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Once you have decided to go ahead and get on with a project, one of the greatest frustrations to making a good start is not having a decent measuring device. Whether its woodwork, metalwork, tiling, building or even planting out the garden, accurate measuring forms the vital start point. And, as our Alf says – he’s one of our regular London tilers – “if you get it wrong from the outset, imagine how you’ll be feeling when all is said and done!”
Traditional Tape Measures 
This is what most of us buy as a basic start up. But today, there’s such a wide selection, with literally hundreds of variations to choose from. Practicality suggests that you purchase one that is easy to read and use. Here at Mr-Skill, we concluded that a 3 meter-long flexible metal tape measure – with a 13mm wide blade – makes a useful tool. Oh, and make sure it has a yellow backing with clear black numbering in centimetres and inches, as well as a blade lock and a smooth retracting mechanism. Of course, you could find a carpenter right here and leave the calculations to them too!
We have all used tape measures that threaten to slice our fingertips off when we reel them in! A smaller belt tape should suffice for most project work. Bigger projects, such as built-in cupboards for example, may benefit from an 8 meter tape with a 19mm or wider blade. However Alf simply cannot do without his long-standing 300mm long steel rule. With the measurements etched on the stainless steel face, this one is in it for the long haul.
Callipers
A 200mm basic vernier calliper finished in stainless steel is very useful when cutting mortises or tenons, where accuracy is paramount. This measure is also handy for fitting butt hinges, when you need to measure the thickness of the leaf, and you cannot do so accurately with a tape or rule. Don’t forget to have a set-square available to check for perfect right angles when needed. 
Keeping it Simple
These days, there are all sorts of clever gadgets that allegedly make our working lives simpler. Electronic room measurers for example – they cost a fortune and by the time you have figured out how the infernal device actually works, the batteries have gone flat and you could have long since finished the job using a conventional measure. If this all seems code to you, rather get a general building quote here on Mr Skill. That way, you can sit back and relax while the professionals work out the detail and do the measuring. As our Alf always says, “life is too short for hassles!”
Tags: blade, Building, built-in-cupboards, calculations, calliper, Carpentry, electronic, find a carpenter, get a general building quote, london tiler, measuring, professional, project, right angles, set square, stainless steel, steel rule, tape measure, tiling, woodwork
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Aug 03
Biscuit joinery is a modern and effective way of joining two boards together. As one of our London carpenters and joiners explains, “the technique involves the joining of one half of a biscuit (which is pre-shaped) and then wedging and gluing it into a pre-cut recess. The other half slots into a matching recess on the second board. A biscuit jointing machine is what we use to accurately cut the recesses into both boards. This technique is popular in furniture and cabinet making, especially for everyday items such as cupboards and units.”
The Concept 
The oval-shaped biscuits usually have criss-crossed patterns which assist in anchoring the biscuit into the groove. The glue also causes the biscuit to expand, thereby facilitating an excellent joint. Neat as a pin as they say, but if this is not for you, rather get a carpentry and joiner quote right here.
The Machine 
The jointing machine uses a 100mm diameter tungsten carbide-tipped blade, which presses into the board to a calculated depth. It then cuts out a crescent-shaped slot, into which the biscuit eventually fits. Because the blade spins at high speed, it is important to observe adequate safety measures when in use. To avoid nasty accidents, never angle the machine towards your body.
The Joints
The boards must be marked off accurately where the biscuit joins will follow. Normally, between two and four biscuit joints go into each side to provide a stronger joint. Be quite sure of correct markings before any cutting, as perfect alignment is imperative. Check that the biscuits fit snugly before applying any glue.
The Production Line
It is advisable to first complete all the section work when making cabinets or cupboards – you can then check that everything fits squarely together. Don’t forget to clamp the work pieces firmly during the glue-drying time, and resist the urge to move the piece at this critical stage.
Why Struggle?
