Ask This Old House TV

Showing results for "Season 2"
Scan the episodes below and select "more" to get information on products or services you saw on that episode.

Episode #226

Replacing a storm door, identifying a paint mixer and gutter nail driver, and choosing garden tools … more

Episode #225

Corroded copper pipes, old-fashioned sheet metal cutter, and worn-out weather stripping
… more

Episode #224

Track lighting, drywall repair clips, and noisy baseboard heaters… more

Ask This Old House #223

Radiant heat, a cable saw for PVC, and painting aluminum siding… more

Episode #222

Original Air Date: Week of March 4

General contractor Tom Silva helps install basecap molding on top of a curved skirtboard that winds along a staircase. Then master electrician Allen Gallant shows host Kevin O'Connor how to purchase electrical wire by the foot. Back in the loft, Tom, Kevin, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook try to identify unfamiliar objects in the "What is it?" segment. Then Roger visits a family and shows them how to collect sap from a maple tree and turn it into maple syrup.



Installing Curved Molding
Tom described several possible solutions for the curved molding, including steaming the wood to allow it to bend, cutting the molding into thin strips and rebuilding it, and using a profile gauge to form a new molding made of plaster.

Where to Find It
The contour gauge that Tom used to determine the profile of the straight molding is manufactured by:
Vitrex
905-564-2188

The flexible resin basecap molding was provided by:
Lynn Lumber Company
781-592-0400

It is also available from:
Anderson & McQuaid Company
617-876-3250

Tom attached the curved molding to the wall using Liquid Nails construction adhesive and a Senco finish nailer.

Buying Wire by the Foot
Master electrician Allen Gallant visits a home center with Kevin to buy speaker wire. After looking at full spools of wire, Kevin decides to purchase only the amount that he needs for his project and Allen shows him where to buy wire by the foot.

Where to Find It
Wire racks like the one Kevin and Allen used are available in home centers. The price per foot of wire purchased from the rack is usually slightly more than the price per foot of wire purchased in spools.

For more information, contact:
The Home Depot
800-553-3199

What Is It?
Tom, Roger, Richard, and Kevin examined two unusual items and tried to guess how they are used.

Where to Find It
Richard demonstrates a "Nite Ize Flashlight Friend," which can be used to hold a small flashlight and point it in the direction of use. It is manufactured by:
Nite Ize Inc.

Making Maple Syrup
Roger and family visited a wildlife sanctuary to learn how maple sap is collected and turned into maple syrup. Maple sugarmaker James Nielsen showed them how trees are tapped and how water is evaporated from the raw sap to produce syrup. At the end of the visit, they learned how to build a simple outdoor evaporator that can be used for maple sugaring at home.

Where to Find It
Roger and family visited the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, a nature preserve maintained the Massachusetts Audubon Society. This conservation organization runs many public programs, including maple sugaring demonstrations. For more information, contact:
Massachusetts Audubon Society
800-283-8266

Maple sugarmaker James Nielsen built a simple outdoor evaporator using cement blocks, an old smokestack, barbecue grates, a roasting pan, a coffee can with a hole in the bottom, and a candy thermometer.

To order maple sugaring supplies, contact:
Leader Evaporator Company
802-524-4966

For more information on maple sugaring, contact:
Massachusetts Maple Producers Association
413-628-3912

Episode #221

Fixing a steam radiator, a "Molemover" and an invisible nailing kit, and preparing a raised garden bed for winter… more

Episode #220

Installing a programmable thermostat , a snowball maker and garage stopper, and fixing a plaster and lath wall… more

Episode #219

Cutting glass, planting vines, a stud finder and tile spacers, and venting a portable air conditioner… more

Episode #218

Deterring deer, making PVC connections, pipe plugs, and fixing a sagging shower door… more

Episode #217

Wiring for outdoor speakers, a Japanese chalk line, and planting a tree… more

Episode #216

Testing water quality, a duster and downspout diverter, and replacing a damaged floorboard… more

Episode #215

Repairing sliding doors, an electrical cord connector and ellipse marking tool, electric radiant heat, and selecting paint colors… more

Episode #214

Installing a brick walkway, a maple sugaring spile and "Sand Anchor" umbrella holder, and cutting accurate miters… more

Episode #213

Quieting hardwood floors, a garden sieve and heavy-duty twist-tie, and building timber steps… more

Episode #212

Drip irrigation repair, a "Sander Sitter" and "Forearm Forklifts," and fixing a leaky tile in a tub… more

Episode #211

Adding a stairway handrail, a grout saw and tile cutter, and transplanting a rhododendron… more

Episode #210

Installing a chimney liner, a proportioning tool, and a toilet anti-sweat valve… more

Episode #209

Removing poison ivy, a steel center square and pencil leash, and shingling an outside corner… more

Episode #208

Installing an engineered wood floor, and replacing a sink's pop-up drain… more

Episode #207

Planting ground cover, and opening stuck windows… more

Episode #206

Installing window trim, landscape camouflage, a "tape dolly," and fixing a kitchen spray hose… more

Episode #205

Installing a drywell, a spray paint shaker and magnetic pickup tool, and adding a shower grip bar… more

Episode #204

Patching drywall, sanding blocks and an antique clapboard gauge, and replacing an aged toilet… more

Episode #203

A slate walk, EZ Lift handles and eye-bolt driver, and repairing a shower stall leak … more

Episode #202

Securing a newel post, a nut splitter and paint scraper, and replacing a water heater… more

Episode #201

Installing a deadbolt, trimming a hedge, and installing an indirect hot water heater… more