01 November 2010

Now you’re smokin’

With reference to your feature “Smoke it up” (August, 2010), here’s a tip born of my experience with smoking fi sh over many years: use chainsaw chips or sawdust from the black wattle invasive alien tree. It produces a much sweeter smoke than oak, assists in¥the eradication of unwanted aliens and gets... 

01 November 2010

The one that didn’t get away

On a fly-fishing trip, in a stage of excitement I pulled too hard and broke my rod between the eyes of the last segment. With no resin or tools available, I took a pipecleaner and wrapped it tightly around the break. Fortunately, I had some superglue to use as resin for strength, and exposed it to light as well.... 

01 November 2010

Winning tip
Dispense oil with precision

It’s hard to find an oil-can that delivers on the first stroke of the lever, that doesn’t over-dispense, and doesn’t leak around the filler. Cheap Far East imports are the worst offenders. A well-known maker of skin creams packages one of its products (“total effects day moisturiser”) in a precision pump... 

01 October 2010

Yucky pong solution

If you cannot rid bedrooms of the deeply embedded smell of stale cigarette smoke, or battle to cover up assorted pongs that defy the usual deodorisers, try an air ioniser. Rather than spend big money on your own machine, club together with a group of friends and buy one to share. You’ll be amazed at the results.... 

01 October 2010

What brass!

Have you ever tried to join two pieces of thin sheet metal – such as car bodywork – using an ordinary (oil-cooled) arc welder? It’s difficult not to burn a hole right through the steel and make a mess of your delicate job. Here’s the solution: find yourself a sheet of brass off-cut and place it underneath... 

01 October 2010

When water is bad news

Whenever you have your car or motorcycle engine steam-cleaned or pressurewashed, be sure to cover the brake master cylinder’s reservoir cap with a small plastic bag. Place an elastic band around it to prevent it from coming off during the cleaning process. 

01 October 2010

Take a piece of string...

In Mike Allen’s article, “All wound up” (August issue), he refers to the large-diameter wire clip that holds the window winder in place on some older cars and the diffi culty experienced in removing it without the correct tool. Here’s what to do: take a length of relatively strong string (butcher’s string... 

01 October 2010

Winning tip
Idiot-proof microSIM

Here’s one for all iPhone 4 and iPad users. In June this year, I became the proud owner of an iPhone 4. On inquiry at our local Vodacare outlet, I was appalled when the sales consultant said he had never heard of a microSIM. Even more appalling was his statement – after consulting with his more “learned”... 

01 September 2010

Safety before beauty

When childproofing our home for regular visits by our grandchildren, we wondered how to solve the dilemma of the wide spaces between the balusters on the mezzanine floor above our sitting room. Plastic mesh fencing, secured with cable ties, solved the problem. It’s not aesthetically attractive but it does the job,... 

01 September 2010

Gotcha!

Here’s a tip for catching burglars who enter your home while you’re away on holiday. A neighbour recently installed pressure-sensitive mats under rugs in certain areas of his sitting room and bedrooms (under windows, and in front of expensive appliances) that were linked to an armed-response unit. The intruders...