BUZZ WORTHY Build a Set of Boxes That Your Backyard Bees Will Be Proud to Call Home >> LIAM MOGAN

Workshop

SATURDAY PROJECT BUZZ WORTHY Build a set of boxes that your backyard bees will be proud to call home >> LIAM MOGAN

Early Summer 2018 cottagelife.com 31 Workshop

SATURDAY PROJECT BEE THE CHANGE Cottagers know that bees are in trouble. According to the David Never use Suzuki Foundation, habitat loss is largely to blame. So why not give cedar for your bee box. It has our little pollinator friends a leg up with this simple bee box project? natural prop- Canada is home to hundreds of species of bees, including solitary erties which mason bees (native to North America), which pollinate up to three repel insects. times more than their honey-producing relatives. They love to nest in 6" dark, narrow tunnels, such as the bamboo tubes used in this design. Paint your bee boxes in bright, floral colours, and you’ve got a cozy home base for the local pollinators to nest in when they’re not sam- pling nearby flowers.—Paul Lewis 3!/2"

1 Start by tipping tape beneath each whole assembly #/4" the blade of your join. Apply a bead together with some table saw to 30° of wood glue along spring clamps. Once 30° from vertical. Then, the bottom of each the glue has set, using a short length V-groove where the add a couple of 1¼" of 1x4 as a guide, pieces join. Now it’s wood screws to 2!/2" adjust the fence so just a matter of roll- each connection. Mason bees use that the resulting ing the sides up to Use a stubby screw- clay to furnish cut bevels the edge form the hexagonal driver to drive the their nests. Dig up a bit of of the board with- shape. ‘Clamp’ the screws in the tight soil nearby to out reducing its final joint with some space. Attach the unearth some. width. The correct more painter’s tape. D-ring hangers to distance will be Repeat these steps the back. unique to your for each of the three 5 Cut enough 6" setup because sev- boxes, and let the lengths of bamboo eral factors affect glue set overnight. tubes to fill each this distance—the 4 Paint each bee box. Adhesive isn’t What you’ll need initial board width, box a different required here since the blade diameter, • 10' 1x4 pine colour (so the bees inserting the last • 15 60" bamboo and the blade thick- few tubes will can distinguish stakes (!/4–!/2" ness of your saw between homes) tighten everything will vary. Rip one diameter) using zero-VOC up, and friction will • Painter’s tape long edge of the paint (for bees, the hold the tubes in • Outdoor-rated board, then flip it less nasty the stuff place. Hang your wood glue around and rip the the better). Don’t boxes in a location • Outdoor-rated, opposite edge. paint the sides of sheltered from rain VOC-free paint 2 Once the edges of the boxes that will and close to eye • !/4" wood screws the 1x4 are bevelled, end up being level. A warm, • 2 zinc D-ring cut the board into joined—the glue south-facing spot hangers 6" lengths. will adhere better. is ideal for keeping Once the paint has bees comfy. 3 I use one of my favourite wood- dried, apply glue to working tricks to the mating surfaces, assemble the six and clamp the sides together to form each box. Posi- tion the six pieces outside face down, bevelled-edge to bevelled-edge, on a flat surface, and apply a length of

