How to Drill Better, Cleaner Pocket Holes

Pocket hole joinery has a lot going for it. An affordable jig makes the process fool-proof, it comes together in less than a few minutes, and the joint itself is super strong.

The Kreg jig itself does most of the work, but a little knowhow makes the pocket hole clean and precise. This is especially important if the pocket hole will be visible, plugged, or filled.

Ready to make nice, sharp pocket holes? Let's go!    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'Dunkirk' Holds Off 'Emoji' and 'Atomic Blonde' for Second Weekend at #1

After the dust settled, it wasn't much of a fight. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk finished atop the weekend box office for the second week in a row with Sony's new animated feature, The Emoji Movie, settling for second place. The weekend's other new wide release was Focus Features' Atomic Blonde, which fell a little short of expectations. Universal's R-rated comedy Girls Trip, however, had a stellar second weekend, finishing in third place with over $20 million, delivering on the promise of i...

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How to Make the Ultimate Sanding Block

When it comes to sanding, the rules are simple. When you're dealing with curves and soft edges, you can use the contours of your hand to back up the sandpaper and naturally mimic the shape. But when it comes to flat surface: never sand without a… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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Can 'Dunkirk' Hold Off 'Emoji Movie' and 'Atomic Blonde' For Second Weekend at #1?

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Minimalist Baby Steps - The 30 Day Shop Purge Update - Midway

I've heard it said that minimalism isn't really about "getting rid of stuff", it's about refining it down to the "right stuff". I'm halfway through a 30 day purge and I have a few lessons learned, a few reflections, and a lot more space. … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to Make a Rustic Phone Charging Stand from a Slab of Hardwood

Sponsored by the DIYZ® app

I love the idea of combining modern technology with natural textures. I keep my tablet in a case made from an old linen-covered notebook, and my sleek and shiny DSLR in a worn brown leather bag. So, I wanted to make a simple place to house my smartphone, while warming it up a bit. I went with the most natural thing I could think of: a big slab of forest tree. 

I like this design for a DIY wooden smartphone charging station because it fits the charging cable nicely, but it isn't stuck in place, so you can remove and use it elsewhere without the stand.

Enough talk! Let's make one!      … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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9 Morning Routine Tips to Jumpstart Your Day and Improve Productivity

In order to be your best, you need to make the most out of your mornings. More than anything else, how you begin your day sets the template for how the rest of it will go. Here are nine things you can, and should, do every single day to be your… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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7 Things I'm Totally Obsessed with This Month (July 2017 Edition)

 

These are thoughts, the artwork, the news stories, the tools, the food, the conversations, and whatever else we just can't get out of our heads this month.     … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'Dunkirk' Delivers $50.5M Debut, 'Girls Trip' Opens with $30M and 'Valerian' Stumbles

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'Dunkirk' and 'Valerian' Bring Big Budgets to the Weekend, but Will They Bring Big Box Office?

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How to Make a DIY Vintage-Inspired Sawhorse Trestle Desk

When I came across this awesome vintage-inspired trestle desk this week, it struck all my favorite things: warm wood tones, a modern industrial vibe, and nothing extraneous, just a nice big surface and some shelves. It was "inspired by an antique French architect's table," and it's just all kinds of industrial cool. 

Except there's one problem...   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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6 Masculine-Friendly Ways to Incorporate Indoor Plants into Your Home

Indoor plants in your home are a no-brainer: they bring the outside in, improve air quality, provide lots of natural color and texture, and encourage you to take an investment in the spaces you spend your time. They literally (and figuratively)… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to: Make a $10 DIY One-Hour Upcycled Fire Pit

Yep, that's a lot of adjectives, and every single one of them gets me jazzed to make one: DIY  (check), upcycled (check), one hour (double check), and only ten dollars? Done!   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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Make This: A Simple Leather Covered Notebook

I don't remember when it happened, but one day I decided to write. I took a simple journal and filled it up with my thoughts, dreams and goals. A basic notepad was nice, but after a while something like that became so personal it was only natural to upgrade such a personal item.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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DIY Fail: Why You Should NOT Make Your Own Fire Starters from Coconut Oil

I guess the real problem with this project is that it actually worked.

I mean — I succeeded in what I set out to do. It was a solid idea, and it  and I created two DIY variations on an easy-lighting, long-burning fire and grill starter using… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'War for the Planet of the Apes' Plays More Like 'Rise' Than 'Dawn' with $56.5M Debut

Fox's War for the Planet of the Apes delivered a #1 finish this weekend, opening a bit higher than the studio's conservative expectations, though well below Mojo's aggressive, pre-weekend forecast. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Homecoming dipped more than 60% in its second weekend and The Big Sick delivered decent numbers in its expansion, though, once again below Mojo's forecast. In fact, the same goes for the modest expectations for Broad Green's Wish Upon, as the PG-13 horror fell short of $6 ...

