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Your vote will help decide who wins this month. Next time, enter a project of your own.


Online Rating: (9/10)

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Vote online for one of these projects for the Critics’ Choice Award. The winner will be announced in the February/March 2009 issue. 

To have you project considered for future issues, send:
1. A photo of your project
2. A detailed description of your project

Address to: 
HandyWorks c/o Jenny Stanley
HANDY
P.O. Box 3410
Minnetonka, MN
55343-2110 or e-mail to: HandyWorks@HandymanClub.com

We regret we cannot acknowledge or return submissions.

Click on photos to enlarge

Staircase Stunning Staircase

When replacing the staircase in his foyer, Club member Robert Moore of Branchburg, New Jersey, started with research. “I spent several weeks learning how the various components are sized and fit together,” Robert says. He used maple for all of the visible wood parts and paint-grade plywood for the risers and skirts. He also used plywood beneath the carpet runner that covers most of the treads, and he added maple tread caps along the outer edges. To ensure that his family stayed safe during construction, Robert built a set of temporary railings and floor boots that he installed at the end of each work session so everyone could still access the upper level.
  

 

Chest Treasured Chest

Like many heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation, the materials for this cedar chest created by life member Jim Parrish of Duck River, Tennessee, have been passed down from project to project. The cedar used for the outer walls was once a tree that Jim cut down, planed and made into shelving. The inner shelf was recovered from a dilapidated cedar chest that had suffered water damage, and the oak used to frame the round top was rescued from a local cabinet shop’s scrap pile. The finished chest took roughly 20 hours to complete and cost about $10.
  

 

Mosaic Mosaic Driveway

Resourceful Club member Timothy Pierce of Wolcott, Connecticut, pieced together this one-of-a-kind driveway using found rocks, salvaged sidewalk and a little creativity. For the border, he employed copper-colored stones that are plentiful in his region. The concrete slabs in the center of the driveway were once part of a local city sidewalk; made before wire was used to reinforce the material, the 6- to 8-in.-thick blocks were easy to break and shape into a mosaic design. Timothy finished off the driveway by filling the joints with trap rock.
 

 

Shed A Shed for All Seasons

With a welcoming path, a cozy front porch and a charming lamppost nearby, this storage shed created by Club member Ray Stoker of Wanship, Utah, has curb appeal that could rival that of any well-manicured suburban home in America. Ray and his wife, Gladys, completed the entire project themselves, including the original design. They incorporated decorative windows, hand-painted shutters and electricity, which comes in handy for hanging Christmas lights and other holiday décor. Aside from being an aesthetic addition to their yard, the shed also serves as storage space for outdoor power equipment and various home-improvement materials.
  

 


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ARTICLE COMMENTS

rcroom

Location: fremont, NE
Member

Posted:9/12/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

What a beautiful and resourceful chest made from salvaged pieces that could have gone to "who knows what." The builder used his mind, body and spirit to create a very useful and long-lasting heirloom for someone. And for only $10!

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ax

Location: leesburg, NJ
Life Member

Posted:9/13/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

Outstanding, beautiful job on the staircase. Well done

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jameswdowlan

Location: oceanside, CA
Member

Posted:9/14/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

The Shed for All Seasons was a wonderful and outstanding project for a husband and wife to complete together. I wish more couples would do the same.

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1963chevy

Location: richmond, MI
Life Member

Posted:9/14/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I agree what a beauty, thats what i call a good way to keep it from the land fills, better to recycle the wood, I made a music box out of an old sewing machine case, well done Tom Benoit Sr

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doevalley

Location: brandenburg, KY
Life Member

Posted:9/16/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE A CABIN BY THE LAKE . IT IS BEATIFUL GREAT WORK.

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onehandymama

Location: brandon, FL
Member

Posted:9/17/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

All projects were excellent from salvaging to safety to team work to design. I only wish I could vote for all of them. I hope more members will post their projects.

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baweav

Location: hinesville, GA
Life Member

Posted:9/17/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

The shed for all seasons is beautiful. It remines me of the little Garden cabins in Germany where we would stay sometimes on the weekends to get away from the long military life during the week. Great Job.

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larry4919

Location: amboy, IL
Life Member

Posted:9/18/2008

Member Rating: (4/10)

Sorry but I believe there wwas more work and thought in the drive than the other projects it looks like most of them were built from kits.

