginner rather choose a simple design. Toys that are made from fabric or plush material are also great for the beginner.

4. Use Paper First

Before you invest in what might turn out to be pricey materials try making a model of the toy using regular paper. Naturally there are some toys that make this impossible, such as plush or wooden carved toys. You might be surprised to know that those with different parts or which use some mechanics are usually the ones that you will be able to model using paper. This is sort of rehearsal before beginning and it will give you a general idea of what the finished product will look like.

Bear in mind that making the toy well out of paper does not necessarily mean that you will do so when you are busy with the real thing.

5. Painting the Finished Toy

Sometimes it is preferable to leave the toy in the original color of the material that you used. If you've made an old-fashioned type of wooden toy this is especially so. However the majority of toys look best when painted. If the design doesn't suggest certain colors then use your own imagination. You will be able to get a lot of ideas when you view the designs and toys available online.

6. Cams and Cranks

If you really want to impress consider making something that uses mechanical parts with gears. Toys that make do with cams and cranks can really impress the kids and are more enjoyable than toys without these features. It is not that difficult either. Take a look at some great cam toys that you can make.

Invariably wood is the material used for making handmade cam and crank toys but sometimes there are metal components. It is important that you do not feel intimidated when it comes to trying out different materials and you might even use some parts of old, broken toys, such as plastic wheels which can save you money when renewed for a new toy.

7. Safety is Key

Of course it is necessary to consider a few safety tips. Obviously you need to exercise some degree of care but you might not know exactly how. Some toys contain fake blood in them and these can be really great fun provided that the blood is not real!

Always err on the side of caution when you work with woodworking tools and other sharp objects like needles if you are working with fabric. Most importantly of all, the toy you make should also be safe for the child who will play with it.

Peter Craft is a woodworker lover and is a garden enthusiast who has a website dedicate to woodworking projects and wood toys. You can find over then 16,000 Projects & Woodworking Plans with Step-by-Step Easy to Follow Instructions. With the right toy plans you can easily build your own woodworking projects with confidence. You can also browse our selection of woodworking videos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Craft

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DIY Woodworking - Does It Pay To Do It Yourself?

The world seems to be completely abuzz with DIY (Do-It-Yourself) everything! From the big box home improvement stores to make-your-own pizza shops, you can find places catering to the do-it-yourselfer everywhere. Maybe folks have just gotten more independent around here, or maybe it's the natural desire to try to save a buck that drives this, but didn't people used to actually hire people to do things for them?

I suppose that if you're young enough or old enough not to care what the end results look like, a DIY haircut kit is alright. DIY furniture seems to be all the rage with IKEA coming to town, but that's just assembling a kit. Pffft. DIY woodworking is a completely different critter, and sometimes it's really is worth it to hire a pro...

There was a man (he shall remain nameless) that had kind of an odd-shaped bathroom. Well, when it came time to remodel, the little lady of the house wanted a vanity with drawers in it rather than the 35-year-old pedestal sink. Like a dutiful husband, Mr. Nameless measured carefully and went down to the local big box to purchase a cabinet.

Looking over the available cabinets he quickly determined that none were going to work for him, as the 45 degree corner would be might tough to stuff a 90 degree cabinet into.

Light Bulb Moment! -


"I know!", says Mr. Nameless to himself, "I'll build a cabinet myself!"

Our hero figures he has all the tools he needs, so he goes home and catches the last 20 minutes of "Do-It-Yourself Woodworking" on TV, just to brush up on his latent woodworking skills.

You can probably guess where this is headed, so I'll spare you the un-entertaining details. Our intrepid DIY woodworking ace made the following entries in his diary those fateful months:

2/17 - Broke out sink - got wood for bathroom cabinet this morning. Lizzy'll be proud.
2/23 - Saw don't cut so good - got more wood.
2/24 - Got a table saw on sale. $299. I AINT BUYIN' NO MORE WOOD!
2/25 - Finger still hurts, it'll mend I s'pose.
3/08 - Took bandage off today. Ask Paul how to make a drawer tomorrow.
3/19 - Lizzy's mad - wants her sink back
4/01 - Drawers don't fit - I wish it was really April fools!
4/03 - Got the drawers to fit!
4/09 - Almost done with cabinet. Cat's sick - licked stain off on edges.
4/10 - Ask Paul how to remove stain, it's too blackish.
4/11 - Stain can't be fixed, Lizzy ain't talkin' to me much.
4/12 - I ain't feelin' so good. Paul wants $1400 to build a cabinet. Lizzy says do it "or else".

Poor Mr. Nameless, at least he got a new saw out of the deal. $800 spent and he still has to rob Peter to pay Paul.

The downside of DIY woodworking is very real... you need to have tools, and knowledge, appropriate to the project you're taking on. The upside is that you get the satisfaction of completing a challenge yourself, and increasing your skills.

Really, if you think you're going to save much money by doing DIY woodworking projects, once you figure in time, tools and materials, it won't be much if any. There's a nearly irresistible allure though, of starting and finishing a project and doing it well.

I don't want to discourage you from tackling projects yourself, but try to be sure that it really is within your abilities so you don't waste time, money and precious wood. Have someone available that can answer questions and guide you through the rough spots. Plan ahead and know exactly what has to happen at each step before you make your first cut. Get a set of plans that make sense and that you can follow, or get a set of DIY woodworking plans from National Woodworking that has a lot of plans you can choose from, like Woodworking4Home or Teds Woodworking Plans.

Well, get at it, sharpen up the chisels and let us know how it goes! No matter what you do, don't earn the nickname "Stumpy"!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Zaleski

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Small Garden Sheds

Small garden sheds are an excellent way of giving yourself more storage space without much costs. Small storage sheds can mean anything from a shed just big enough to store a few gardening tools, or big enough to store tools and a bike or two.

