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YOUR KEY TO COLLECTIBLES The Family HANDYMAN ASK HANDYMAN Section for September 1989

Sliding doors
Q. I want to install a sliding door in an interior wall. Can you give me some idea how this may be done?
L. D., Schwenksville, Pa.
A. You can get pre-framed pocket or sliding doors at your local lumber yard. The existing wall must be opened up to accommodate the width of the unit, and a double header installed above the door. It´s best to buy or at least measure the unit you want to install before framing the rough opening, to be sure of a fit. Then install the door plumb in the opening. If you´re fairly handy it´s not too tough a job. The major pitfall is in noting that the nailers, which run horizontally to the door frame, are only rough material. Don´t use nails in the wallboard so long that you penetrate completely through both the wallboard and the nailers, or you´ll ruin your door. The best bet for fastening wallboard to the nailers is to use stud adhesives and 7/8" long wallboard screws.

Dowel screws
Q. I have used dowel screws for various items that I´ve made in the past. All of a sudden I can´t locate any in hardware stores or lumberyards around here. Can you help?
R. F., Chicago, ILL.
A. Dowel screws are shown in a catalog that´s available for $1 from The Woodworkers Store, 21801 Industrial Blvd., Rogers, MN 55374

Wall removal
Q. I would like to remove a wall to make a large living room. I have been advised removal will cause the ceiling joists to buckle. Is this true?
J. M., Niagra Falls, N. Y.
A. Depends on whether the wall is a load-bearing wall (often referred to simply as a "bearing wall.") A bearing wall is one that supports weight from above - in this case, your roof. Walls that are not load bearing are curtain walls, serving only to separate one space from another. Curtain walls can be removed with no problem. A bearing wall must either be left in place´ to carry the load above, or supports can be substituted to take the place of the bearing wall.
In new single-story homes that have truss roofs only the exterior walls are load bearing and the interior walls can be moved. If your roof and ceilings are conventionally framed, wall "A" as shown in the illustration would be load bearing. You can still open up the room by replacing a portion of the wall with a beam or a large cased opening or archway. If you plan to do it yourself, check with your local building inspector on the size beam or proper framing needed to carry the load. If you´re not an advanced handyman, you´d be better off to hire a contractor to remove the wall and install new supports.

Sailboat plans
Q. I am interested in finding a plan for a sailboat about 16´ long. Can you suggest sources?
T. K., Macomb, Ill
A. Clark Craft, 16 Aqua Lane, Tonawanda, N. Y., 14150 offers a set of 3 catalogs for $2. These list plans and patterns as well as various boat kits they offer. Glen-L Marine Designs, 9152 Rosecrans, Bellflower, Calif. 98706 also has a catalog available for $2 showing the plans, patterns and kits they have. Both companies feature full-size patterns and various optional kits for many of their most popular designs. You can get ready made frames, hardware kits, sails, rigging, spars, etc. for the boat you want to build. You should realistically evaluate your capabilities before deciding how far to go on your own.

Quicksilver
Q. I wrote to the address you provided in your April issue for the mirror resilvering source. My letter came back marked "No longer in Business." What goes on here?
H. D., Beaverton, Mich.
A. The withdrawal of the Quicksilver Kit is understandable when you realize resilvering a mirror uses real silver. Gyrations the silver market went through in March played havoc with the base price. You can´t sell by mail order when your costs change from one day to the next. The "Return to Sender" order was issued April 7, after our issue was in circulation. For the same reasons, we know of no other source making a similar offer at this time. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused our readers.

Burn creosote
Q. I have some cedar posts that were creosote coated in places. Would it be o.k. to use these as firewood in my wood stove?
P. M., Kiel, Wisc.
A. This isn´t a good idea for two reasons: Burning creosoted wood would create a terrible smell, and it would add to the build-up of creosote in your chimney, increasing the danger of chimney fires.

Vinyl gutters
Q. Please tell me where I can find out who in this area carries the vinyl rain gutters you featured in your story in the April 1980 issue.
J. C., Johnstown, N. Y.
A. Address any inquiries you might have on the Raingo Gutter System to Mr. Tom Gallagher, Raingo Division, Geneva, Inc., 7034 East Court St., Davison, Mich. 48423.

