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#690: Sharpening Chisels, Running Wires Behind Baseboard, and Fixing Shingle Panels

⏱️ 51:32 🎀 Patrick McCombe, Mike Guertin, Grant Baver, Cari Delahanty
AUDIO EPISODE
#690: Sharpening Chisels, Running Wires Behind Baseboard, and Fixing Shingle Panels
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Redwood: Sustainable Wood
    An advertisement for Humboldt Sawmill's redwood products, highlighting their sustainability and versatility in building applications.
  • 0:46
    Fine Homebuilding Summit
    An announcement for the upcoming Fine Homebuilding Summit, a two-day event for professionals in residential design and construction.
  • 3:49
    Grant's Adventures: Boats & Firefighting
    Grant shares stories about his 'villainous' boat and participating in Memorial Day parades with a ladder arch.
  • 18:09
    Mike's Roof Project
    Mike discusses his recently completed roofing project, offering insights on working with a cut-up roof and minimizing waste.
  • 28:54
    Patrick's Cabinet Build
    Patrick talks about his ongoing cabinet-making project, focusing on the design-in-place process and the challenges of creating custom doors.
  • 34:05
    Spark Event Reminder
    A reminder for the upcoming Spark event in Kent, Connecticut, encouraging listeners to participate or volunteer.
  • 37:24
    The Fireplace Debate
    The hosts revisit a listener question about fireplaces in new builds, sparked by an eloquent email arguing for their essential role.
  • 46:19
    Sharpening Hand Tools
    The hosts answer a listener's question on sharpening chisels and planes, sharing personal methods and tool recommendations.
  • 50:00
    Running Wires Behind Baseboards
    A listener asks about creating removable baseboards for easy access to wiring in an old house, prompting a discussion on practicalities and potential issues.
  • 1:09:13
    Fixing Cedar Shingle Panels
    The hosts discuss repairing damaged cedar shingle panels on a chimney chase, with Mike offering his expertise on panel construction and replacement.

Speakers

P
Patrick McCombe
Host β€” senior editor
M
Mike Guertin
Host β€” editorial advisor
G
Grant Baver
Host β€” associate editor
C
Cari Delahanty
Host β€” producer

Key Takeaways

✦

Consider a honing guide like the Veritas Mark 2 for consistent angles when sharpening chisels and planes, especially if you're not an expert.

✦

For affordable sharpening, use sandpaper on a flat surface like glass or cast iron; it's effective for fine-tuning edges.

✦

Always use different sets of chisels for carpentry (rough work) and woodworking (fine work) to preserve the sharpness of your good tools.

✦

When renovating, install conduits or pull strings in walls for future wiring upgrades, but ensure to cap both ends to prevent air leakage and condensation.

✦

If you have chases running through your house, seal them at every floor level to prevent fire spread and reduce energy loss.

✦

When replacing cedar shingle panels, match the wood species, thickness, and butt taper for a seamless repair.

✦

For thick exterior insulation behind cedar shingles, consider specialized nail-base insulation products or horizontal furring strips to provide a solid nailing surface.

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