The beauty of sheds is that you can easily fit one into any sized garden and they can provide you with an excellent storage facility. A good shed shouldn't be underestimated as a storage solution, you can build your own shed or buy a ready made one suitable for your own needs.

Building a garden shed is not a difficult task and is well within the skill levels of most people. As long as you can follow a good plan you shouldn't have too much trouble building one. You can buy a simple one for a reasonable price and add on to it.

For example you could buy a basic design and strengthen it in certain places to build hangings for bikes. By getting bikes off the floor you leave yourself more room for storage.
This is one way to go, the disadvantage of this method is the initial cost of buying it.. They can be pretty expensive for a bit of flimsy wood which is what most small sheds are constructed from. Sheds are an overlooked method of storage. For some reason most people don't consider them when they are thinking of solutions to their storage problems. This is a shame.

I've seen some fantastic small storage sheds that people have made and which have provided them with a super little storage system. You'd be surprised what you can get into a well-constructed and designed shed. If you make it yourself you can design it to hold a lot of items like bikes for example.

By placing shelves and wall hangings you can really utilize a small shed into a major storage area. The old shed my granddad used to have, which I remember being crammed with tools and the smell of paint from old paint tins scattered about are a thing of the past.

A modern garden shed, utilizing the latest storage devices, which you can easily build into your shed can provide an amazing amount of storage. If you've never considered small sheds as a source of storage think again. You could be missing out on a great solution to your storage problems.

Shaun is a carpentry teacher who has been working with wood all his life, he is the author of woodworking plans. For a fantastic free book that will teach you the basics of woodworking go to Plans For Garden Sheds now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_S_Wilson

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Bluebird House Plans You Can Make Use Of To Construct A Shelter For Your Feathered Pals

You will find various types of bluebird house plans and bird feeder plans that you can employ to construct a bird shelter and bird feeder for your chirping buddies. I'll discuss about constructing bluebird homes. Dependent on where you are living, you'll be constructing a home for either an Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, or Mountain Bluebird. Or, where the models overlap with Eastern Bluebirds, you can actually put up a bluebird dwelling that is going to support both varieties.

The normal bluebird house plans can be constructed from one 1"x6"x4' and one 1"x10"x10 1/2" piece of unpainted or untreated wood. Using these 2 items, you are going to come up with cuts for the the floor, the roof, the front and back panels, and the two sides. Many different bird home layouts for bluebirds are the Dandr, Carl Little, Peterson, and Gilbertson.

A single key distinction between constructing a bird habitat for Eastern Bluebirds as against one for Western or Mountain Bluebirds is the entry hole's size. With the Eastern Bluebirds, you need your front hole diameter to be either a half inch rounded hole or a 1 3/8 x 2 1/4 inch vertical oval entry hole while in contrast the Mountain or Western Bluebird will need a somewhat bigger circular hole size of 1 9/16 inches or utilize the same vertical oval size as Eastern Bluebird. Wherever the ranges overlap between either Mountain or Western Bluebirds and Eastern Bluebirds, make your entry hole size 9/16" so either types can make use of it, except if you just prefer Eastern Bluebirds. The hole has to be drilled six and half inches from the bottom of the entrance wall in order that it's high enough to keep bigger animals from freely going inside and damaging or eating the nestlings or eggs.

When you are done doing all your cuts, you then will utilize galvanized nails to construct it. Don't work with nails which aren't suitable for exterior use and will corrode. A single side door will have 2 nails fixed to the top via the opening and back walls in order that it can pivot for closing and opening the opening door for bird home checking and cleaning. You would also need to make some sort of latch below of this opening door to ensure that it can be properly secured and not simply opened.

Provide little cuts on all 4 edges of the flooring to function as discharge holes. The rear wall has to be taller than the entrance wall to make certain that the roofing slants to also provide water flow as well as a bit of an overhang. You are going to also connect the side walls to the back and front panels to ensure that there's a 1/4 inch space on top for airflow.

Finally the time is right to put in place your bluebird home. You have to set up your bluebird shelter on an 8 foot, 3/4 inch diameter galvanized tube, with the front hole 5 feet away from the ground surface. Set up the bird dwelling away from prevalent winds or the scorching noon sunlight.

Download plans by visiting bluebird house plans!

Ross Evans
Bird House Plans 101
http://www.BirdHousePlans101.com

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European Oak Panels For Furniture Making - Edge Glued Laminated Panels

Oak Panels

Oak has long been used as a durable and attractive option for constructing wood furniture that is heirloom quality. Manufacturers of oak panels know what it takes to expose the natural beauty of the deep grain of this wood in order to make furniture that is as beautiful as it is strong. And because of the composition of oak, this wood is strong, durable and resistant to fungus and insect infestation. Tannin is responsible for giving oak these sturdy characteristics. You may be familiar with the term tannin if you're a wine or Scotch enthusiast. It's because these beverages are carefully aged in oak barrels that the tannin taste is imparted. Depending on the type of oak, American or French, the alcohol will acquire different attributes.

That same tannin that is responsible for making a tasty beverage is also the wood's characteristic that makes it so strong. Coupled with the natural beauty of the wood, it's no wonder oak panels are a popular choice for furniture makers. The strength of the wood makes it resistant to dings and scratches due to normal wear and tear, like banging into it with the vacuum cleaner, or an army of children role playing war games complete with heavy arsenal, setting up fort under their beds. You won't get that same resistance to accidental bumps with a softer wood like pine, which is more porous and susceptible to nicks and bumps.