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Should We All Be Putting Pickles in Our Beer? (Answer: Yes)

You know how an olive in your martini tastes awesome? Or the necessity of a pepperoncini in a Bloody Mary? Those salty, vinegary flavors seriously enhance the flavor of a beverage, somehow becoming more of themselves in the presence of ethanol. So, ready for the next step and inevitable conclusion this summer? Put a pickle in your beer. 

Yeah, seriously. Trust us on this one.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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Will 'War for the Planet of the Apes' Top 'Spider-Man' for #1 at the Weekend Box Office?

On the heels of a strong opening weekend for Spider-Man: Homecoming last weekend, and solid daily results thus far, Fox is delivering War for the Planet of the Apes into over 4,000 theaters this weekend, hoping to also stay clear of the summer franchise slump. Additionally, Broad Green will debut the PG-13 horror feature Wish Upon while Amazon and Lionsgate expand the release of The Big Sick into over 2,500 theaters in its fourth weekend of release. While Tim Burton's attempt to revive...

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Minimalist DIY: Taking on a 30-Day Workshop Purge

I hit my head hard a few days ago. It hurt. A lot. It was one of those moments when the pain made everything else just fade away for a moment then come flooding back. Leaning over a pile of things I've moved too many times to count, I slipped a bit and made solid contact with the equally solid cast iron top of my table saw. In that moment I uttered a familiar phrase "I need to get rid of this stuff" in a much more, uh, guttural vocabulary. I needed a change. I needed space.

And so, my 30 day minimalist shop challenge begins.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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Check This Out: Rotating Benchtop Tool Stand

Color us impressed. This fits almost as many small hand tools as a half sheet of pegboard, but in an organized, compact footprint.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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(Waiting...Waiting...)

We'll be taking today sloooooooooowly to show our support for the Net Neutrality awareness campaign. We'll be back at normal speed tomorrow. 

 

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ManMade Essential Toolbox: In Praise of the High-Quality Screwdriver Set

Let's be clear: none of us are here to discuss the basics of what a screwdriver is, or what it can do. Its purpose is clear. It's right there in the name.

Nor is it important to name all the different varieties of tasks it can perform. Because it can't do much.  If you use them properly, they're not a paint can opener. They're not a punch, or a chisel, or a pry bar. They do two things: tighten hardware, and loosen hardware. … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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DIY Project: Build a Simple Metal Tabletop [No Welding Required]

My grandparents used to have a mudroom at their farmhouse. It was where everything from the field was shed and washed, but it was also where the food was kept. Along one wall was a long zinc countertop dented and riddled with history, a piece of that old house that really made an impression on me.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to: Make the Perfect Homemade Jerky...No Dehydrator Required

A food dehydrator is on my list of kitchen appliances I should probably never buy myself. Like its brother, the deep fat fryer, I know I'd just get carried away, dehydratin' and frying stuff left and right.

 

But, that doesn't mean I don't wanna create my own tasty and … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to Make the World's Easiest (and Versatile) Clamp Rack

A functioning clamp rack. Every shop's gotta have one. "But, wait!" You say. "Isn't the easiest way to hold clamps just some 2x4s bolted to the walls, and maybe some holes and black pipe inserted to hang the clamps on?" Yeah, perhaps. But, while that works if you have a ton of space, it's not the most efficient way to store clamps in a small shop. And I think of that as more of a "clamp hanging spot" than a proper organization system. Plus, if you already know about that trick, you certainly don't need me to give you a how-to. 

Instead, I present this design: infinitely adaptable to any scale, and able to hold almost any type of clamp. You can build the whole thing with some scrap plywood, a jigsaw, and drill, and make one - no matter the size - in well under an hour.    … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Delivers $117M Opening Domestically, Over $250M Worldwide

Sony's Spider-Man: Homecoming fell just a bit shy of the $120 million mark it was looking like it would hit after Friday estimates, but nevertheless the webslinger still delivered a stellar opening, delivering the third largest opening weekend of the year so far. Additionally, Lionsgate and Amazon's The Big Sick delivered strong numbers in its moderate expansion ahead of next weekend's wide release. Playing in 4,348 theaters, Sony's Spider-Man: Homecoming finished #1 at the box office ...

