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Issue 303 – November 2021

On the Cover

Compact Cordless Miter Saws

Carpenter Ben Bogie puts eight ultraportable battery-powered compound miter saws to the test.

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Features

  • built-ins
    Maximize Space With Thoughtful Built-Ins

    A bed, a desk, a closet, and a laundry hamper transform an attic into a cozy, do-it-all space.

  • 10 Trim-Carpentry Essentials
    10 Essentials for Quality Trim Carpentry

    Remodeler Tyler Grace lays out a handful of tips, tricks, and principles that will help you become the best finish carpenter that you can be.

  • Gary Katz
    The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Gary Katz

    A master carpenter and pioneering educator teaches us that the best way to learn is to never stop being a student.

  • Custom, Shop-Built Radiator Covers

    A furniture maker pairs traditional looks with modern assembly details to make a beautiful, safe, and functional surround for a cast-iron hydronic radiator.

  • Drawer Slides for Every Budget
    Drawer Slides for Every Budget

    Undermount, soft-close slides are a cabinetmaker's dream, but lower-cost options can be reliable when installed with care.

  • One-Stop Woodshop
    One-Stop Woodshop for a Cohesive Look and Feel

    Sometimes it makes sense to have one company handle all the woodwork for a project, from fabrication to installation

Tips & Techniques

  • scribing a skirtboard
    Scribing a Skirtboard to an Existing Stair

    A how-to for when you have to put in a skirtboard the hard way.

  • stud finder
    Can't-Fail Stud Finder

    Make your own magnetic stud finder to find framing members while protecting the wall finish.

  • taper flat stock
    Taper Flat Stock

    Use a temporary wedge of scrap and a planer to carefully mill material for a wide, sloping surface.

  • Try the Metric System for Faster Measurements

    Whole numbers can be easier to manage than fractions, especially when math is involved.

  • air hose on hardwood floor
    Protect Your Wood Floors From Scratches

    Prevent damage by taping a flooring scrap to any hose fittings that might scrape across the finished floor.

Know the Code

  • codes for trim carpenters
    What the Code Says about Interior Trim and Cabinetry

    Though there are not many codes for trim carpenters to follow, some things require planning and attention in order to pass inspection.

Tools & Gear

  • Metabo HPT NT1850DF 18-ga. brad nailer
    Hardworking Brad Nailer

    The new Metabo HPT 18-ga. cordless nailer is smaller and lighter than the previous model, with all the must-have features.

  • Tajima Plumb-Rite 400 plumb bob
    Modern Take on an Ancient Tool

    With a self-retracting stringline, Tajima’s new-age plumb bob is a compact, reliable door-hanger's tool that will never run out of batteries.

  • Freud 8-in. Box Joint Cutter Set
    Create Precise, Fast Joinery With a Box Joint Cutter

    Freud's 8-in. Box Joint Cutter sets up faster than a dado-blade set and cuts precise groves and box joints in two sizes.

HOUSES by Design

  • Cottage Camouflage
    Camouflaged Elements Maximize Home Space

    A concealed kitchen appears from behind the common room's cabinets and countertops to outfit this fully functioning golf-course cottage.

  • From Ship to Shore
    Contemporary Interpretation of a Nautical Theme

    Unique built-ins and playful trim details carry out a contemporary interpretation of a nautical theme.

Building Matters

  • A man writing in pencil on a window sill
    What Is "Good Enough" Trim Carpentry?

    A veteran carpenter considers how to measure the quality of finish-carpentry work without a building inspector to pass judgement.

Keep Craft Alive

  • Garland Wood, Master Carpenter
    Garland Wood, Master Carpenter

    This master carpenter keeps 18th-century techniques and processes alive in the construction of colonial-era buildings.

Spec

  • polymerized tung oil
    Old-World Oil Finish for Interior Woodwork

    Protect floors, countertops, and other wood surfaces in your home while giving them a rich, natural look with Sutherland Welles Polymerized Tung Oil finish.

  • Image of a curved staircase, bay window, and curved walls
    Bendable Trim for Curved Walls and Doorways

    Choose from thousands of trim profiles in Carter Millwork‘s collection of flexible moldings.

  • adhesive glue
    Not Just Glue—Three Unique Adhesives

    From a faster cure to a better dispenser, products from Titebond, Loctite, and Gorilla provide innovative alternatives to your average adhesives.

Online Extras

  • Fine Homebuilding Issue #303 Online Highlights
    Fine Homebuilding Issue #303 Online Highlights

    Find online articles and videos on siding and exterior trim, building kitchen cabinets, and more.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Fitting Out-of-Level Prehung Doors
  • Working With Tongue-and-Groove Boards
  • Getting Casing Miters Tight
  • Keep Jambs From Rotting

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 330 - April/May
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop
  • Issue 326 - October 2024
    • Paint Behind Strike Plates
    • Conceal Cut Ends
    • Ladder Slip Solution

Fine Home Building

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