A manufacturer of oak panels will know how to elicit the natural beauty of the wood grain through the type of cut used. The quarter-sawn method is the most popular choice to highlight the intricate grain details. Put simply, the cut is made at a 90 degree angle to the age rings of the tree trunk. Not only do you get more beautiful oak panels with this cutting method, but you also get a stronger panel. Using the quarter-sawn method adds strength to the board, gives it a more uniform shape and size and makes it less vulnerable to shrinking and warping.

Now that the superlative qualities of oak have been revealed to display how quality oak panels are made, you can also consider that oak comes in a variety of thicknesses to suit your furniture needs. Historically, oak has been used indoors for both furniture and interior panelling to create an aura of prestige, wealth and strength. Oak retains this characteristic today and is a superior choice for constructing furniture.

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Hard or Soft: What Wood Do You Use?

If you have wood projects in mind then you know that you will need a lot of tools and motivation to complete it! It's so often when it comes to working with large projects, we end up beginning it successfully and not completing it for another month. With the proper knowledge you can complete your project as fast as you began. All that you will need is enough space to put all of your wood, the proper wood for whatever the project is and the right tools. Making sure that you have the right tools before hand may result in a faster project completion. If the wood that you are working with is going to be used inside the house and is a composite wood then don't build it outside. Don't know what a composite wood is? We will go over every breed of wood and the tools that you will need for it.

Let's say that you are completing a large project outside such as a shed, you will need a Hardwood. This is a wood that is completely authentic and isn't damaged by the weather, water or an outside turmoil. When working with Hardwood you will need a lot of space because you will be cutting the wood, clamping it, nailing it and so forth. Begin by cutting the wood with an electronic table saw. This is after you make your measurements very carefully. When measurements are slightly off they can affect the look of your project and make you start all over. After measuring and sawing you will then sand it. There are often a lot of splinters with Hardwood meaning that you should probably use an electric hand sander that gets the job done faster. Nailing the wood together means that you will need to use a clamper and a nail gun. Nailing and hammering with a large project will be ongoing, use an electronic hand drill. After all is said and done, you will use a base and top coat if you choose to. The base coat will need multiple coats as well as the top coat. If you were working on a small project then you wouldn't have to use electronic tools, because you will use a Softwood.

Softwood is the same as a Hardwood but is meant for smaller, manual projects. It is also durable in any weather condition and can be used inside of a house or outside. Depending on the size of the wood you will be more apt to using tools that are smaller and not electronic. You will have to measure very carefully; say that you are building a birdhouse. If you cut any two pieces wrong that are supposed to be the same size, the bird house will be uneven and won't set even when placed on an table. You can use a hand saw or a saw table, depending on what you have. Sanding small pieces of wood won't take too long so you won't need a large sander. Sand Softwood just as well as you would a Hardwood because there's a good amount of splinters. Wood for projects will range in price depending on where you buy them, but Hardwood and Softwood will be a bit more expensive because it is authentic, unlike Composite wood.

Composite wood is a type of recycled wood that will not uphold any kind of position outside of the house. It is only used inside and usually for interior design, such as for floor panels. This wood most often doesn't have splinters and can be used with manual tools or electronic tools. This is very convenient when you are making small projects or ones that are decorative; they may or may not be stained already. Composite wood is very affordable because it is recycled and is at all hardware stores.

Now that you can separate wood for your projects and you know which tools to use then you can begin and complete your work! Enjoying the process of cutting and putting together wood can result in a job that you enjoy. Whether it be construction or building furniture; if you thoroughly enjoy the pastime then you should make a career out of it. As you go along you will learn more and more about building wood and what type of tools or refurnishing coats you should use. Take pictures of all of your projects and use them as a portfolio if you are interested in selling your projects. Whether it's a gift for someone, or a means of achievement for yourself all that matters is how you feel after it is completed!

John Wood is a professional woodworker and author Woodworking Master Plans. Visit his website for quick and easy advice on choosing the right wood for projects and get instant access to his free woodworking course.

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What Kind of Woodworker Do You Want to Be?

After a lot of years as a professional woodworker, I believe it's about time that I speak about some of the decisions I was faced with and those that you will face you. My thinking is that for those of you who are just beginning, it might be helpful to know that there are quite a few ways you could go. You will have to take your own path and, in light of that, it might be valuable to learn what your choices are so that you can start off in the appropriate direction from the very beginning. For those of you with a bit more know-how than that, it's still not too late to redirect your overall focus and discover something new.

To start, there are two principal areas of woodworking to ponder (carpentry and fine woodworking) and, when you have chosen between them, you can go on from there into your chosen area of knowledge. These decisions should be made not only on what you would like to do but also what you can do well. Not everybody is born to play the violin or be an astronaut and it's the same with woodworking. To start, what I urge is to pick out a section of woodworking that you prefer or that fits your purposes, give it your all and find out if you have the skill to go further and be really accomplished at what you do. If you discover that you are "barking up the wrong tree," so to speak, don't quit, just try something new. If you become skillful in one section of woodcraft, that does not mean that you will do well in all kinds of woodworking.

Using myself as an example, I realized early on that while I was OK using hand tools, I lacked the skill of an artist. I tried woodturning on the lathe and had a similar outcome. However, when I began to design and construct furniture, using machines, my projects started to go so well that I went into business doing that. In no time at all, I had clients at the door and up to seven woodworkers working hard to manufacture my furniture designs and fill the orders that were accumulating. Speaking of talent, I hired two, different kinds of employees: those who built the furniture and those who sanded it smooth in order to prepare it for finishing. Everyone had their own range of knowledge and everyone who worked for me was happy to be in their own area of skill.

