Ask This Old House

Kevin

Today on "Ask This Old House"... Ooh, somebody's getting in the Christmas spirit, huh? This looks like Santa's workshop down here.

Tom

Oh, yeah, it's time for the decorations. This toy box will make a great gift, and we'll show you how to build it.

Kevin

And... How long does it take your Christmas tree to go from this to this? I'm headed to a test lab in Chicago to find out.

John

You can see how quickly this goes.

Kevin

It's frightening, actually.

John

And this is a well-watered tree, and also, we're in a lab, so all the smoke is being captured and cleaned. But the reality is, there's a lot of heat here. There's no fire extinguisher in your home that can handle this at this point.

Kevin

That's next on "Ask This Old House." Hi, there. I'm Kevin O'Connor. And welcome back to "Ask This Old House," where if you've got a question about your house, we'd love to hear from you, so keep your e-mails coming. And today's show is all about the holidays,

speaking of which... Richard

Hey, Kev.

Kevin

Happy holidays,

guys. Richard

And to you.

Kevin

I love to see the decorations going up, although it's a little late. They should've been up -- I'm just saying -- they should've been up already.

Richard

We've been a little bit behind.

Kevin

Ooh, have you guys been shopping for me?

Richard

No, actually. The busiest day for any plumber or drain cleaner is the day after Thanksgiving 'cause everybody's kitchen sink seems to get clogged. So a little tip about what should go down any drain. You should really avoid oils, greases, and fats.

Much better to collect this in a jar, let it coagulate instead of letting it coagulate in a drain.

Kevin

All right. Good to know. Do you guys need help with the decorations?

I'm happy to pitch in. Richard

No. Tommy's actually looking for you. He was just screaming your name. Before you go, bup, bup, bup.

Secret Santa. Kevin

Oh! I love the Secret Santa that we do.

Sighs

Secret Santa. Kevin

Oh, my God.

Laughs

Richard

Kevin

Whoa. Somebody's getting in the Christmas spirit, huh? This looks like Santa's workshop down here.

Tom

Oh, yeah. It's time for the decorations.

Kevin

Are you an elf or Santa? No, you're probably Santa. All right, what are you thinking, Tommy?

Tom

Well, you know, my grandson Jake, he's 6 years old. He's got a lot of toys. I don't know who's buying them for him, but he needs a place to put them in his bedroom to keep neat.

Okay. Tom

All right. So I thought about a toy box. I found this one online to get some ideas from it. It's really a little bit too small for Jake.

But I do like the idea of the front here, the panels.

Kevin

Yeah.

Tom

I like the fact that it doesn't have a top, so I don't have to worry about it falling and jamming his fingers.

Okay. Tom

And I like the divider.

Kevin

Yeah. And let me guess. Some of the things you don't like about it are the material, because I'm seeing particleboard, and what is it?

Wrapped in a laminate here. Tom

Yeah. I don't like the fact that the ends are plain. I'm gonna dress up the front, I want to dress up the two ends.

Kevin

Okay.

Tom

All in all, it's a good inspiration. I want to make it a little bit bigger, a little bit wider. I kind of like the height, so I think that's fine.

Kevin

And you're thinking about using some real wood? You got one-by stock here.

Tom

Yeah, I went to the home center, and I picked up some 1x4 and 1x8 pine for the styles and the rails. And I got some plywood for the back, the bottom, and the panels, and this is half-inch birch veneer. We sand this up, and it'll paint nice.

Kevin

Let's make Jake a toy box.

Tom

Okay. So, what I did is I cut some pieces to rough lengths, so we can see what we have here.

Kevin

So we're talking about the side panels right now?

Tom

Side panels, style, and rail system. Okay, so, two uprights right here. This piece will go across the bottom, okay. So that's about the size that we want to make the width of it, from front to back.

So now, at the top, we want to have an angle on it. So I'm gonna take a piece and hold it like this, and I'm actually gonna eyeball what I think is a comfortable angle. And I kind of like that. Now we want to find out what that angle is so I can set my saw.

