Mastery
A public knowledge base designed to help aspiring tradespeople obtain and maintain mastery!
What is Youtube University?
- Our curated list of helpful trade tutorials
- Each entry answers a specific trade question with a YouTube video
⚡️ Electricity: What is electricity?
- This Into The Ordinary Video is a fundamental explainer on the nature and mechanics of electricity
- This Into The Ordinary Video explains what an ampere (amp) is and how it functions as a unit of measurement for electric current
- This Into The Ordinary Video explains voltage, cathode, anode and how connecting batteries in series vs parallel alters the voltage
- This Into The Ordinary Video explains electrical resistance as the opposition to the flow of electric current in a circuit. Just as voltage is the "push" that drives current, resistance is the "friction" that resists it.
⚡️ Electricity: How to make a solar power system?
- This City Prepping Video is an introductory, step-by-step guide on how to build a basic DIY solar power system for beginners. The host emphasizes that no special technical skills are required and provides a clear, high-level overview of the process and necessary components.
- This Footprint Hero with Alex Beale Video is a beginner-friendly, plug-and-play solar generator setup that costs Alex approximately $1,500. The system is designed for backup power during blackouts or as a first step toward energy independence.
- This Wilson Forest Lands Video is a beginner-friendly guide to building a DIY solar power system, emphasizing that it is simple enough for anyone to set up. The creator demonstrates the assembly of a basic system by focusing on three essential components (panels, battery, controller).
- This Wilson Forest Lands Video details how the creator successfully runs an off-grid solar power system year-round without the need for a generator, even during cloudy winter months
- This Minute Man Solar Video details how the creator achieved 100% off-grid energy independence for approximately $13,500, which is about one-eighth of the cost of a professional installation. The system is broken down into three main components: output (inverter), storage (batteries), and input (solar panels).
- This Solar Surge Video presents a detailed head-to-head comparison between the Tesla Powerwall 3 and the EG4 PowerPro ESS, evaluating their performance for home solar and battery storage systems as of 2025.
- This RICH SOLAR Video provides a step-by-step guide on how to correctly expand a solar setup by adding parallel charge controllers.
⚡️ Electricity: How to cool food without electricity?
- This Sidney Explains Video explains the Zeer pot technique, an ancient, cost-effective method of evaporative cooling that allows for food preservation without electricity or refrigeration.
⚡️ Electricity: How to connect splice wires together?
- This Word of Advice Video provides a practical guide on 10 different methods for splicing or reconnecting electrical wires.
🪨 Concrete: How to pour a concrete pad?
- This Home RenoVision DIY Video is a comprehensive DIY guide on pouring a concrete pad for an air conditioner unit that is intended to provide a long-lasting, stable base
🪨 Concrete: How to repair concrete cracks?
- This Michael Builds Video is a practical, DIY guide for repairing concrete damage (cracks and voids). The video demonstrates how to achieve a professional, seamless finish.
🌲 Carpentry: How to sand?
- This Stumpy Nubs Video is a comprehensive guide to woodworking sanding techniques
- This Stumpy Nubs Video shows proper sanding techniques between coats of finish
🌲 Carpentry: How to cut rabbets?
- This Stumpy Nubs Video provides four essential tips for achieving clean and accurate router rabbets in our woodworking projects
🌲 Carpentry: How to create a box?
- This Stumpy Nubs Video shows how to build a strong, self-aligning box, drawer, or cabinet using a locking rabbet joint and a hidden groove joint. This method is designed to simplify project assembly and ensure durability without the need for complex, visible stop cuts.
- This Stumpy Nubs Video shows an efficient, fast, and simple method for constructing locking rabbet drawer boxes using a single table saw setup, which he refers to as the "half-half-half" drawer method.
🌲 Carpentry: How to build a dresser?
- This Anika's DIY Life Video is a beginner-friendly tutorial by Anika on how to build a 5-drawer dresser using only three essential power tools: a circular saw, a power drill, and a nail gun. The project focuses on utilizing plywood for the main body and drawers, making it an accessible build for newcomers to woodworking.
🌲 Carpentry: How to safely use a skill saw?