Precise work such as this is not within everybody’s capability – if this describes you, Mr-Skill has a number of suitably qualified and experienced experts at your disposal. Why not find your carpenter and joiner right now, and let them do the work for you – there are some good deals on offer too!
Tags: alignment, angle, blade, boards, cabinet, carpentry-and-joinery quote, cupboards, cutting, edge, find a carpenter-and-joiner, glue, high speed, joinery, jointing, London carpenter-and-joiner, markings, matching, measure, safety, units
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Jun 18
If you are thinking of substantial changes to your home and you don’t have the skills yourself, then look right here on Mr-Skill, and find your carpenter-joiner. The difference is that we have pre-screened members to ensure they meet our demanding standards, and that means when you hire one of our carpenters you can do so in complete confidence. What’s more, there are some really good specials on right now, and you could score up to 30% off normal prices – what more can you ask for?
Home Improvement Equals Stress 
Prepare yourself in advance, because alterations and improvements will cause disruption and no small amount of anxiety. If you hire the wrong team or person, you can expect a war-zone in the bargain! So, how to go about choosing that magical carpenter-or-joiner that’s right for you? Well, like we said earlier, get your carpentry-and-joinery quote here on Mr-Skill’s website. That’s the name of the game – connecting people with needs, to tradespeople with proven skills!
Use Your Networks
Talk to friends or family and anyone else that’s just been through the renovation process. They have first-hand experience of everything you are about to go through, so seek the answers to all your questions there. Looking for a carpenter can be a daunting experience, particularly if it’s for the first time.
Know What You Want Done
Have a clear idea of what you want done, and preferably, draft some scale drawings. This will send a clear signal that you know what you’re doing, and that can only benefit your relationship with your contractor. There are some useful questions to consider: 
- How long have they been in business, and are they a one-man-band or do they have employees?
- Ask about previous and recent projects. In fact, will they have a problem with your checking out this work yourself?
- Do they have accreditation, and is their membership current and in good standing?
Keeping Things Formal
While it’s all fine and dandy having a friendly tradesperson for your project, you do need to protect your interests. Draft a contractual agreement for the work – one of our regular London Carpenters says that he always feels more comfortable when he’s got something in writing as it protects him and his client too.
Make sure your signed agreement covers everything that needs doing, including guarantees – leave nothing to doubt. Keep in mind that you are looking to spend your hard-earned money to complete work that you believe will benefit you. Hiring the right person could mean the difference between success and failure, so be on your guard.
Tags: accredititation, agreement, alterations, carpentry-and-joinery quote, find a carpenter-and-joiner, guarantees, home changes, improvements, London carpenter-and-joiner, scale drawings.projects, tradespeople
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on May 18
Carpentry can be a very rewarding interest to follow, but you do need to have the right tools to get going. It also makes a good deal of sense to invest in your own future, by attending some carpentry courses to brush up on your skills – there are also evening classes offered for those of us working during the day.
Don’t forget to get your carpentry and joinery quotes for the timber you’ll be buying for your projects. 
What’s You’ll Need
You could spend a fortune kitting out your workshop with woodworking tools, but we suggest that you start out small with the basics. Then, as your skill level improves, you can add to your collection depending on what you intend to make. If this sounds a little challenging, why not find a carpenter and joiner right here on Mr-Skill?
Measuring
Carpentry goes back a long way, probably to the beginning of time for modern man. Fred, he’s one of our regular London carpenters and joiners here on Mr-Skill, says that the first thing he was taught as an apprentice was to measure twice and cut once! A decent tape measure is an essential item for any budding-carpenter’s tool box. Then, a one-foot steel ruler is going to prove very handy too. Don’t forget a set-square to help get those angles right, and you’ll need a flat – that’s to stop it rolling away – carpenter’s pencil for marking up your timber.