1½"-wide painter’s JACQUES PERRAULT

32 cottagelife.com Early Summer 2018 Workshop Workshop

KNOW-HOW REAL TOOLS Nut job CUTTERS VS. WHACKERS “Squirrels are basically little beavers,” says hockey stick works), then blocking the entry Ross Proudfoot, the owner of Cottage Coun- point. Other disincentives include store- try Pest Control in Victoria Harbour, Ont. bought repellents that contain oil of black “They have to chew—their teeth keep pepper and capsaicin, or a little prompting. growing.” Therein lies the most serious The human voices of talk radio are threaten- STUFF WE LIKE problem of a squirrel in a cottage attic or ing to a squirrel. So are many forms of bright overhang: aside from the aesthetic damage, light. Proudfoot likes to use a rotating disco For bait, squirrels can’t resist peanut BRUSH CUTTER 30cc to 45cc Spray squirrels will often gnaw on live electrical ball light. Or, soak rags in apple cider vine- butter with unsalted wires—potentially triggering a fire—or on gar or ammonia and put them in a plastic bag nuts or seeds scat- Useful for Weight Power Output for me plastic plumbing. The difference between poked with holes to let the aroma escape. Cutting short to Gas models High tered on top. In the same way too an intruder in the city and one at the lake? To a squirrel, it will smell like a predator. very long grass, 12–18 lbs Cutting System much sun can make Proudfoot says: “Often, nobody’s looking brush, and even If all that fails, live trapping and relocating Energy String head or rigid a face look like tree at the cottage. They’re in there a long time.” small saplings may be in order, Proudfoot says. A pro will Mixed gas; a few circular cutting bark, UV rays will Even if you don’t see the damage, you’ll (up to 1" dia.) cost $150 to $500 “depending on how co- hear them scurrying in the daytime, since models take blade turn a burgundy operative” the squirrel might be. You can, of squirrels are diurnal. unmixed gas boat cover into a course, buy your own live trap for about $50. hot state of pink in Prevention, of course, is the first defence. no time. Scotchgard Live trapping requires caution. Squirrels Limit access by keeping branches back from Water & Sun Shield, must be relocated quickly (they may die if buildings. Plug cavities with tight-fitting however, is like sun- kept in the trap too long) and within 1 km trim or metal mesh. But if a squirrel is screen for fabric of where you caught them. But when your already checked in, there’s no harm in trying tops. The protec- other option is to wait around for a cottage to coax it out an open door or window (a tant creates a UV- fire, you may be inclined to send your squir- resistant barrier relly tenants packing.—Derek McNaughton WEED WHACKER (A.K.A. STRING TRIMMER) 20cc to 28cc that also sloughs Useful for Weight Energy off water, prevent- Cutting short to Gas models Mixed gas, unmixed ing pooling that can SOLUTIONS medium grass; 10–15 lbs gas, cordless elec- drip into the boat some models offer Battery 18–60V tric, or 120V plug-in and lead to mould. attachments for 8!/2–12 lbs It costs $11 at hard- Get a grip Power Output edging, hedge trim- Corded 4–7 lbs ware stores. I use it Undoing old carpen- the fulcrum is across Low to medium ming, light debris FROM THE try with a claw ham- one claw instead of on my six-year-old ARCHIVES blowing, and soil mer gets frustrating the longer distance Cutting System boat cover every May ’03 cultivating String head only when the claws to the hammer’s year, and it looks strip the head right head. A shorter ful- like new. To apply, The sharp angle off a stubborn nail. crum increases your hang your cover bends the nail Remove it by leverage and makes Drop your guard for a minute, and the brush around your cabin over a plank, out of until you’re pull- re-gripping the nail extraction easier. starts creeping in—and around and over and through. Of course, the wind, and far ing on the shank right at the wood The shorter fulcrum in most cases, you want to live and let live. But some places—near from the lake; spray itself instead of and levering the also means that you your deck foundation, for example—you’re going to want to hack in slow, sweeping the head. hammer sideways, might pull the han- back. This is where brush cutters and weed whackers (also called motions from about with the shank of dle all the way over string cutters) come in. But which one is right for you? 6" away, but don’t the nail between and raise the nail by saturate as you A weed whacker with a 20cc to 28cc engine is ideal for trimming the claws. The only a centimetre or would sunscreen on the edges of the cottage yard, or even whole paths if your place D.M. claws are narrower so. No problem. Just your face.— only grows that sparse, wispy “cottage grass.” The latest pro-grade than they are long, re-grip lower on the battery-powered trimmers perform as well as small gas-powered so the distance to nail. Each pull bends units. Safety goggles required. the shank again, and the nail will be Brush cutters are like weed whackers on steroids. A 30cc to 45cc useless when you’re model is ideal if your property grows thick grass, if the grass gets done. But then so is longer than 8" before you trim it, or if you need to beat back woody a headless nail. brush and towering weeds gone to seed. Although heavier than

