How to remove stuck paint tin lids

With a pair of needle nose pliers We all like to keep leftover paint after a painting project for those ‘just in case’ moments and touch-ups; the problem is that years might pass before you need them again. This often means lids that have ‘welded’ themselves on tight  with dried paint, (especially if you didn’t wipe away the paint from the lid/rim before closing it and you forgot to turn the tin upside down). Levering around the edge with a screwdriver just mangles the lids edges, leaving nothing to lever …

How to remove rusted & seized brake discs or rotors

Using a small grinder or disc cutter. Occasionally a brake disc gets so rusted in place that it will not come free using normal methods. A ten year old Honda CRV came into the household this week that was riding on it’s original brake discs, yup, ten years old! They were incredibly rusty and corroded. I tried the usual methods to try and dislodge them based on 25 years of doing this kind of stuff. Gentle (and not so gentle) tapping around the brake disc edge with a soft face hammer. …

pilot clearnace countersink aounterbore holes explained

Screws Explained:

Screw Gauge, Metric, Size, Clearance Holes, Pilot Holes & Wall Plugs I’ve explained this screw data in an easy to understand table because I find manufacturers recommendations are often vague and general, I mean; why not be specific? I understand there’s a ‘range’ but why not give us the ‘ideal’ measurement, because mostly we have a choice? The table below shows you: Metric equivalents to imperial gauge. What size pilot hole to drill in timber substrates for the best screw grip. What size clearance hole to drill through the timber being fixed. …

Drywall screws and plasterboard

You just whiz drywall screws in and thats the job done isn’t it? No actually. I see drywall screws that have been driven much too far into the plasterboard (or sheetrock in the USA) all the time. Over-driving a drywall screw causes it to tear through the paper on the plasterboard, losing nearly all of its holding power in the process. Over-driving drywall screws also leads to more “popped” heads. This is where the filler over the drywall screw is pushed out by movement  as the house settles down and moves. …

Cutting firewood from felled trees safely and easily (bucking)

There are loads of articles on the web showing how (and sometimes how not to!) cut down trees, but not so much about actually cutting firewood after the tree has been felled and stripped of it’s branches (called snedding or limbing in arborist speak). This ‘how to’ shows the easiest way to produce firewood by cutting many logs at the same time. I actually use my firewood cutting operation as part of my fitness regime, much more useful than going to the gym and the same muscle burn the day …

taking down lath and plaster ceilings

How to Take Down Lath and Plaster Ceilings (mess and all…)

Uh oh…..so you’ve got a period lath and plaster ceiling that needs to come down hmm? Luckily, it’s not all bad news, but I won’t lie to you, it can be hard work and very messy! That said, taking down a lath and plaster ceiling is an perfectly possible DIY project, even for relative beginners. Taking lath and plaster down should arguably be a last resort though, (if you want to repair your lath and plaster ceiling, follow the link to the “How to Repair Lath and Plaster Ceilings” page …