So I'm gonna take my speed square and I'm gonna hold it tight against this edge and slide it up till it hits the underside of the rail here. And that's in the 20s. I think I want to make it a little shallower, so let's bring it back to 15 degrees, because I know there's a stop on my saw that's 15 degrees and it'll hold the saw right into position really quick.

Kevin

So this one's gonna remain square.

Tom

Yep.

Kevin

But this will get cut at an angle, and this will get an angle here and here.

Tom

Right, and all three angles -- the top and the two ends -- will all be the same. So, the next thing I want to do is hold the board tight together at the bottom, all right? And now, I haven't moved this. It's 15 degrees.

I'm gonna mark this right here, where the two boards meet. Right here, where the two boards meet. Right there, and I have all three lengths.

Saw blade whirring

Saw blade whirring

Tom

Okay, I've got our styles and rails all put together. This is one section, one side, and we have the other side. Also, this is the front that I've made up, and you can see we're gonna have two panels there. I also want to make sure that our half-inch panel floats, so we're gonna make a dado around the inside perimeter of all of our openings, and a rabbited section on our panels, so it sits in there.

Kevin

Interesting. And so why the dado and the rabbit? Why not just have this float in a dado?

Tom

Well, because the half-inch plywood is too thick to put a dado in the edge of the style in rail.

You want a bigger reveal. Tom

Right. I also want to make sure that the back of the panel is flush with the back of the style and the rail. So that means that the dado is gonna be a little bit off center.

Kevin

Okay, and so, how do you determine where that dado goes?

Tom

Well, what I want to do is I want to treat the edge of my rip vents as the back of both the styles and the rails. I take a piece of scrap, half-inch plywood. I hold it tight to the rip vents, and I move the rip vents so the face of the plywood is flush with the edge of the blade.

Kevin

So when you run your styles and rails through, it's gonna locate that dado just where you want it.

Tom

Exactly.

Kevin

And then, what's with the tape?

Tom

Well, I don't want, in some of the pieces, for the dado to go all the way through.

Kevin

Mm-hmm.

Tom

So I referenced some marks on the pieces that I don't want the dado to go all the way through.

Kevin

'Cause we'll see it from the top or the bottom.

Tom

Exactly.

Kevin

So now you know, if you line up that line to the tape, you know where to start and you know where to stop. Very clever.

Machine whirring

Whirring continues

Whirring continues

Tom

Taking out the dado blade and replace it with a conventional saw blade, and now we can cut all our plywood panels. I made a jig to hold a panel at the right angle so they'll all be the same. We'll cut the rabbit on the panels using a rabbitting router bit. The ball bearing on the bottom of the bit keeps the width consistent.

We're gonna assemble all of our styles and rails using pocket screws. I have a special jig that holds the board in position, and we have a special drill to go in the holes and the jig. Once we have them all drilled, now we can glue it and screw it together. We're gonna see the inside of the toy box, so I want to hide the holes that we used for the screws.

The manufacturer that does the jig system also has a dowel that's cut and bevel to fit in the hole.

Sander whirring

Machine whirs

Tom

To hide the edge of the plywood back, I'll cut a rabbit on the two sides.

Machine whirring

Tom

I added a radius on the top front corners of both sides. Now, I just smooth that with a sander. I'll then round over the edges with a round-over bit in my router. To dress up the bottom, I'm gonna cut an arch.

I set a nail in the center of the arch. Then I hold a piece of scrap wood tight to the bottom corners and bend the wood up to the nail, and then I trace that curve. And then I follow that line and cut it with a jig saw.

There's our arch. Kevin

Awesome.

Tom

We'll use a cleat to hold the bottom in position. All right, the next step is to cut a dado in the back end, the bottom, to accept the divider that we're gonna slide into. And we're using a half-inch mortising bit to make that cut. And now we can assemble the toy box.

I'll just put a couple tacks in it for now. Now, here's the center divider. I've cut it it width, but I haven't cut the length yet. Slide in the dadoes.