—Charles Long LIAM MOGAN, BRUSH CUTTER COURTESY MAKITA weed whackers, most brush cutters hang from a harness that puts the weight on your shoulders, not entirely on your arms. Extra power also means that a brush cutter can swing longer, heavier line, or even turn blades, allowing it to cover more ground in less time. Full face shield and ear protection are a must.—Steve Maxwell

34 cottagelife.com Early Summer 2018 Workshop

GREAT INVENTIONS Stairway

HIGH & DRY to heaven Lifting the staircase Getting into the water is “never a problem,” out of the water pro- says cottager Gary Yates. “I just jump in tects it from algae and ice damage, and with the kids.” also from zebra But getting out of Lac de la Vieille, near mussels. Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau, Que., was another matter, thanks to bum shoulders and knees that made it tough for Gary to shinny up the skinny, store-bought dock ladder. “In my younger days, I was really into sports,” says Gary, now 67. “Turns out it wasn’t easy on my joints.” So Gary invented his own joint-friendly way out of the lake: a swing-in dock staircase, fashioned from two ready-made stringers and finished with full-dimension 2x6 and 2x3 cedar steps and 2x4 posts. Once in the drink, the steps settle onto a wooden frame that extends beneath the dock to form a base for the bottom of the stringers. Finishing touches include no-slip treads made from asphalt rolled roofing and a handrail fashioned from a broomstick inside black polyethylene pipe. To keep the steps steady, Gary installed a 2x3 swing-arm on one THESE STAIRS of the uprights extending beneath the dock. ARE SWINGERS When the staircase is lowered, Gary pivots the swingarm until it butts onto the top of a lower step, locking the stairs in place.

To haul in the steps, Gary releases the swingarm, allows the stairs to float to the surface, and flips them up, while his wife, Linda, slides a 2x6 across the gap in the dock. Retracting the staircase reduces algal slime on the treads and saves it from ice damage during the winter. The staircase “facilitates the things we like to do at the cottage,” Gary says. “And it will The staircase help us keep doing them for as long as pos- pivots on galva- sible.” And it’s not just for “older and nized 6" hinges. maturing” cottagers. “Our three-year-old granddaughter can get in and out all by her-

self. Supervised, of course!”—Ray Ford PHOTO COURTESY GARY YATES JACQUES PERRAULT. ILLUSTRATION: An arm swings down to keep the stairs from floating up.

36 cottagelife.com Early Summer 2018 LIAM MOGAN Whip upthisweapon of fastconstruction, IN ACTION and wagesweet, MISSILE SATURDAY PROJECT sweet warall summer >>

Workshop Summer 2018 cottagelife.com 27 >> 28 LET’S DO LAUNCH SATURDAY PROJECT so use caution. so usecaution. cause nastyburns, gun. Hotgluecan 6 inside theposts. deep and½"tofit crossarm about!/8 each endofthe 5 1½" fromthetop. the verticalposts, 4 4" fromtheend. the ¾"face.Start cated—through the armwhereindi- 3 3½" long. crossarm shouldbe the diagram.The cut tolengthasin ping to½"x¾"and remainder byrip- crossarm fromthe the posts,arm,and to length.Make poplar, cutthebase 2 kids fordecoration. and handovertothe board supportwalls, 1 directly into Dad’s mouth. directly ling supremacy. Bonuspointsifyoucanlaunchamarshmallow off. Onceyourcatapultisconstructed,thenit’s timetoduelforsib- the partswhereyourfuturesiegeengineersmightcuttheirfingers the leadonthissimpleproject,butyou’llwantanadulttohandle nothing bringssiblingstogethermorethanbattle!Kidscantake structing ascaled-downversionisnotwithoutbenefits.Afterall, few centuries,butthatdoesn’tmeanspendinganafternooncon- The demandforawell-builtcatapulthasdiminishedoverthelast Cut outthecard- Fromthepieceof Drill ¼"holesin Carefully notch Carefully Nowfortheglue Drill¼"holesin cottagelife.com

