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In This Issue:

1) I'm not ready for Thanksgiving... a message from the Natural Handyman

2) Sweepstakes Central... Win great home repair stuff!!

3) News from the Basement Annex!!

4) Q&A with our readers

5) Linkmaster's Corner

6) Featured in the Natural Handyman Bookshop...

"EASY-TO-DO HOLIDAY CRAFTS From Everyday Household Items" edited by Sharon Dunn Umnik


======This newsletter sponsored in part by HCOA=======

IF YOU LOVE BEING A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER"... or just want to learn to be a better home handyman, the "Handyman Club of America" can give you the home improvement expertise to be the best you can be! The club's magazine, HANDY, tackles both indoor and outdoor projects such as walkways, attic or basement renovations and even little jobs!

Try a free copy of HANDY with a trial membership... plus become eligible for a FREE 14-in-1 multi-tool. You take absolutely no risk since no credit card is needed!

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/hcoa

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I'm not ready for Thanksgiving... a message from the Natural Handyman

The divine state of being "Ready for Thanksgiving" may conjure up images of Mom racing around a grocery store with her progeny, filling the basket with family-style foods while little Hannah balances a huge turkey on her lap in the carriage seat. Or merrily searching for the festive holiday tablecloth and matching placemats in a distant corner of the attic... too tacky for everyday use but worth a thousand smiles on Turkey Day.

In our home, though, different and more disturbing images emerge from the holiday fog. For example, there are the recurring nightmares of a chimney that needs cleaning, lest it launch like a bloated bottle rocket to the stratosphere, taking half our den with it! Or the creeping sensation of being buried by millions of oak leaves, angered and suffocating after being buried under feet of snow because I never got that last batch off the lawn.

Then, there are the unfinished outside painting projects or the deck that should have been resealed this year. Or the inside projects that somehow spill to the outside, such as windows that will not close completely for lack of sills or a portable AC that needs removal, lest the heating fuel company take our house!

Oh, the bittersweet taste of time! No matter how much we do, there is always more to be done. Here in the Northeast, Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It's a marker more clear than the winter solstice... the true start of winter. It moves our minds to the inside, away from the sun and its warmth to the stove and its glow. We look less outside and more inside, anticipating the greens, reds and sparkles that make the coming Christmas season so special.

We are thankful. We're thankful for another day. We're thankful that, despite the impossibilities of life, we continue nonetheless. We're thankful for food, friends and family. We're thankful that, despite our own failings or handicaps, we can find a way to be useful and productive and, in our own small ways, help those whose failings and handicaps exceed our own.

And, of course, we're thankful that, at least for a while, we won't have to mow that darn lawn!

NH

======This newsletter sponsored in part by ROCKLER WOODWORKING====

GET NH's FAVORITE FREE CATALOG!! If you'd like a free catalog that will get your do-it-yourself juices flowing, the ROCKLER WOODWORKING CATALOG is for you!!

This unique catalog features loads of useful supplies, parts, tools, gizmos and gadgets... even hard-to-find specialty items that will save time and money on your next woodworking or carpentry project! Great gifts, too!!

To have a copy delivered BY MAIL to your home FREE with no obligation of any kind...
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/rocklercatalog

CAN'T WAIT FOR A CATALOG? No problemo... you can visit ROCKLER WOODWORKING online at:
http://www.rockler.com/index.cfm?sid=AF035

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2) SWEEPSTAKES CENTRAL

NEW CONTESTS...
One of our most popular contests is restarting this month. Win one of two $50.00 gift certificates from LAMPS-LIGHTING.COM!

CONTESTS CLOSED...
The CUSTOM-BUILT SPAS contest has closed. We will announce the full winner list in a future newsletter!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED...
The winner of a NATURAL HANDYMAN BASEBALL CAP for October was:
M. Wesley of Avon, IN.

The winners of a HANDYMAN BUSINESS instructional CD are:
T. Selig of Appleton, WI
C. Neuman of Villa Rica, GA
I. Jacobson of Tarrytown, NY
T. Stump of Niles, MI
M. Capitao Jr. of Haines City, FL

If you are looking to start your own handyman business, a great place to get start-up information is from "Handyman Business" via their reasonably priced instructional CD!
Visit their site for more information"
http://www.handyman-business.com

OTHER CURRENT CONTESTS...
(1) Win a $100.00 SHOPPING SPREE from BOLTDEPOT.COM (ends 6/1/06)
(2) Win a copy of the popular DVD from Fu-Tung Cheng, MAKE CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS! (ends 12/1/05)
(3) Win a fully-assembled 5'x2' REDWOOD GARDEN BRIDGE from Handcrafted Garden Bridges! (ends 3/1/06)
(4) Win a pair of HYDROSTOPPER washing machine flood protectors from FlowStop (ends 12/1/05)
(5) Win a copy of "Room for Improvement" by Barbara K! (ends 1/1/06)
(6) Win a NATURAL HANDYMAN LOGO BASEBALL CAP! (monthly)

TO ENTER OUR CONTESTS, follow this link:
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/contest 

==== LOOKING FOR A HANDYMAN? WE CAN HELP!! ===

Our growing NATURAL HANDYMAN NETWORK now has over 950 handymen, reaching thousands of cities and towns from sea to shining sea. Yes, even Hawaii and Alaska! Get your own devoted and skilled handyman ready, willing and able to help you with those pesky home repair chores! Does it get any better than that?

