What tips have you learned in your DIY experience that you wish you knew earlier? Let's learn from each other and share our tips! To keep this thread going come back each day to share a tip and read the latest posts. :yes:
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What tips have you learned in your DIY experience that you wish you knew earlier? Let's learn from each other and share our tips! To keep this thread going come back each day to share a tip and read the latest posts. :yes:
DIY Tip of the Day!
What tips have you learned in your DIY experience that you wish you knew earlier? Let's learn from each other and share our tips! To keep this thread going come back each day to share a tip and read the latest posts. :yes:
To help get this started, I will go first...
I came across this tip on a super simple way to be able to tell if you have a water leak in your toilet tank.
I came across this tip on a super simple way to be able to tell if you have a water leak in your toilet tank.
I saw this one just the other day.
When trying to paint a straight line using painters tape, after putting down the tape, paint the seam with the same color paint you are trying to protect.
Once that paint dries, go back and paint the other color you want.
The dried paint of the first color seals the seam and prevents bleed over.
When trying to paint a straight line using painters tape, after putting down the tape, paint the seam with the same color paint you are trying to protect.
Once that paint dries, go back and paint the other color you want.
The dried paint of the first color seals the seam and prevents bleed over.
I don't even remember where I saw this tip, but it's made hanging pictures a million times easier.
Take a piece of paper the size of your frame (or tape pieces together to make a piece of paper the size of your frame). Then tape it to the back of the frame and use a pencil to mark where the back of your frame will need nails. Then take that paper off and hang it on your wall with tape, using a level to get it just right. Hammer in the nails right through the paper in the marked spots. Voila! Perfectly positioned nails for a level frame! Now you can take down the paper and put up the frame.
Take a piece of paper the size of your frame (or tape pieces together to make a piece of paper the size of your frame). Then tape it to the back of the frame and use a pencil to mark where the back of your frame will need nails. Then take that paper off and hang it on your wall with tape, using a level to get it just right. Hammer in the nails right through the paper in the marked spots. Voila! Perfectly positioned nails for a level frame! Now you can take down the paper and put up the frame.
If you get a black scuff mark on your Formica or HPL counter top, just rub it with a dab of plain caulk, it will remove the scuff mark.
Hear are a few from my journey specifically for people using this site......
LISTEN to those that have travelled the path before you (sometimes many times) You may be told the opposite of what you want to hear but 99% of the time the people here know what they are doing. The advice given here is often given from years of experience and at no charge and is priceless. The people here are willing to help and although you might not like the answer there is a REASON you are being given it.
Doing it yourself does not always save money.....sometimes you need to step back and get a professional in to do some work. Refusing to accept you are out of your league will cost you in the long run, and not just money but also in dangerous conditions for you and your family. Does not mean you are a failure and lots of times if they understand the project and what you are dealing with they will offer advice and guide you on your journey. Know when its time to get a professional in and if you are not sure ASK.
Pictures are worth a 1000 words. If you can, post a picture of your issue as sometimes what you are describing is the opposite of what people are thinking.
Search is your friend...most of the time the question you have asked has been asked before with really good information in the answers.
The most important THINK SAFETY!!.....your life is not worth a bandaid fix or a jerry rig. If you have family and you are doing DIY - YOU are responsible for your work!! Take the time to understand what you are doing and do it RIGHT not quick. Your family might depend on it.
WEAR YOUR DAM SAFETY GEAR and always test wiring before playing with electrickery!!
Robyn
LISTEN to those that have travelled the path before you (sometimes many times) You may be told the opposite of what you want to hear but 99% of the time the people here know what they are doing. The advice given here is often given from years of experience and at no charge and is priceless. The people here are willing to help and although you might not like the answer there is a REASON you are being given it.
Doing it yourself does not always save money.....sometimes you need to step back and get a professional in to do some work. Refusing to accept you are out of your league will cost you in the long run, and not just money but also in dangerous conditions for you and your family. Does not mean you are a failure and lots of times if they understand the project and what you are dealing with they will offer advice and guide you on your journey. Know when its time to get a professional in and if you are not sure ASK.
Pictures are worth a 1000 words. If you can, post a picture of your issue as sometimes what you are describing is the opposite of what people are thinking.
