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A "bench dog" is a great tool for any woodworker's shop. Bench dogs are often used in pairs, with one set into a tail vise and the other into an opening in the bench top. The vise is tightened to hold the wood securely. That way you can keep your mind on your plane. Bench dogs are made of steel or iron as well, but the woodworker's choice is usually wood.

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. While many people consider laying tile a do-it-yourself project for money-saving reasons, there are many factors that can make or break the job. Once you ve determined the type of tile you need, think about how it will be installed. The substrate, or what tile is installed on top of, is just as important as the tile itself. A flexing floor or a wall that s uneven can lead to broken tiles and failed grout. Water-resistant backer board, not drywall, should be used under the tile that will get wet. Whether it s backer board, plywood or concrete, the substrate needs to be sound, clean and dimensionally stable. Surfaces need to be level or plumb and true to plane, as the pros say that means no bumps. Any cracks or voids can compromise even the best tile job. The only way to be sure the tile sticks fast is to use a notched trowel to apply adhesive to the substrate. The space between the tiles should be uniform, so use spacers if your tiles don t come on mesh sheets. The larger the tile, the larger the space should be between them. Some do-it-yourselfers will make the mistake of pushing tiles too close together to reduce grout lines. Without enough surface area, grout won t bond well and can fail prematurely, leaving room for leaks and water damage. It s also very important to let the adhesive cure fully. Follow the manufacturer s instructions and stay off the installation the required amount of time before you grout the tile. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Bob meets up with landscape mason Hector Santos who is building a dried laid stone retaining wall. He is using Corinthian granite from Champlain Stone in upstate New York. Hector's rule of thumb for configuring the wall's proportions is that the base of the wall should be as wide or a little wider than the wall is high (in this case 3 ft.) tapering up in the back (which will be covered with soil and sod) as it rises. Hector also angles the wall's face back slightly so that if it's pushed forward when the ground heaves, it will settle back; whereas if it were plumb and it heaved forward, in time it would creep and fall over. Hector's main concern is creating an even face to the wall. Abutting stones should come up level allowing the stone placed in the next course to span the stones beneath it. Stones shouldn't wobble. If a stone does wobble (and they will because not every stone is perfectly flat), stick shims under it to level it. The caps should be as flat as possible creating an even rather than a wavy top line. Hector uses a string as a guide to keep the tops on one even plane.

You can add character, detail and historic charm to your home with the addition of beadboard wainscoting and a chair rail.