Many household and shop tasks are easier when you know a few tricks of the trade. The following is a collection of hints and tips to make workshop and household jobs easier to do.
A cotton sock makes a good applicator when you have to stain intricately carved pieces. First don a rubber glove, then pull on the sock. Dip your fingers in the stain, then rub it on the work.
A clean cotton sock is also a handy dusting tool that works well on Venetian blinds. Wear the sock on your hand and wipe the slats between the thumb and fingers. If the white tapes on your blinds are slightly soiled or discolored, you can touch them up with white liquid shoe polish.
It’s hard to dust behind radiators or under appliances, but you can easily make a dusting tool by slipping a heavy duty sock on a yardstick. Secure the sock with a rubber band, then spray it lightly with a dusting spray.
The yardstick can also become a handy tool for retrieving small parts that roll under an appliance or behind a cabinet. To pick up nuts, bolts or screws, tape a small magnet to the end of the stick. To recover non-metallic items, wrap the end of the yardstick with double-stick tape. For extra illumination in these dark crevices, tape a small flashlight to the shaft of the stick.
It’s often difficult to see a graphite pencil line when you’re cutting fiberboard or dark wood. There are two ways to make a cutting line that will stand out: draw the line with a white pencil or highlight the area with white chalk. You can buy a white pencil at a stationary or artists’ supply store. You can also use a manicurist’s white pencil. Highlighting makes the work surface lighter so the dark cutting line will stand out.
Coat the cutting area with the chalk, then draw a graphite line on the white surface. Sealing a can of paint seems simple enough, but it can be difficult when paint collects in the rim groove. Use an 8d nail to punch holes in the groove. The holes will allow the paint to drain back into the can and keep the groove clean.
When sealing the can, put a mark the lid and a corresponding mark on the rim of the can. Always align these marks when resealing the can.
Finally, after pounding the lid in place, turn the can over and hold it upside down for a few seconds — be sure to support the lid with your hand. This upside-down posture will allow the paint to flow around the lid and form an air-tight seal.
Long interruptions in the middle of a painting chore can be awkward because the paint brush is apt to dry out and harden. An easy way to prevent this is by wrapping the brush in a plastic bag then placing it in the refrigerator.
No matter how thoroughly you clean your paint brush, the bristles are likely to be stiff after they dry out. You can keep them soft and flexible with ordinary hair conditioner. Mix up a conditioning solution by adding a tablespoon of conditioner to a pint of warm water. After cleaning and washing the brush, dip it in the conditioning solution for a few minutes.
Oven cleaner can be useful for cleaning more than the oven. Keep the barbecue grill clean by spraying it with oven cleaner. Let it stand for a few minutes, then wash it off. The same technique can be used to remove accumulations of pitch and rosin on saw blades.
Cabinetmakers know that it’s easier to drive screws into wood if you lubricate the screw threads first. Don’t make the mistake of using soap to lubricate the screws. It will attract moisture that will eventually cause the screw to rust.
Paste wax is a better screw lubricant, but a can of paste wax can be a bulky item to carry around — especially if you’re working outside or on ladder. A more convenient chunk of wax is the wax ring used to seal toilets. It’s available for about $2 at hardware and plumbing supply stores. Keep a ring in a plastic bag in your tool box. Tie it to your belt loop with a pipe cleaner when working on a ladder.
Starting a screw can be difficult if you only have one free hand. Of course, there are special screwdrivers with grippers that hold the screw when you drive it, but you can also make your own by wrapping a small piece of masking tape around the screwdriver blade and the screw.
Catbox filler, like Kitty Litter, is handy even if you don’t have a cat. The absorbent granules are ideal for picking up oil spilled after changing the filter on the car or oil burner. Sprinkle the filler on the puddle and allow it to absorb the oil. Sweep up the oil-soaked filler and dispose of it properly. If your car is leaking any fluid, pour catbox filler in a shallow metal pan and place it under the leak. The filler will absorb the fluid and keep the garage floor clean.
During the winter months, carry a bag of catbox filler in your trunk. If your car gets stuck on an icy patch, sprinkle the filler around and under the tires. It will absorb the moisture from the ice and give you added traction to pull away.
When you have to lie on the floor to service the car, make a mat from a piece of rigid foam insulation. If you’re working with a drop light, choose foil-backed foam board. The foil surface will reflect the light back toward your work. You can also use the foam board as a floor mat for your daily workout routine.
