Do-it-yourself sawhorses speed up many a basement project

A sawhorse is a super shop aid, and has been used for years by the pros. It basically is a set of wooden stands, with four legs and a top piece, on which you can set a variety of materials to be cut or joined. You can create your own from scraps of wood, or buy one that is ready to go.

If you plan to make your own, the instructions are simple, but the options are endless. Twenty-four to 30 inches is a good height for a working table, so cut your eight two-by-fours to that length (to make two sawhorses). The top rail can be cut from any scrap of wood, two-by-four, two-by-six or one-by-six, etc. It can be any length you want, but 30 inches is a good size for this piece as well. The legs will be attached to the sides of the top piece with screws and should be beveled to fit so that the legs are spread wider at the bottom than at the top. This adds stability, which is the goal of a sawhorse. If you want more security, you can add some pieces of plywood to the ends to better secure the legs to the top piece.

A shelf is another add-on that we like. It can be set near the bottom of the legs to hold tools while you work.

You also can add hooks to the side to hold tools, hardware, rags, brushes and lots of other things.

It also might be smart to drill a few holes that could accommodate smaller tools, like screwdrivers. Holes also can be drilled into the top rail so that pegs cut from dowels can be used to help hold materials tightly in place while you work. Clamps also could be used for this purpose.

Some sawhorses can be created with hinged legs so that folding them flat for storage is easy. Just install a chain or rope between the legs so they won't spread as you work.

There are a variety of kits and hardware that you can buy to create a set of sawhorses as well. Most are very inexpensive, and may require the addition of a few two-by-four scraps, but are easy to put together and work quite well.

You also can buy sawhorses already made. They are super-handy for so many projects and will last a very long time. Yee-ha!

Q. What would make our water heater smell like rotten eggs? It's not that old but has a very strong smell. How can I get rid of it?

A. If this is a new smell, you should check the anode rod. This is a sacrificial rod that is installed in some older water heaters to attract mineral deposits to help prolong the life of the heater. Once they get a buildup on them, they can start to smell bad. Do a little looking around to locate a replacement. Then it's just a matter of shutting off the water and energy source, removing the old rod and inserting a new one. It can be costly, so you also should consider replacing the water heater as an alternative if the heater is getting older.

Keep paint jobs rolling

Paint rollers make getting the paint on the wall a lot faster. But if you need to take a break, you can do so without cleaning your brushes and rollers. Just put your paint roller into a plastic bag and close it up. If you want to leave it on the handle, just use a large-size bag. You can do the same with a paintbrush, too. It definitely can save you some time and allow you to catch that phone call, have a snack or take a much-needed bathroom break, and get right back into painting when break time is over.

Make your own tray

If you have a stepladder, one of the standard parts is a "paint shelf" that usually folds out on the back side of your ladder. Unfortunately, it's usually not very stable, and most don't have any type of rim or edge on them to keep things from falling off while you are trying to work. One easy solution is to glue a small tray that has sides to this paint tray. Use a small aluminum pie or cake pan, or even a foam meat tray that has been washed out - something that has sides to help prevent your screwdriver from falling off. It's easy and works really well.

Super hints

• Driving a nail into thin pieces of wood may split the wood unless you dull the point of the nail first. Turn the nail upside down and hit the tip with your hammer to dull the point.

• In an effort to be more "green," you can scan project plans and store them on your computer's hard drive instead of keeping them in a drawer or file. Then recycle the plans. Use trees for lumber, not paper!

• I have several coffee cans full of nails and other hardware. I started storing them this way years ago, and still find it the best thing around. I do put a desiccant packet, saved from vitamins, electronics and other sources, into each can to keep moisture under control, as my garage is a little humid during the summer.

Q. Our shower walls are natural stone, and there is what I assume to be mortar that was slopped onto the surface when they were installed. How can I remove this?

A. Try mixing a solution of 10 parts water to one part muriatic acid. Wear gloves, a mask and goggles. Be careful not to get the acid on anything else, and make sure you have plenty of ventilation. Use a strong scrub brush, which will be thrown away afterward, to scrub the stones. Seal them when they are clean.

Q. Throughout the years, my sink drain has turned from chrome to a dull brass. Is there any way to shine it up again or make it look any better?

A. There really isn't, unless you want to polish the "brass" and put a clear coat of polyurethane over it to keep it from discoloring again. Your best bet is to replace this drain piece. It's not very hard or very expensive to do, and your plumbing pieces will all match again.

Reader tips

• I have a boat and trailer that I use during the fall and springtime for fishing. I love to fish. I have standard trailer lights installed on the back of my truck, but the wiring harness that connects to the trailer just hangs from the rear bumper. I bought a large-size magnetic key-keeper to house it. I just cut out the end of the sliding metal box, fit the wiring plug into the box and slid the cover back in place. It hangs underneath the bed of the truck via the magnet, and protects the wires from damage. A super-simple, inexpensive way to solve the problem.

• I've discovered that if I want a glue repair to work for a long time, I should use epoxy. It takes a little more time because of the mixing of the two components, but you do get longer-lasting results. What I do is squeeze both parts of the adhesive into a sealable plastic bag. Then I mix them together with my fingers from outside the bag. I cut the corner of the bag off and apply it straight from the bag. I never have any mess anywhere, and the bag goes straight into the trash when I'm finished.

• I tried cooking spray on my car before the last winter storm. It was amazing. The ice normally cakes around the fenders, and this time it just slid off. It doesn't seem to have done anything to the finish of the car, so I'm going to do it again. I know that the ice (and salt) will cause the paint to peel, so I just thought I would let you know how well this works.

• Our first home office was nothing more than an armoire that opened out to create a work surface and had some storage inside. When we converted a room to a larger home office, this piece was sort of in the way, so we moved it to the garage. I have now turned it into my workbench. I store my tools in the drawers and cabinet, and use the desktop as a work surface. I even have installed a small light over the area so I can see what I'm doing better. I put a lock on the outside so I can fold it all up, close the doors and lock it so nobody can get to my tools. It's really kind of neat.

• I have a long fluorescent fixture over my workbench. It is the only light in the garage, so I use it often. It is hung by chains over my workbench, and I can raise it or lower it as needed by moving the links of the chain up and down in the hooks. Most of the time I keep it up higher to light the whole garage, but when I'm working on a project, I can lower it for more light. This way of mounting it sure has come in handy for me.

Shoptalk

• Evo Stik 1-Hour Shower sealant is a superfast way to seal up a shower. The ready-to-use bathroom and shower sealant comes in a tube with a replaceable cap for longer-lasting storage, is formulated to inhibit mold and mildew growth, and carries a lifetime guarantee. Check it out at your hardware store or home center. To find out more, visit the company's Web site at bostik.com.

• The Belt Bucket Painting Kit is a great new product. It's a paint bucket with a removable liner for easier cleaning, attached to a comfortable-fitting belt that enables you to wear your paint bucket. You won't have to hold the bucket while you work. It's especially helpful when working up on a ladder, where you need that hand to hold on with. It even holds your paintbrush if you need to set it down for a moment to grab a rag, reposition yourself or scratch your nose. Accessories available for the Belt Bucket include a Faux Mate Painting Caddy, a Mini Roller and sealable lids for extended break times. To find out more about the Belt Bucket, visit paintbeltpro.com. It is a really neat and fast way to paint a room.

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

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.