Straight talk about your DIY projects

I really have a hard time with frames that are hanging crooked, as well as odd angles and imperfect corners when I'm working on projects. Sometimes you just can't help it, but other times it's just a matter of using a level or plumb bob and an adjustment or two. Here are some things you can use to make your next DIY project perfectly true.

Check your work with a straight edge, level or plumb bob as you work. If it starts off wrong, it will just get worse as you go and you won't be happy with the final results.

A level can be anything from a small, inexpensive bubble level up to a laser level. A longer level will be more accurate than a small level, so turn your short level into a long one. All you need to do is tape or otherwise secure the small level to a long, true piece of wood or pipe. This is all it takes, and if you use it while you are working on your project, it will come out straight and true.

If you don't have a level, you can make one from a bowl of water. Use a shallow bowl that will allow you to see the water level in it and decide if it is straight or not.

If your level has more than one vial in it, the second one probably will be there for resting plumb. This vial will be perpendicular to the leveling vial and, when held up to the side of your project, will allow you to adjust the plumb.

Another way to test for plumb if you don't have a level is to use a plumb bob. This is a device that uses a string with a pointed weight that hangs from it to point out the exact point at which your project is in plumb. If you don't have a real plumb, you can make one with a string with a washer hanging from it.

As you can see, getting a project straight isn't that hard to do. A small, inexpensive level is all you really need, and you will be happy with the results.

Trimming a bolt

There are times when you need to trim a bolt in order to make it fit better or to conceal it. This can be done with a hacksaw without too much effort. The next step is to de-burr it in order to allow for the nut to turn on the threads. One way to make this easier is to put the nut onto the bolt and tighten it all the way down, as far as it will go, before trimming the bolt. Now, grab the nut with some pliers and turn it off the bolt, de-burring and removing any scrap metal as you do so. This makes the process easier and will ensure a good fit when you are finished.

Keep cords under control

Now that I live in the city, I rarely need to use more than one extension cord when working outdoors. But when I do, I use an old trick that I learned years ago to connect two extension cords so that they wouldn't come undone while I was working: You tie them together, and then make the connection. Now, this needs to be done in a way that won't cause damage to the cord. The easiest way is to place the ends of the cords together, side by side, make a loose knot, then connect them together. This puts the strain of being pulled on the knot and not on the connection.

Super hints

• Rubber gloves are great for protecting your hands from paint, stains and chemicals. The biggest problem you can have with them is the tight fit and the problems getting them on and off. If you sprinkle a little powder into them and put some on your hands, the gloves will go on and off easier, which also can make them last longer.

• Ordinary screens work great to keep bugs out of your home, but they can be plain and boring. One cool thing you can do to make them look really neat is to stencil on them. Create a border or a center pattern with some white exterior paint. It even can give you more privacy at the same time. Think creatively for fun and function.

• Drilling into metal needs to be done with caution. Sharp edges and metal splinters can cause some damage if you aren't careful. Wear leather gloves and safety glasses. And pick up your metal splinters with a magnet instead of blowing them away.

Q. We have a hanging fixture that is starting to come loose from the ceiling. The cord plugs into the wall and runs through the chain, which is hanging from a hook in the ceiling. I've tried a bigger hook, but it just won't hold in the ceiling. Got any ideas?

A. You should replace the hook with a toggle bolt. This will hold in the ceiling just fine, and should support your lamp for many years without pulling out later on.

Q. We just replaced our kitchen faucet and are now having trouble with the old, original vegetable sprayer, which we did not replace. Did we do something wrong? How can we fix it?

A. It's easy enough to replace, but try cleaning it first. Soak it in a cup of vinegar and see if it's just clogged with mineral deposits. If that doesn't fix the problem, then just go ahead and replace it. If you did the faucet by yourself, you certainly can replace a sprayer.

Q. We have azaleas in our front yard. I love them, but we have to use fertilizer with iron in it to keep them looking good. The problem is the iron is making brown stains on the sides of my foundation and the front walkway. What can I do to clean away and prevent the rust stains that are building up in these areas?

A. Oxalic acid will clean off the rust stains. Just place a plastic dropcloth between the area you are cleaning and the plants. The acid will harm any plants it gets on. Apply a water sealer to the concrete surfaces when they are clean to prevent the porous surfaces from absorbing any more fertilizer. You may have to reapply once a year, but this should control the problem.

Reader tips

• My neighbor just put granite countertops in her kitchen. When I saw the contractors carrying out the old laminate, I asked if I could have it. I cut the biggest piece down a little, and have used it as a top for a new workbench. It's perfect and much stronger than the one I was going to use, which was just a piece of plywood.

• I thought I did a good job of putting up the wallpaper in my dining room. But after only a week, I starting seeing gaps between the sheets. I didn't know what I had done wrong or how to fix it. I found paint that was the same shade, so I used a tiny paintbrush and painted the gaps. Now it all looks fine, and you can't see them anymore.

• After last year's fiasco, I start every air-conditioning season by pouring a cup full of liquid laundry bleach into my air conditioner. Now, this needs to be poured into the primary drain pan if you have a backup. This bleach will dissolve the fungus that can start growing in your drain pan. Once it gets started there, it can block the drain line for the condensation and overflow, and flood a floor or leak through a ceiling. It's also a good idea to do it again, midseason, to make sure you are controlling it.

• I've learned, finally, that I can use two glues instead of one when working on some projects. Some glues take a long time to set up or cure, and that can give them super strength, but faster-drying glues can let you walk away sooner. So, you can use both on some projects. Just use the fast glue to set up first and the other glue to finish off your project, once and for all. Try it and see if it frees you up sooner.

• Have you ever tried to use coffee grounds as an odor eliminator? Well, it works pretty well. I take the used coffee grounds and let them dry in a shallow pan in my kitchen. As they dry, they absorb odors and give the room a fresher smell - not a coffee smell, but more of a neutralized smell. Like I said, it works well, and it's free!

Shoptalk

• Wagner is brilliant at making painting equipment that's easy to use and that lasts. I love their new Renuvo, which is designed for staining a deck. The onboard half-gallon tank holds your stain, so brushes and rollers are not needed. The moplike design makes it easy to use, and it has a trigger switch so you easily can control the stain flow. The Renuvo has a superstrong, premium painting pad, with groove bristles to get in between the boards for optimum results and super coverage. Even the tank is made to be easy to fill with your stain. If you have a deck to stain in your future, you need to take a look at the Renuvo by Wagner. These are available at home centers and hardware stores. You also can get additional information at www.wagnerspraytech.com.

• If you have mosquitoes to deal with in your part of the country, please check out Mosquito Dunks and Bits. This material can be placed in potential breeding areas with water but is completely safe around birds, fish, plants and pets. It will control larvae within 24 hours and will last for more than a month. Look for them at garden centers, hardware stores and home centers everywhere.

• Write to Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit online at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2015, Cowles Syndicate Inc.