THE NATURAL HANDYMAN NETWORK has NO FEES and we don't ask for any personal information from you. Our only goal is to help you find the home repair assistance you need!
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/network

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3) News from THE BASEMENT ANNEX

WASTED SPACE IN YOUR HOME'S DESIGN
Homes invariably have "dead space", especially homes with small floorplans such as many log homes. Proper home design, forethought and a little creativity can make the best use of smaller spaces!
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infhomesale/infdeadspace.html
 
REPLACING PATIO DOOR ROLLERS
If it takes Herculean strength to close your sliding glass patio doors, it may be time to replace the rollers! You might need an extra pair of hands, but it's a do-able job for the crafty do-it-yourselfer!
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infdoor/infpatiodoorrollers.html 

PROTECT OUTDOOR TOOLS WITH WD-40
Though we've been through the "Is it a lubricant?" battle before, no one doubts WD-40's ability to protect metals from corrosion under difficult conditions. Here's a little ditty from WD-40 with some hints on protecting your outdoor stuff!
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infwd40lawngarden.html 

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4) Q&A WITH OUR READERS...

Dear NH,

I removed an L-shaped counter out of my kitchen because it took up a lot of room. The wall in which the old counter was connected also has a pocket door I want to keep. Now, I want to put a flat 4 1/2' counter on the wall (no cabinet underneath it).

Though I need 4 studs to support the countertop, there are only two available. The missing two would be where the pocket door is. How can I support the end where there are no studs?

WM from Middletown, CT

WM,

Ideally, having wall studs is the optimal support. But you can do with less in some situations.

First things first. You will need to support the front edge of the countertop, too. You can use either (1) vertical posts or (2)supports attached to the wall and beneath the countertop, angled upwards to near the outside edge of the countertop.

With that in mind, it may be wise to support the entire back edge of the countertop with a ledger board, a 1x2 board attached to the wall. In the area where you don't have studs, use 3/16" or 1/4" toggle bolts through the ledger board, spaced at least 6 inches apart and no more than 12" apart for maximum support. Toggle bolts are surprisingly strong and can easily hold the typical loads on a kitchen countertop. (If the bolt heads are visible, you can recess the holes slightly and fill the holes prior to painting.)

Be extra careful that there is enough clearance for the toggles and their bolts! You don't want the toggles rubbing on the doors and damaging the finish. If perchance the toggles are just too long, use molly bolts instead. Again, you will have to be careful with the length of the bolt but since mollies are stationary when installed, you can always remove the bolts and cut them a little shorter. If you don't use a thread-type bolt cutter, which preserves the threads, screw an appropriately-sized nut onto the bolt prior to cutting it. Removing the nut will help straighten out the threads, which are always somewhat damaged during cutting.

I would recommend using construction adhesive behind the 1x2 if you are using mollies, since they are not nearly as strong as toggles. The combination of glue and fastener will give you plenty of strength... just don't stand on it!

And though this may seem obvious, it's a mistake that gets made over and over again... be sure the door is closed and "out of the pocket" before doing any of this work!

Finally, if desired (or necessary), the countertop can be glued to the supporting board with construction adhesive.

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Dear NH,

I am going to place a 1/4" plywood top on my work bench and was wondering about coating it with some type of finish. I am not looking for "gloss" I want the product to protect the plywood from oil stains, water, dirt and so on.

I looked at the local hardware store and noticed Watco product's Danish Oil finish. Would this be a good choice? Your recommendations would be appreciated.

TM from Edmond, OK

TM,

I'm sure your reasoning is that gloss is meant for furniture or hardwood flooring. But from a practical standpoint, a gloss finish is much more durable since the gloss comes from a finish that is very smooth and non-porous... which is what makes it reflective or "glossy". (Plus, to this handyman, a glossy workbench is mondo chic!)

Oil finishes, in contrast, are not as durable nor are they resistant to as many chemicals as polyurethane. So I would suggest using gloss polyurethane, at least two coats, and sanding between coats. You will have a beautiful and functional work surface that will resist most common chemicals... with the obvious exceptions of furniture refinisher and paint remover.
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Dear NH,

We recently bought a house with a natural rock fireplace. The stones are dark and very sooty. How do we best clean them?

DL from Vista, CA

DL,

The first step would be to use a household detergent to remove as much dirt and dust from the stone as possible. Don't use anything with ammonia in it (because of the next step). When thoroughly dry, follow up with a phosphoric acid masonry cleaner, which should work to freshen up the stone and the grout. Cleaning off dirt and oils makes the acids job easier and more thorough.

