If you are looking for a quick and powerful sander, then you are looking for a belt sander. This simple machine basically has two rollers that guide a sanding belt along as they sand wood. The sander also has a dust bag to collect the sawdust, a motor to pull the belt, and a switch to turn it on. In terms of power tools, the belt sander is very simplistic.

If you are in the market for a belt sander, then you will need to pay attention to the width and circumference of the belt. The largest belts will be four inches wide and have a two-foot circumference. The smallest belt sanders have only a one-inch wide belt.

Also pay attention to the weight of the belt sander. Some of them weigh fifteen to twenty pounds, meaning that they are fairly heavy for holding and cutting. In these cases, you can put your wood on a sawhorse and use the sander's weight to cut the wood. If you want to be able to hold the sander while you are cutting, then you will need to look for a lightweight variety.

It is important once you have your belt sander that you will need to clean it periodically. Cleaning the sander is simple and will do wonders to keep your power tool in good condition. You will need to purchase a crepe rubber cleaning block, which you will run across the sanding belt to clear up any residue that has built up.

It also is imperative to get a feel for how the sander works when you are planning to buy one. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you are out shopping. A good store will allow you to attach the dust bag to their displays and get a feel for how the belt sander feels to you. Some people like different types and curvatures of the handle, so you should watch for what you like.

Once you have your belt sander at home, try it out and think about the pollution. These sanders obviously give off a lot of sawdust, which is not good for your lungs. If your belt sander is particularly dusty or you will be performing a very big job, consider plugging your vacuum cleaner up to your belt sander instead of just the dust bag that came with it. The vacuum will get up more sawdust and will help keep your belt sander clean, adding to its life.

Be sure to read the instruction manual on your belt sander. Some sanders require the belts to be put in a certain way, or you can destroy them. If you are not paying attention or think you do not need the manual, then you are causing problems for yourself that could cost you in the end.

Become familiar with your belt sander before you use it. This power tool is so heavy-duty that you will need to have good control of it before you begin your work.


by Julia Mercer

The band saw is one of the most versatile power tools you can own. The best characteristics of the band saw are its efficiency, precision, and speed. Band saws have more versatility than many other common saws, such as the circular or table saws. Instead of being able to cut only in a straight line, the band saw can cut in circles and other shapes as well.

The band saw first received a patent in 1808. At that time, it had a wooden frame. Two iron wheels were mounted on top of each other, and they were powered by water. The two wheels turned to cut into wood.

While today's band saws are more complex, they work on the same principle. Many band saws are small enough to fit on a worktable. These band saws typically have a 9-inch blade that will make most of the cuts an amateur carpenter will need. Other industrial-size models must sit on the floor and have blades upwards of 37 inches.

You determine the size of the band saw based on the diameter of the wheel. That helps determine the width of the board that can pass through the saw. While some band saws have three wheels that can pass through a wider board, these saws are not as precise and working with them can be more difficult.

In addition to the width of board the band saw can cut, you should consider the depth with which the saw can cut. This dimension is called the cutting thickness; it determines how high you can raise the top wheel above the platform on which you place the object to be cut. As expected, the smaller bench-top saws cannot cut as deeply as the larger floor models.

A third factor in comparing band saws is the thickness of the blade. A thicker blade will not be able to cut as well, as tightly, as a thinner blade. If you will be making primarily straight cuts and are concerned about the speed, however, consider getting a thicker blade, as it will work better for these cuts. Thicker blades are sturdier, making them better for quick cuts.

If your main interest is speed, then you also should look at the number of teeth the saw has. While most people will think, as it seems, that more teeth means faster cutting, the opposite is true. More teeth will slow down the saw because that will mean that more of the blade has to go through the wood. Instead, you will need a thinly populated blade if you plan to cut quickly.

The biggest drawbacks to using a band saw are that they are not portable. Even the bench top varieties are pretty heavy, so you will not be able to move them about quickly or easily. In addition, band saws do not work if you have to make a "plunge cut," meaning that you will cut deep into the wood. Band saws are not made for this type of cut, which you may use in furniture making or other projects. Instead, you will need to purchase an additional saw for this type of project.
by Julia Mercer

If you're anything like me, then you've probably avoided purchasing power tools because of the price. I have always thought that power tools were too expensive and that I was doomed to completing all of my home improvement projects with old fashioned manual tools. But during a recent trip to one of the national hardware store chains in my area, I was surprised to discover just how wrong I was about the cost of power tools. In fact, there are many very affordable models of practically every type of power tool that you need for occasional use at home. This is good news for consumers.

I would never be able to undertake a really big home improvement project on my own, so there's no need for me to have a huge selection of brand-name power tools at my disposal. But one tool that nearly everyone could use in their homes is a screwdriver. Up until now, I thought that if I wanted a power screwdriver, I would have to spend more than $100 on it. That would be true if I went with a big name brand such as Makita, Milwaukee, or DeWalt. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to see cordless batter-powered screwdrivers for less than $20! I saw a Craftsman model for $19.99, a Skil model for $18.48, and a Black & Decker one for $17.88. I decided to go ahead and purchase one since they were much cheaper than I expected. I went with the Craftsman because I have always associated that name with durability. I have tried my new cordless screwdriver out a few times already and am completely satisfied with the results.

