October/November 2007

Articles	Page
A SWEEPING HANDRAIL FOR A CENTERPIECE STAIR by Tucker Windover A pitch-block jig and a deadman stand are two keys in transforming a jumble of parts into a continuous handrail	46
THRIFTY SOLUTIONS FOR AN OUTDATED KITCHEN by Sarah Shideler Challenged by a tight budget, a contracting couple finds five affordable ways to gain luxury, convenience, and space	54
A KNOCKDOWN ROUTER TABLE by Joe Lanza This interlocking design needs no fasteners and stores flat	58
WHERE DO YOU WANT THE BLOCKING? by Justin Fink Five tradesmen weigh in on where to put solid blocking for stair skirts, grab-bar anchors, and everything else the code leaves out	60
SMART HOUSE FOR A STEEP SITE by Peter Sandall Despite zoning restrictions, a simple floor plan and traditional materials unite in a design of understated elegance	66
BELT SANDERS GET BETTER by Michael Standish The newest models offer improvements in comfort, convenience, and control	70
A NEW ROOF OVER THE OLD ONE by Pete Bennett Cap a swaybacked roof with a layer of new rafters and foam	74
WIRING MISTAKES AND CODE VIOLATIONS by Joseph Fratello Some are illegal, some are dangerous, and some are both?but all are simple to avoid	76
HOME REMEDIES FOR ENERGY NOSEBLEEDS by Bruce Harley Correct construction mistakes, and cut energy bills by a third or more	81
A CONCRETE COUNTERTOP AND SINK IN A SINGLE POUR by Jeremy French and Matt Kabat Formed and finished with off-the-shelf materials, a vanity top takes shape upside down	86
Departments	Page
CONTRIBUTORS	8
LETTERS	10
CROSS SECTION Web sites we like, Book review: Sheetrock & Shellac, Good news in the Gulf#nbsp;	20
TIPS & TECHNIQUES Accurate sidewall-shingle fasteners, Acute-corner drywall bullnose, Baluster-drying rack, Installing fiber-cement siding solo, Water-based floor-finish applicator, Line-level storage where you need it, Makita tablesaw blade-adjustment upgrade, Another hand for glass cutters	28
TOOLS & MATERIALS Rust-resistant air compressor, Hard-to-miss roof shingles, Old woodworking files reappear, Bio-based wood sealer, More options for color-matched deck screws, Flush cuts with no bending necessary	36
FINISHING TOUCHES Window seats	92
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Eliminating water hammer, How can I get a home-energy audit?, Re-siding and insulating, Can a propane tank be buried?, Can compact fluorescents emit warm light?	96
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Premixed all-purpose joint compound, Green lightbulbs, Portable job-site heaters	104
BUILDING SKILLS Using a sheet-metal brake	110
DRAWING BOARD Designing a grilling station	116
MASTER CARPENTER A flat-seam copper roof for a bay window	124
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS	132
GREAT MOMENTS Second Language	134
BACK COVER Soapstone seascape

A Sweeping Handrail for a Centerpiece Stair, Thrifty Solutions for an Outdated Kitchen, A Knockdown Router Table, Where Do You Want the Blocking?, Smart House for a Steep Site, Belt Sanders Get Better, A New Roof Over the Old One, Wiring Mistakes and Code Violations, Home Remedies for Energy Nosebleeds, A Concrete Countertop and Sink in a Single Pour