" Summer 2018 the marshmallow. the trajectoryof how eachalters see three holesto around withthe nut. Kidscanplay lightly tightenthe and thearm, through theposts 7 • • • • the following: Generously glue

Insert thebolt the ½"face. from theholes,on arm, atthefarend The buckettothe the posts. The crossarmto glue ismalleable). this outwhilethe and thearm(test through theposts pass unobstructed that theboltwill aligned,so they’re walls, makingsure The poststothe base. The wallstothe —Brian Halbot

This meanswar! ply letgotolaunch. mallow inside.Sim- place onemarsh- your finger, and the bucketwith weapon, pulldown 9 band toeach. Stretch theelastic from thebucket. on theoppositeside the catapult’s arm, into thebottomof and theeyescrew on thebucketside hook intothebase 8 Screw thecup To loadyour

w will keep kidsbusy Decorate before hile an adultdoes hile assembly IT’S ADRAWIT’S the cutting. . This

2 " 1 ! 16 / 2 " " The crossarmis snug insidethe posts andgive extra support. notched tofit the catapult 8 "

GUTTER CREDIT

GUTTER CREDIT LIAM MOGAN 1 • Cardboardtube • Hotglue • 1thick5"elastic screw • 1mediumeye • 1 cardboard Heavy-duty• scrap wood • 2'1x4poplaror What you’llneed • 1 will work) paper toweltube oration markers) fordec rials (paint, • Assortedmate and nut ! / 2 ! 5 " dia.x / / 4 8 " x4"bolt " cuphook

# 16 /

4 " " (a Go bananas. Empty fruitcup? Get inventive! for thebucket. shape workswell Any opencylinder - - comes outlooking When youroil is ajobforthepros. changing bearings problems, and can indicatebearing burnt smell,that coffee-black, witha If youroilcomesout trouble ahead. that willwarnyouof are thetelltalesigns for theintel.Here both inOrillia,Ont., Lake CountryBoats, Meeks atCrate’s tions andMark Stern DriveConnec- at Steve Ricketts lower unit.Icalled the stateof critical infoabout Used oilcanreveal it’s tellingyou? attention towhat But areyoupaying of yourboatengine. oil inthelowerunit have tochangethe Once ayear, you Spoiler alert KNOW-HOW

— for inspection. fuzz) intotheshop a sample(ofoiland you’ll needtobring of apinhead,then thesize and they’re finger andthumb, ticles betweenyour you canrollthepar- trouble. However, if not anindicationof which aregenerally filings—“fuzz”— trap minisculemetal tized. Theplugwill ends aremagne- most newerlower The drainplugsin trip totheshop. spoon maymeana more thanatea- will oozeoutfirst— removed, anywater the drainplugis to thebottom;when heavier, willsettle water, whichis sitting awhile,the engine hasbeen lower unit.Ifthe water insidethe you likelyhave like amilkshake, Wayne Lennox

your bearings. problem with You’ve gota Burnt black your lowerunit. There’s waterin A bitmilky it wentin. looking alotlike should comeout healthy engine but oilina to beexpected, ation fromuseis Some discolor- Original colour Summer 2018

cal forprotecting the gearsinyour Clean oiliscriti lower unit. Workshop cottagelife.com - 29 Workshop