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larry4919

Location: amboy, IL
Life Member

Posted:9/18/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

Sorry but I believe there was more work and thought in the drive than the other projects it looks like most of them were built from kits.

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sassy rob

Location: columbus, OH
Life Member

Posted:9/18/2008

Member Rating: (8/10)

The shed is a cool little house and looks like alot of fun for family and friends (poss neighbors). I will take it and run but in my back area. Good Job.

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ghunsaker

Location: honeyville, UT
Life Member

Posted:9/19/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

Very profesional looking . Ihave seen profesional cabinet makers jobs that dont look that good.

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checkmayte

Location: comanche, OK
Life Member

Posted:9/22/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

Beautiful staircase, very well done

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wulfsmom

Location: pearl, MS
Registered Guest

Posted:9/23/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

I am glad to see salvage and recycled materials in projects - especially the mosaic driveway. I am incorporating salvaged materials, such as concrete pieces, into my backyard pathways. Using broken stepping stones, pavers, and bricks, I add mosaic paths between my workshop, both gates, and the patio. I have planted fragrant herbs and flowers among the stones to add fragrance to each walk.

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jiross

Location: coeur d alene, ID
Life Member

Posted:9/24/2008

Member Rating: (3/10)

shed

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rleigh1250

Location: los angeles, CA
Member

Posted:9/26/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

The other projects may be more time comsuming and required more steps to complet but the final outcome shows total commitment to the whole project. All are excellant. Good luck to all.

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JulianLosey

Location: saint johns, MI
Member

Posted:9/29/2008

Member Rating: (3/10)

remarkable craftsmanship on the treasured chest, it looks fantastic.

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Tob

Location: elyria, OH
Life Member

Posted:9/30/2008

Member Rating: (8/10)

all projects were great,i just liked the stair case best

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frank amodio

Location: coconut creek, FL
Life Member

Posted:10/1/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

THAT STAIRCASE IS THE GREATEST!! IV'E SEEN STAIRCASES IN MY LIFE, BUT THIS ONE TOPS THEM ALL. GREAT JOB

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tom rossback

Location: newark valley, NY
Life Member

Posted:10/2/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

You call this a shed I call it a handymans work of art.

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SawDust527

Location: beaverton, MI
Life Member

Posted:10/6/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I have to say all projects look fantastic. Good job all. The storage shed takes the winning vote though! Where do your in-laws stay when they visit?:)

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david28016

Location: gastonia, NC
Life Member

Posted:10/9/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

What a beautiful chest!!! Great job and green to boot.

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chrispeelman

Location: madison, IN
Member

Posted:10/11/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

the shed was very nice also you don't see couples working on projects great shed

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hwarne

Location: loomis, NE
Life Member

Posted:10/13/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

A beatiful piece of work realy need close ups to judge

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beyejr

Location: redlands, CA
Registered Guest

Posted:10/13/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

all projects were great but the staircase was the best . ray beye life member ca.

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Glen Fann

Location: greeneville, TN
Life Member

Posted:10/13/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

The treasure chest can be past down to stay in the family for many many years. Where the others will be delapidated.

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eliterboss

Location: mission, TX
Member

Posted:10/13/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

This one took careful planing on the way this member got the material's for this job . A lot of salvage material that he used .

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eliterboss

Location: mission, TX
Member

Posted:10/13/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I second that Larry

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mariatcambre

Location: marrero, LA
Member

Posted:10/15/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

As a chlid I watched my Dad build many projects He brought a 2 room house from Lafitte, Louisiana. Then he started to add on biulding as he went a set of kitchen cabinets, laundry room, 2 more bed rooms a sewing rm, a patio using the older squares colored. I would stand in his shed next to his table saw and wear goggles to keep out sawdust. Gee I miss my Dad. If he were here he would have used a set of chisels and planers to do grooves and shapes on that chest which is my favorite. But all the other project deserve praise. The point of a project is to complete it and admire your work.

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davidpribnow

Location: fond du lac, WI
Life Member

Posted:10/25/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

The staircase look very nice, it must have taken forever to finish, but it's one of those things that you can look at forever and be proud of what you have done. graet job.

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walter jedyk

Location: thunder bay, ON
Member

Posted:10/27/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

no an easy project to cmplete.

