Family Handyman Fix a stripped screw Sometimes the wood surrounding a screw becomes so torn up that it no longer holds the screw securely. Here’s a rock-solid remedy from reader Ken Rosette. Drill a 1/4-in. hole to clear the torn fibers, then glue a short piece of 1/4-in. dowel in the hole. When the glue is dry, saw or sand the dowel flush with the board surface, then drill a pilot hole in the dowel and drive in the screw....
Woodturners create round or cylindrical objects from wood with a lathe. Having the right lathe accessories is critical to woodturning success, but buying tools like a roughing gouge, bowl gouge, skew chisel and others is only the first step. It’s just as important to keep those tools razor sharp and in good working order. Dull woodturning tools won’t carve shavings properly as your workpiece spins, leading to rough, unsatisfactory results. If you’re interested in giving woodturning a try, keep reading for a detailed guide on sharping lathe tools....
Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates surged to 5.81 percent this week according to a report by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), up 2.5 points from the start of 2022. The new rate is the highest since November 2008, and rising rates have put a stranglehold on an already tight housing market. Why Are Mortgage Rates Rising? The Federal Reserve has continued to raise rates in an effort to combat inflation, which extends beyond the housing market....
If you’ve been gardening for any length of time, you probably know what humus is. You’ve seen bags of soil labeled “humus” at garden centers, and may have used this rich, black soil to enrich your garden. It might surprise you, then, to learn humus is not actually soil. Scientists and home gardeners define what humus is quite differently. Let’s dig into the details. The Scientific Definition of Humus Scientific journal articles about humus do not define it as a rich type of soil you can make or buy....
A house isn’t a home without a rug. Rugs serve functional and decorative purposes. Whether you need a rug to warm your feet, tie the living room together or just provide space to wipe off muddy boots, rugs are a key piece of home furnishing. Buying a rug online is often more affordable than finding one in stores, and online rug inventory is vast. But finding the perfect rug online can feel overwhelming....
Moving to sunny Texas from frigid Minnesota brought dreams of outdoor living, at least for more than four months out of the year. So I put a home office in the garage. We have a mosquito screen and a home theater, and my spouse and I sit out there even when the temperature dips into the 40s. How? Hello, space heater. Space heaters direct warmth right at the user, making them a viable option to boost a chilly room or substandard heating system....
I can never resist planting mums in the fall. My other flowers are fading, and here are these wonderful pops of color at the garden center. I usually end up buying a few mums for my front porch. Because I buy them when they are barely showing color, they are often still in full bloom on Halloween. What Are Chrysanthemums? Chrysanthemums are popular flowers that bloom late in the growing season....
Daniel Hussey/Shutterstock What is a Robertson Screw or Robertson Head Screw? Most of us call Robertson screws “square drive” or “socket head” screws. They were invented by Canadian traveling salesman Peter Robertson around 1906. Up until that time, almost all screws were “straight drive” or “slot head” screws. Robertson’s screws were superior to slot head screws since the square recess automatically centered the screwdriver, provided more surface area for the driver to press against and reduced the chance of slippage....
via ikea.com Ikea mugs pretty much look like any other mugs out there, except for one small chip on the bottom of the mug. Have you ever seen it before? It looks out of place, given that there aren’t any other aligning chips on the bottom. It almost seems like the chip was due to an accident, but the smoothness of it proves that there was an intention for the chip’s existence....
Finding a reliable mechanic is similar to finding a reliable doctor or painter. To feel comfortable and confident, you need to know some facts about the person you’re going to let manage your health, paint your home or work on your car. These are the 10 questions you should ask to find the right mechanic for you. Are You Certified or Master Certified? Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifies mechanics (technicians) to ensure they can diagnose crucial automotive systems....
Finding games for you and your dog to play together can feel like a challenge. There are so many options with so many price points, it can be tricky to know what’s worth the investment. Take money out of the equation by creating fun dog toys with objects you already own. For licensing/usage please contact [email protected] Why Is Playing With Dogs Important? Exercise associated with play comes with plenty of benefits for your dog....
Replacing your motorcycle’s engine oil is one of the most essential motorcycle maintenance procedures you can perform. As important as changing your car’s oil, changing your motorcycle’s oil at regular intervals is even more consequential. Your motorcycle’s oil serves several functions. Failing to properly maintain it can lead to engine and transmission damage, impaired performance and reduced fuel economy. Read on to discover all the reasons you should take your bike’s engine oil health seriously, what type of oil to use and how often to replace it....
Mold stains can develop on clothes from exposure to water or improper storage, and they can be tough to remove. With the right product, however, you can get rid of mold stains on all kinds of fabrics — even delicates. Read on for three methods, using different products, to eliminate mold and mildew on clothes. Durable White or Light-Colored Fabrics Product: Liquid Chlorine Bleach On This Page Liquid chlorine bleach — what most people think of when they think “bleach” — is an excellent mold eliminator, but it has some drawbacks....
One of the best ways to care for your lawn is with core aeration. Pulling out those little plugs of earth allows water and nutrients to penetrate deeper below ground, resulting in less watering and fertilizing. Best of all, aeration gives roots room to grow, so your lawn will be more resilient when faced with harsh conditions such as drought or high temperatures. The bad news? Aerators are costly, difficult to store and only used once or twice a year....
Shutterstock/ XiXinXing Last month in Iowa, twenty-three high school and middle school girls from the Des Moines, IA metro area passed up on more traditional summer camp experiences and instead attended the aptly-named Construction Camp for Girls. The Construction Camp for Girls was a weeklong camp designed to expose young women to the kind of skilled work done in the construction industry in hopes of cultivating interest in the trades as a potential career path....
Shutterstock You’ve brushed off the snow and scraped off the frost. Now you’re ready to get on the road. But before you put your vehicle in drive, your windshield fogs up. Windows can fog any time of the year, whether it’s summer or the middle of winter. But cold temperatures can create the ideal conditions for foggy windshields. You and your passengers warm up the cold air inside the vehicle. And when the warm moisture hits the cold glass, fog and condensation occurs....
On any night in the fall and spring, there might be thousands, if not millions, of birds flying unseen overhead. But unfortunately, each year between 350 million to one billion of them die due to man-made lights. The good news is that we are learning how to help, with just the flip of a switch. How Do Lights Affect Migrating Birds? Bright lights and big cities attract birds, similar to how porch lights attract moths....
Humans built the first walls thousands of years ago, and we’ve been avoiding cleaning them ever since. Smudges around light switches? Of course. A sponge and some gentle soap, and those high-traffic spots are good as new. But the entire wall? Who wants to do that, let alone every wall in the house? It looks high-effort and low-return. Would anyone even notice you did it? Washing walls turns out to be a good idea, and it comes with benefits beyond a fresh, clean start....
Choosing Patio Doors Spending time on your patio, deck or balcony is a great way to socialize and connect with friends and family. COVID-19 concerns make functional outdoor spaces even more important. On This Page According to a recent study by the International Casual Furnishings Association, “Ninety percent of Americans with outdoor living space have been taking greater advantage of their decks, porches, and patios, and consider their outdoor living space is more valuable than ever before....
Teresa Odland Busy Boards are motor skill activity centers that appeal to babies and young toddlers because they’re made with everyday items and not children’s toys. Zippers, latches, knobs, handles and wheels are just the beginning, the possibilities are endless. The best part is you can make one with spare items already in your home and garage right now! Especially if you’ve just cleaned out your garage! The recipe for a busy board is simple: Board + busy items + way to attach items + child....
