In this episode:
Carpenter Nathan Gilbert takes us on a house call to help a homeowner with a pocket door. After salvaging a pocket door that will work perfectly in one of her doorways, she asks Nathan and his father to help source missing hardware, prepare the door, and hang it. The trio works together to swap out the old rollers for period-correct hardware and maneuver the heavy door into place, giving this classic home a fittingly-classic touch.
Next, we meet host Kevin O’Connor back at the shop, where he discusses induction cooktops with home technology expert Ross Trethewey. Ross explains how induction technology works, as well as how he believes it will be the future of kitchen appliances. Ross sets up a comparison test with two tea kettles, comparing the difference in the amount of time an induction burner takes to boil water over a gas burner.
Finally, we follow Kevin as he takes us to the workshop of Decatur Maker’s VP Char Miller-King, where she helps him build a shaker-style table. After showing Kevin how she simplifies the complicated aspects of the project (tapered table legs and drawer joinery!), the two build a table from walnut that is truly special.
How to Install an Antique Pocket Door
Carpenter Nathan Gilbert and his father help a homeowner install a salvaged pocket door in her 1881 house, adding a period-correct touch that it’s been missing.
Where to find it?
Nathan and his dad, Bill, help a homeowner install an antique 1880s pocket door with its authentic hardware.
To replace the original pocket door hardware, Nathan sourced Richards Parlor Door Hangers from 1881.
To punch in the trim nails, Nathan uses a hammer and nail punch. Nathan scores the paint around the seams of the trim with a knife. Then, he carefully lifts the trim using a pry bar, putting a small piece of wood between the pry bar and trim to give the pry bar leverage and protect the wall surface. Nathan uses an oscillating tool to cut into the bottom of the trim pieces anchored into the floorboards. To remove the damaged door plate, Nathan unscrews the set screws with a 6.5mm slotted screwdriver.
To fill the gaps in the door plates, Bill cuts strips of thin foam cushioning, and Nathan reinstalls the door plates over the foam to create a kind of gasket that will absorb the shock to keep the old wood on the door from splitting. After lining up the door inside the pocket and attaching the hangers to the door plates, Nathan and Bill reinstall the trim. To secure the trim, Bill uses a finish nailer and trim nails.
Finally, Nathan applies white lithium grease to the wheels of the hanger hardware to ensure smooth operation and reduce corrosion.
Expert assistance is provided by Steven Thorp of Fixpocketdoors.com.
Induction Cooking Technology
Home technology expert Ross Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about induction cooktop technology.
Where to find it?
Ross explains how induction works, compares its efficiencies against gas, and discusses the features, benefits, and downsides. Ross and Kevin set up one single propane burner and one induction cooktop in the studio to test which one brings a kettle of water to a boil first. This test showed Induction heats up about twice as fast as gas, bringing the water to a boil.
Induction is more efficient than both electric and gas cooktops at ~80% efficiency, while gas is about 40%. Induction is known for its great response when adjusting the heat level. These cooktops are easier to clean than gas stoves and they can be placed on top of or under a counter, island or oven.
Induction is safer as it only heats up the pan/pot not the cooking surface and it turns off without apot sitting on the surface. This also minimizes accidental injury (if children or pets touch the surface) or fire since hot-pads or towels won’t catch fire upon contact.
The downsides are induction cooktops can be more expensive than both gas and electric cooktop and they will not work in a power outage (unless backup battery or generator). You must use cookware that contains some iron in order for the magnetic technology to work.
The cooktop used was Insignia Single-Zone Induction Cooktop 1,800 watts. The propane burner was Stansport Single Burner 5,000 BTU Propane Stove.
Build It | Shaker End Table with Char Miller-King
Host Kevin O’Connor meets maker Char Miller-King in her community’s workshop while she simplifies the challenging aspects of building a shaker-style table.
Where to find it?
You can check out other building projects by Char Miller-King at The Wooden Maven.
Original Air Date: Jan 12, 2023, Season 21; Ep. 10 23:42
Products and Resources
- Antique door hardware: Richards Parlor Door Hangers
- Expert assistance: Steven Thorp of Fixpocketdoors.com
- Cooktop manufacturer: Insignia Single-Zone Induction Cooktop 1,800 watts
- Propane burner manufacturer: Stansport Single Burner 5,000 BTU Propane Stove
- Maker talent: Char Miller-King at The Wooden Maven