Baby Height Ruler - Easy to Make Wood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryvUd4PDz34

Something that we had been planning on making once our son started standing was a baby height ruler.  It is simply a large 6 foot tall board which roughly looks like a ruler and every few months you mark the child's height.  Also you can mark the height on birthdays and Christmas and things like that.

I looked online and saw many different styles.  The one i liked and decided to make was one that had a natural stain finish.  So i started by going to Lowe's or Home Depot and find a nice board to start with.  Since this would be something we would have in his room for years, i wanted to get something nice.  I'm always surprised when i see how much a board cost.

The price of oak, cedar, and maple are crazy.  I'm not spending $30 for a board.  So i went over to the pine side of the isle.  I got a decent 6' pine board for $5.

When i got home i sanded all the sides, corners and edges and made sure it was cut to 6'.  Then it was time to layout the distances.  So using a pencil i marked every 2", making slightly longer lines every 6" and 12".

Then i used a wood burner to burn those pencil lines into the wood.  I don't use the wood burner a whole lot and it can be a little tricky.  If you go to quickly the temperature drops.  Too slowly and it burns really dark.

I found a number and letter pattern online and printed numbers 1-6 and the letters for my son's name.  Using an exacto knife i cut them out and then traced everything onto the board with a pencil.  I wanted the numbers and letters to be large but also fit nicely onto the board.

Close up view

Again i used the wood burner to trace and then fill in the letters/numbers.  This is really where you have to go at a slow pace to keep the burner temperature high.

After that i applied a cherry stain and then 2 coats of wax, with a slight polish after each coat.  I could have gone with polyurethane but i feel like the wax gives it a nicer look and feel.

We usually only check it now every few months.

Clothes Dryer - How To Fix A Broken Belt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD84U0I0_Ik

You open up the door to the clothes dryer and realize that your clothes are still wet.  That's where it starts.

I've had problems with my gas clothes dryer in the past.  Several years ago i had an issue where the flame would come on, then turn off after a few minutes.  The fix for that was to replace the $3 black solenoids.

Gas Dryer Won't Heat - Easy Repair 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N23wdTfq6Yo

Then a year later i had another issue where the flame didn't come on at all.  The fix for that was a blown fuse.  That part cost around $12.

The problem this time with the clothes dryer is something more common, a broken belt.  I realized it when i pressed the start button and instead of hearing the drum spinning, i just heard a whizzing noise from the motor.  A broken belt is easier to fix then you may think.  The hardest part is getting to it and taking everything apart.

It depends on what type of dryer you have, but you have to somehow get inside and take out the drum.  For my dryer i had to pop off the front by getting the plastic tabs off.

Then i removed the front door panel and lifted off the drum.

Sure enough the broken belt was laying on the bottom of dryer.

I went on to Amazon and ordered a new belt for $8.

Check behind the door to find the dryer model number.

NOW...before you put the new belt on and reassemble everything, there's a reason why the belt broke.  In the instructions it says to clean everything, oil the motor and wheels, and make sure everything spins freely.  It's a good thing i did this step, otherwise the new belt would have broken again.  The motor was fine, one wheel was ok, but the other wheel was so gummed up and could barely spin.

Closer View

The other wheel looked ok but i still oiled it.

It was causing a ton of friction with the drum and that's why the belt broke.  So i took the wheels off, cut off the hair and thread that was on the axle, oiled it up, and put the wheels back on.

To put the belt back on i found it easiest if you wrap the belt around the drum, install the drum, then focus on getting the belt through the tensioner and snap the tensioner into place.  Make sure you have the grooved side of the belt facing the grooves in the motor wheel.  It helps if you have 3 arms.  See the provided diagrams:

Dryer belt diagram 

Test to see that the drum spins then put the case back together.  Hopefully it's as good as new.

Wood Square - Easy to Build

Youtube Video - How To

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfsGpM_UZ4c

I have lots of tools in the workshop, but sometimes you don't know how much you need a tool until you use something new.  One case of that is a small 90 degree square.  Not a big framing square and not a metal speed square, but a small wood square to quickly check corners as you are working.

Speed Squares

Framing Square and Drywall 'T'

So i decided to make one out of wood.  This time instead of using a cheap piece of pine, I used a nice piece of oak that i had since building my TV stand.

Rough Cut

Ripped the 3/4" oak in half to for the part extends out and left it full width at the handle.  I figured that the best way of securing it to the handle would be to use the table saw to cut a groove in the top of the handle.  For that i needed to use the small table saw sled that i made earlier in the year.

I plan on doing a write-up of the sled later on.

Pieces Fit Together

I also used a wood block as a brace to hold the board vertically.  With it clamped in, i used the table saw to remove the bulk of the groove in the handle.  The remainder i removed with a wood rasp.

Next i glued the extension board to the handle with wood glue.  As it was setting up i checked the 90 degree angle several times, then rubbed sawdust into the glue to fill the gaps.  And clamped it all together so that it wouldn't move.

I sanded everything down with sand paper and rounded over the sharp edges and rounded over some of the corners.  I used the big homemade disc sander to flatten out the handle and made everything flush with each other.

I added cherry stain and then instead of polyurethane i decided to use wax.  After the wax dried i wiped it and added a second coat.

I wanted to make a simple tool that does 1 job and does that 1 job well.  It turned out to be a neat little project and a tool that i hope to have for a long time.

Tour of Shop - Basement Workshop Organization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tfufPbwBqc

For several years i had half of the basement as my workshop.

We spent a good part of last year refinishing the basement to make a play area for our son and nieces and nephews.  I didn't really take a lot of pictures while we were building it, but i plan to make a quick blog post talking about what we did and why we did it.

Since the area that used to be my workshop is now carpet and a couch, that meant that i now have the only 1/4 of the basement near the furnace and sump pump.  It used to be filled with paint cans, boxes, stacked chairs and stuff we didn't know what to do with.  At first it was a little like fitting 2 pounds of junk into a 1 pound bag.  I moved my work benches, table and shelves over there, but everything else like wood and tools just got piled up and there was nowhere to walk.  But slowly i was able to organize everything, and make places for things to be hung up and out of the way.  It's constantly a work in progress but here's what the shop looks like now.

Organized Chaos

I'll go over some key points that have given me room and helped me stay organized:

Hang From Ceiling

This is where i feel like i'm really saving space.  I have been able to hang extension cords, air hoses, paint cans, clamps, lights, and saw horses from the ceiling.  It's all within arms reach but still out of the way.

Air Hose

Extension Cord Reel

Clamps

Shelves

You need to have some shelves in a workshop to store all the stuff you don't know what to do with.  I like to use milk crates to sort of compartmentalize everything.  That way i can pull out the milk crate labeled "Electrical" and it has everything i need to do electrical in it.

Big Tools on Wheels

The table saw, big table, and compact miter saw stand are all on wheels.  This is essential because i am constantly moving things in order to make room.  The table saw and miter saw get tucked in next to the furnace so that they are as out of the way as possible until i need them.

Table Saw on Wheels

Close Up view of Saw Stands

Organizer Cart

This is something i built a few years ago and it has been perfect for organizing small parts.  Being able to quickly get nuts, bolts, and all sorts of things has saved me hours.

Tools on Pegboard
I'll write up a separate blog post for why i like to use pegboards.  I think it's the best way to go in terms of being able to quickly grab tools and to visually see what tool is the best for the job.

Other Pegboard

Storage Under the Workbench

Hanging Drivers from Bench

Attic Storage

I've found that for some pieces of wood like baseboard, crown molding, chair railing, etc.  It's a good idea to store that in the garage attic.