If you don't mind spending a bit more money, you should consider purchasing a cordless drill instead of just a screwdriver. The reason is that most drill sets come with screwdriver attachments included in the package. Then you could use your drill for a lot of different applications. In my home I would primarily want one for making holes in the wall so I can hang things up (framed pictures, paintings, etc.). Here again, if you wanted to go with a name brand like Bosch or whatever, be prepared to pay more than $100. If that kind of thing doesn't matter to you, then you can get a cordless drill for less than $40. I saw many drill kits from different makers at really great prices. There was a Coleman 12-volt variable speed drill that came in its own case, along with 13 different attachments for $33.99, which seemed to be the best deal at that particular store in terms of power and accessories.

I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there who frequently use power tools around their homes, and they probably wouldn't agree with purchasing cheap tools. However, I'm also sure that there are plenty of people like me, who just use tools once in a while and don't need anything really special. If you fall into this latter category, then go ahead and purchase cheap power tools. They are very convenient to have and will work well for many minor jobs around the home.

My husband and I are somewhat challenged when it comes to selecting paint colors, but, until a few months ago, the good news was that our favorite home improvement stores would accept paint returns if we didn't like the color. That no longer seems to be the case-- and can you blame them? Still, it was a rude awakening the day I purchased what I thought would be a neutral tan color, only to get it home and have it look like peanut butter spread on my walls. When I went to return it, it was a no go.

"Our policy has changed, " the woman at the paint counter told me. And sure enough, there was a blurb on top of the paint can that stated that custom colors could no longer be returned. Looking around the store, I saw that the "Oops" paint section was all but gone-- the "Oops" paint section being the place where returned colors would go and sell for 3 to 5 dollars per can.

"We can try to adjust the color or you, but we can't take the paint back" the woman told me. She sounded annoyed.

I remembered that I had some white paint at home, so I had a brainstorm: I would try to lighten the color myself. That way I could lighten it enough to get the shade that I was looking for. I told the paint attendant that I would take care of it myself and I left, somewhat dissatisfied and vowing to go to "that other home improvement store" next time.

So I got home and, using a throw-away bucket from the dollar store, dumped the peanut butter-colored paint into it. I then added about a quart of white paint, mixed it in and decided it was still too dark. So I added another quart or so, mixed it up, and was pleased with how light it had made it. Happy I had solved my problem, I went to paint a swatch on my kitchen wall only to find that the paint was thick and it wouldn't spread smoothly.

Wondering what was wrong, I called the home improvement store to ask why this would happen. I was immediately connected with my friend in the paint department, who didn't try to stifle her chuckle when I explained my story. Apparently, by mixing two kinds of paint together, it now had too much pigment and it had caused the paint to have a chalky consistency. So the paint was unusable. I was back to square one.

"Thanks for your help," I told the paint lady.

And then I headed off to "that other home improvement store". I marched right to the paint counter and ordered some paint-- a nice, safe neutral shade called Vanilla Brandy that I would just return if I didn't like it. The gentleman behind the counter handed me my can of paint and I thanked him. Then I glanced at the sign that was hanging on the front of the paint counter: "New policy, absolutely no paint returns for custom colors. No exceptions ".

I sometimes wonder if I single handedly caused these new policies.

These days, one of the growing trends among homeowners is to have a finished basement. If you're on the fence about whether or not you should have your basement finished, take these things into consideration:

Do you plan to stay in your home for a few years? If you're planning to finish your basement just so you can sell it in a year, don't do it. You will most likely never recoup the full value of what you paid to have the work done and you will endure weeks or months of disruption within your home while the project is being done.

Do you have small children? If your kid's toys are strewn all over your house, a finished playroom in the basement is a nice way to give them their "space". If you have a spouse who wants his or her own playroom (perhaps to house a bar or a pool table) then the basement is a great place for that as well. Many homeowners put their exercise equipment in their finished basement. Or, if your house does not have a separate room for a home office, basement offices are becoming more and more popular. The bottom line is, if you're running out of space in your main house, then a finished basement will provide you with hundreds more square feet of living space.

Can you afford to do it? Getting your basement finished will not be cheap. Depending on where you live, a finished basement could cost anywhere from twenty to forty dollars per square foot-- or more. The price varies greatly depending on the region that you live in. In addition, there are now basement finishing "systems" that can cost upwards of fifty dollars per square foot. As with anything, do your research before you plop down money on such an expensive project.

Getting the money. Most people don't have an extra fifteen to twenty thousand dollars lying around. The most sensible way to pay for your finished basement is to get a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. This loan will enable you to tap into your home's current equity while increasing the value of your house in the long run.

Hiring a contractor. Once you have the financial aspects taken care of, ask friends or family for referrals for contractors. Don't just hire a contractor blindly without doing any research at all. Interview two or three contractors and have them come out to your home to give you a written estimate. Ask for references and call them to see if the contractor met their expectations. Make sure that the contractor you hire gives you a written contract and that he or she carries insurance.

Finally, avoid the temptation to have your basement finished without getting the proper permits. Most contractors will handle the permits for you, but follow up to make sure. While there are many contractors who will do the work without a permit, remember that the permit is for your family's protection. You will, of course, want your township's borough inspector to inspect the contractor's to work to make sure everything is up to code.