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!
8 Responses
That IS one bad ass pergola!
I love your blog, and thanks to this post I love knowing that I’ve got an inch on you. But, I’m old so it doesn’t count for much anyway. ;o) Rock on, girl!
“Can a girl hang drywall?” Send her over to my place- I am terrible at hanging drywall
I am not sure I totally agree with you, but it is well stated. Keep up the good work.
Hi,
I’m writing a story for an Australian newspaper (The Sunday Telegraph) about girls and DIY and would like to mention you and your site. I would like to know a little more about you (name, age, occupation), how you started in DIY and what the greatest pleasure and achievments have been. I haven’t read all your posts, so if there are any that are relevant, please let me know which, or email me. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Barbara Sweeney, writer
Oh My Gosh – THANK-YOU! all i wanted to find was a website or something that might help me prepare to do some DIY jobs in my house, and i’ve had to trail through some very sexist material to find it. Clearly if i want to do some work on the house i know my way around a tool kit and am quite aware of the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver!! But i know my limits, i’m not going to be re-wiring the joint. So, thanks for setting up this site, i could have a rant and now i can have some help should i need it =)
of course like your website but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to tell the truth however I will surely come back again.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m making my way to the top as well. I certainly enjoy reading all that is posted on your blog.Keep the aarticles coming. I loved it!
So in response to Matt R’s comment…. I must be terribly illiterate. I haven’t been bothered by spelling errors. Let alone punctuation or grammatical errors….. But after I found your site last month, I decided to start from as far back on your posts and am loving it!!!! Great spirit…. Your spirit is the kind that made our country great!
-susan
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