Ways to keep your projects straight on

Most projects rely on straight edges being straight. You wouldn't want a lopsided chair or a crooked bookshelf, would you? Well, we have some super tips and suggestions for getting the professional results you want on your projects.

You can start off right by purchasing straight lumber. Take the time to examine each piece you want to buy. Hold it out in front of you and look down the length to see if it bends or bows. Lay it flat on the floor to see if there is a gap underneath it or if it rocks back and forth.

When you get your material home, put it in a climate-controlled area where it won't get too hot or, even worse, wet.

When working, use your level. If you are using large pieces of wood, use a longer level. If you don't have one, you can improvise by taping a smaller level to a longer piece of wood or metal that you know is straight.

Another way to check for level when you don't have one is to get a shallow dish or other container that has an edge or line around it and fill it with water. When you set the dish on the surface of your project, the water will level out and, by comparing it with the lines or edges, you will be able to see if the surface is level or not.

You also should check for plumb while you work. If your level has more than one vial of liquid, you probably will find that one is set up to use vertically and will help you with this.

If you don't have a vertical level or plumb, you can just tie a large washer or some other heavy object to a string and hold the top of the string next to your project, letting the washer dangle. The string should line up with the side of the project to show that it is plumb.

For other angles, make sure you set your level to the exact spot and check your work as you progress.

With these handy tips and tricks, you should be able to keep a level head and level project!

Makeshift mallet

Kelly just bought an old chair that needed some repair work. One of the rungs was missing, and the rest were loose. The rung was easy so replace with a simple dowel and some glue, and the other joints were glued as well. The fit was tight and we needed a mallet to fit it all together, but she didn't have one. We quickly created one from a hammer fit with one of her husband Richard's old tennis balls. We cut an "X" in the side of the ball with a sharp utility knife and forced the hammer face into the ball. The ball acted as a buffer as the hammer was used to drive the chair pieces together. Fortunately, we found some clamps to use. The chair is in good shape now!

Spice rack conversion

Want to spice up your shop? Well, you can store a lot of hardware in a small space by converting a standard spice rack to a handy hardware storage organizer. Just remove the spices from the small containers and fill them with hardware. You usually can find these spice racks at discount stores and garage sales for not a lot of money, and you can hang them right on your shop wall to hold hardware and keep it organized and easy to access.

Super hints

• Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher -- maybe more. Make sure you get one that is for general purpose and will put out fires of several types, and make sure you and your family all know how to use it.

• If your faucets are starting to flow slowly or to spray out the sides, they might be clogged with mineral deposits. You can remove the aerators and clean them with vinegar to get them flowing well again.

• I love to work in the yard and have several shrubs and trees that I have babied along. I shield them from the mower and weed trimmer by slipping some "collars" around the trunks. These are just some small sections of flexible, black drainpipe slit down the side. They barely show, and they protect the trunks from harm.

Q. After our carpet was installed, I noticed that our bathroom door drags over it. How should I try to cut the door down or adjust it?

V.J.

A. You need to take the door down off the hinges and lay it on a flat work surface. Then use a circular saw to trim a little off the bottom of the door. It should go right back up on the hinges without any more problems. If the door is wood, you can paint the bottom of the door if you want to prevent it from swelling.

Q. I have a tiled bathroom that was painted at some point. I want to strip the paint off the tiles. How do I do this?

A.T.

A. You might have a problem with this if the tiles were etched or sanded before the paint was applied. If you have any areas where the paint is coming off, see if you can tell if the tile surface is really smooth or has been scuffed. The old paint probably will come off with paint-and-varnish remover. If the tiles look bad when you get the old paint off, you might have to paint them again.

Q. I have noticed that my sink is draining slower and slower every day. I ran a plumber's snake down it, and that seemed to clear the pipe, but the problem keeps happening. I used some chemical drain opener yesterday, and it's still running slow. Can you suggest anything else I can try in order to clear it?

B.J.

A. You also should check the vent stack that runs through the roof. You can use the same snake on it. You can try clearing it from the clean-out plug as well, probably located on the side of your house or near the foundation.

Q. Our loft apartment has an interior brick wall. I want to hang some artwork on the wall, but I don't know about drilling into the bricks. Can you help?

G.M.

A. If you can position the hangers on the mortar, it will be easier to drill into than the brick. Just use a slow speed on your drill and a masonry bit. Use a masonry hanger made to hold the weight of the artwork, and it should be good and strong. If you decide to take it down someday, it will be easier to patch the mortar than the brick.

Reader tips

• Our dog door had a thick rubber mat that hung over the opening. It got pulled down one day and the dogs ate it, so we had to scramble to find another one quickly. We used an old rubber door mat. First, we cut it to fit, and then we tacked it to the wall over the opening. It's about the same size and weight, and the dogs don't seem to mind that the color has changed.

H.G.

• I found the perfect tool for painting my iron fencing. There actually are painting mitts for this purpose. They look like big, fluffy mittens, and you dip one into the paint and paint with your hand. It's great, because you can fold your fingers around the thin, iron bars to apply the paint in one coat without having to brush it onto each side of the bar. It's a super tool that I thought others might want to know about. I got mine right in the paint department at my hardware store.

C.D.

• I added some more room to my daughter's closet with an automobile clothing rod. This is the type of rod that hangs between the doors in the back seat of a car and holds clothes. I just used some short sections of lightweight chain to hang the rod from an existing rod and doubled the closet space in her closet. She still has another rack for long dresses, but the double rack is perfect for blouses and skirts. Plus, we still have the extra rod that can be put in a car for when she goes to college.

T.M.

• My air conditioner is in direct sunlight all day long, and I have replaced the compressor twice since we have lived in our house. I built a super shade for it. The shade is made of lattice panels, and it sits about a foot over the top of the unit. It doesn't restrict the air flow, but it does offer some shade during the hot summer. I feel like it might help the unit run more efficiently. I guess we'll see.

M.S.

• Our bookcases have been with us for a long time. We have moved twice and had to take them apart to move them, but putting them back together wasn't that hard. We recently painted the room where they are and decided that they needed to be painted too. Since we might move again, I still want to be able to take them apart, so I'll need to have access to the screws at some point down the road. I just removed the books, loosened the screws and painted the bookcases. When the paint had dried, I turned the screws back in. Now they will still work when I need to take them apart, and the screws won't be stuck in place.

S.N.

Shop talk

• Skil Power Tools, a longtime supporter of the do-it-yourselfer, has come up with a new tool for us to use: podcasts. Now you can download information and tips on tools, and special projects you can do around your house. The Skil Zone series starts with a look at miter saws. You'll learn how to buy one and how to use it. There are several how-to project podcasts, information on a wide variety of Skil tools and lots more. Go to www.skil.com for a look, and check back periodically for updates.

• You just have to see the No-Crank Hose Reel for yourself. It uses household water pressure to automatically rewind the hose for you when you are finished watering your plants. Just push the lever, and let it rewind on its own power. It uses no other power -- electrical or battery. There are several different sizes available to fit your needs. To learn more, visit www.no-crankhosereel.com. Look for No-Crank Hose Reels at hardware stores, garden centers, discount stores and online.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.