Barn wood edges
Q. I use aged barn wood for some woodcraft projects. What can be done to give newly cut edges the same appearance as the weathered wood surfaces?
R. V., St. Paul Park, Minn.
A. You can try finding a wood stain that will match the weathered color, or at least blend with it. You also can use a wire brush to bring out the wood texture. Remember, though, that the edges will inevitably appear somewhat different, since you are cutting across the grain. They shouldn´t look exactly the same as the surface. For some projects, flat black paint is not an unattractive solution. Paint all the edges, aged and cut alike.

Coffin pattern
Q. Can you help me locate a pattern for a coffin?
C. B., Coldwater, Miss.
A. There are a few pages of informative description in The Foxfire Book 2 and in Book 4, published by Anchor Press Doubleday. The series is edited by Eliot Wiggington and should be available at your library. You might want to write St. Francis Burial and Counseling Society, Inc., 1768 Church St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 for their "How to Build Your Own Coffin" booklet priced at $2.50.

Music boxes
Q. I´d like to make a music box, but I don´t, know where to get a movement for it. Any ideas?
G. D., Newfoundland, Canada
A. One source of movements is The World of Music Boxes, 412 Main St., Avon. N.J., 07717. Their catalog is $1 and also shows the kits they offer.

Replacement parts
Q. I´m having trouble finding replacement seats and backs for our chrome dinette chairs. Can old ones be recovered?
B.S., Clarksville. Tenn´.
A. Many styles of dinette chairs are made with easily removable seats and backs. New coverings can be made from vinyl upholstery fabric. Disassemble carefully. Once you have the seat and back off, it is usually obvious just how the fabric is to be fitted. You´ll usually find that both the seat and back have a plywood base with padding on top, and the fabric is just stapled in place. You can also reproduce boxed and welted cushions once you´ve made a pattern from a disassembled sample.

Jigsaw puzzles
Q. I´d like to ask if you have any sources for jigsaw puzzle designs for adults, not the large saber-saw ones for children.
M. C., Linville, N. C.
A. Dover Publications. 180 Varic St., New York, N.Y. 19004 publishes a book of iron-on jigsaw patterns by Ed Sibbett. Jr. Please write them for price on this "Wooden Puzzle Toys" book. For more artistic inspiration we suggest "Accorsi Puzzles" by William Accorsi, published by Simon and Schuster. That book is available from Win. Accorsi at 71 Irving Place, New York, N.Y. 10003 at $9.95 plus $1.05 handling and postage.

Fake rocks
Q. Please tell me how to build imitation boulders, like those in parks and zoos.
F. K., Billings, Mont.
A. Commercially available lightweight arrangements are often made of vacuum-molded plastic sheet. You can duplicate a pile or real rocks using polyester resins and fiberglass fabric and boat-building techniques. If it´s just for looks, properly waterproofed papicr-ma"chc´ will work. A mold for cement or concrete rocks can sometimes be dug in hard-packed earth. Add colorant to the mix if you desire but use the cast stones as facing. Solid cement boulders would be too heavy and too expensive. For garden use, you may want to consider actual rock or lightweight lava formations. You can also build a suitable armature and create cement "rocks" on metal lath.

Shed roof leaks
Q. The roof leaks on my new metal utility shed. I´ ve tried caulking the seams but it still leaks. What did 1 do wrong?
V. B., Brooklyn, N. Y.
A. Did you check the assembly/installation diagrams to make sure you have the roof sections properly joined? Did you use caulk meant for outdoor use on metal´? Did you separate the roof pieces, lay the caulk bead and reassemble the parts (or did you just smear caulk over the topside crack and hope for the best?). Remove the present caulk before you redo it with something more suitable.

Iron-on veneer
Q. In a recent column you referred to the availability of real wood veneers that can be ironed on. Please provide the name and address of the company.
R. S., Allison, Iowa
A. That´s Morgan, Dept. FH, 1123 Bardstown Road, Louisville. Ky. 40204. Write for their illustrated catalog and information on this technique.

