Simple Solutions

Angle-Cutting Fence Posts

Fence posts should always be made of a weather-resistant wood, such as cedar, redwood or pressure-treated pine. Just as important, the post tops should be cut at an angle of at least 30 degrees to shed water. Otherwise, water soaks into the porous end grain, swelling and splitting the wood and making it susceptible to bowing, twisting and rot.

While it’s easy enough to cut the angle by eye, measuring it lets you angle all the post tops identically. The best way: Set a sliding bevel square to the preferred angle with a protractor, hold the square against the post and mark it. Then cut along the line with a handsaw; a reciprocating saw or chain saw is faster, though less accurate. Afterward, seal the angled cuts with two coats of clear wood preservative, stain or paint.

Paint Catcher

Though this solution first appeared almost 70 years ago in Modern Mechanics, it remains an excellent way to deal with the inevitable drips, runs and spatters that occur when you paint: Contain some of the mess by attaching a paper plate to the bottom of the paint can so dripping paint runs onto the plate, not the floor. Use a rigid banquet-style plate and adhere it to the can with hot-melt glue, contact cement or duct tape.

Trimmed to Fit

Wall paneling, whether it’s plywood sheet or wood plank, must sometimes be trimmed to butt against a stone wall or other irregular surface. Make the paneling match the irregularity by using a pencil compass to scribe the irregular edge onto the paneling.

Start by butting the plank or plywood sheet against the irregular surface. Check it for plumb with a level to be sure it’s perfectly vertical, then temporarily tack it in place.

Set the compass to the widest gap between the paneling and the wall, then hold it with its metal pivot point against the irregular surface and its pencil point on the paneling, at or near the panel’s edge. Slide the compass down so the pencil transfers the profile of the irregular edge onto the paneling.

Then cut the paneling along the wavy line using a sabre saw fitted with a narrow scrolling blade. If necessary, use a coarse half-round file to trim any high spots off the paneling so it fits tightly against the wall.

Cutting Fair and Square

Here’s a fast, foolproof way to make perfect 90-degree crosscuts with a circular saw. Mark the cut line on the board and position the saw with its blade on the line. Hold a framing square with the inside of its long, wide blade against the far edge of the board and its shorter, narrow tongue against the shoe plate on the saw.

Then squeeze the trigger and guide the saw along the framing square to produce a straight, square cut.

This technique makes crosscuts up to 14 inches. For crosscuts up to 22 1/2 inches, flip the square around and place its long blade against the saw shoe.

No-Mess Painting for Ceiling Fixtures

Need to paint the ceiling in a room with a hanging light? You don’t have to take down the fixture to protect it from messy paint spatters. Simply slip a large plastic trash bag over the light and seal it with a twist tie. Do the same to seal out dust and dirt during demolition and renovation projects. Just be sure to turn off the light while it’s sealed so heat from its bulbs won’t melt or ignite the plastic bag.

Slip-On Nailing Shield

Don’t let a misguided hammer ruin your work. Next time you’re nailing up a piece of decorative molding or thin trim, protect it with a homemade shield cut from a piece of perforated Pegboard.

Start the nail with a couple of light hammer taps. Slip one of the holes in the shield over the nailhead and tap in the nail as far as possible. Then remove the shield and finish with a nail set.

This technique also works for nailing down deck boards. Just be sure to bore a slightly bigger hole in the shield to fit over the larger nails.

--Larry LeMasters

QUICK TIP

Circular saw blades encrusted with resinous pitch and tar can be treated with household oven cleaner. First remove the blade from the saw. Then slip on rubber gloves and safety goggles and spray both sides of the blade with the oven cleaner.

Wrap the blade in aluminum foil and wait about two hours. Unwrap the blade and scrub it clean with steel wool. Then thoroughly rinse and dry the blade and protect it with a light coating of machine oil.

Reprinted from the pages of Today’s Homeowner

magazine. To receive more expert advice on improving

your home, call (800) 456-6369 or visit the Web site

at https://www.todayshomeowner.com.