If you’ve been bemoaning your back yard’s lack of entertainment accoutrements, why not build yourself a sweet deck? It’s not nearly as hard as decking companies would like you to think, though we won’t kid you — it’s not a one-afternoon project. And planning before you start will not only save you a lot of time — it’ll assure you complete the project.

If you think you might be up to the task, check out this interesting how-to and summary of new innovations from DoItYourself.com. It’ll get you pointed in the right direction and help answer some of your questions.

(Thanks, Rob Lee, for the great cc-licensed photo. And that’s a sweet deck!)

How To Build A Deck [DoItYourself.com]

Here’s another fun reason to get off your ass and head to the shop this weekend: make your very own Spartan armor with paper, resin, and fiberglass. Dr. Professor Jake Biggs posted a very thorough how-to over on Instructables, and claims you can duplicate his process to make an entire set of armor for around $150.

Sure, Halloween’s over. But you could always throw it in the closet for next year, right?

Using Paper, Resin, And Fiberglass To Be The Master Chief [Instructables]

Looking for a less practical (but more fun) weekend project? Makezine’s Bre Pettis put together a great video that shows you how to build your own T-shirt cannon for about $75. He also includes a PDF with plans and supply lists. You now have no excuses whatsoever to get in the way of shooting T-shirts.

T-Shirt Cannon — Weekend Projects PDFcast [Make]

If you’re like me, you’ve probably let the windows on your house get pretty nasty. Why not get out and make ‘em sparkle? I found a short list of the right equipment for the job — and how to use it — over at CleanersRegister.com. And if you’re too lazy to clean your own windows, you can always just plug your zip code into the header above the list linked below, and CleanersRegister will help you find someone to do it for you.

Either way — project done!

(Thanks, BobMacInnes, for the great cc-licensed photo.)

Window Cleaning [CleanersRegister.com]

If you’re planning on helping your son (or friend’s son, etc.) build a Pinewood Derby car for competition this year, you have two choices:

1. You can build yet another wedge-shaped car that’s as heavy as possible.
2. You can pick up this book, read it, and build a car that’ll not only go like hell, but’ll also look so sweet that everyone (whose asses your car smokes) will claim you cheated afterwards.

Guess which one I’d choose? Read on past the jump for a detailed review of this must-have book.

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I’d like to offer a special thanks to TM reader and photo pool member Rembreto who posted this picture of a beautiful cherry baby crib he built for his newborn son. Projects like this really define the term “labor of love,” and become instant heirlooms.

I hope seeing projects like this in the photo pool is as inspiring to you as it is to me and the rest of us here in the Toolmonger offices.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader and photo pool member JDWires is no stranger to Toolmonger — or to winning gloves. But we’re going to send him another pair because he took the time to post this great pic of his latest project: a nice wood table for a relative.

As you can see, it’s a nice, simple design. We partlcularly love the fact that he included a drawer — and we love the router work down the legs.

There are lots more pictures of this particular design in the pool, so don’t be shy — check it out if you’ve been thinking about trying something similar. We’re sure JDWires would be willing to give you a few tips as well.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader and photo pool member mysanitysrequiem posted this photo of a slick picnic set he made for his wife. It’s particularly nice because it converts into a small table for on-site dining. Also upping the cool factor: it’s made almost completely from recycled materials. The wood came from an old pallet and the hinges are made from an old belt. Only the nails are new.

Hopefully a free pair of work gloves will keep your hands nice and soft for picnicing!

Check out the photo pool for addition pictures of the set in different configurations as well as more information on its construction.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

Look around Sean’s wood shop and you’ll find dozens of items made from scrap wood. His motto: “Why buy s#!$ when you can make it from scrap?” Of course, Sean’s definition of “scrap” varies a bit from most people’s, which is why you’ll see him, for example, moving furniture on a solid-oak furniture dolly.

So how could we not send long-time TM reader and photo pool member jdwires a pair of gloves for posting this kick-ass wooden mallet he made from “scrap” maple he had “laying around the shop.” That’s just be wrong.

