I’ve had a packet of SUGRU in my fridge (it lasts longer stored at 5 degrees) for a while just waiting for a reason to use it. Why so long? Well, SUGRU allows you to do stuff that was not easily done in the home workshop before, so it takes a while to include it in your mental inventory of ‘possible solutions’. So, this week when I picked up an old pair of secateurs and the broken, jagged edges on the plastic handles bit into my skin again, I eventually …
An easy to make, simple nest box that’s made from free materials Sparrows are often over shadowed by their more colourful brethren, but it’s the sparrows lively chirping that often cheers us up throughout the day. Sparrows are friendly little birds who like to nest near one another, so I designed this nest box just for them… You’ll need an old pair of work boots and a couple of lengths of pallet wood or similar, 125mm x 15mm (5″ x 5/8″) is ideal. Around 1.5m (5′) should do it although you’ll …
Inspiration, improvisation and creativity required I was raised not to waste stuff, which means I never throw anything away I might be able to repurpose in the future, even if I have no real ideal what that might be! This means I can often find a solution to my DIY problem, by looking at stuff I already have. It just requires a little inspiration and creativity to devise something workable. This saves me real money as well because these small things are often relatively expensive in relation to the material …
Stores that import from abroad are likely to have pallets they want to get rid off for free, (otherwise they have to pay someone to take them away). Imported stuff generally comes on single use or disposable pallets that are not returnable and reusable like EURO pallets. Try tile shops etc. as heavy tiles or stones are shipped on sturdy pallets. Look for them at the back of premises around loading bays etc. Most times they will be in a container etc. to prevent them being a fire risk. Simply …
I love pallets. Because I see no point in buying new stuff for my garden projects when millions of single use pallets get thrown away every single day. Plus pallet wood oozes character and charm in my eyes. And recycling them is a result for the environment too. Oh, the price…don’t forget the price, yup, they are completely fabulously FREE! You can’t argue with that 🙂 One ‘small’ problem though. Even ‘single use’ pallets are tough to dismantle using normal tools (without breaking lots of planks!). So after being inspired …
**UPDATE** Eric the car guy has made a video (youtu.be/Eric’s-video) about how to remove said starter from underneath. It’s interesting, but my bolts were so tight, I’m not sure I could have done it that way… plus I didn’t have the special long bolt at the back that his motor had. Lucky him. Not easy from underneath, but not easy from the top either…. Watch and read and make up your own mind. Good luck! **update end** The downside was that it took 4 hours to remove the thing that needed …
Make a useful funnel! To get to the funny little place where Honda hid the coolant tank on the CRV means you need a funnel to avoid spilling antifreeze all over. But could I find my funnel set….err, no. Then my eye wandered over to an old watering can that got busted when the kids left it outside and it became entombed in snow and ice for 5 months! A minute later with an ordinary handsaw and hey presto a quick usefully shaped funnel. Just goes to show that you …