A tube in the J-hook’s base accepts most STUFF WE LIKE umbrella poles, squeezed tight by a capped bolt. Dock stars Three pieces of to stop rust, the smart dock hardware anchor employs a to solve pesky prob- thick D-ring that lems by the water. sits under a humped plate. With the plate J-HOOK fastened to a sturdy Umbrellas are too deck board, the ring often sacrificed to lies flat when not the wind gods by in use. Even looped anchors and bases with a stout rope that just won’t hold, and a sound knot, even those as heavy SOLUTIONS the bright, highly and ugly as concrete visible ring rises blocks. The J-Hook, only slightly, saving Keep built in Canada by toes from harm and Lakehouse Innova- neighbours across your cool tions, promises a the lake from colour- six-pound solution Open. Close. Open. ful language. About that “will never Close. Life is cruelly $9 at Princess Auto. repetitive for a cot- blow over.” Made tage cooler, so it’s of stainless steel EZE DOCKER no surprise that and aluminum, this Better than having plastic fatigue can hook has a flat, thin a cleat that tucks make an icebox bar shaped like a J away is having one come unhinged. If that passes through that can be removed that happens, stay narrow gaps in deck and stored—even chill with this emer- boards, hooking taken along when gency fix. under a joist. The boating anywhere Heavy-duty J shaft fits into a that might not have Remove and retain D-rings, typi- base that, when mooring points. broken hinges and cally made for rotated clockwise, Enter the EZE Dock- screws. Cut pieces truck beds and draws the J tight to er, a one-piece, of rubber garden trailers, can the joist. Expen- spring-loaded hose, slit them handle boats in sive, at $355 from portable dock ring open, spread them rough waters. lakehouseinc.com, made in Ontario. flat, and trim to the but the materials Simply push the ring size of the hinges. are high quality and between the gaps Hold the piece the J-Hook is built of deck boards and of hose (with its to last. twist 90 degrees. exterior facing the Zinc-plated, the EZE ZINC-PLATED cooler) against D-RINGS Docker’s eye secures the same holes that Erickson Manu- rope to small water- held the hinges. facturing makes a craft, but can only Attach with the 2½" surface-mount hold bigger boats original screws, tie-down that can for short periods in using the broken handle 3,666 lbs, calm water, since hinge as a washer meaning that your it could potentially for the screws if it’s dock will break come loose with still in good shape— before letting go of repeated yanking. which will also even the heaviest $35 for two at Home cover up the hose. of boats. Zinc-plated Depot.—Derek

The EZE Docker is McNaughton JACQUES PERRAULT PHOTOS: LIAM MOGAN. ILLUSTRATION: Now, back to your designed to slide weekend. Open. between deck Close. Open. Close. boards. It only —Ray Ford needs a #/8" gap.

30 cottagelife.com Summer 2018 Workshop

JOB JAR Stay beautiful on the outside When it comes to cottage exterior maintenance, proac- tive care trumps procrastination. Taking the time now to maintain the building envelope will pay it forward in Always wear a the saved time from a larger repair. safety harness tethered to a TAKE IT FROM THE TOP solid ridge when On a mild day, don soft-sole footwear like sneakers to doing work on climb up and inspect your roof. (If the pitch is very steep, the roof. best to leave this job to a pro roofer.) Bring a can of roofing tar with you, and look for damaged or loose shingles. A dab of tar applied to the underside of a loose shingle tab will secure it back to the roof. Inspect the flashings at the intersections of roof and wall, vent, and chimney. Fill in any voids or cracks with a similarly coloured caulk. I prefer water-based types such as Dap Alex Plus for ease of cleanup and low toxicity. One of the oft-neglected tenets of caulk application is laying down an adequate body of caulk so that it has sufficient volume to shrink without cracking; think bead, not film. WINDOW TO THE WALL Pressure wash the walls from the top down with no more than 2,500 PSI, being careful to not drive water into any spaces between siding or where caulk is missing. Again, Time to replace examine the condition of caulk at flashings and intersec- the gutters? 4" round down- tions. Water is insidious, and from entry in cracked caulk, spouts will han- it can travel a surprising distance, wreaking havoc along dle more runoff the way. Clean the existing breached caulk with a mild and avoid clogs. multi-surface cleaner such as Nature Clean, and rinse well before applying a paintable water-based caulk. Lightly misting a freshly applied bead of caulk with water also makes tooling smoother in hot, dry weather. If your wood siding’s finish is worn away in places, it’s time to lightly sand any rough areas and the edges of bare spots. Touch up with the original finish before you apply an CAULK TALK entire coat to help even out the look. If you find caulking that’s old, brittle, or If you discover cracks in your masonry, master mason Ste- mouldy, it’s time to fano Marmina in North Bay, Ont., advises that a mixture scrape it off and of one part cement to five parts sand, with the maximum replace it. recommended amount of plasticizer (read the package), is the mortar of choice. With high adhesion and a thinner viscosity, it works well when using a brick jointer to force mortar into those gaps that let water (and ice) do their nasty business. If you can erode your mortar with a fin- gernail, call a pro, as this indicates a degraded lime-based mortar; replacing it requires an experienced mason. GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS Look for breaches at the intersection of walls and bed- rock, then clean and caulk. Lastly, examine the lay of the land; to be safe, soil should be sloped outward at least 1" per foot. This encourages rain and snowmelt to flow