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No Vise, No Workbench, No Problem: How to Hold Your Woodworking with a Simple Wooden Batten

I'm a lucky guy. My family has allowed me to dedicate half our basement into a dedicated shop space, complete with a custom woodworking bench and a growing collection of tools. It's bright, clean (at least right now), and I'm slowly turning it into a functional workspace that will allow me to be as productive as possible. 

But it took me a long time to get here. For nearly fifteen years, I worked out of dining rooms and back porches and portions of the garage, lugging my tools around in plastic totes and home center toolboxes, setting up shop on the washing machine, folding tables, and 1/2" plywood scraps screwed to 2x4s.

And, in the early days, it was that lack of a proper workbench that prevented me from thinking I could could use hand tools. Without a vise and hold downs, how could I safely secure my work for handplaning, chiseling, or sawing?The answer: a batten, which will take you 5 minutes to make and turns any flat surface into a work bench. Let's make one!   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to: DIY Wooden Bottle Openers From Scrap

I've had a small piece of scrap black walnut in the shop for a while. It was perfect to make a few simple bottle openers. Take a look.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Looks to Ensnare $100+ Million Opening

As some franchise films have struggled to match opening weekend expectations this summer, Sony makes ready with their latest attempt to bring Spider-Man to the big screen with Spider-Man: Homecoming. One major difference this time being the involvement of Marvel Studios as the web-slinger joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Will it pay off? And speaking of franchise films, just how will Despicable Me 3 perform in its second weekend after falling short of expectations over the July 4 holid...

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Stop Marring Your Wood: How to Make Leather Holdfast Pads for Woodworking

 

• 

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•  
•  
• I'm a huge fan of having a few rows of dog holes in my workbench top. And, more than anything else, I use them to secure a holdfast - an ancient and genius piece of design that secures your work to the work surface with a simple tap from a hammer or mallet. When your ready to release it, just hit the back and it's free. Seriously - it's ten times fast than clamping, and you can fasten your work anywhere across the bench top. Brilliant.To speed up the process even more, I wanted to come up with a permanent way to protect the wood from the force of the steel being banged into it. You can use a hardwood scrap between the holdfast and the workpiece, but I figured there's reason to spend twenty minutes once and protect my work forever. No digging around for scraps required. 

… Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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ManMade Recommended: You Need to Get Your Hands on these Sandflex Rust Erasers

Earlier this week, for the Fourth of July holiday, some friends and I decided to try our hands at roasting a whole pig. We were cooking for 60-80 people, and wanted to do something more special than hamburgers and hot dogs, and figured: well, if we're going to try it, now is as good of a time as any. 

We wanted to go with a Southern United States-style "pig picking," meaning lots of wood smoke, and cooking over low and slow temperatures. In order to get the whole animal ready to eat with such a gentle heat, we needed to start the night before. And that's where this story begins.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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How to Make a Parallel Jaw Clamp Rack

When I finished my basement workshop makeover earlier this year, I couldn't have been more excited, or proud, about how far it'd had come. What was once two dark, dingy rooms full of plumbing pipes, exposed studs, and our family's household junk, was now a bright, clean, inspiring single workspace full of tools and materials. But to get it to that condition was a ton of work, and the truth is, my house still hasn't totally recovered. Examples include, but not limited to, the plywood sheets stored in the guest bathroom, the dust collector in the hallway, and the piles of clamps in our home office.

Oh, those clamps. They've been all over the lower level of our house for nearly six months. I used them for projects, of course, but mostly, they just stood against the wall or inefficiently piled on the floor, falling down every so often, scraping the paint as they went and startling all of us in the process.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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This isn't the Only Way to Install a Screw Hook, but it IS the Best

Okay, friends. This is one of my all-time favorite DIY hacks. I learned it more than fifteen years ago from a book I got from the library, and committed it to memory. I only need it about once or twice a year, but it works every. single. time. I'm always super grateful to have it on hand, and so today, I'm sharing so you too can stop busting your hand and banging your knuckles every time you need to install a hook somewhere.   … Continue reading on ManMadeDIY.com

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'Despicable Me 3' #1; 'Baby Driver' Outperforms and 'Wonder Woman' Tops $700M Worldwide

Once again sequel fatigue appears to be having an impact as estimates have Despicable Me 3 coming in about $10 million shy of the opening weekend for Despicable Me 2 after a larger than anticipated dip on Saturday. That said, the film easily secured the weekend top spot in the domestic, international and worldwide marketplaces, leading the charge over the first three days of this long, five-day Fourth of July holiday weekend. Behind it, Sony's Baby Driver out-performed the studio's expecta...

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