Floor grilles
Q. We are trying to locate some floor grilles. In the old days, these were used to allow heat from the first floor to go up to the second while safely covering the hole through which the heat passes. I could buy new metal ones, but prefer the old cast-iron designs. Do you know where I could find these?
U. K., Custer, S.D.
A. Cast iron floor registers such as you describe have been advertised by the Reggio Register Co., P. O. Box 511, Ayer, Mass., 01432

Water marks
Q. Can you suggest how water marks can be removed from leather?
H. N., Laguna Beach, Calif.
A. On leather that has been oiled, water spots should wipe off. On leather that may have been waxed (table tops, etc.) wipe off, apply more wax and buff. On unprotected leather, wash with soap using very little water. Wipe that all off with a clean, damp cloth. Let dry and polish, Use neat´s foot oil to protect the surface.

Glasses for close work
Q. My eyes are getting too poor for closeup work. For some jobs - like running a table saw - I can´t use a hand magnifying glass. What can you suggest?
J.F., Grand Rapids, Mich.
A. If you haven´t already done so, do have your eyes tested properly. You may need stronger glasses and you may have trouble getting your Doctor to understand that reading glasses that work at book-reading focal lengths do not necessarily help at the focal length required for your saw. There is a type of magnifier for close work that´s used by many craftsmen who want to have their hands free. This consists of a headband to which is pivot-mounted a plastic forepiece containing the lenses. Worn with or without glasses, this headband-supported unit can be flipped down to magnify or folded up out of the way.

Boat dock
Q. I am planning to build a boat dock on a lake where the water level doesn´t change much. I need to find ideas, plans, parts and materials for this job.
S. G., Centralia, ILL.
A. We suggest you contact the Waterfront Equipment and Hardware Store, 104 Annapolis St., Annapolis, Md. 21401. Their 160 page catalog is $5 (refundable). They´ve made waterfront equipment their only business and have simplified matters so design-by-mail is pretty simple. They carry a number of different dock-building systems. Their design service is free when you buy the products specified.

Painted bronze
Q. Thirty years ago I had a bronze figure lamp sprayed with white paint. This is now wearing off in spots. How can I safely remove all the paint to bring it back to its original finish?
M. B., Great Neck, N. Y.
A. First, be aware that you probably have two finishes on top of the bronze metal. The white paint will come off with almost any of the newer water-wash-off non-flammable paint and varnish removers. That will most likely leave the original lacquer finish on the bronze, which should be removed and replaced. To get lacquer off, you need a product meant for removing lacquer. Note that this type of remover requires even better ventilation and extremely careful precautions. We assume this is really a bronze figure and not steel with a metallic paint finish. If you have any doubts, test first.

Hexagon layout
Q. What´s the procedure for laying out a hexagon?
J. H., Pasadena, Texas
A. With a compass´ it´s simple. Set the radius to scribe a circle whose diameter is equal to the size hexagon you want, measuring across the opposite corners. With this same radius, step off six equal segments on that circle. Connecting the points of intersection will give you the hexagon.

Removing tile
Q. The vinyl tile in our kitchen (over wood) and utility room (over concrete) is curled and buckled. We want to replace it, but don´t know how to remove the cemented-down flooring.
P. H., Goodrich, Mich.
A. You can freeze and chip, or you can heat and lift. Either way you will have some scraping and clean-up work to finish the job. The easy way to handle the freezing method is a simple wood frame to contain and allow you to move the dry ice around. The best way to heat is with a heat lamp. You´re working to provide a sound, clean surface, so sand any dried adhesive remnants. Try not to gouge when you scrape and make sure you get up all the loose material before you lay new tile.

Paint chipping
Q. I had black wrought-iron kitchen chairs. I spray painted them yellow and now they are chipping. What do I have to do to get this right?
S. N., Hammond, Ind.
A. You neglected to say what you spray painted with. You should use a paint meant for metal. Another cause of paint failure is insufficient preparation of the surface. Paint won´t hold over rust or grease. You´ll have to remove all the loose yellow paint. Now, clean the surface well and select a suitable paint. Check your local retailer for paints like DeRusto or Rust-o-leum and follow the manufacturer´s directions.