Though the phosphoric acid in a masonry mix is not extremely strong or as dangerous as muriatic acid, a primarily exterior masonry cleaner, you should nevertheless be sure to have lots of ventilation, wear eye and skin protection and protect everything from the acid except the surfaces you wish to clean. Follow the instructions on the container and be sure to rinse thoroughly when done.

Here's a tip... use a spray bottle or garden sprayer to apply the acid. Much easier, more accurate and neater than trying to apply it with a sponge. The acid will not harm most plastic sprayers, but should be thoroughly rinsed out if you plan on reusing the sprayer.

Take care,

NH

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5) LINKMEISTER'S Corner

These are the latest additions to our "Links Library":

EXOTIC WOOD is a demonstration of one person's love for wood, with over 13000 unique pictures and descriptions of exotic woods, perhaps the largest such site on the web! The author has taken great care to accurately depict grains and colors. Frankly, it's hard to believe there are this many types of wood!!
http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics

FUTURE STEEL BUILDINGS offers great value with trussless design, meaning 100 percent usable space! All buildings are made from Galvalume Plus, one of the most rust-resistant steel products available. Whether you need an airplane hanger, covered skating rink, boat storage or a trade shop, they've got a design perfect for you.
 http://www.futuresteel.com

The EZRip DRYWALL CUTTING TOOL is a unique tool that can speed you thorough any drywall installation job. Designed for the do-it-yourselfers and pros alike, The EZRip is a combination ruler, guide and cutting blade, allowing you to use one tool in place of three! Especially valuable when making "rip" cuts of 8' or 12' panels, or any repetitive cut.
http://www.buyezrip.com

FIREPLACE SCREENS ETC. stocks over 150 fireplace screens, ornate fans, spark guards and safety screens... more than any store... plus a variety of other useful and unique fireplace accessories. If you can't find it here, it probably isn't made!
http://www.fireplacescreensetc.com

AAKER.COM can supply you with new, used and obsolete molded-case circuit breakers from all of the major manufacturers, i.e. circuit breakers by Cutler-Hammer, GE, General Electric, ITE, Siemens, Square D or Westinghouse. We specialize in circuit breakers for commercial, industrial and institutional applications.
http://www.aaker.com

ACOUSTICAL SOLUTIONS offers noise control and soundproofing products for home theaters, home recording studios and many other applications. The site offers extensive installation instructions of their products as well as many case studies of actual soundproofing projects.
http://www.acousticalsolutions.com

D.I.Y GARAGE REPAIR features a wide array of parts for sectional garage doors including torsion springs, ball bearing rollers, remotes, window kits and more! They also feature an eBook on torsion spring installation and adjustment... which is free with the purchase of new torsion springs or can be ordered separately.
http://www.diygaragerepair.com

Have a great link you’d like to share? Click HERE and let us know about it! 


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6) Featured in the NATURAL HANDYMAN BOOKSHOP...

"EASY-TO-DO HOLIDAY CRAFTS From Everyday Household Items" edited by Sharon Dunn Umnik

With a book like this, it's much easier to keep the kids both occupied and involved during the holidays. This book covers not only Thanksgiving and Christmas but also Valentine's Day, Easter and more!

If you're looking for a way to let your little one's brighten up your home, this may be the book for you!

See this and other fine home repair books in our BOOKSHOP at:
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/bookshop

HELP US HELP YOU!! Purchase your Amazon.com holiday presents and goodies through us! You will pay exactly the same price, but a small part of your purchase will come back to us to make our website bigger and better!!
Click below for more information...
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/amazon

"The Handyman Letter", formerly the "Natural Handyman Newsletter", is a publication of The Natural Handyman website.  This newsletter is sent to subscribers only by request.  Our mailing address is:   Natural Handyman; 16 Hilltop Drive; Canton, CT 06019

The Natural Handyman is a project of G. George Ventures, Inc.   Please visit the The Natural Handyman for information concerning terms of use, copyrights, liability, and other such information.

This newsletter and its contents are for informational purposes only. Because we cannot control the conditions under which our advice or suggestions are implemented and we cannot anticipate any unusual or unique circumstances of your situation, we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage that may occur because of their use.

Home repair can involve dangers from tools and situations that can cause severe bodily harm or death. Many chemicals used in home repair can be dangerous or deadly. Please use good judgment and caution in undertaking any home repair, read all product instructions and cautions, and do not attempt any repair or project that you are not mentally or physically capable of doing. Not even professionals are immune to injury!

All advertisements, sponsors, website links and their descriptions are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information offered at those sites. Each site is responsible for its own content, design, software and privacy policies.

To send comments or questions about this newsletter or our websites, click HERE. You may also mail positive comments, helpful suggestions, or donations to:
The Natural Handyman; 16 Hilltop Drive; Canton, CT 06019

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