Fwd: Knife Sharpening Myths, Tool Free Toilet Installation, Window Mirror, Replacing a Front Door

Here are some interesting How To Tips and Videos, from Ron Hazelton....

Don

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Thought for Today: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." ~ Chinese Proverb     11 Myths and Facts about Knife Sharpening You’ll Want to Know From my totally unscientific survey, I'd say that the great majority of kitchen knives in American kitchens are dreadfully dull.  Often these knives are good quality cutlery but sorely lacking in the cutting edge department.  When it comes to knowing how to sharpen this critically important kitchen tool misinformation, conflicting advice and even a bit of folklore abound.  LEARN MORE Replacing a Toilet with One that Requires No Installation Tools (Can it really be done?) There are many reasons to swap out a toilet:  wrong color, wrong shape, wrong size, damaged, inefficient, doesn't flush well – just to name a few.  And, while this may not be the most appealing do-it-yourself project to undertake, plumbing manufacturers are making it simpler and easier than ever before.  Enter American Standard with the "No Tools Required" toilet.  Skeptical?  Well, admittedly, I was -- until I tried it for myself.   Does the "no tools required" promise stand up ... LEARN MORE Framed Mirror Creates the Illusion of a Window and Flower Box I don't remember where I first came across this idea, but I do recall that it made quite an impression on me.  The room where this novel decorative piece hung was windowless, yet this mirror set into what appeared to be a window frame, complete with a flower box below, clearly gave the space a subtle illusion of more light and space.  The project is simple to make; the materials are inexpensive and readily available.  It's part basic woodworking, part crafting and a considerable amount of fun.  LEARN MORE Boost Curb Appeal with a Low Maintenance, Energy Efficient Front Door At times, it seemed like our front door had a life of its own.  In the summer, it would swell and expand to the point that I had to apply inordinate amounts of brute force to get it open.  Finally, I decided to replace it.   The experts I spoke with recommended I consider a steel door – yep, that's right -- steel.  As a guy who loves wood, my first reaction was – no way.  But as I looked further into it, I discovered some interesting things:  steel doors don't expand and contract with the seasons and weather, they require very little maintenance, are energy efficient and, most of all, actually look convincingly like their wood counterparts.  Installation?  It was quite straightforward, actually.  LEARN MORE