Now, what I want to do is I want to match the side with this square cut here and the angle here, but I want to keep it down just a little bit on the angle portion. So I'm gonna take my square and mark it square. I'm gonna take and just put a reference line right here on the front. And I want to measure from the back out and transfer the measurement to here.

So, now, this is the top edge from the front. I'm gonna come down, oh, about an inch. And this line right here, I'm gonna bring down and measure down an inch from there. That way the center partition will be parallel to the sides.

Kevin

Parallel but an inch lower.

Tom

Correct. Mark it. And now we can cut it.

Saw blade whirring

Tom

Okay, and now we're ready for the shelf. All right, it's all screwed off. Now, we have a little more sanding to do. We have to fill all the holes, sand it again, prime it, and paint it.

Kevin

Looks really good, Tommy. And I don't care what anybody says. Jake's grandpa, he's a softy.

Tom

I don't know about that. Well, maybe a little.

Both laugh

Tom

Kevin

John, it's good to see you again.

John

Well, it's nice to have you back, Kevin.

Kevin

Well, you were kind enough to have us here last year. We were talking about kitchen fires and how fast house fires can spread, given all the synthetic materials in housewares.

John

And today we want to talk about holiday fires because, you know, fires spike in December and January, and a lot of that is because of holiday decorations and things of that type.

Kevin

All right, we gonna burn something?

John

You bet. Let's go. Candles are very popular all times of the year, and there are thousands of candle fires each year, but it peaks in December, three times more than any other month.

Kevin

So you have guests over, you want to set the table nicely, and a candle could be the center of all that.

John

That's right. But remember. Every time there's a fire, people say, "I just left the room for a second, and when I came back, it was a blaze."

Kevin

So what's the tip? No candles?

John

The tip is just blow out the candle when you leave the room. Don't let it sit there alone. And the reason for that, Kevin, is simply because a dog could bump it, a cat could bump it, children could bump the table, or it could just fall over by itself because it wasn't inserted hard enough into the candle holder.

Kevin

Well, let's give it to the test.

John

Let's do that.

Kevin

Let's see how fast it goes up.

John

This is a demonstration of what could happen.

Kevin

So, this is obviously not a candle that's been dropped.

John

No, no, but it certainly would simulate what could happen here in a dining room.

Kevin

How hot is a candle flame? I mean, it's not that intimidating.

John

One simple, little candle like this can be 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. We've measured it with our instruments.

Kevin

You want to get that back in there before it's too late?

John

If you have a fire extinguisher, you might be able to put out this fire. But if it gets any bigger, you have to everybody out and call 911.

Kevin

So, it happened pretty quickly. I mean, one dry evergreen branch hits a napkin. Napkins are on the tablecloth, and now we've got a little bit of everything going. We've got the centerpiece going, we've got the napkins, we've got some smoldering on the tablecloth.

John

All of that is burning, and if the candle is a thousand degrees, you can imagine how hot this fire is already. So you've got a lot of fire here.

Kevin

Yeah.

John

And this could put the damper on any festivities.

Kevin

Yes, it could.

John

So, this fire is dwindling, but let's be on the safe side and call our firefighters to get it put out because everything there is hot. Even the table has to be soaked down now.

Kevin

Okay.

John

So, Kevin, let's talk about Christmas tree fires. They're not as common as candle fires, but they can be more deadly than any fire. So, what we always recommend is, when you get it, cut an inch or two off the base of the tree so it helps absorb water. Put it in water and keep it watered through the entire holiday season.

But no matter how well you keep it watered, they really only last about four weeks, so you have to plan your celebrations around that four weeks.

Kevin

And so, this is a freshly cut and watered tree we're working with?

John

This is. It's been cut. It's been watered. But it will still burn.

In fact, we're going to accelerate the burning. We've got material at the base of the tree. We're going to have one of our firefighters ignite it, and you can see how quickly this tree will burn. But the thing is, if it's watered, it will give you some time to escape.

Kevin

All right. Well, let's see it go up.

John

You can see how quickly this goes.

Kevin

It's frightening, actually.