Cutting
Timber needs to be cut to size, so you will need a saw appropriate to the type of carpentry you are turning out. There’s a huge variety available and you will quickly realise which saw you should have handy. Chisels too are important in the woodworking context. They come in a variety of blade widths too. It pays to keep a utility knife in the tool kit, you know, the old Swiss Army knife!
Other Tools
Hammers come in a wide range of choices, and will prove indispensable for your tool kit. Start small and build up your hammer collection as the need arises, and your skills develop. A spirit level is also an important member of the carpenter’s tool box. Screw drivers are essential for the job, so you’ll need to build your collection of these. A hand plane is a useful asset, as you launch your new money-spinning hobby!
Tags: Carpentry, carpentry-and-joinery quote, courses, find a carpentry-and-joinery expert, hobby, London carpenter-and-joiner, measurer, pencil, plane, ruler, saw, screw drivers, set square, skill, spirit level, timber, tool kit, wood, woodworking, workshop
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Apr 10
A decent space to complete your carpentry projects is a bonus, that’s for sure. We are of course assuming that you are handy, interested and have sufficient spare room in your garage. Converting that space into a carpentry workshop will quickly pay for itself too.
Apart from all those jobs that you can turn out for your own household, imagine the potential work from your neighbourhood. Talk about a paying hobby – plus, you’ll be the envy of all your friends, who will wish “they could be that good with their hands too”. In next to no time, you could be registering on Mr-Skill yourself, so that others can get a carpenter quote from you.
Things You Should Do First 
We are of course assuming that you already have the range of tools and equipment that you will need. An empty garage would be an added bonus. Next, check with your local authority in case their zoning rules are problematic. Find an electrician to safely wire up your new workspace – you can choose one from Mr-Skill.
Before diving in, check with other people who have already done what you plan to do. There are plenty of online forums, and most people will be happy to advise you, so all you have to do is find a carpenter chat room.
Planning 
- Once you have decided to get going, begin by arranging the available space to accommodate all your tools. Remember to allow for bigger static items such as a table saw or bench press. Everything must be set out for ease of use, and it goes without saying that your carpentry shop should be neat and tidy at the end of each work session. Be prepared as the Boy Scouts always say!
- Position a sturdy work-table in the centre of the space. Build upper storage cupboards for holding tools, and put up lots of shelving for oils, solvents and glues.
- Once you have set up your workshop, get quotes from licensed electricians. You may need to convert your power feed to a three-phase supply to cater for all the machines.
You are just about ready to open shop now. One last word from one of our regular London carpenters on Mr-Skill. He advises that you to check rules and regulations thoroughly with your local authority, before you spend a penny!
Tags: carpenter quote, carpenters, cupboards, electrician, electricity, find a carpenter, forums, garage, glues, heavy duty, local authority, london carpenters, paint, power, shelves, shop, tools, workshop
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Our London Carpenter and Joinery expert tells us that he is amazed at how popular laminate floors have become in the world of renovation. He goes on to say that “Laminate flooring makes use of a tried and trusted tongue-in-groove system that allows one floor panel to lock tightly to the next.” Fitting a laminate floor is quite a simple job – provided, that is you have the right tools, material and skills.
A well-fitted laminate floor provides a high quality finish that is both pleasant to look at, and great to walk on too. Getting the flooring to meet under a doorway and flowing nicely into another room is not too difficult either, as long as you plan and work carefully. Before reading on, you may prefer to get a Carpenter Quote from one of the many professional flooring providers on Mr-Skill.
 Tools you Need
Tape measure and scissors or stanley knife
Crow bar, wooden tapping block and handsaw
Circular saw – not too coarse but certainly sharp
Jig saw and rubber mallet
Sharp, medium bladed wood chisel
Laminate flooring and appropriate underlay barrier
Method to Follow
Measure the floor area to be covered, and purchase the floor laminate of your choice – don’t forget the underlay. Remove any old floor covering such as carpets or tiles or plastic floor covering.
 Unpack the floor laminate, and lay it down to check fit and to allow it to acclimatise for several days, according to the maker’s instructions.
