New uses for old glove fingers
Don’t throw out your old work gloves. Cut the fingers off and you’ll find lots of uses for them. Use them to protect the tips of chisels when you need to carry them. They’re also good for softening the grip of pliers and many other applications.
Discover the home improvement projects that practically pay for themselves.
Make a squeegee from a rake
Need a squeegee in a hurry? Take a piece of pipe insulation and use a couple of cable ties to fasten it to the back of a garden rake. Works like a charm, and you don’t even have to take it off to use the rake.
Here are 31 yard tool hacks that will make your life easier.
Old sneakers as ladder bumpers
You could buy special rubber bumpers for the tops of your ladders to protect your siding or walls, but why? A pair of old sneakers (who doesn’t have some!) and a little duct tape will do the job just fine.
Double up on stubborn nails
Nails can be a pain to remove, especially trim nails with small heads and any nail when the head breaks off. The trick is to use two tools together: locking pliers to grab the nail shank, and a pry bar to do the pulling.
Gentle-grip pliers
Here’s an oldie with a twist. Use pieces of garden hose or other tubing to soften the jaws of slip-joint or other pliers so you can grip plated surfaces without damage. The twist? Size them so you can slide them up the handles to keep them handy.
Use a rubber band to grip stripped screws
We’ve all stripped a couple of screws in our day. And it normally isn’t a big setback until you need to unscrew it, that is. So the next time you’re in this situation, try a rubber band for a screw grip—find out how.
Hands-free light hack
Make a hands-free light in a snap with a flashlight, a pair of pliers and a rubber band. Place the flashlight in the jaws of the pliers; then wrap a rubber band around the handles of the pliers. That’s it! Point the light wherever you need it.
Don’t miss these 40 life hacks for organising your home.
Rubber band clamps
You can buy special woodworking clamps to hold hardwood edging in place until the glue sets, but they’re expensive and you won’t use them often. Instead of buying specialty clamps, you can modify some of your spring clamps instead. Grab a few rubber bands and presto – instant edge clamps.
Rubber band bolt holder
Mechanics often use special magnetic inserts in sockets to prevent the bolt from falling out while they try to thread it into a tight spot. You don’t need to waste money on those gadgets. Simply cut a rubber band into strips and lay a strip across the opening of the socket. Then insert the bolt head. The rubber band will wedge the bolt head in the socket, allowing you to start threading without losing the bolt.
Roll it!
You’d be amazed at how easy it is to move heavy, awkward objects with three pieces of PVC pipe. Move playhouses, yard sheds, empty hot tubs and rocks weighing well over a ton with this trick. Here’s how to do it:
Lift the front edge of the stone with a pry bar and slip two pipes underneath. Place one near the front and one about midway so the stone rests on the pipes.
Position the third pipe a foot or two in front of the stone.
Roll the stone forward onto the third pipe until the rear pipe comes free. Then move the rear pipe to the front and repeat.
This technique works best on relatively flat ground. On mild slopes, you’ll need a helper to shift pipes while you stabilise the load. Don’t use this method on steeper slopes.
String pipe cutter
Amaze your friends and mystify your neighbours by cutting PVC pipe with a string. It’s a great trick to know if you have to cut pipe that’s buried in a wall or some other tight spot. We used a mason’s line to saw through 5cm PVC pipe in less than a minute.
Here are 8 storage solutions using PVC piping.
Get a grip
Get a better grip on your straight-handled shovel by epoxying a 2.5cm PVC tee to the end.
I-Spy rain gutter
Here’s a quick and easy way to eyeball rain gutters for possible clogs – before the next downpour causes an overflow. Cut a 60-degree angle on the end of a piece of PVC pipe and tape a hand mirror to the angled end. Hoist the mirror above the gutter to spot leaves and mini jams.
Drawer organisers on the cheap
Slit some up PVC pipe down the middle and you’ve got stackable drawer organisers to keep all your small tools handy.
Here are 12 painting hacks every DIYer should know.
Quick woodworking file
This woodworking file comes in handy for sanding in tight spaces. Cut a piece of sandpaper to fit around a paint stir stick. Then use spray adhesive or an all-purpose glue to adhere it to the stick. Write the sandpaper grit on the handle of the stir stick, if you plan to store it for later use.
Kitty litter pouch for tool protection
Make a rust-preventing pouch for your toolbox with a scoop of silica crystal kitty litter, a piece of breathable fabric, and a zip tie. Toss it in your toolbox to keep out excess moisture and protect your prized possessions.
Hammer cushion
A rubber chair leg cap instantly converts a hammer into a rubber mallet. And if you want to drive a nail without denting the surrounding wood, cut a hole in the rubber cap. Pound until the rubber strikes wood, then finish driving the nail with a nail set. Most standard rubber caps fit tightly over most hammers and costs about $1 at home centres and hardware stores.
Lighted screwdriver hack
No need for fancy hand tools with built-in LED lights—opt for this lighted screwdriver hack instead. When working in a dark space such as inside a cabinet, make your own lighted screwdriver by taping a keychain-size flashlight to the shaft. It’ll shine the light right where you need it.
Bobby pin nail holder
There’s no need to risk hammering a finger when working with tiny nails or in tight quarters. A common bobby pin makes a great nail holder – and keeps your fingers at a safe distance! Once the nail is started, remove the bobby pin and continue hammering away.
Drill hangout
Those big hooks that are often used to hang bikes also make slick drill hangers. Get them at any home centre for a couple of bucks apiece.
Check out these cash-saving hacks for the little (and big) things.
Vise-Grips to pull nails
Vise-Grip pliers make great nail pullers. The tool locks onto the nail, creating a secure hold, and the curve of the head provides excellent leverage. Use a putty knife under the pliers if you plan to salvage the material after removing the nails.
Wine cork caulk saver
Synthetic wine corks are great for sealing partially used tubes of caulk. Drill an 8mm hole into the cork about 2.5cm deep. The cork fits perfectly and makes an airtight seal.
Long reach shears
Slip PVC pipes over the handles of your pruning shears and tape them in place to extend your reach and clip high branches without a ladder.
Keep pictures level
A pinch of Blu-tack prevents picture tilt without harming walls.
Stop losing socks
Stuff a strip of foam pipe insulation into the space between your washer and dryer or along the wall. That way, socks can’t slip into the abyss.
Oil change trough
Make changing the oil in your lawn mower and outdoor machines less messy with this handy hint: Cut off a piece of an empty cereal box and fold it into a trough. Then tip the machine and use the trough to guide the oil into the waste pan. The glossy coating on the cereal box keeps the oil from soaking through. Check out the more detailed tutorial.
Sign up here to get Handyman’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!
Source: RD.com