A worn-out plug is shockingly easy to replace

Having an electrical issue in your home could be shocking! There are some electrical repairs that should be left to the pros, but something like a faulty plug is easy for even a novice do-it-yourselfer to repair.

First, unplug the lamp or appliance. Then use wire cutters to cut the plug away. Now you can take the plug to your hardware store or home center and purchase a replacement. It's important to buy a plug that can handle the electrical needs of the appliance and that will fit your electrical receptacle. Your hardware store's personnel can help you with that.

Most plugs will come with instructions that will be easy to follow. Follow the directions carefully for the best results.

Some plugs are so simple that you need only pull the cap up, slide the wires in and press the cap closed again. These usually are for lamps and other small appliances, and they actually work pretty well.

Other replacement plugs use screw terminals. These are easy to use as well. In most cases, you will need to strip the insulation off the wiring, and that is easy to do with wire strippers. Strip about one-half inch of insulation off the wire, then twist the wire in a clockwise direction to prevent fraying as you work.

If the wire is to be placed on a screw terminal, wind the end around your screwdriver to create a "hook" shape. This hook is then placed over the screw, and the screw is tightened. If placed correctly, the wire should tighten as the screw is turned in.

When you have finished, no stray wires should be hanging out, and all connections should be tight. Place the cover over your connections or close the plug according to the package directions.

Never use an appliance that has a damaged plug, and now that you know how easy it is to replace one, do it and get it over with.

Scrap to it

Whether you are gluing two pieces of wood together or making repairs to some other materials, there's a good chance that clamping might be required. If your supply of clamps is somewhat limited, check out this handy tip. You can use two clamps, along with a couple of strong scraps of wood, to clamp long pieces of material together and eliminate the need for additional clamps. Just place the scraps of wood over and under the area you need to clamp, and then place your two clamps at either end of the material over the scraps of wood. The wood scraps will work with your clamps to give you continuous pressure on your repair.

In the bag

If you are painting a room, you need dropcloths. You probably can't have too many of them, but you can run out. When you do, dry-cleaning bags can be substituted. If you use a dry cleaner regularly, then you will have a steady supply of them, so why not put them to good use before you throw them away? They can be slit down the side and spread out. You can tape several together if you need to. So start saving those bags when you have a painting project scheduled, and you won't need to buy dropcloths at all.

Super hints

• If you are having trouble finding a place to put all of your garden tools, try drilling a hole through the handles of long-handled tools like shovels and rakes so you can hang them up on hooks or nails. It will get them off the floor and secured from falling down and getting in your way.

• Our brick-paver patio is finally in, and it looks great. We had to cut a few bricks to fit around some obstacles, and my Ryobi Rotary Tool was the easiest way to do this. I used a metal cutting wheel to score the bricks, and then a hammer and chisel to finish the cuts. Almost every cut came out perfectly, and we are very proud of the results.

• Install a spring hinge on your screen door, and it will close by itself. You won't need to have a closing device or spring on the door when you use one of these hinges.

Q. We have columns that presumably hold up our front porch's roof. One is starting to deteriorate, and I feel like we need to replace it soon. How do I remove it without the roof falling down?

A. You can use what is called a post jack to hold up the roof while you work. This can be rented from a tool rental company. You will want to place it next to the damaged column and then raise it just a little bit higher than the column support is. This will enable you to cut through any supports holding the column so you can remove and replace it.

Q. I have a problem with my oven. It seems like it cooks much hotter than it should, according to the temperature gauge. Almost everything I cook gets burned on the bottom. The broiler seems to work OK. What should I do?

A. Assuming the oven rack isn't set too low, your thermostat might be failing. Most are easy to replace, and that might solve the problem. You also should check the door gasket to make sure it is still in place and that the door is closing properly. If not, the thermostat might be compensating for the draft inside the oven.

Q. I have a couple of fan blades that always loosen up and start to wiggle. I have been able to tighten them with a very small screwdriver but never can get them really tight. Is there a better way to do this?

A. It sounds like this might be the perfect place to use an offset screwdriver. This is an odd-shaped screwdriver that is made just for this purpose and probably will do a great job for you. Add a lock washer, and maybe your tightening will last longer.

Reader tips

• I decided to do a little light maintenance on my lawn mower since it's been getting quite the workout this year. I discovered a piece of wire wrapped around the mower blade shaft, as well as about an inch of grass caking the underside of the mower deck. As a precaution, I always disconnect the sparkplug wire from the plug before going under the deck. I used a large screwdriver to scrape the grass off and pliers to pull the wire free. The mower works a lot better now, and even runs quieter. I'm not sure where the wire came from, but I suspect it would have caused quite an injury if it had come loose while the mower was running. I'm glad I found it and removed it before anything happened.

• We are spending our summer sprucing up the house. The kids are helping, and the whole family is actually having a lot of fun doing it. We are using dry-cleaning bags to cover our doors and other things that can't be moved, like our piano. The bags were just taking up space in the closet, and now they are being used and finally will make it to the trash when we have finished using them.

• I used some old closet shelf brackets and shelves in my garage for storage. They were left over after we added new shelves to our closet. I even installed the closet rod on the front, as it was in the closet too. This rod was the perfect place to hang extension cords and some other items. I also stored some of my long-handled garden tools on it. These shelf brackets are better than the standard shelf brackets I would have purchased for that purpose, too.

• I've been making and selling birdhouses on the weekends for several years. I love making them, and the whole family goes to the flea market to sell them and we have a lot of fun doing it. I use mostly old, salvaged wood but need to add newer stock sometimes. I "age" the new wood by painting it with household vinegar to turn it gray. It's really hard to tell the new wood from the old, and it works quickly, too.

• I created the perfect duster for my really tall ceilings. We have vaulted ceilings in our home, and I've always had trouble getting at the cobwebs. I taped a long-handled duster to the end of a long section of PVC pipe, and I can reach all the way up into the top corner of the room to get at the cobwebs. It's easy, cheap and works great.

Shop talk

• It might seem a little crazy to be talking about melting snow during a hot summer, but if you have plans to install a new driveway, sidewalk or any other floor surface, indoors or out, you should consider installing WarmlyYours HeatTraks. These are mats for permanent as well as portable installations, and some are easy do-it-yourself projects. Check them out at www.warmlyyours.com and see if a radiant heating mat might be a good solution for you.

• Keeping extension cords connected when working outdoors can be a little difficult, and you always need to make sure you avoid working in wet conditions. The Cord Connect takes care of both issues at once and is easy to use. The clamshell design locks in place over the two plug ends to secure your connections, and the waterproof gasket keeps them safely watertight. Even the tapered ends are designed for protection, and will allow you to pull the cord around without getting it hung up on obstacles. The Cord Connect is available through Duluth Trading company online at www.duluthtrading.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.