Keep your sliding glass patio door gliding along its track

The sliding patio door isn't new. In fact, archaeologists have found evidence of these doors in Roman houses in Pompeii, Italy. Of course, that sliding door no longer slides.

Perhaps if they had tried some of our maintenance tips, it might still work smoothly today - or not.

A clean track is the first step toward getting your sliding door operating correctly again. Often it's just a matter of vacuuming out the debris. Use a sponge and soapy water if you need more help. If you still have stuff stuck in the track, you might need a putty knife to pry or scrape it out.

Check the track for dings, bends or other damage that might prevent the door from moving freely. Sometimes these can be filed away. You can straighten out frame damage by placing into the track a scrap of wood that fits the track and lightly tapping the metal in front of the wood with a hammer.

The rollers - located at the bottom of the door, at the top or both, in some cases - can become damaged. Try lubricating them with WD-40 and see if that helps. If it does, then make sure you do a thorough lubrication of all the rollers.

Sometimes the rollers can be adjusted. See if there is a screw on the inside or side of the door near the wheel. If you can turn the screw and see if the door raises or lowers, you might try adjusting it.

If that doesn't work, then you may have to replace the rollers. Try to identify the brand of door to see if you can buy a replacement part. To access the rollers, you need to take down the door. Most wheels will come out easily, and you can take them to your hardware store, door dealer or mail-order catalog to find a replacement.

Once you have your door working again, make sure the locks work properly and that you keep it clean and lubricated so it will last for centuries, or at least until you sell your home!

A better mousetrap

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, but you can catch more mice with bacon. It's true! But with mice, you need to bait your traps and then put them behind or under appliances where the mice are hiding. Glue or tape a mousetrap to the end of a fly swatter, then slide the trap under or down the side of your appliances where mice will find them. When it's time to remove the carcass and re-bait the trap, you can grab the fly swatter handle and pull it back out to easily get to it.

The perfect planter

Finding the right planter for your landscape can be tough. But you can make your own if you want to. Just find a suitable container that you can use as your mold. Now you will want another smaller container to fit inside the first. You want the distance between the two to be at least an inch and a half all the way around the sides. Use scraps of PVC pipe, placed under the inner container, to form your drainage holes. We also suggest wiping the inside of the large container and the outside of the smaller container with oil or silicone spray to prevent the concrete from sticking. Now mix up some concrete and fill the area between the two containers. You can add pigment for color if you want, or just leave it natural. Allow it to cure for a couple of days before pulling the containers off. Use a file to smooth off any rough edges, and fill it with your favorite plants.

Super hints

• If your dog has tags that jingle when he walks, try installing plastic key covers around the tags to keep them quiet. Now he can sneak up on that pesky cat and pay him back!

• I learned a great tip in my knitting class. I was taught to put a ball of yarn into a jar that has a hole drilled in the top. You can pull the yarn out a little at a time. There usually is no tangling with this method. It really works. Well, I liked it so much that I am using it for twine and string, and even some monofilament in my workshop.

• There's a secondhand store for almost everything. Resell sports equipment, tools, building materials, baby stuff and clothes, and get extra cash for doing it. Whatever doesn't sell, donate!

Q. I have your standard toilet-tissue holder that attaches to the bathroom wall. It's been up for many years and is now starting to come loose from the wall. What do I need to do to fix it?

A. Go ahead and remove the tissue and the roll holder, and loosen the screws holding the hanger to the wall. There may be a set screw or cover over the screw that goes into the wall. Install a wall anchor and screw to get a more secure hold. If the hole is so large that this won't work, perhaps a molly bolt or small toggle bolt will work better.

Q. We finally got our gutters up, and they look OK, but I would really like to paint them so they will match the rest of the house trim. I was going to use a sprayer to do it, so is it OK to paint the inside too? Would that help them last longer?

A. Most people wouldn't paint the inside, but it actually might help it resist rust and prevent damage over time. Don't waste the good paint on that area, though. You can just use purple or some other "oops" paint and save some money.

Q. I would like to build a bat house. I've made several birdhouses, but never have tried a bat house. Any tips?

A. You probably already know this, but for those who don't, you need to use untreated and unpainted wood. The smell of paint or stain would keep some birds or bats from staying there. Bat-house plans are available online or in books. They should be placed high up and out of the way. Up high on the side of your house might be a good spot.

Reader tips

• My daughter made me some refrigerator magnets for my office refrigerator for Father's Day. She's so great, and pretty creative, too! She glued small magnets to the back of assorted hardware items and some small tools. The magnets are so neat, and they really look great. I use them to keep up with lists, receipts and other items in my office. I love them and wanted to share this idea with you and your readers. They would be great in a workshop, too.

• I was having the worst time cutting through some plywood when making my son's desk. I ruined the plywood the first time I cut it because it splintered so badly. When I started to do it again, I covered the cutting line with masking tape on both sides and then started cutting it. The tape seemed to help keep the wood from splitting, and I didn't waste any more expensive plywood. Any splintering I did have was only on the underside, and I was able to sand it off.

• I'm not the most organized person around, but I do try to keep my workshop in some kind of order. I keep all of my hardware in sealable plastic bags. This way, I can keep them all in one large plastic box, and I don't have to label anything because I can see right through the bag and know what's inside it. I use freezer bags because they are stronger. It's so simple to keep things organized now.

• I have an older wooden ladder that I've had for years. I intend to keep it until it falls to pieces. I painted it recently, and I used a clear paint. I was going to paint it blue, but my paint dealer said not to cover the wood, or else I might not see a crack or split that was beginning. So I used a clear polyurethane. I wanted to protect it, but I also want to protect myself.

• I have trouble finding gloves that fit me. Most gloves are too large - man-sized! I coat my hands with petroleum jelly to keep paint from getting on them when I am painting. It also protects them from other chemicals. Petroleum jelly is very inexpensive, too, and works pretty well. I just clean up with soap and water when I'm finished making my mess, and everything washes away easily. Try it for yourself.

Shop talk

• The DTPro Triple Threat Bag is the ultimate organizer/tool bag. It holds anything and everything in a variety of pockets, compartments and slots. There is plenty of room for most of your hand tools, extension cords, power tools and hardware. A small-parts organizer for your hardware and fasteners will hold plenty more. It's made from ballistic nylon fabric, so it will not tear or break down. The hardware (zippers and clips) is nickel-plated and rust-resistant. The convenience of having everything you need to take with you to the job site is worth a lot, yet the price is very reasonable. For information, visit duluthtrading.com or call (877) 382-2345.

• The Dremel Rotary Tool has a bit for everything, and now Dremel has added a line of glass-drilling bits for you to use. A 1/8-inch bit is great for drilling holes in jewelry, ornaments and wind chimes, and the 1/4-inch bit is perfect for decorative projects like glass block and bottle displays. The diamond-impregnated bits allow for rasping a larger hole when needed. They even come with cutting oil that you can use to increase the speed of cut and help keep the bit from overheating. Check them out at dremel.com.

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

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.