That's only my experience. It will most likely be quite different for you. Let's look at the big decision you will need to make immediately between carpentry and fine woodworking. Make no mistake about it; I have great respect for both kinds of skills. I see them as equally challenging but in different ways. To me, carpentry is the art of building structures like houses, decks, sheds and gazebos. Materials include construction-grade wood, usually fir, plywood, concrete, drywall and the like. There are carpenters who build forms for foundations, framers who construct walls and roofs out of studs and rafters, drywall installers, and finish carpenters whose skills are like those of a fine woodworker but not exactly the same. There is forever the need to get the work completed on time and within the budget but there is also the absolute necessity for professional-quality work.

Fine woodworking, to me, is about building gorgeous pieces out of rare hardwoods. The triumph of any piece is in the eye of the beholder. Imaginative but functional design is everything. Each finished product is a work of art, in its own way. Great care and a high degree of precision are mandated at every step of the way because the price of a board foot of Ebony, Cocobolo, Rosewood or Koa is way beyond that of a fir 2 x 4. There's an old carpentry saying, "measure twice, cut once" that is even more meaningful in fine woodworking than it is in carpentry. Carpentry needs accurate blueprints or plans. The same can be said for of fine woodworking, only more so. Fine woodworking is usually performed indoors in a woodworking shop whereas carpentry can occur outdoors or indoors.

In fine woodworking, there is about the same amount of time involved in sanding a piece as there is in constructing it. Sanding fine woodworking is an art in itself. While I have found both men and women to be about equally skilled in constructing furniture, almost all of my sanders were women for the reason that they seemed to have a finer touch and more of the patience needed to produce a perfect surface, prepared for finishing.

Finishing is also an art unto itself. The purpose of all finishing materials is to armor the wood and to bring out the grain. Any flaws due to an imperfect sanding job will be as easy to see as the nose on your face after the finish is put on. In that event, the only solution is to sand off all the finish, re-do the sanding job and apply the finish again. This is not only a loss of time but costly if you are hoping to make money. That's why competent sanders were so crucial to my business.

There are numerous specialties and sub-specialties within both carpentry and fine woodworking. Some of them are: design, assembly, wood turning, sanding and finishing. While it is quite usual for a fine woodworker to be talented in more than one of these specialties, it is not likely that he or she will turn out to be an expert in all of them. Keep working and trying new skills and soon you'll be doing what you love and you might even turn out to be really skilled at it!

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Wood Carving For Beginners

Wood carving can be a great hobby for people of all ages. There is virtually a limitless amount of things a piece of wood can be shaped into and can be a great form of expression for the artist within. Wood carving for beginners start with the basics of what techniques and tools to use.

The first decision for wood carving for beginners is to know what technique they want to start with. There are four main techniques, which are whittling, relief carving, carving in the round and chip carving. Whittling is the act of cutting or removing bits of wood from a piece of wood. This is the most basic form of wood carving, however, it is less common today as modern day wood carving revolves around detailed and intricate designs. Relief carving is basically carving pictures into a piece of flat wood, a 3 dimensional image is created through the way the wood is removed. This is often used to decorate furniture or signs. Carving in the round is carving all the way around, which creates a more smooth and lifelike appearance over whittling. This technique offers the most flexibility as anything can be created into a three dimensional object. Chip carving is the use of knives or chisels to remove chips of wood from a block of wood to create patterns or designs. This technique is often used to decorate household items such as chests. Each technique employs a different set of tools.

Knowing what tools to use is a must for wood carving for beginners. Whittling is the simplest to get started as the only tools needed is a sharp pocket knife and a block of wood, this is probably the cheapest and simplest way for a newbie to get started. Chip carvers only require a couple of different knives to chip the wood surface and is another good choice to get started in wood carving as it requires only a few tools compared to the other techniques. Carving in the round requires more tools to accomplish as it requires a variety of knives, gouges and chisels. This technique employs almost any carving tool as a different feature may require a different set of tools. Relief carving requires a basic carving set to create the images onto the wood, however, it utilizes mainly gouges to create the effect. Carving in the round and relief carving can be quite a challenge for beginners, as they require more tools and patience.

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How To Make Furniture Yourself And Save Money

Have you finally graduated from building birdhouses and decided you want to learn how to make furniture? "What should I build" and "Where do I start" are usually two of the first questions that come to mind. DIY (Do it yourself) furniture can be about as simple or complex a woodworking job as you want it to be, so here are a few planning suggestions to point you in the right direction.

Decide what you want to build first.

If you're just beginning to learn how to make furniture, you should choose a project that is easy and practical. Building a picnic bench is a great first project as most people can use one, they get you accustomed to working with larger pieces, and are much more forgiving if you should make a mistake or three.

Bunk Beds are another excellent first project. So are platform beds.

Take time to choose your plans wisely.

Make sure the plans you choose offer enough detail to get you through the project. There is enough to deal with when learning how to make furniture than to suffer through trying to use inadequate plans. Take a look at another article of mine, Great Woodworking Projects Require Great Plans, to see what you should look for in a set of woodworking plans. If you want to get a LOT of plans at once, there are some good all-in-one packages of woodworking plans on the market that will surely provide as many plans as you can use in many years.

Make sure you have, or can borrow, the tools you need.


This goes hand in hand with choosing your woodworking plans. Many plans will give you an idea of the tools you need. Don't bother trying to build a table if it requires twenty-four bar clamps for glue up and you don't have access to them. Using the right tools for the job is how to make furniture the right way.

Make sure your tools are properly adjusted and blades are sharp.

If your table saw blade is out of adjustment by a degree or two, you'll learn how to make furniture the hard way! Bad adjustments will mean pieces don't line up. Dull blades will make rough cuts, cause splinters and increase blade tear out.

Measure carefully, cut even more carefully.