away, not toward, the cottage.—Sean Ledoux JACQUES PERRAULT

32 cottagelife.com Summer 2018 LIAM MOGAN this cottageclassic? time youdustedoff When wasthelast LET THERE BE LIGHT Here’s howto get lit>> SKILL SET

Workshop Winter 2018 cottagelife.com 27 Workshop

To extinguish, cup the top with your REVIVAL hand and blow. A hand-, gas-, or electric auger is just one way to Bright test ice thickness. Idea

SKILL SET REKINDLE THE OLD FLAME Behold, Grandma’s trusty oil lamp, demystified.

May your cottage be cozy and bright KNOW-HOW

Are you on “We used those classic Coleman oil The flat-wick thin ice? lanterns when my is the most common As a kid, I usually sent my baby brother onto father took us camp- and practical model. the ice to test its thickness. Miraculously, he ing, growing up,” For sheer candle never died. But there are less perilous (and says Norm Dinner, a power, nothing beats The chimney more effective) ways to test ice thickness. 58-year-old cottager the old Aladdins, but will need some atten- on Manitouwabing their wicks are much tion from time to time. Cordless drill and wood auger bit Mark Lake. These fond more fragile. Wash it in soapy water an 18" wood-auger bit with tape at safe-ice memories inspired or, according to my depths of 4", 6", and 12", and cut vertical him to craft this bril- mother-in-law, scrub it holes in the ice with a cordless drill. The liant DIY upcycled with wadded up news- flutes in the bit will force ice chips out of oil-lamp chandelier paper. It’s also a good the hole. When you hit water, the markings for the cottage. Less than 4" idea to take out the on the bit suggest how deep you drilled. A Stay off He scoured antique Your fuel deflector (the small tape measure into the hole, hooked on the markets and found choices for filling the oil domed piece beneath underside of the ice, confirms the depth. three original Cole- font are either kerosene the flame) and remove 4" Ice chisel or “spud” Homemade or bought, man lamps for $20 or lamp oil; the latter is any bugs and dust (an Ice fishing, walking, skating a rebar-sized metal rod with a sharp, flat each. “From there I preferable, because it’s old, narrow paintbrush blade like a chisel welded to one end and just started putter- more stable, but avoid may help). This debris a handle on the other is sometimes called a ing.” Norm dis- scented or coloured can affect performance. 5" spud. Stab the chisel into the ice, repeat- concoctions—these sected the lanterns ICE Snowmobile or ATV edly, creating a hole. (A crowbar can work in can clog the wick and and fitted them BREAKERS a pinch.) Measure ice thickness with a tape. reduce performance. Minimum depth together with ¾" requirements Chainsaw Cut a 12-by-12-inch square into the copper pipe and ½" 8"-12" for activities on ice. When it floats, tilt or lift it and measure. for the smaller red Car, small pickup new, clear Ensure the square goes back into the hole to lantern, which (black) ice. refreeze, and add a stick to flag the hazard. houses the electrical box in its oil font. 12"-15" Lamp maintenance Homemade test pole A 2"-dia. hardwood “I wanted to use as Medium pickup or van is straightforward. If the dowel, 60" long, makes for a quick ice-testing much of the original 3 flame has peaks and poker stick. Pre-drill a /16" pilot hole 4" deep lantern as possible.” valleys, then the wick Operation Walk this way in one end. Squeeze some PL Premium adhe- Norm used epoxy needs trimming (the is a no-brainer. Remove No matter what method you use, always sive into the hole, then tap in a 10" nail about instead of soldering flame should have a the chimney, raise the remember to test in more than one spot, 5" deep. Grind the head of the nail to a sharp to keep it all consistent shape). Cut wick, and light. Replace says Lauren Phillips, a team leader and point. Shorter versions make for good, hand- together. Although the singed top straight the chimney, and adjust training officer with Prince George Search held ice picks you can use to pull yourself out the days of camping off with scissors, and the wick for best light and Rescue. “There’s huge variability even of a hole should you fall through. by oil light are long then snip off each and least smoke. As just a few footsteps away.” The best and Hatchet With one hand, swing the sharp gone for the Din- corner at a 45° angle. a rule, the wick height safest ice to walk on is always black (also should not exceed called clear), newly formed ice. According side of a hatchet or small axe hard into the ners, they have a that of the deflector. to the Canadian Red Cross, white opaque ice. If no water appears, the ice is likely hard new lamp light to —Wayne Lennox ice (formed by wet snow freezing on the ice) enough to walk on, or close to 4". (This create memories is half as strong as black ice, and grey ice is method is imprecise at best, so use with under at the cot- Derek McNaughton deemed unsafe as it indicates the presence caution.)— tage, on at the flick of water. “If you’re not sure,” says Phillips, of a switch.—Brett “just stay off the ice altogether.” McGarry THIS PAGE, LIAM MOGAN. OPPOSITE, ILLUSTRATION: JACQUES PERREAULT. PHOTO COURTESY NORM DINNER PHOTO COURTESY NORM DINNER JACQUES PERREAULT. LIAM MOGAN. OPPOSITE, ILLUSTRATION: THIS PAGE, GUTTER CREDIT