Search is your friend...most of the time the question you have asked has been asked before with really good information in the answers.
The most important THINK SAFETY!!.....your life is not worth a bandaid fix or a jerry rig. If you have family and you are doing DIY - YOU are responsible for your work!! Take the time to understand what you are doing and do it RIGHT not quick. Your family might depend on it.
WEAR YOUR DAM SAFETY GEAR and always test wiring before playing with electrickery!!
Robyn
Can I use rocks or other types of stones that can just be found within the yard instead of the sea shells?
Great article on ways to repurpose old window screens.
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/repurpose-old-window-screens/
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/repurpose-old-window-screens/
Some times it's not possible to drain all the water from a pipe before cutting it.
Here's a good method to control the water spill/spray-
Have a rag and water pail handy and within reach.
Only cut through part of the pipe. As water starts to squirt out, lay the rag over the partial pipe cut as if throwing a towel over a clothes line- allow it to soak up the water.
The rag will create a controlled drip into the bucket and not down your arm
Here's a good method to control the water spill/spray-
Have a rag and water pail handy and within reach.
Only cut through part of the pipe. As water starts to squirt out, lay the rag over the partial pipe cut as if throwing a towel over a clothes line- allow it to soak up the water.
The rag will create a controlled drip into the bucket and not down your arm
IMO nothing looks more tacky than painted hinges. Looks good until the first time you open the door.gma2rjc said:
Unless they are old collectible hinges, replace.
You have to really question the orig article when they state knobs cost $20 or more. HD carries some decent ones in the $2-5 range
Thanks ddawg. You're right, they do look bad if it's there because someone didn't bother removing or taping over the hinges before they painted the door.
What I was thinking of is taking the original 'gold' colored hinges off the door and using the paint in the link (Krylon?) to paint over them. I wondered if the new paint would rub-off over time.
But, like you mentioned about the knobs, the hinges are only about $8 for a set of 3 at Home Depot, for the color I want.
What I was thinking of is taking the original 'gold' colored hinges off the door and using the paint in the link (Krylon?) to paint over them. I wondered if the new paint would rub-off over time.
But, like you mentioned about the knobs, the hinges are only about $8 for a set of 3 at Home Depot, for the color I want.
I like the tip on how to find out if there is a water leak in a toilet. It’s simple yet highly practical and effective. Thanks for the links also.
Here is a tip on how to get a handle on a broken tool. I’m taking a shovel for example:
It’s unfortunate that the age-old skill of replacing a tool’s handle is on the verge of vanishing completely. Still, however, you can do it exactly in the customary way using the following simple steps:
The first thing to keep in mind is that the only way of ensuring the optimal strength of a replacement handle is to find the right direction of the grain of your wood handle
So, attach the new handle in such a manner that the wood grain’s oval rings can smoothly scale up and down the handle’s sides.
Since the handle can break because of the shovel straining along the ovals, make sure only straight lines of wood grain reveal when you examine the blade of the shovel toward the handle’s face.
Here is a tip on how to get a handle on a broken tool. I’m taking a shovel for example:
It’s unfortunate that the age-old skill of replacing a tool’s handle is on the verge of vanishing completely. Still, however, you can do it exactly in the customary way using the following simple steps:
The first thing to keep in mind is that the only way of ensuring the optimal strength of a replacement handle is to find the right direction of the grain of your wood handle
So, attach the new handle in such a manner that the wood grain’s oval rings can smoothly scale up and down the handle’s sides.
Since the handle can break because of the shovel straining along the ovals, make sure only straight lines of wood grain reveal when you examine the blade of the shovel toward the handle’s face.
Another tip, do not use silicone sealant on any PVC pipe, at some point down the road it will just snap in half with no warning. One of my boats almost sunk because of that.
Our refrigerator/freezer has the freezer above the frig. The freezer section was operating correctly, but the frig not getting to 40 degrees or lower. After clearing out the frig it was soon discovered that the cold air in the freezer naturally falls down thru a vent which cools the frig. Used a air dryer to melt the ice in the vent. Problem solved. If you're about to junk something, nothing to lose by tinkering with it...my diy'er advice
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