H5

Al & Kelly Carrell

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Magnetic strips are available at hobby stores and hardware dealers. They are used for a variety of projects, but also can come in really handy in the workshop. You can buy a roll of this material and cut it to fit your needs. Some have a peel-and-stick backing, which makes them even handier to use. Place them on the top of your toolbox to hold loose hardware while you are working. Attach them to your stepladder, again to hold hardware so it won't fall to the ground and become lost. Stick a strip of magnet on your pegboard wall or workbench. You'll find a dozen uses for the stuff in your shop.

Dear Carrells: After we installed a new vinyl floor in our kitchen, we placed one large scrap in the garage under our car. I put it there to keep oil off the garage floor but found that it had another use as well. I finally decided to fix the oil leak, and found that sliding under the car was much easier on top of the vinyl scrap. The smooth surface was much more comfortable than the concrete floor, and when I dropped the filter, the oil didn't get to the floor before I cleaned it up.

-- N.H.

Dear Al: I remember reading your column awhile back about covering a handsaw blade edge with a scrap of garden hose. The hose is cut to the length of the blade and then slit down the side. You slip it over the edge of the blade and hold it in place with rubber bands. It's a great way to protect the blade, and your hands. But it can be more. I put it over the top of the blade and used it to shield my hand as I applied some pressure to the top of the blade while I was cutting some wood. Much better on the hands than the top of the blade alone.

-- R.P.

Q: My outdoor lawn furniture is made of concrete, and the pieces get mould on them from being in the shade. I clean them off, but it just comes back. Is there a better way of dealing with them? What would you suggest?

-- A.S.

A: You should be able to remove the mould with liquid laundry bleach. It must be completely removed, or it will just grow back. Then you can help prevent more mould and damage by applying a water seal over the entire surface. Re-apply yearly as needed.

* Got a question or tip? Visit www.thesuperhandyman.com. Those of general interest will be used in future columns.