...according to an October, 2007 article in Popular Mechanics magazine include bleeding brakes (#22), navigate with a map and compass (#9), and rescue a boater who has capsized (#3). It's not shocking to me that I have done or know how to do only a few of these, mostly those that are computer-related like backing up data (#16). But I have watched This Old House, so I am familiar with the principals of framing a wall (#4):Hold the base and top plates together with their ends aligned, then measure 15 1/4 in. from the end farthest from the door opening. Draw a line across the edge of the plates and mark an X right of the line. From here, mark a series of lines—one for each stud—spaced 16 in. apart, with an X to the right of each. Mark the plates to indicate a door opening.
Separate the plates and nail studs to the right of each line. Use two common 16d nails driven through the plate at the top and bottom of each stud.
Single-frame door openings require four pieces of lumber. Measure your door; then make the opening 2 in. higher and wider. To remove the sill plate in the opening, use an eight-point crosscut saw to cut almost through. (Protect the floor with masking tape.) Knock out the piece with a hammer and clean it up with a chisel.
Of course, I've never actually done it. I don't own an eight-point crosscut saw, you see.
3 comments:
Sara and I actually took an Orienteering course a few years ago. The most surprising thing about it was the advice not to lay your compass on a concrete park picnic table. The rebar that reinforces such an item will throw the compass's readings off.
The surprising thing about this was that even after being told this, and having it demonstrated for us, it was incredibly tempting to do exactly that. For some reason, we want to lay our maps and compasses on tables instead of the ground in a frighteningly compulsive manner.
There should be a sniglet for "a false sense of competence engendered by watching do-it-yourself television programming." Not that I doubt your ability to frame a wall, of course.
@Ben: oh, the childless days...
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