Answers to the most commonly googled questions.

I like to play a little game with this blog… I look at all of the google searches that bring people to this site, and then I guess whether or not they shouted obscenities at their monitor while they tried to figure out the answers from whatever post they were directed to.

And then I giggle a little.

But hey, honestly, I am 100% for the DIY community, and all of us helping each other out, so I’m going to give everyone straightforward answers to the most commonly googled search terms that are directed to this site.

Q1.) Crown Molding

Variations are usually “crown molding angles” or “hanging crown molding” or “crown molding on crooked walls” (a personal favorite) or “coping crown molding”

Here is what I have to say about crown molding. If you are doing more than one room in your house, it is well worth the money to get a miter saw,instead of just using one of those little plastic saw guides. I don’t even know how those things work because I took one look at one, said “no fucking way”and now have an ongoing love affair with my $100 Ryobi, which I use at least twice a week for various projects around the house.

Here is the short answer to what angles you use to cut the molding: Put the top of the molding against the fence (back guard) of the saw and the “tray” of the saw should be set at 31.62 (to the right or the left), and the angle of the blade should be set at 33.9. For more detailed information, I have use this page over a DeWalt’s site dozens of times:

Angles for Cutting Crown Molding 

The only other thing I will say is that if your walls are crooked, your best bet will always be to cope the joints. This is how I do it, using a dremmel and a rotozip bit, but it takes practice using that particular tool. Here is a Readers Digest (of all things) article, that explains how one would do it with a saw. I think they’re making it sound easier than it is.

Q2: Building a Pergola

Whoa boy, do I know all about that. If you’re just looking for a picture to get some ideas, this is what mine looks like.

If you feel like reading through all of the trials and tribulations a 5’3″ girl would go through when building one of these with only the help of her 5’3″ mother… by all means, feel free.

You can also just take a look at the flickr photoset and get a general idea of what went on.

Q4: Spinach Quiche & Steak

Not a joke, I definitely get what seems to be a disproportionally high number of hits from people who are looking for food… It’s only disproportionate because I always love using power tools, but I only sometimes love to cook. But whatever. You can see all the recipes I’m sharing with the world, here.

Q5: “Can a girl hang drywall?”

I have only got that particular question once, but I really want to answer that one for the world by saying this:

YES, YOU DAMN WELL CAN.

I am so sick, not just of men who believe we’re going to lose a digit every time we use a cordless drill, much less actually use tools to build something, but of all of the women who don’t believe they are capable of doing these things. It’s one thing if you don’t want to do it… that’s fine, hire someone. I don’t want to clean, that’s why I have a cleaning service. But don’t let fear (or worse, some antiquated social norm) keep you from believing that you can do absolutely any project that you put your mind to.

This is why google was invented… you can find step-by-step instructions to any project your little heart desires. And if you can’t, email me, if I have to personally walk you through every step of what you are trying to do so that you accomplish your goal, I will.

Granted, most of us aren’t as physically strong as a guy that has 100 lbs on us, but it just means we have to be smarter about the way we work, instead of just using brute force… this book is actually a good resource for that kind of thing:

 Working Alone: Tips & Techniques for Solo Building 

Now, if you’re going to drywall a whole room, and not just patch something or do a small area (as I’ve been known to do on my own), I recommend getting a friend. One of your girlfriends even… just tell her to skip the gym that day, because you have a much better workout in mind (as anyone who has hung drywall knows).

Here, here’s some information to get you started, now go forth and conquer darlings!