Assuming you have a good set of plans and the right tools, the rest falls under your individual skill level. Follow your plans step by step. Measure twice and cut once as the saying goes. Hey, I often measure three times, good wood isn't cheap!

Cutting carefully should go without saying. The results of carelessness can range from misfit pieces to missing fingers. Neither is good!

When in doubt, ask.

If you aren't a member of a woodworking forum or two, sign up now. Start reading, ask questions. If you get stuck in the middle of a project, get online and ask around. There are a ton of friendly people in the woodworking community that are eager to help and share their knowledge.

If you still feel hesitant to learn how to make furniture, just remember, everyone was a beginning woodworker at some point. Practice makes perfect and building simple furniture to start with, such as picnic tables or bunk beds, is a great way to get your feet wet and have a lot of fun doing it.

You can find more information on building your own furniture and other woodworking skills at National Woodworking. Thanks for reading my article, I truly hope it helps you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Zaleski

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High School Woodshop Projects And Plans

You would think that for being so involved in woodworking I would have been the ace of my high school woodshop class. Nope, not me! I honestly didn't pay much attention, as a matter of fact, I don't think I ever finished the project I started... a simple footstool.

What I do remember is seeing some pretty amazing high school woodshop projects, especially from the older students. I was especially impressed with all the sweet "Flying V" guitar bodies (not to mention the hair that went with them!) I don't know if schools still allow students to build skateboards and guitar bodies as woodshop projects, but I'm pretty sure that rifle stocks are out nowadays. Here's a short list of some of the more popular high school shop projects I've seen over the years:

• Cedar Chest
• Desk Drawer Organizer
• Speaker Cabinets
• Chess Board
• Skateboard Deck
• Foot Stool
• Note Pad holder
• Cutting board
• Adirondack Chairs - cedar
• Shoeshine Boxes
• Wooden Puzzles
• Guitar Bodies

High school woodshop projects are a rite of passage for many young men and women. There's not much that's more therapeutic than the scent of piles of sawdust, and splinters in your fingers. Something about a handcrafted woodshop project makes folks want to keep them around for years. Even though I never finished my school project, I still have nearly everything I've ever built from wood. Before choosing your high school project, be sure you consider the following:

• Take the time to check out a bunch of plans, or purchase a good package with lots of woodshop projects in it.
• See which plans will work for your skill level.
• Make sure the necessary tool are on hand at the shop or at your home.
• Will you have enough time to finish? It's hard to get a good grade on a half finished woodshop project.
• Will you have enough material available, and can you afford to buy enough to finish your project?
• Do you have a good, clear plan that details all the steps in an understandable way?

If you're a high school woodshop teacher looking for ideas, or a student that just can't decide what to build, let me tell you there are a about a gazillion plans out there. Some are excellent, some are pretty poor, but one thing's for sure - it can take a lot of time to locate the good ones. You can spend a lot of money on woodshop projects and plans, but you really don't have to.

You can get more information about high school woodshop projects, woodworking tool reviews, plan reviews and more at National Woodworking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Zaleski

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Woodworking Projects: Built-In Book Case Part Two

What started out as a simple project, a built in book case to house our ever growing collection of books, has turned into a complete rework of the family room. Discussions about what the book case should look like, how big it should be and what kind of finish details we wanted on the book case, soon lead to "While we are at it" types of conversations. Which lead us to decide that the book case should actually be built in, and occupy the side wall in the family room, which lead us to decide to also rework the front wall in the family room to remove a step in the wall created by the cinder blocks. However, we decided that the step created by these cinder blocks, actually worked in our favor when it came to the built in book cases.

I was really concerned about building open shelved book cases that ran from the floor to the ceiling. From a structural point I was concerned about how to anchor the book cases to the wall. I could just see an eight foot high book case loaded with books, crashing to the floor someday, God forbid that anyone could be under it if that happened.

The fact that the wall we planned to install this book case on is 11' long, meant that we would have to divide this space into three or preferably four sections. Which in itself complicates the issue of securing the book case to the wall, because all three or four sections would have to be secured together so if one came loose and started to fall, all of them would come down. Also, I had concerns about the visual appeal of a floor to ceiling open shelved book case. While this may really look great in a library, or a McMansion style home, our home just did not lend itself to a massive wall of bookshelves. What we decided to do was to use the natural step in the wall created by the cinder blocks, as a separation point. From the floor to the top of cinder blocks we would build out from the wall a set of enclosed book cases. By building out from the wall, we were able to create a wider platform, upon which we were able to safely install open shelved book cases.

The lower book cases would be anchored to the floor and the side walls. The upper book cases were then in turn be secured to the lower book cases and the side wall. As an added safety feature I decided to stop the upper bookcase short of the ceiling short of the ceiling by 6". On top of each of the upper bookcases, I installed a metal "L" bracket to the topside of each case and then into wall studs. Since these brackets were on the top side of the cases, they wouldn't be seen, but added a lot of peace of mind to a worrier like me.

The first step was to once again remove the sheet rock on the lower half of the wall and the particle board shelf installed by the builder. There really wasn't any reason to remove the sheet rock, other than to add some insulation behind it. We made an assumption based on findings of the front wall that the lower wall was devoid of insulation. Unfortunately, we were correct. Instead of studding out the wall and adding R13 insulation as we did on the front wall, we elected to use rigid foam insulation on this wall. Following manufacturer's directions, we cut and adhered the insulation to the wall. We figured that the rigid insulation plus several inches of books would provide adequate insulation for this wall. Many years later, I can tell you that the assumption was correct.