John

And this is a well-watered tree, and also we're in a lab, so all the smoke is being captured and cleaned. But the reality is, there's a lot of heat here. There's no fire extinguisher in your home that can handle this at this point.

Kevin

This smoke would've filled this room instantly.

John

The smoke is something that's going to hurt you, and the heat that we're feeling right now. So, this is a tree that was cut weeks ago and never put in water.

Kevin

So, that other tree was fresh and well-watered. What can we expect from this?

John

You can only imagine. This is 15 seconds into it, and you can see it's going faster, but the heat release is much higher than the other tree.

Kevin

The drier the tree, the more heat it gives off.

John

That's right, and heat release is a better indicator of your safety.

Kevin

That is an inferno.

John

That tree is almost gone, and it's only about 45 seconds now. And that tree is so far gone, and the house and the room is so far gone, you need the fire department for sure to take care of this. If that room had been enclosed like a normal room, we would've hit flashover much sooner than with the well-watered tree, and flashover means life is not sustainable. You can't live in a room that has flashover, meaning that everything in the room starts on fire even if the fire doesn't get it.

It's so hot, they all ignite.

Kevin

Okay, that's even more terrifying, and that would consume the house in no time.

John

And the higher the heat release, the less time you have to escape. So, this is an artificial, pre-lit tree. This tree is one that has met the requirements for purposely forcing flame up it, but you'll notice that it burns a lot differently than the real trees.

Kevin

The first thing I notice is the black smoke. That is a lot of smoke there.

John

That is.

Kevin

Although we're not getting that giant, immediate flash.

John

And the fact is that this tree will melt, will burn like anything else, but you can see what's happening right now. The fire is kind of burning out.

Kevin

So it's a slower burn, almost no burn.

John

The ignition source is burned away. The tree is not sustaining flame. So our measurement is heat release. Heat release is the thing that we use to determine what the hazards are associated with an artificial, prelit tree, if you will.

Kevin

So, we still have a fire. We still have to get out of the house, but we have plenty of time to get out compared to the previous two.

John

And that's why we look at heat release. The heat release dictates how much energy is given off. How much energy is given off relates to how much time you have to escape, and the escape time is exactly what we're looking for.

Kevin

All right, well, now it's going.

John

Now we see it going, but again, how many minutes is this into the burn?

Kevin

All right. Well, seeing those trees burn really says it all. You have my attention, although it makes you a little bit of a grinch, John. I mean, you've taken away my candles, my real tree, my fake tree.

I mean,

there go the holidays. John

Oh, not really. We understand those are great traditions, but with a little bit of thinking about safety, you can have a very safe holiday season.

Kevin

So with our live trees, make sure that they are well-watered. Maybe the fake trees burn a little slower. And with the candles, keep an eye on them and keep them away from combustibles.

John

Absolutely. And be sure to have a working smoke alarm in your home

every day of the year. Kevin

Always. Well, once again, thank you very much.

John

It's my pleasure. Glad to have had you. Have a very happy holiday season.

Kevin

Well, thank you. You too. So, no coal in your stocking, but maybe a little bit of soot.

John

Well, I think there's gonna be soot in everything, not just our stockings.

Tom

Wow. That's some pretty scary stuff.

Kevin

Sobering, isn't it?

Tom

But you know what? I didn't really notice a big difference in the tree that gets watered and the one that doesn't get watered.

Kevin

That's true. But you got to keep a couple things in mind. First of all, we used accelerants to get the fire going so that we could show the differences.

Tom

Mm-hmm.

Kevin

But also, as John pointed out, with the tree that wasn't watered, it's about the heat release, and I tell you what. When that thing was burning, I mean, I was standing back 10 feet. I couldn't even be in the room. It was so hot, and the tree that wasn't watered gives off way more heat.

More things in the room could catch on fire, and you have less time to get out.

Tom

Scary stuff.

Kevin

So keep them watered if you're using a real tree.

Richard

All right. Now, before you completely bum everybody out and wreck Christmas for us all...

Kevin

Am I ruining Christmas?

Richard

...can we do Secret Santa?

Tom

Secret Santa! Secret Santa! Oh, wait a second.

