| January 2010 |
| Not just a digger |
Demolishing a room for a home improvement project is a lot easier with a tool commonly found in the shed: a squarenose spade. It removes just about anything that a thin blade can get... |more| |
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| Cheap is good dept |
Here is a tip of my uncle’s for cleaning greasy hands after working on machinery.Thoroughly mix two parts mealie meal to one part washing machine powder. Put this mix into a glass jar... |more| |
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| Carpet burn horror |
We rented out our flat to strangers during a recent school holiday and returned to find three ugly cigarette burns in the wallto- wall carpet in the lounge. Fortunately, my son-in-law is a... |more| |
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| All fired up |
If youre like most people, you never give a thought to the possibility of a fire in your home. This is not smart. About six months ago, my paranoia paid off handsomely when I managed to... |more| |
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Winning tip Save that kettle! |
Do not throw away your kettle with a concealed element when it stops before the water boils: a good going-over with Calciclean might just revive it. What happens is that although the... |more| |
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| May 2009 |
Winning tip Quick and cheap car phone kit |
A number of aftermarket car radios have an auxiliary input on them; all you need do is find or make up the right cables. Both my wife and I have upgraded our Nokia phones, and both our car radios... |more| |
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| Out of square |
How many people battle to measure a 90-degree angle for a building or large plot of ground, or even to cut a piece of board? For an easy way, just remember three numbers: 3-4-5. You can double or... |more| |
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| Snakes alive! |
After two of my neighbours were burgled, I attached a sign to my front wall reading “Beware of snakes”. Since then, every house in the street except mine has been targeted by burglars. Try it for... |more| |
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| All wrapped up |
If you need to clean mineral deposits from your shower head but can’t be bothered to take it apart, try this: pour some vinegar into a small plastic bag and secure it around the shower head with duct... |more| |
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| Hidden hazards |
Before turning second-hand wood on a lathe or putting it through a planer or saw, check for hidden nails and screws using one of those electronic scanners used to locate conduits and pipes hidden in... |more| |
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