On the upper portion of the wall, the sheet rock was also removed. This time it was so that we could remove the leaking, ugly and useless sliding aluminum window that graced the wall. Removing the window didn't prove much of a task. For some reason the builder hadn't bothered to caulk around the window, nor had he used a significant number of fasteners to attach the window to the house. In fact I think we found a total of 12 nails holding in this six foot slider. Oh well, their sloppy workmanship made it easy for us to remove the window. It also explained why it leaked as badly as it did. With the window removed, I restructured the wall, added insulation and closed up the wall with sheet rock on the inside and siding on the outside. The sheet rock was taped, sanded and painted.

Original plans called for me to build the bottom bookcases totally out of 4/4 oak. But after pricing out wide 4/4 oak stock at several dealers, we decided to try a different approach. The carcasses of the lower book cases would be made of pine. An oak face frame would adorn the front of the cases, and within each case we would build and install oak raised panel doors. And after all of the lower cases were installed a single piece would be attached over all of the cases. This would serve not only as a decorative top, but would also help secure the cases together.

The lower cases were relatively simple to construct. These cases consist of a right and left side, a top, center and bottom self. On the back of each case is a 1/4" thick piece of lauan plywood. After purchasing the pine at the local big DIY store, I cut it to length for the pieces mentioned above, dressed one edge on the jointer and ran all of the stock through my surface planer to ensure that the stock was all the same size. Once the pieces were properly dressed and sized, I took the right and left ends and sat them on my work surface, inside edges facing up and clamped them together and flat on the work surface. In this orientation, I could cut the rabbets for top, center and bottom shelf in both sides at once and not really have to worry about alignment issues if I cut each side individually. To cut the rabbets, I used a 3/4" straight bit installed in my plunge router .The depth of the plunge was set to exactly 3/8". To ensure the correct placement of the rabbets, I used an all in one clamp as guide. Even though the All in One clamp secures itself to the stock, I added additional clamps to make sure that they did not move when I ran the router against them. Because pine is a relatively softwood, I was able to cut the 3/8" rabbets in one pass. If it had been a hardwood like oak, then I would have cut each rabbet in a couple of passes.

Once the rabbets were cut, I took them along with the top and bottom selves to the table saw where I cut a 1/4" wide rabbet along the back edge. This rabbet was set back 1/4" from the back edge of the pieces. This rabbet is for the lauan plywood back. The center shelf was then also taken back to the table saw where its width was reduced by a 1/2". ( 1/4" Plywood plus the 1/4" offset). Once this was done, the carcasses were assembled using glue and sheetrock screws driven from the outside of the end pieces, and through the plywood into the center shelf. As each case was assembled, I kept checking to ensure that they were really true and square. I should note that the bottom shelf was installed so that the top of the shelf was 2 1/2" off the floor. The reason I did this was that I wanted the top of the shelf to be even with the top edge of the lower rail of the face frame.

When I was building the lower carcasses, I had cut the stock for all four sections, but I held off cutting the shelves for the last unit to their exact length until I had installed the first three cases. While I trust my measuring skills, I have learned to always give yourself a little wiggle room whenever possible. Thankfully, I had held off because the wall at the left end of the assembly was a little out of plumb, "gee what a shock", forcing the cases a 1/4" closer together. I had installed the first case on the left, followed by the one on its right. I skipped the next one and installed the one on the right end next. Then by measuring the distance of the gap, I was able to final cut the shelves of the final unit to length. When all four cases were installed, I secured them together and to the floor and the side walls. I also took the time to verify that the tops of cases were level and shims were used as needed to bring the cases level.

Hey, I just realized how long I have been talking. How about joining me later so we can build the upper cases. Check back soon for the next installment of this project.

The Jersey Woodworker has been a successful woodworker for over 30 years. To read more of his tips, tricks, projects and reviews please vist his blog at Sawdust on the Floor. He has also become very successful in the electrical and plumbing areas of home improvement and is the author of several ebooks containing articles on projects, information and instructions such as the one above. Some of these articles can be found in the How Do I category of Sawdustonthefloor.com.

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Shed Building Tips And Pointers

An outdoor shed is a great way to store your yard equipment and other items that may be taking up space. Although sheds are mainly built for the storage of items they can also serve many other purposes such as a play house, guest house, recreation room, a backyard office and more. With whichever plan that is chosen it's important to consider the most important aspects before any construction begins. Proper planning will be the key to the success of any project and with an outdoor shed this concept is no different.

It's a good choice to plan a trip to the courthouse or just pick up the phone and find out if any building permits or authorization will be required. Often in many states some type of permit is required and if it is not acquired there is a possibility that fines could be assessed and issued.

Another useful tip that will help to eliminate future problems is to do a good thorough survey of the area of land where you would like to build your shed. Search your personal records and find your property plans. The property plans or blueprints should indicate if there is any underground piping or other obstacles that could cause difficulties. Building above water lines or any other piping could cause major problems such as flooding, and sewage surfacing above ground.

It's also extremely important to construct a solid and sound foundation for your project. There are a number of different choices for a foundation that are all very effective at providing stability as well as support and they are all fairly easy to build. A common cement slab foundation will provide the very good stability and the most solid base possible. Although this option may provide the most solid base other options will be very effective as well.

Certain foundation types such as cement block, gravel and wooden post foundations are all very strong and effective choices that will provide your shed with the needed stability. Always remember to ensure that your foundation is level as well. If not your shed could have major structure problems and these problems could eventually lead to more problems such as decay and unusual warping of certain woods.

While gathering all of your materials it never hurts to bring your shed plans with you. Your design plans provide all of the information needed to gather all of the necessary materials and will make choosing the right materials simple. A good quality set of plans can be found at many locations such as your local hardware store, book store or on the internet. Internet shed building eBooks can be a very useful asset.