28 cottagelife.com Winter 2018 Winter 2018 cottagelife.com 29 Workshop

Fig. 1 Cut the SATURDAY PROJECT middle piece Hidden card trick into sections This pine tea light holder has a secret. The top pivots to reveal a space inside sized for two decks of playing cards. Hidden in plain sight, your cards can be close at hand and safe from spills. The key to making this project look table-worthy is cutting the edges flush after assembly and lining up the grain to complete the illusion of a solid block of wood. Combine this with a couple of neat tricks—a cut brass screw for the top pivot and magnets as hidden latches— and you’ve got a fun, simple project with more function than meets the eye.—Paul Lewis

1 Cut three pieces a 1"-dia. spindle The pilot holes will 7 Line up the top at 5!/4" by 7!/8". sander. If you don’t ensure the magnets again, and drive the These are your have a spindle will line up. brass pivot screw three layers. sander, you can just until the smooth Fig. 2 Glue the 5 Glue and clamp improvise one by shank of the screw middle pieces 2 Prepare the mid- the middle layer to is halfway into the together dle layer as in Fig. 1. wrapping sandpaper the bottom layer so wood (Fig 3). Cut Set the table saw around a 1" dowel. that the edges line the brass screw just fence ¾" from the 4 Bore the holes for up. Then temporar- above the surface blade and cut along the magnets now, ily attach the top of the wood with a the length of each before continuing with strips of the rotary tool spinning side. You’ll end up the assembly: line double-sided tape. a small abrasive with three pieces. up the edges of the 6 Cut all four edges cutting wheel. Sand Cut the wider centre top and middle lay- of the assembly the shank of the piece in half hori- ers and bore a tiny flush, then separate brass screw flush zontally, then test- pilot hole (1/32"-dia.) the top from the with the surface of fit the cards before through the centre middle and bottom the wood with a gluing the pieces layer and into the layers. Bore the random-orbit together as in Fig 2. top layer. Then bore 1!/2"-dia. pockets in sander fitted with Leaving the middle shallow 5/16"-dia. the top, !/2" deep, 150-grit sandpaper. pieces long at this pockets that will for the tea lights. stage allows them hold the magnets. 8 Lastly, adhere the Fig. 3 Use two to be cut flush after magnets into the coats of paste assembly. pockets with a drop wax to finish of epoxy. 3 Once the glue has dried, make a small finger recess using