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walter jedyk

Location: thunder bay, ON
Member

Posted:10/27/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

my correction:not an easy project to complete.i love the hard wod theme the white accent stepsides make it an elegant place setting.

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BPOLITTE

Location: hillsboro, MO
Member

Posted:10/28/2008

Member Rating: (8/10)

I think the staircase is the most challenging of the projects.It must have taken a lot of thought and patients to do this project. "Ghetto"

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tom rossback

Location: newark valley, NY
Life Member

Posted:10/28/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

TOMCAT GREAT JOB OF WORK,VERY GOOD LOOKING NICE WORK

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WRAUP

Location: spotsylvania, VA
Life Member

Posted:10/28/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

i liked all of the projects, however, the staircase was really fantastic.

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MDOUCET

Location: maxville, ON
Life Member

Posted:10/29/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

Great looking chest!! So cheap to build from old wood.

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GBustillo

Location: spring hill, FL
Life Member

Posted:11/3/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

It look well built and great job.

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ann_fields

Location: peoria, IL
Life Member

Posted:11/5/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I agree with you. It took alot of imagination and creativity to do the driveway. most of the other projects do come in kits, and not much creativity was put into them. good going on the drive way.

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GYALE

Location: milwaukee, WI
Life Member

Posted:11/8/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I thank the shed built by him and his wife was best it is so nice to see couples work together on projects

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sfoster

Location: linwood, NC
Member

Posted:11/19/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

I like the shed. I like the way it looks but more importantly I like the fact that a husband and wife built it together. It is fantastic to see a husband and wife working on something together as the biggest majority of the time she is doing one thing while he is doing something else totally different and somewhere else. This shed is what you should call quality time spent together and in a marriage that is the most important thing. Do one better get the kids involved as well you will be glad you did. Ah memories. After it is all said and done memories are all we really have. Take time to make really good ones.

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gentleben1950

Location: junction city, OH
Member

Posted:11/19/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

the stairs was a beautiful piece of it really caught my eye first, all of the projects were beautiful

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scrappydoo1258

Location: visalia, CA
Registered Guest

Posted:11/23/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

As many of you said it is hard to pick just one when they all have extrodinary craftsmanship in all of the projects and they are beautiful in their own way, the drive way is very artistic in the pattern and the time it took to lay it out and move stones here andthere to get it just right . The chest is ,how sould I say "Beautiful" excellent craftmanship in the details. The shed is a piece of work in itself as the coulpewere building something else their marriage , it takes working on also and building something like this makes it fun to do with your spouse. And last but not least by any measures the Stair case in all it glory is a beautiful peice of Craftmanship Excellence. I know building staircases are not easy to lay out much less to build in place, so cuudoos to you. As I said it is going to be hard, but I think the staircase takes it after all, they are not easy and he made it look easy ,GOOD JOB Eric T Life Member Visalia, Ca

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cabokalz

Location: carson city, NV
Life Member

Posted:11/23/2008

Member Rating: (5/10)

The stair case is awsome and hits close to home as I am researching and preparing to build a spiral stair in my arduous task of long term remodel.

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cabokalz

Location: carson city, NV
Life Member

Posted:11/23/2008

Member Rating: (9/10)

The stair case is awsome and hits close to home as I am researching and preparing to build a spiral stair in my arduous task of long term remodel.

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dbdove

Location: hueytown, AL
Member

Posted:11/24/2008

Member Rating: (10/10)

For the staircase I love how the builder was able to get the railing to match the flooring, the grandfather clock in the corner, as well as the kitchen table in chairs you see in the background. It ties it all in nicely. I voted for the treasure chest, I love the idea, plans, and most importantly the color of the wood. Fantastic craftmanship on all four projects!

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dougmik

Location: miami, MB
Life Member

Posted:1/29/2009

Member Rating: (9/10)

Hell of a nice job on the shed. Job well done.

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DANFREELAND

Location: brooklyn, NY
Life Member

Posted:3/7/2009

Member Rating: (10/10)

great job on staircase bob, wish i had the talent , danny psycodelic of bayridge

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justin yardley

Location: parsons, KS
Member

Posted:3/11/2009

Member Rating: (8/10)

I realy like the stair case it's teetiuos at times to build or design. this may have been a challenge for you good job.

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