Roger

Richard, this one's for you.

Richard

Who's this from?

Roger

Me.

Richard

From you?

Roger

Yes.

Kevin

It's like a can of toilet paper.

Richard

It does look like toilet paper. Did you get me toilet paper in a can?

Laughter

Roger

Actually it's an amaryllis. It comes with everything you need to grow it. Four to six weeks. You're gonna have a big, beautiful flower.

And I know you'll think of me. Richard

I do, every year. Nothing says Christmas like an amaryllis from you.

Thank you. Tom

Very nice.

Richard

Anything more for me? No.

Laughter

Richard

I got your name, so here you go.

Roger

Oh, great. You know, I love this. This is the most fun I have all year. And I got a flashlight.

Richard

He got a flashlight, but it's more than just a flashlight.

Roger

It's a flashlight.

Richard

No, it has a flashlight, but it also has a little camera here, and it ties into your smartphone. Watch this now. So, watch. So, now...

Kevin

Oh,

cool. Richard

So, lookit. So, now, with this, you get into a tight, little space. Here's Tommy. But I can use this to go inside of a wall, see what's going on.

You could actually send this down the gopher --

Roger

Can I hook this up?

Richard

It will not work with that.

Roger

What do you mean it won't work?

Richard

But we can re-gift this.

Kevin

You should send this down the gopher hole. Are you kidding me? Oh, brother.

Roger

I got a flashlight.

Kevin

Next year you get a phone. All right, Tommy, I got you something. That's for you right there, something I know you need.

Tom

You got me something, huh?

Kevin

I did.

Tom

Oh, boy. Oh, great, a tape measure.

Richard

A tape -- Do you have any? Just what I need.

Kevin

Don't sound too excited. It's not just a tape measure. Come on. Look at this.

So, you're familiar with this.

Tom

Yeah, those are the numbers.

That's how you measure. Kevin

Yes. But it's also a digital tape measure, so check this out. Push the button. You get the little laser right there.

So let's say you wanted to measure the length of an entire room if you're hanging crown molding. You push that and then check it out right on top.

Tom

Yeah, so we're about 70 inches from that post.

That's great. Kevin

Super accurate. Merry Christmas, Pops.

Richard

Lets you know where you are.

Tom

Okay, so...

Richard

We're missing one.

Tom

Let's see, Kevin. Um...

Kevin

Really?

Richard

What are you doing? You're doing the short arms again?

Tom

You know what? I know, right here.

Richard

What does this mean?

Tom

I made this toy box basically for you.

Kevin

You just told me it was for your grandson,

and I helped you make it. Tom

Yeah. Well, maybe you can use it for toys.

Kevin

You know what? It's not about giving.

It's about getting. Richard

It's the thought. It's the thought that counts.

All right. Kevin

So give that to Jake.

Tom

All right, baby, I was kidding. Here you go.

Kevin

Wow, you got me something? All right, what's this gonna be?

Roger

I saw a tear.

Oh. Tom

That's a serious gift.

Kevin

That's very nice. I was just admiring your -- That's really nice. Thank you, Pops.

Tom

Very nice.

Kevin

There's no blade.

Tom

Well, one step at a time, son. I don't want you getting hurt.

Kevin

Well, thank you anyway, guys. And so, from all of us, happy holidays to you and your family, and until next time, I'm Kevin O'Connor.

I'm Roger Cook. Richard

I'm Richard Trethewey.

Tom

And I'm Tom Silva.

Kevin

For "Ask This Old House."

Tom

See, now I don't have to worry about you getting cut.

Kevin

How long until I get a blade?

Roger

I'll trade you for a flashlight.

Laughter

Roger

Kevin

Next time on "Ask This Old House"...

Ross

This is the Sonoran Desert. It is hot, and it is dry. In "Future House," I'll show you how to get clean drinking water from the sun.

Tom

Take a look at the side of the window right here. You can actually see daylight, and that gap is letting cold air in. But the fix is pretty easy.

Scott

Cleaning brick can be messy and dangerous. I'll show you how to do it safely.