So thanks for the inspiration, and enjoy your (free) gloves.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

Having trouble getting those decking planks aligned right? You’re not alone. You could spend $50 to $150 on a specialized tool to jack ‘em into place, but don’t the immortal words of Jesse James — “Anything fits with a welder.” — apply to wood, too?

Hell, yes. When TM reader and photo pool member jef4130 hit this snag, he whiped out his welder and some spare parts to build the tool you see above — perfect for levering in planks without the arm pain. He says his total cost was around $16.

Check out the pool for another photo of the tool in use — and some great instructions on how to build your own.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

Remember those little stamped-wood you-assemble-it dinosaur kits you used to pick up at the museum and build in an afternoon? TM reader and photo pool member dbthetd does, too, and he’s found a new application for his CNC router.

After a little programming, he cranked out a much larger version from plywood, pictured above. Actually, he’s made two so far. Check out the pool for additional pictures. That’s the kind of “yard art” we’re down with.

Next question: how big can he go? Assuming that the horns are probably the largest piece, how big would the ’saur be if that was cut from a 4′ x 8′ sheet?

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader and photo pool member jameskingston totally scores a free pair of work gloves for sharing this project. Why? I spent about $150 on one of these not so long ago. The whole way home I kept thinking, “I should really just build one. I could build one way cooler than this one.”

And James did, of course. Good for you, and for your lucky cats.

We’ve still got some gloves left, and we’ll be keeping a watchful eye on the photo pool. So if you’re got a fun project (or some new tools) to share, why not post ‘em for all to see? It’s inspiring to see all the cool ideas.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader and photo pool member lungofish took on the project recently of building himself a drafting table, which includes the pictured hinged stand. We thought we’d send him a pair of gloves for two reasons:

First, we’re a fan of using metal in building things like this. In the spirit of “When you have only a hammer, everything looks like a nail,” most people want to build everything out of wood — or everything out of metal. Often, the easiest solution is a combination of both.

Second, we offer props to anyone who a) owns a welding helmet with a flame job and b) notes that he wants to replace the sticker-type with real flames. Awesome.

Check out the photo pool for additional pictures of his work, including the finished project.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

The stuff some people build is amazing. You’ve got to have a great imagination – like Mike Stamps from San Clemente, CA — and a sense of humor, too, to create something like this. He devised this contraption to help him with a daily task of which he’d tired: kicking ass.

The Spanish inquisitors — or at least Mel Brooks’ interpretation of them — would be proud. And he’s looking for victims volunteers to work for him and get paid to get their asses kicked. Really.

Ass-Kicking Machine from the Best of Craigslist [Craigslist]

We laughed for a long time when we saw TM reader and photo pool member Inmarr28’s latest project — the perfect protection against the possibility of mass zombification. What totally seals the deal in our opinion, though, is the way it’s mounted in a perfect Martha Stewart meets Shaun of the Dead style with wrought-iron decorations and candles. Check the photo pool for additional pictures, including some shots during construction.

Though it’ll pale to the enjoyment he’ll get seeing his project on the wall for years to come, we’ll send him a free set of gloves for sharing. We hear they totally prevent blisters when wielding an axe.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader and photo pool member fredboness posted this cool pic of his final design for a peanut-butter jar bird feeder. He plans on making a dozen or so as casual Christmas presents.

Not only is this a cool idea — I’m going to make one, since my old feeder finally got nasty and I had to throw it away — it’s something that you could easily do in a few minutes.

Thanks, fredboness, and hopefully the set of free gloves we send your way will inspire you to finish off the refurb of that birdhouse on the left you say you’ve been putting off.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

Not content with a Nighthawk that’d been left outside long enough to rot and peel, TM reader and photo pool member tncook took on the project of bringing it back to life. He writes: “I replaced everything but the seat. The thwart, grab handles, seat drops, hole plugs, and small inserts in the ends are walnut. The gunwales and seat are ash. All the wood is finished with thinned pure tung oil.”

Thanks for sharing — and inspiring us — and enjoy your set of free work gloves.

And if any of you other Toolmongers out there have a cool recent project — or just want to show us your shop or latest tool unboxing — add just sign up with Flickr and add your photos to the pool. We’ll keep an eye out and slip our favorites some free gloves every now and then — until we run out. (And right now, that’s a way off.)

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]