Lever away the existing skirting boards gently with the crow bar. Be sure to mark where each section belongs to make for easy refitting later.
Ensure that the floor surface is clean, dry and woodworm-free. Secure old wooden floorboards before fitting your new flooring. Uneven concrete floors should be levelled correctly.
You are now ready to start laying your new laminate floor. If on the other hand you decide that this sounds all too difficult, you could find carpenter and joinery specialists on Mr-Skill instead.
See Next Article ….
Tags: barrier, carpenter quote, chisel, crow bar, doorway adjustment, find a carpenter or joiner, floor, flooring, laminate, london carpenter & Joiner, material, quality finish, Renovation, rubber mallet, saw, tools, underlay, wooden block
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This article follows on from the previous one covering the preparation of laminate flooring. Be sure to read that part first. Don’t forget that Mr-Skill has a number of specialists on board, should you decide that you would prefer to find a carpenter or joiner. Click on Mr-Skill and get your carpentry quote right away.
 Steps for Laying Laminate Flooring
Lay out the plastic underlay on the floor. Then staple or pin it down on all the edges to prevent it “walking”.
Place plastic spacers every two feet against the longest wall, to allow for expansion. Begin by laying the first row of laminate boards from either corner, with the groove facing the wall.
Lay the boards in the same direction as you continue. Start the next row using the piece cut off from the end of the first run so you stagger joints. Tap the ends of the boards together using a rubber mallet and wooden block.
When you reach the door, you may need to trim the bottom of it to allow for the laminate thickness.  Drill a neat series of holes in the laminate to accommodate gas or plumbing pipes. If you calculate this accurately, you can use the small off-cuts to plug the gap around the back of the pipe.
You may need to trim the last row of laminate boards in the length to fit the remaining space. Don’t forget to allow for the expansion gap! The last word on the subject is never to neglect your safety. You are now ready to reinstate the skirting boards.
This job should take no more than a weekend, depending on the total area to be covered. Laminate flooring is ideal for any flat or home. If that all sounds too hard for you to do, then why not contact one of our London Carpenters or Joinery Experts to do the job for you instead.
Tags: barrier, boards, carpenter quote, doors, find a carpenter or joiner, fitting, fixtures, gas, groove, laminate, london carpenter, pipe, plumbing.joints, spacers, staggered, tongue, tools, underlay, wooden block
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Jan 25
I was in an antique shop in London the other day, admiring some really lovely pieces of old furniture and wondering how they got their finishes so smooth. Later in the day I met up with an old London Carpenter friend of mine in a listed City pub. As he ran his hand over the gleaming wooden counter, he let a few trade-secrets slip.
• Wait for a windless day while you prepare a suitable work-place out of the sun
• Assuming you’ve prepared everything properly and that your work-piece is completely dry, give the varnish a proper stir for at least five minutes if not longer.
• Strain the varnish through a silk stocking to get rid of any remaining lumps.
• If you feel a call of nature coming on take that break now, as you are going to work through to completion.
• Moisten the best quality brush you can lay your hands on in the cleaning solvent the varnish manufacturer recommends (this prevents the brush from clogging up).
•  Apply the varnish evenly with a series of long firm overlapping strokes. Do not return to touch-up. Never scrape the brush across the container – it is this action that creates the bubbles.
• Don’t fiddle with your work afterwards and mess it up. Allow it to dry naturally for twenty-four hours before checking in an inconspicuous place.
That sounds like good enough advice for me and I might no longer need to Find a Carpenter for those smaller jobs. However if I decide to re-varnish the wooden staircase in my home the wife is always nagging me about, I think I’ll rather go for Carpentry Quotes on Mr-Skill instead. It’s just so much easier, and inexpensive allowing for the savings on my own time.
