Handy tips for the home...please reply with any others

[AlumniClub]

Keep a couple of sections of 3/4-in. pipe insulation in your trunk to protect both the car's paint and your oversized cargo. A package of pipe insulation costs about $4 at home centers and hardware stores.



GB2

[AlumniClub]

Splitting firewood is tough on ax and maul handles, especially near the head where near misses leave the handle gouged and splintered. To protect the handle, wrap it tightly with 18-gauge wire, then cover the wire with duct tape.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

Minimize the mess when you're cutting or drilling a hole in drywall. Tape a bag below the work zone to catch the dust. Use an easy-release tape to avoid wall damage.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

The edges of sharp cutting tools like chisels and lathe tools are often damaged as badly through poor storage as they are by use. Empty plastic 35mm film canisters make great tip protectors if you permanently glue the lid to the canister and cut a slot in the top. The canisters can house tools up to 1-1/4in. wide and you can usually get as many as you want at a store that processes film. You could also not glue tops on and use for drill bit storage as well.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

A dab of glow-in-the-dark paint means no more groping for the light switch at night. The paint dries clear and glows for about eight hours after exposure to light. Get it at a paint or craft store for about $5.



GB2

[AlumniClub]

When hanging drywall, smear lipstick on electrical boxes. Then position the sheet and press it into place to create a perfect cutout pattern.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

It's a real pain in the neck trying to line up all those keyhole slots when you're mounting an outlet power strip. One easy solution is to tape a piece of paper over the mounting slots. Rub a pencil over the slots to create a mounting template, and use it to accurately lay out the mounting holes.



GB2

[AlumniClub]

Your walls may not have much inner beauty, but it's a good idea to take pictures of what's inside during remodeling. The same goes for floors and ceilings. When your next remodeling or repair project rolls around, you'll know where the framing and the electrical and plumbing lines are.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

Molds and mildew grow in damp, dark places. Molds and mildew can cause lung problems – especially in people who have allergies or asthma. You can prevent the growth of molds and mildew in your home by controlling humidity.

Tips on mold and mildew
Control moisture. Use a dehumidifier during the summer. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom. Vent the clothes dryer to the outdoors and make sure the vent pipe is not clogged.

Fix plumbing leaks before mold grows.

Don’t store firewood inside. Bark contains millions of mold spores.

[AlumniClub]

Prevent balls of twine from tangling up by making a twine dispenser from an empty plastic detergent jug. Cut the bottom off the jug and drill a hole in the cap. Screw the jug to your shop wall with the spout facing down. Drop the ball of twine into the jug, thread it through the hole and screw the cap on.

GB2

[AlumniClub]

Even though I was rejected for the Broadway production of "Stomp" ...lol...I did take one good idea from the experience. While hanging and taping a houseful of drywall, I got tired of moving a ladder around to work on the ceiling and upper walls. So I took an old pair of work shoes, bolted them to a pair of 5-gal. buckets, and had myself some inexpensive, stable stilts — no more ladder. Be extra careful around stairways and construction debris.



GB2

[AlumniClub]

Disposable cosmetics applicators are great for small touch-up jobs. They let you put a dab of paint or finish precisely where you want it. No mess, no brushes to clean up. Get a dozen for $1 at drugstores. So go ahead guys, let her buy makeup...makes her beautiful and you get free touch up brushes


GB2

Cosmetic sponges work great also for staining touch-ups too. Used those when i was working in a antique furniture restoration shop. Guys thought i was nuts and they also found it very useful. Just make sure they are clean or stains and paints wont adhere properly