Oak file cabinet
Q. Can you tell me where I can buy a legal-size oak file cabinet that is assembled and ready to be stained? I want it to match my office furniture.
R. C., Wellington, Ohio
A. We know of no manufacturer presently making oak cabinets. You might be able to find one through used office furniture sources near you. An alternative might be encasing a steel file in oak. On some styles of file, it is possible to remove the pulls and add a Wooden false front.

Fiberglass panels
Q. Where can I find information on how to install corrugated fiberglass panels?
P. M., Las Vegas, Nev.
A. The manufacturer of the panels you will use is the best source of information on installation procedures. Your supplier will have how-to brochures, or get the manufacturer´s address from the supplier and write them direct. Manufacturers often offer accessory items that make installation easier.

Building greenhouses
Q. Do you know where I can get information on constructing a greenhouse?
F. S., Willits, Calif.
A. Our March ´79 issue carried five basic plans. Also, The Family Handyman Special, "Outdoor Home Projects," contains an article called "Do-It-Yourselfer´s Guide To Greenhouses" that will help you evaluate the various possibilities. It also includes a how-to story that gives information on a greenhouse you can build of plywood and plastic film. Order it from The Family Handyman Library, P.O. Box 589, Young America, Minn. 55399. It´s $2.95 plus $1 postage and handling.

Shade hardware
Q. I am weaving my own wooden-slat shades. Can you direct me to a source for hardware?
K. W., Highland Falls, N. Y.
A. Look for replacement hardware for porch shades, bamboo or matchstick blinds. Some hardware stores carry sets of small pulleys or sheaves, cleats and line. Check drapery hardware counters in housewares departments too.

Octagonal cupola
Q. Would you kindly advise where I can secure plans for an octagon shaped cupola?
D. G., Franklin Lakes, N.J.
A. We ran a story in our 191st Edition on the installation of a kit-built cupola. With it were listed sources for cupola plans but none offer octagonal designs. You may want to write Stephenson Cupolas, Conneaut, Ohio 44030, for literature and the name of their nearest distributor, They make a six-sided cupola for do-it-yourself installation.

Pattern source
Q. I once bought jig saw patterns from a Hayes Pattern Co. but haven´t seen their advertisement lately and can´t remember the address. Can you help?
R. S., Stockton Springs, Maine
A. You can write Hayes Patterns at Dept. FH, 6 Willow St., Woburn, Mass. 01801 to get their catalog sheets plus a sample pattern for $ 1. Or you can make your selection from their advertisement (page 72, Oct. ´79 TFH) and get the catalog free.

Fireplace helper
Q. In the May/June 78 issue, a Leyden Hearth was mentioned. Please send me the address.
M. C., Philadelphia, PA.
A. Write Leyden Energy Conservation Corp., Brattleboro Road, Leyden, Mass. 01337. This unit fits in a fireplace opening no less than 22" high and 24" wide. Self contained, it´s said to offer wood stove efficiency without sacrificing the charm of an open fire.

Stay-Brite
Q. I would like to buy, some of the Stay-Brite silver solder mentioned in your December issue, but my letter to the Harris Co. of Kansas City, Kansas was returned. Please supply the whole address.
T. F., Naugatuck, Conn.
A. Sorry about that. The right address for Stay-Brite is J. W. Harris, Inc., 10930 Deerfield Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

Plaster stick
Q. Some time ago a putty-like stick was available that was excellent for patching hairline cracks in plaster. Our local hardware stores don´t stock it any more. Can you tell me the name of the manufacturer?
J. G., Penfield, N.Y.
A. This item is still being made. One manufacturer is Red Devil, 2400 Vauxhall Rd., Union, N.J. 07083. Old line paint stores might be more apt to stock the sticks than stores selling dry-wall materials.

Pages 8/40/85/86/87/88/89 SEPTEMBER 1989/THE FAMILY HANDYMAN