- This 731 Woodworks Video is a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to safely and effectively use a circular (skill) saw, emphasizing that 97% of accidents occur in DIY settings rather than professional job sites.
🌲 Carpentry: How to join with pocket holes?
- This Workshop Companion Video provides a comprehensive guide to using pocket hole joinery. The host, Nick Engler, breaks down the technique into several key areas (strength testing, terminology & design, screwology, jigs and alternative methods).
- This WoodWorkWeb Video provides a practical guide on common mistakes to avoid when using pocket hole joinery. The goal is to help beginners achieve more consistent and reliable results in their woodworking projects.
- This Anika's DIY Life Video demonstrates four effective methods for filling pocket holes in woodworking projects to achieve a clean, professional finish. Anika emphasizes that while the best practice is to place pocket holes where they won't be seen, these techniques are essential for situations where the joints remain exposed.
🌲 Carpentry: Is it safe to build w/ pallet wood?
- This Dainer Made Video addresses common concerns and misconceptions regarding the use of shipping pallets for DIY projects and ultimately concludes that pallet wood is a viable resource that just requires a bit of extra effort, cleanup, and caution
🌲 Carpentry: How to find the center of a board?
- This Tony's Woodshop Video demonstrates a quick and accurate technique for finding the center of a board using a speed square
🌲 Carpentry: What woodworking glue is nontoxic?
- This Workshop Companion Video shows the safety of common wood glues when used for kitchenware like cutting boards. While few manufacturers obtain official FDA Food Safe ratings, the video categorizes adhesives by their chemical makeup and safety for food contact.
🌲 Carpentry: How to cut any angle with a skill saw?
- This Wood Bully Video demonstrates a technique for using a circular saw to make precise angled cuts. The method involves using a speed square paired with stair gauges (also referred to as stair nuts) to lock in any desired angle.
🌲 Carpentry: How to change the blade on a skill saw?
- This 365 Red Leaf Video provides a quick tutorial on how to change a circular saw blade safely and efficiently
🌲 Carpentry: When to not use pressure treated lumber?
- This Wilson Forest Lands Video explains why pressure-treated lumber may not be the ideal choice for projects requiring significant structural strength, specifically when supporting heavy items like shipping containers
🌲 Carpentry: Why should we not use furnisure polish on wooden surfaces?
- This Workshop Companion Video explains why repair experts advise against using commercial furniture polish on wooden surfaces, why paste wax is a better alternative and how to use it optimally.
🧰 Flooring: How to install an earthen floor?
- This Radical Gastronomy Video documents the installation of a simple, cost-effective earthen floor for a cottage addition. The process involves multiple layers and specific material mixes to ensure a stable, beautiful, and functional finish.
🧰 Flooring: How to install vinyl plank floors?
- This Fix This Build That Video is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to installing vinyl plank flooring in a laundry room. The creator walks through the entire renovation process, emphasizing proper planning, tool selection, and execution techniques.
- This Funny Carpenter Video is a practical tutorial by The Funny Carpenter on how to properly install floating vinyl plank flooring. The guide emphasizes the mechanics of locking the planks together to ensure a clean, long-lasting installation.
🚪 Doors: How to install a door?
- This BAS Renovations Video provides a comprehensive guide on how to achieve a strong and professional door installation. The core takeaway is that a strong installation depends on properly tying the door into the structural framing of the wall, rather than just the type of door used.
🪴 Landscaping: How to lay sod?
- This Lowe's Home Improvement Video provides a step-by-step guide on how to install sod to achieve a lush, healthy lawn. Replacing a patchy or struggling lawn with sod is presented as a faster alternative to seeding.
🪟 Windows: How to install a window?
- This BAS Renovations Video provides a step-by-step guide on how to properly install a window, focusing on flashing techniques to ensure a water-tight installation.
🧰 Tools: How to move heavy stuff by yourself?
- This Essential Craftsman Video provides a practical guide on how to utilize mechanical advantage to move heavy objects safely by yourself. The speaker emphasizes that understanding simple machines is essential for construction and general manual labor, allowing a single person to accomplish tasks that would normally require a team.
⛩️ Fencing: How to install a vinyl or wood fence?
- This BAS Renovations Video provides a comprehensive guide on installing a durable vinyl or wood fence.