Some contain step by step guides and instructions that can be very helpful for the entire project. These shed building guides are usually inexpensive and contain everything needed plus more. If you are not experienced in the field of carpentry its highly recommended that a quality building guide be used. You can however use just a set of plans but issues will sometimes arise and you will be stumped. Building guides and instructions will make your shed building experience quick, easy and enjoyable so keep that in mind.

You can see more useful shed planning tips, info, money saving tricks, shed building secrets and more by visiting the shed plans empire.

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A Thorough Look at Husqvarna Chainsaws

Whether it is time for you to take care of your yard and saw down some old tree branches, or perform other hardware duties, you need a good working, powerful chainsaw that will get the job done! That is why you should look no further than Husqvarna chainsaws. When you check out the online reviews of Husqvarna chainsaws, you will find that tons customers are happy with their quality because they work really well. These responses matter because they will help you choose which Husqvarna chainsaw is best for you to purchase.

Something else that you need to do rather than reading online reviews is to determine which Husqvarna chainsaw is best by reading about all of the features that the chainsaw includes. Features alone are an important aspect because most buyers are looking for particular features in a well made product.

Veiwing prices would be the next thing to do. After you have figured out that the Husqvarna is the right chainsaw for you to purchase, you need to look at prices. You can find used chainsaws and new ones. Be very leery ofnew chainsaws and make sure you can test it out before buying it. Between purchasing a preowned and brand new chainsaw, you will pay anywhere from $100-$1,800.00 for one. In the majority of cases you'll pay no more than $300 for an average Husqvarna. The most costly ones will have a sharper blade and be able to saw through the toughest materials. Unless you have very large objects to work on with a chainsaw then an average chainsaw costing no more than about $300 should work just fine for you.

If you want to see the most options at once then you should probably try shopping online on eBay because you will get various of results from many sellers. When purchasing on eBay, make sure that the seller has an overall positive feedback score. Too many negative feedbacks will reveal to you that they seller is not consist and most likely can't be trusted. While it is true that the price is important, the person or business that you are buying the chainsaw from needs to be someone that you will trust.

Now it is time to talk about some of the various Husqvarna chainsaw models that are available for you to purchase online.

Husqvarna 455 Rancher

This one has a centrifugal air system that removes any type of dirt or dust that might get caught to the inside of it. A clean filter means that the engine will last for a longer period of time. The X-torq engine reduces the amount of gas that the chainsaw uses so that you don't have to fill it up with fuel less.

Husqvarna 240E

This model is a 2-cycle gas powered chainsaw. People love this one because it is compact; 16 inches to be precise. It is light in weight which is a plus because you can saw through things easier with it. Since it is smaller it is ideal for different do-it-yourself jobs, like trimming the hedges or limbs off of trees.

Husqvarna 445

This one is a 2-stroke gas chainsaw. This one has an air filter inside of it as well which takes out all of the dirt particles. The start and stop switch is just a single switch that makes it easier to start. This one is also a fuel saver unlike other brands. It won't use as much fuel which saves money and keeps pollution out of the air.

There are other models of Husqvarna chainsaws available to purchase as well, but the three discussed above are the most purchased ones.

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Shed Planning Tips - Avoiding Costly Mistakes

There are a wide range of different options for storing your personal items available and some are more beneficial than others. One option for storing equipment and other personal items that is very beneficial and is also one of the most common choices among Americans is an outdoor shed. An outdoor shed can not only be built for storage but can also serve many other purposes. Such designs such an office shed, recreational room, children's playhouse and some other ideas can all be mended into a shed design.

With whichever shed type you may decide to choose it is extremely important to implement proper planning and to attain a quality design plan. There is a large number of different woodworking plans and designs available on the market to assist in a shed build. Some of these are of better quality than others and include guides and instructions with detailed illustrations and such. Investing in a shed building guide with plans included will make your shed project very simple and easy to construct and will help to avoid any major design problems.

A very effective way to avoid any costly mistakes during your project is to build upon a solid and well formulated foundation. The shed foundation should be firm and be built on dry solid ground. Building your foundation on wet ground or in an area where water runoff is common will cause corrosion problems from moisture damage later on and can be very costly to repair.

Another key aspect to keep in mind is to ensure the lumber used has been pre treated for insect and moisture damage. It's recommended to use a high quality wood preservative to have an added security factor in place. Although purchasing wood that has already been treated should eliminate the need to apply a wood preservative adding an additional coat will provide maximum protection against the elements.

Always remember that besides the foundation aspect of a shed the roof of your shed is equally important. Having a strong and stable roof that is leak proof will protect the inner and outer walls of your shed, prevent rain and debris from getting inside and also add more stability and strength to the entire frame. A shed roof can be easily built and there are many different shingled available to provide a unique look as well as provide adequate shielding against rain, snow, hail, sleet, lighting and other harmful elements.

It's a good rule of thumb to verify that before any building begins that all of your materials and then some have been gathered. Picking up extra materials such as extra screws, nails, braces and other essential materials prior to the building process will save valuable time and effort. It can also be very beneficial to create all of your ramps, stairs and accessories prior to constructing your frame so when it comes time to include the with your shed they can be easily installed and all the prep work will already be Done.

While in the process of planning your shed make a trip to your local courthouse. In most us states but not all a building permit is required before any type of project is authorized. If a building permit is required and is not attained various fines could possibly be issued and this can be very aggravating.

Would you like to see more useful shed building tips, shed planning tricks, info, secrets and more? Click This Link to visit the official Shed Plans Source website.

