ask This Old House
Q I have a number of saw blades that are covered with pitch. How do I remove this sticky buildup?
—DAVID PRESCOTT, KREBS, OK
A Pitch is actually tree sap that gums up saw blades as they cut through resinous woods, like pine and fir. In the old days before chainsaws, when loggers used two-man crosscut saws, they’d dissolve the pitch that slowed them down by wiping the blade with a rag soaked in turpentine. That still works for me! For safety’s sake, use turpentine outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, protect your skin with gloves, and keep the rag away from fire; turpentine fumes are flammable.
—TOM SILVA TOH GENERAL CONTRACTOR
53 tips, tricks, and answers to your homeimprovement questions
Our team of veteran experts
When the entire front of our kitchen drawer came off—both the solid-wood front and the front of the drawer box—I discovered that the box had been made of particleboard and fastened with staples (sigh). Can the front be reattached?
—CANDI MILLER, LIMA, OH
Based on this magazine’s popular the TV show made its debut in 2002 under the guidance of Russ Morash, the creator of Instead of a season-long deep dive into a single renovation, each episode features multiple small-scale projects covered from start to finish. The concise, engaging format has allowed the show to travel to all 50 states, and recently earned the series an Emmy Award.
