Luthiers — builders of guitars, violins, and such — are by definition very accurate woodworkers.  So who better to write a “how to” article on making your own finger plane?  Alan Dunwell, owner and operator of Dunwell Guitar which manufactures bespoke guitars and specializes in one-off double tops, wrote an interesting little article on building finger planes — tiny “micro planes” used for intricate detail work.  Look closely at the picture above; some aren’t much bigger than a quarter.

Making Finger Planes by Alan Dunwell [Dunwell Guitar]

This great “Miter Saw Stand Madness” video demonstrates a slew of miter saw stands and discusses the features and potential benefits of each.  In the video, Fine Homebuilding contributing editor Mike Guertin reviews four classes of stands: rail/sawhorse, tabletop, extending, and some unique products that are either hybrids of the other types or that stand in a class of their own.

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If you got a kick out of the steampunk-inspired “problem light” we posted a while back, you’ll enjoy this similar monitor mod.  After ditching the boring black plastic case, this guy discovered that the whole monitor was encased in stamped sheet steel.  A little metallic-gold Rustoleum plus some brown Krylon crystal color — and a lot of scavenged brass components from clocks and other stuff — yield what you see above.

Oh yeah, he made a kick-ass keyboard, too.  Check out his site for detailed instructions and pictures.

(Thanks, BT, for the tip!)

Steampunk Montor Mod [The Steampunk Workshop]

Update: Check out the comments on this post for TM reader Blind’s list of numerous other steampunk projects online.

TM reader BlindTreeFrog directed our attention to a site where the owner of the above-pictured Corvair — who knew he’d never have the cash to give his ride a real paint job — describes (in detail with photos) his $50 paint job applied via a technique borrowed from a net-renowned Moparts.com forum thread.

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I’ve never handled concrete before, except in the small amounts required to set a fence post, but I’d really like to pour a short walkway extension in my back yard.  A little Googling this morning turned up this how-to over on DoItYourself.com.  It looks pretty thorough, but I wondered if maybe any of you had found better information.

Am I wrong in thinking that planning is going to be one of the most difficult parts of this project?

(Thanks to rkimpeljr for this great CC-licensed photo.)

How To Pour Concrete [DoItYourself.com]

The “problem light” joke may sail right by those of you who aren’t Venture Brothers fans, but you could re-purpose this for almost any kind of stylish indicator you require.  In fact, we’re thinking about making one as an “on-air” light to keep the riff-raff out while we podcast.  Thankfully Patrick Kovacich posted a whole collection of photos on Flickr to show us the way.

Problem Light (Steampunk Edition) [Flickr] [via]

Skil’s recently posted a well-thought-out how-to article on creating a nice cedar grill cart by Skil resident project expert Ray Travers.  As avid “outdoor chefs” (read: we like to sit around the grill with a beer), we can attest to the usefulness of a grill cart like this one.  And as an added bonus, Ray shares quite a bit of information about Skil’s not-yet-releases X-Bench portable workstation.

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TM reader Andy sent us a link to this how-to over on Instructables that walks you through how to build a “ladder pony” — a trolly that runs up and down a ladder to transport goods.  Andy says he didn’t create the instruction set, but he has built and used a similar project and liked it.

How-To Build A Ladder Pony [Instructables]

There are hundreds of ways to build bookcases — from 1×12s stacked on cinder blocks to complex, hardwood masterpieces — but this design from Popular Mechanics strikes me as a good compromise.  It’s simple, and you can built it with inexpensive wood, a few hand tools, and a circular saw. 

If you — like me! — are addicted to books and need a place to store them more than you need a work of furniture art, this design is for you.  Best of all: these aren’t just plans.  The article includes step-by-step instructions complete with diagrams like the one you see above.

How To Build A Bookcase [Popular Mechanics]

Most of the cost of a professional brake job comes from labor, so if you’re willing to do the dirty work yourself you can save a ton of cash.  This how-to from eHow walks you through the whole process with pictures.

Before you jump into the task, though, give our recent “Doing Your Own Brakes” One Beer Podcast a listen as well!

(Thanks to [177] for this great CC-licensed photo.)

How To Replace Your Front Brakes [eHow]

Though I’ve never had the occasion to try it, many of my friends have saved a ton by laying their own tile.  Ray, my blacksmith friend who joined us in Tool Talk Podcast #3, for example, finished out most of an extension to his house in tile, all of which he installed himself.  If you’d like to give it a shot, check out this how-to from DoItYourself.com which leads you through the whole process with animations.

How To Lay Tile [DoItYourself.com]

If you’re planning on doing any of your own drywall work — or you’re just interested in how the process works — you’ll definitely want to check out this great how- to over on HowStuffWorks.com.  The article walks you through the whole deal from planning to installation and finishing with lots of great drawings and diagrams like the one above.

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JLC online posted a sweet article on flashing recessed windows so they don’t leak.  This may not seem like a big deal, but Gene Summy says it’s not as simple as it looks.  He writes:

For years now, recessed windows — which mimic the appearance of traditional Southwestern adobe architecture — have been popular in Western states like California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Now the trend is moving eastward.  Unfortunately, a recessed window – which is typically set anywhere from 2 to 12 inches into the framing –  is very difficult to flash properly.  I know because my company has been investigating and repairing leaky recessed window openings in Southern California ever since they started showing up on new construction projects 10 years ago.

Gene goes on in the article to run down the steps for properly preparing an opening with pre-formed corners and layered flashing to prevent leaks.  There are a bunch of great pictures as well and a diagram or two to help illustrate the technique.  It’s a good read for anyone considering recessed windows.

Flashing Recessed Windows [JLC Online]

My carpet is getting a bit old, and while searching for some information about installation — I’ve never done it before — I came across this post by Matt Weber over at Extreme How-To.  Unlike most articles which feature lots of pictures — but very few that actually show the work in progress – Matt’s post includes very descriptive drawings that give you the low-down on everything from installing the underlay to cutting carpet properly, forming quality seams, and using a carpet stretcher.

If you’ve been thinking about maybe saving a few bucks by installing your own next time, it’s worth a look.

Covering Your Ground: Carpet Installation [Extreme How-To]

Welding is a skill that’s incredibly useful and a lot of fun, too.  We’ve written quite a bit about it — including a few projects you might want to try — but today I ran across a great “getting started” guide from the people over at Custom Classic Trucks.  Like us, they’re enamoured with the MIG/wire process, which is way, way easier than stick welding.  So if you’ve tried stick welding and hated it, you might want to give wire welding a chance.  Try it — you’ll like it!

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Our friends over at This Old House compiled a great list of ten ways to re-use a worn out garden hose.  Our favorites: slitting a piece open to serve as a cover for the teeth on a handsaw and sliding short sections over wire bucket handles to make soft grips.  Check out the link below for the rest.

10 Uses For A Garden Hose [This Old House]

After reading some of our recent posts regarding grilling here in the ‘States, one awesome reader named Freddie took the time to write in and tell us a bit about how BBQ works in his home of South Africa.  They call it “Braai” (as in br-eye), and while the recipes differ a bit from what we’re used to, one thing is exactly the same: the comeraderie of burning some meat with friends.

We wrote back to ask a few questions, and Freddie sent us a set of recipes, descriptions, and even photos the be kindly agreed to allow us to share with you.  So here you go: Freddie’s personal “Guide To A Good Braai.”

(Pictured: “A pretty traditional braai with a porkrib, some “boerewors” (the sausage) and a “potjie” (the pot).”

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