Tags: antique, apply, brush, bubble, carpenter, carpentry quotes, clog, container, dry, fiddle, find a carpenter, finish, furniture, london carpenter, lump, moisten, naturally, overlap, prepare, scrape, secret, smooth, solvent, stir, stocking, strain, stroke, sun, tip, touch up, varnish, wind, wood
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Dec 07
While Carpenters generally speaking cut and finish wooden planks before assembling them with screws and nails, Joiners put more detailed work together using a combination of joints, wooden dowels and glue. Another difference is that Carpenters generally work on site, while you’ll more often Find a Joiner plying their trade in a workshop.
 When you look around your home or office you’ll find considerable evidence of the fascinating art of Joinery:
- A wooden staircase rising to an upper level is the ultimate statement of a gracious interior. If you have a fine piece of architectural woodwork like this, you could be well-advised to contact a leading London Joining Firm if it needs repair so it’s not accidentally ruined.
- Furniture with exposed frames, like most dining-room and some lounge suites are often classic examples of a Joiner’s art. Dowels taken from the same piece of wood are frequently almost invisible. If you spot an antique leather-topped desk in a showroom or second-hand corner shop, consider it carefully because these things are vanishing.
 Better-quality wooden doors, and wooden door and window frames are the work of trained Joiners too, and rely on joints that you can spot when you look carefully. It is these joints that give them the extra strength they need, when a gust of wind unexpectedly slams them closed.
Joiners provide a service to several different market sectors, where their different titles may be confusing. Cabinet Makers make storage furniture like shelves and cupboards; Shop Fitters create display and service points; Boat Builders finish off the interiors of yachts, and so on. The common denominator is the care they take, and their love of wood.
When you advertise a woodworking job on Mr-Skill that you need attending to, it is always a good idea to indicate the trade you need. Use key phrases like simple carpentry job, or needs a person experienced in making joints. That way you’re more likely to find the right person to provide you with the Joiner Quote you want.
Tags: antique, architect, boat builder, cabinet maker, care, carpenter, desk, dining, Dining Room, door, dowel, find a joiner, frame, glue, gracious, home, joiner, joiner quote, joint, leather, london joining firm, lounge, love, nail, office, plank, repair, screw, service, shop fitter, stair, staircase, strength, window, wood, wooden, workshop
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Nov 24
While parents may still find them handy for tracking teenagers in and out at night, the truth is that a squeaking floor is an irritating thing that is literally crying out for your attention. Before you look for cost-effective Carpenters Quotes on Mr-Skill, you may like to try out these handy ideas first.
 Floor boards creak for one of three reasons, and these are some of the things you can do to fix them – possibly by yourself – once you have walked the floor and found the source:
1. They are incorrectly fitted and rubbing up against each other. Pour a little talcum powder into the crack and work it in by pressing up and down with your foot. If this works, repeat the treatment regularly.
2. The nails holding them down have worked loose. If at all possible, remove the nails completely and replace them with wood screws. If not, you may have to fit new screws separately, hammer the old nails in as best you can, and fill the nail heads with filler. Start with two screws, each towards the outer edge of the board, remembering to countersink them. Only add a middle one if necessary.
3.  The floor support is inadequate. This is a major job and you need to Find a Carpenter on Mr-Skill to do the job for you. They will remove a section of floor boards, add additional supporting battens and re-lay the floor. If done correctly by a professional there is no reason why the job will not work. Done incorrectly by a cowboy though, and it could cost you the floor.
There are Experts in London Carpentry on Mr-Skill, and specialist carpenters working in almost every other United Kingdom postcode too. When you Hire a Skilful Tradesman here, you not only get one with all the correct papers. You also get to save pounds off normal market rates.
Tags: add, batten, board, carpenters quotes, countersink, creak, fill, filler, find a carpenter, floor, floorboard, hammer, incorrect, lay, london carpentry, loose, nail, paper, powder, professional, rate, reason, relay, remove, replace, rub, save, screw, section, specialist, squeak, talcum, work
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