What you’ll need Save the nicest piece of pine for • 2' 1x6 pine the top. • 2" #8 brass screw • 2 rare earth magnets, 5/16"-dia • Double-sided tape • Epoxy • Paste wax PHOTO: LIAM MOGAN. ILLUSTRATION: JACQUES PERRAULT PHOTO: LIAM MOGAN. ILLUSTRATION:

30 cottagelife.com Winter 2018 Workshop

JOB JAR IT’S ALL ABOUT FLOW Water pipes tend to freeze more often in cottage country than in the city, and that’s why every four-season cottager should know a few pipe-thawing tricks. When you turn on a tap that should be working and nothing comes out, test other fixtures to infer where the frozen blockage could be. Finding out the location and extent of the freezing is the vital starting point, but there’s something even more important. When water freezes, it expands, often strongly enough to burst pipes. Always remember that a damaged pipe probably won’t leak water while it’s still frozen, but it could leak lots of Push a button on water as it thaws. Always look for longitudinal splits as you’re defrosting pipes, and never the handle and leave your cottage with frozen pipes and the water still turned on. this roof rake extends up to 17'. Applying heat to frozen pipes is the goal, and you’ve got options. Pouring hot water on them is effective when you can get to the trouble spot and if pooled water doesn’t matter where you’re working. If the pipe is sloped, even a bit, hot water will run along the pipe and deliver thawing action into areas out of reach. A hair dryer works too, or you can bust out the heat gun (like a hair dryer, but super-charged), set on medium. Never use a hand- held torch or any open flame to thaw pipes. It’s a fire hazard and will damage plastic. Pipes freeze most often in areas with little air circulation. Your cottage might be above freezing in the middle of the kitchen during a winter visit, but pipes travelling through a lower kitchen cupboard or behind shelves could still get cold enough to freeze. A room fan is surprisingly effective at defrosting pipes in an otherwise warm room. Pull back the furni- ture, open the cupboard, then train the airflow in the area of the frozen pipe. Keep a close eye out for water leaks until the pipes thaw and prove themselves sound.

STUFF WE LIKE Don’t be surprised if hot water supply lines freeze before cold ones (it’s called the Mpemba effect and it’s worth a google). And leave freeze-prone fixtures running a small steady Take a little stream to keep the line from refreezing until you get to fixing it properly.—Steve Maxwell off the top ATV plows are so Cottage roofs are designed to carry our fun, the kids will northern snow loads, but outbuilding beg to do the roofs may not be. Where possible, plowing. Nice remove as much snow as you can from work, Myles. the safety of the ground with a snow rake (we like this $50 24" telescoping model from Home Hardware). It’s safer for you than scrambling up onto a snowy roof, and you’re less likely to REAL TOOL cause shingle damage.—W.L. Plow king It sounds weird, but few outdoor tasks are as satisfying as plowing snow with an ATV. The curl of powder flowing over the blade, Depending on the manufacturer, plows the tidy path behind you, the joy of a attach simply to an ATV, usually with just machine doing hard labour—it’s a task a couple of tab- or lynch-pins clipped to a requiring focus as much as a stout plow. pre-fastened mount. A plow moves up or A good plow kit, which costs about $550, down via an ATV’s winch rope, and the blade will not only clear deep snow from long angle is usually set by pulling a hand lever. laneways in just minutes, it also opens up Sure, a plow takes up space in the shed, the possibility of creating Zamboni-grade but it’s a lot more fun than shovelling two skating rinks on the lake without the feet of misery off a 250-foot driveway—or

exhausting work of shovelling by hand. paying someone else to do it.—D.M. COURTESY DEREK MCNAUGHTON LIAM MOGAN; RIGHT, LEFT,

32 cottagelife.com Winter 2018