How to keep that screw tight in wood
We probably get a question a week through our Web site (www.thesuperhandyman.com) about how to deal with a loose screw. It's a very common problem. Because screws get turned in and out of wood, they eventually become loose. But there are a lot of easy ways to remedy the problem. Here are a few you can try:
You can try wrapping a little steel wool around the threads and reinserting the screw. The metal fibers will help fill in the loose spots and will help the screw to bite into the wood again.
If this is a larger screw, you can try slipping a small piece of solder wire into the hole and then installing the screw again. Solder is very soft, and it also will help the screw get a better hold of the wood.
You can put a dab of wood glue into the hole before putting the screw back in. Sometimes the glue will help hold the screw in place longer. If you don't want the screw to come out ever, you might try epoxy glue.
You can try placing a toothpick or two into a hole and then installing the screw again. Again, the wooden toothpick will help fill in the gaps and will also give the screw something to hold onto. A combination of toothpicks and wood glue will give you even more success.
You can always try installing a larger screw.
If that doesn't work, you can just drill the hole out, fill it with wood glue and a dowel rod and start with a fresh hole once that has had time to set up.
Hopefully one of these solutions will work for you.
Annual check-up
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you need to have it checked and cleaned every year in order to avoid chimney fires. You can do a simple check yourself with a mirror. Just open the flue on a nice day, hold the mirror inside the fireplace facing upward and take a look at what's up there. This will not work on all chimneys, but it might give you a chance for a visual inspection of yours. A mirror can come in handy in other ways too. It's a great tool to use to see behind a large refrigerator or a dryer, if you are trying to pinpoint a problem.
Punching holes
The hole punch has been around for a long time. We've all used it for various office and school applications, but it can come in handy in the shop as well. If you have a pegboard wall, you know that most holders come in the form of a hook. You can punch holes in some of your shop items and utilize those hooks. Punch holes in a plastic bag filled with hardware. You can punch holes in sandpaper and holders for bits and saw blades, and you can punch new holes in carded items that the hole has been torn out of. It can make many of your shop items more accessible and keep your shop better organized.
Super hints
• A window screen, especially the solar type, should be removed in the winter months to let more light into the house. It can help keep you warm and give you more light on a cold, dreary day.
• The same power that lets your caulking gun push out the caulk can also help you clamp items. Place the item between the end of the caulking gun and the impeller, and tighten it. It's a great clamp when you're in a bind.
• If you don't like having to untangle battery jumper cables before using them on your car, try this. Lay them out side by side and then use electrical tape to tape them together. Leave the ends loose so they can be used on the proper battery terminals. The connected cables will be less likely to tangle, and there will be less of a chance of them touching anything they shouldn't touch!
Q. I need to straighten the seat on my toilet. It isn't straight, and I can't figure out how to move it. I don't want to break it. Can you help?
H.J.
A. Most seats are held in place by two bolts and nuts. These can be metal or, more commonly, plastic, so be careful not to put too much pressure on them, or they will break. The screws fit through the toilet bowl where the seat is hinged. You can access the nut through the bottom, but the screw head might not be so obvious. Some are built into the hinge and others are concealed under a snap-off cap. You should be able to loosen them from either side, and then you can straighten the seat and tighten them back into place.
Q. The new section of our wooden fence is weathering now, and it seems like the nails are staining the wood. There are dark streaks running down the wood from them. How can we erase these stains?
H.J.
A. Whoever installed the fasteners should have used galvanized hardware to avoid this problem. If you can, you might remove this hardware and install the correct type. To clean the stains, try using a fence brightener that contains oxalic acid. Then use a water seal to prevent future stains and help the wood last longer.
Q. I have an idea to install lattice panels around my pool deck. It is raised, and there is nothing but dirt underneath. I think it would look better if it were covered up. What can I use to paint or stain the lattice to help it last longer?
N.H.
A. Our first choice would be to use the newer vinyl or PVC lattice panels. These would last a very long time, with no more maintenance than an occasional washing. But you also can buy pressure-treated lattice panels. If you want to stain them, use a high-quality penetrating stain after the panels have weathered for a few months. Use water sealer on them yearly.
Q. I'm ready to spruce up my old concrete patio and want to cover it with brick pavers. The surface is smooth, so can I just lay the bricks over it? Do I need to do anything else?
H.M.
A. You need to have a strong border to hold the bricks in place. Once that is done, just lay them right over the concrete. Pour sand over the bricks and sweep it into the cracks between them. That's about it.
Reader tips
• My wife complains about our wet bar after the football games, so I try to keep it clean. The marble top is a lot of work, but I have found that after I clean it, I can use my car wax on it to make it look nice. It protects it from some of the messes, too.
R.T.
• I have always found that my wood glue dries in the tip of the dispenser. I hate having to unclog it every time I want to use it, so I switched to a better bottle. I use an old pancake-syrup bottle that I cleaned out and filled with wood glue. The dispenser top is larger in diameter. It still gets a little clogged, but because it is larger, it still lets glue out. It really works well, and the handle on the side makes it even easier to dispense, too.
B.A.
• I have smoke stains on my glass fireplace doors. They are really hard to clean off. My dad showed me his way of doing it, and it works better than most of the cleaners I've tried. You mix a paste of ashes from the fireplace and vinegar, and scrub it with a plastic dish scrubber. Wear gloves, because the vinegar will sting your hands. It's messy, but it works pretty well and is really inexpensive to do, too.
R.J.
• I see patients in my office every month who have metal fragments in their eyes. I find that most have just been careless when working around metal. Wear protective eyewear, like safety glasses. And use a magnet to sweep up metal splinters instead of blowing them around in the air. I have a wood shop myself, so I know how some of these accidents can happen. You should protect your eyes, as some of these injuries can cause permanent damage.
M.G.
• My low-voltage outdoor lights kept shorting out because of the moisture from the lawn getting into the connectors. I tried a neat trick that has worked for several months now. I made the connections, then put a blob of silicone caulk inside the connector before tightening it down. The silicone caulk seals the connection against the moisture. I guess you should check your city codes first. It was OK with mine, and it has solved a persistent problem for me.
P.D.
Shop talk
The Garden Groom is a specialized trimmer for hedges. Its design is very lightweight and very safe to use because the "blade" is concealed. It has an on-board collection container and an add-on collection system that is sold as an accessory. The design has won several awards, and the safety features make it a super tool to use in your landscaping. You can buy it at many hardware stores, home centers and garden-supply stores. To learn more, visit www.gardengroom.com online.
• If you need attic stairs, you should take a look at Calvert Attic Stairs. They offer many advantages over standard setups. They are designed to work more easily, especially in tight spots where traditional swing-down stairs won't fit. They also are insulated with a neoprene gasket, close tightly to prevent air leaks and comply with many new energy-efficiency codes. The laminated wood frame and recessed door look nice and will be barely noticed. Take a look at them online at www.calvertstairs.com. You can find a local dealer from there.
© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.