by Patrick
McCombe
No-Fuss Support. A lot of carpenters complain that too much
of the exterior millwork used these days is made from plastic
and other synthetics — yet synthetic materials are not
always a bad thing. Keeping joints tight on square wood columns
is a struggle, and few homeowners want regular painting and
maintenance as part of their weekend routine. So it's good to
know that synthetic millwork companies like Fypon make
load-bearing columns in addition to strictly decorative ones.
Fypon's Plain Panel Square Column comes in 6- and 8-inch widths
and 8- and 9-foot lengths and can handle up to 12,000 pounds of
load. Since it's made from high-density polyurethane, it should
last forever. List price ranges from $400 to $450. Fypon,
800/446-3040, www.fypon.com
Rock Solid.
Many stone columns are
composed of small segments stacked together. If the budget
allows, however, nothing beats the smooth finish found on
Rhodes Architectural Stone's One-Piece Stone Columns. Made from
granite, limestone, or sandstone, these beauties come in 7- to
14-inch diameters. For projects in seismic zones, the maker can
drill out the column centers to accommodate steel reinforcing
posts. Seven-footers range in price from $4,000 to $6,000.
Rhodes Architectural Stone, 206/709-3000,
www.rhodes.org
Good Fit.
Wrapping a 4x4 or 6x6
with pine or some other flat stock is a fairly common way to
finish off porch posts and other structural columns. A better
approach comes from Advanced TrimWorks: First you slip the
U-shaped PVC ColumnWrap over a wood post, then you glue the
hinged fourth side shut. According to ATW, the product holds
paint better than wood and can be installed in less than 30
minutes. In addition to the 9-foot wrap with cap and base, the
kit contains the company's Bond and Fill adhesive and Velcro
straps for clamping. The version designed for 4x4 posts costs
about $380; the one for 6x6 posts about $430. Octagonal wraps
are also available. Advanced TrimWorks, 508/822-7745,
www.advancedtrimworks.com
Specialty
Fasteners
Easier Anchor.
Corkscrew-style,
self-drilling wall anchors are great: They hold well and go in
fast. Their only shortcoming is the 1/2-inch holes they leave
when you remove them. With the WallDog, you don't have that
problem. This one-piece threaded wall anchor doesn't need a
plastic insert; you screw it right into drywall. The fastener
delivers 245 pounds of shear strength and 85 pounds of
withdrawal strength in 1/2-inch drywall, says the maker, and
leaves behind much smaller holes than other hollow wall
anchors. It comes in white and chrome; a 100-count box sells
for about $13. Grabber, 800/477-8876,
www.grabberman.com
Smarter-Than-Average Bit.
Okay, so this product isn't a
specialty fastener. Still, any tool that eliminates the need
for specialty fasteners deserves equal consideration. Designed
for deck screws, the Smart-Bit makes a pilot hole and
countersink in one step, and boasts a rotating stop collar with
a no-mar pad. Unlike most other all-in-one bits, the clever
little gadget doesn't rely on set screws or impossible-to-find
flat-shank bits. It's available for #7, #8, and #10 screws; a
package of two costs about $15. Starborn Industries,
800/596-7747, www.smart-bit.com
High-Grip Deck Clip.
If your clients don't want a bunch
of fasteners cluttering the surface of their hardwood or
composite deck, consider using the Tiger Claw. This hidden
fastener comes in four versions: the TC-2, for pressure-treated
soft woods; the TC-3, for composites and soft hardwoods; the
TC-4, for dense hardwoods like ipe and teak; and TC-P, for
cellular PVC decking. Matte black coatings help each blend into
its background. For 100-count boxes, prices range from $40 for
the TC-2 nonstainless to $70 for the TC-4 hardened stainless.
Figure on 200 Tiger Claw fasteners for every 100 square feet of
decking. Tiger Claw, 800/928-4437,
www.tigerclawinc.com
Adhesives
Dream Tape.
One of my good
friends once had a dream that workers were repairing a nuclear
reactor with duct tape when he arrived on the scene as a DOE
inspector. I thought of him recently when I heard about 3M's
introduction of Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979. While it might
not be suitable for nuclear containment, this high-performance
tape allegedly lasts for up to a year outdoors without
deterioration and can be removed cleanly from "opaque surfaces"
for up to six months after placement. It comes in several
widths in blue, black and olive. I found 25-yard rolls on the
Web for about $9 each. 3M, 800/567-1639 ext. 5095,
www.3m.com/duct
All-Weather, Low-VOC Construction
Glue.
Most carpenters like conventional solvent-based
construction adhesives because they work in just about all
temperatures and weather conditions. But solvent-based
adhesives have a downside: They give off vapors that aren't
good for you — or anyone else. Bostik claims its low-VOC,
polyurethane-based Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive
— part of the Bostik Home line — has all the
advantages of conventional construction adhesives, including
all-weather performance, freeze/thaw stability, and excellent
bond on wet and frozen lumber, without the fumes. The
low-solvent formula also means you can use this product with
polystyrene. A 29-ounce tube sells for about 6.50. Bostik,
888/603-8558, www.bostik-us.com
Superior Glue.
This isn't the first
time JLC has covered 2P-10, but the extra attention is
warranted: 2P-10 is one of those products that I consistently
hear carpenters say improves their quality of work and speeds
production. Formulated much like Super Glue, the cyanoacrylate
adhesive sets up in about 10 seconds without clamping when used
with the companion activator. It comes in three viscosities:
medium (for smooth surfaces), thick (for porous surfaces), and
"jël" — which I'm told is best for trim applications
because it doesn't run. You're not likely to find this product
at every hometown lumberyard, so check the manufacturer's Web
site for mail-order and local dealers. An 8-ounce bottle with
activator sells for about $45. FastCap, 888/443-3748,
www.fastcap.com