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How To Choose A Quality Shed Plan

Building an outdoor shed can be quite simple and stress free and can be done in a short period of time as well. The time it takes to fully construct and finish a shed can be mostly based on the materials, tools, and quality of your shed plan. Choosing a quality shed plan that outlines all of the major factors to build your shed is the most important aspect and possibly the most valuable too.

A good set of plans for your project shouldn't be shy of symbols, illustrations, detailed instructions, info notes and more. These simple items included in your plan will make all of the difference and pay off in the long run. With any shed design there are different features to think about. There is a wide selection of different designs for a shed ranging from gable style sheds to modern style sheds. Most shed types have different types of roofing structures with the gable or hip type roof being the most common. With whichever roof type you may choose determining the pitch of your roof is very important and is easy to calculate just by dividing the rise or elevation of the roof over the run or the length of the slope. You can always just purchase a cool roof pitch or angle finder tool too.

Virtually everything that will be considered for the construction of your shed can be figured out with a good shed plan. Mapping out the building site for example can be easily done with your design plans and factoring in certain objects or materials can be very simple with the right plans. To choose the best set of plans make sure to look closely and determine if the plans include everything needed. What I mean by this is that the plans include symbols, layouts, dimensions, guides, material lists, detailed illustrations and drawings. There are far too many poor crafted design drawings and construction plans out there so remember to take a hard look before you buy.

There are three different categories of a shed plan. Paid, free and do it yourself plans. Do it yourself plans is usually only done by professional carpenters that are aware of every detail that needs to be included. What's good about this option is that its customizable to your desires. Free shed plans are the least recommended because of the poor quality and lack of info. Plans that are paid for on the other hand have usually been well crafted and looked into so they are of greater quality and content and will provide much help. Some online sites offer plan packages or online products that include step by step guides and instructions for building your shed. These are great and are by far the best choice period.

With whatever shed you may have in mind any shed that you may decide on must have a set of plans to go with it. Trying to build a shed without any plans or designs can be a disaster and should be avoided at all costs. So when it comes time to build that new shed, do yourself the biggest favor and get a great shed plan to guide you through the process. It will be well worth it.

To see more useful info on shed project plans as well as see valuable shed building tips, info and more visit: This Leading Shed Plan Site

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Important Guidelines For Planning and Building A Storage Shed

Putting together a storage shed that lasts and is worth the effort requires the right tools, planning and materials. Planning your shed and having a good set of storage shed plans is perhaps the most important and most looked over aspect of shed building. Not surveying the building site for any obvious demographics and obstacles that might pose a problem is another common mistake among builders. The planning process for your shed build is the most important aspect of the entire project period and is extremely important.

It's a good idea when you take a look over the site where you would like to build to have a copy of your property layout handy. Doing this will make it much easier to determine if there are any underground elements such as piping, electrical work and septic tanks. The planning of your shed should also include talking with experienced carpenters if you are not experienced yourself and this can be easily done online. There are different forums and resources to help you with this and if you can't find a good recourse shed plans that include step by step guides are a great idea and will save you a lot of hard work and money in your pocket too. With the right planning and looking into certain aspects a great amount of money and headache can be saved on your shed project.

On the internet as well as at your local book store such as books a million you can find excellent shed building guides with plans included to make your experience an easy, quick and stress free one. Some of these products offer material lists for certain shed ideas as well as step by step guides and instructions which can be a huge help. I've used these shed plan packages many times to build some of my best storage sheds and didn't have any complaints. In fact using these great plans and guides that I got online I was able to build my shed in only two weeks. Every piece of info that I needed was provided by this shed plan package.

Moving on let's take a look at some important factors that will affect your shed life and quality. Moisture is a big factor with any wood structure and can be a big problem so let's get into it. Installing a well thought out ventilation system in your shed will prevent rotting and mold in the future and is easy as cake to do. It can be as simple as installing a couple vents in your design. Building on solid ground with a good foundation where there is no water runoff and a low water table will maximize your sheds life and also prevent moisture damage. A low water table just simply means that the soil is not completely saturated where it becomes too moist and mushy which can be bad for your storage shed.

The last thing I would like to touch on with the issue of moisture is applying a quality treatment to your lumber and not to mention choosing a wood that is decay resistant. There are a bunch of choices when it comes to lumber and it's the same for lumber that is resistant to rotting and decay. Some great choices are redwood, cedar, catalpa, chestnut, black cherry, black locust, red mulberry, gambrel oak, white oak and black walnut just to name a few. There are a couple good treatment options available for your wood and the one I would recommend is a borax treatment.

Storage sheds are very customizable and can feature such things as different rooms, balconies and overhangs. What the heck, if you have the money you can even install everything an everyday house has with electricity, plumbing and whatever else you can think of. With the right planning, materials and tools along with a quality storage shed plan any ideas you may have for a shed can be applied in no time and there is a good chance there will be a quality set of plans tailored to your likings. A cool thing about some shed plans is that they are customizable with certain features. A prime example would be a shed that has an oval or round door rather than the usual rectangular door.

Once again I must stress the fact that the most important thing to remember about building a storage shed is the plans. Even I have suffered with poor designs and planning. In my early days I built a shed using poor plans. I spent a lot more money than I had planned on and I ran into a ton of problems. For example in the middle of framing my shed I realized one of my walls was way too short and this as you can imagine was not too much fun.

As you can most likely tell shed plans will definitely be a must when it comes time to build your storage shed. As with any other project it is always important to remember safety and always wear protective gear if recommended. A friend of mine fell forty feet to a solid gravel driveway and broke both of his wrists because he didn't pay attention to safety so keep it in your head. Too close on this article remember that with the right planning, materials, tools and having a good set of storage shed plans your dream shed can be up in no time.

To learn more about planning a storage shed project as well as see useful shed building tips, info, expert shed secrets and more Click Here

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