Sometimes, it’s guess and check. Sometimes it’s learning from your old man. Other times, you’re simply the only guy who reads the instructions. No matter what, though, knowing your way around the toolbox is always a good thing. These 10 things will help you around the house—and may spur you on to learn more.
How to Fix Cracked Plaster
Older homes and some new homes often have lath-and-plaster walls. Plaster is both a durable and good-looking surface, but there is one drawback: Plaster inevitably develops cracks by ageing and due to earthquake in some houses too.. Read More
Pull the Ole Nintendo on Your Garbage Disposal
A broken garbage disposal is actually a huge headache. Sure, you might have gotten along fine before you had one, but those were the days that dishes took a year to do. Read More.
Stop a Toilet that Doesn’t Stop Running
That sound. It’s a torturous sound that can keep a guy up at night. Sure, the severity varies (there was once a toilet in the basement of the apartment building in which I was living that blew something so hard – it was spraying water up with enough force that it hit the ceiling – and shook the floors of my first-floor apartment), but a toilet’s importance can never be understated. Read More.
Hammer a Nail—Not Your Hand
There’s nothing like hammering a nail perfectly. There’s an art to it. Hitting the nail square on the head. The problem is, it might not happen all the time—just like the idiom suggests. To assuage your fear of bashing your fingertips while driving a nail into a harder material that requires some force, set the nail in place and hold the rod with pliers as you hammer away. Read More.
Fix a Clogged Drain
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things, a clogged drain can force you under the sink with a monkey wrench for a good part of a night. The trick here is to think strategically. Many clogs can be fixed with liquid or gel drain cleaners, but if you’re facing something that’s got the whole thing backed up, get ready for a potentially messy fix. Read More.
Know Your Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Before you go mixing all the industrial-strength chemicals you have under your sink to create a Frankenstein mega cleaner, know a few things about what you’re mixing first—you could go Walter Whiting yourself without realizing it. Read More.
Use Science to Strip Paint
People love the smell of finish and paint. It smells like victory (Or was that something else…?). Anyway, there’s not a lot that can truly drastically change the look of something as quick and easy as refinishing or repainting wood. If you’re in possession of something wooden you can’t part with or can’t stand to look at (but love for its form), getting it just the way you want is simple. Read More.
Find a Stud Without a Stud Detector
If you find yourself on a weekend project with one of your buddies who wants to get his new flat-screen TV up on the wall, ask yourself two things: Will he let you come over to watch The Walking Dead on it, and does he know what the hell he’s doing? Read More.
Caulk Like a Pro
Caulking is an art form. The first step, as with most projects, is to make sure the surface you’re working on is clean. Use isopropyl alcohol, this usually breaks down any oil or residue that could make the caulk not stick properly. Read More.
Fix a Drywall Hole
Unfortunately, drywall holes happen. Whether it’s from a door swung open and the knob busting through or some other misfortune, drywall holes are unsightly and nagging. Read More.
Save Money and Clean Your Paintbrushes Yourself
Is there anything vinegar can’t do? If you’re gearing up for a big paint job and take your brushes out only to find them rigid with dry paint, boil them. In vinegar. Hot, rolling vinegar will disperse the paint and revitalize the bristles. Read More.
BY GIN A. ANDO/ PHOTO ANDREW SNAVELY
Source (http://www.primermagazine.com/2013/learn/10-tricks-for-the-beginner-handyman)