Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips. I share some tips on using compression fittings to replace a frost free sillcock.
Compression fittings are an easy way to repair or replace copper pipe without having to solder. The fittings are allowed in most areas and make copper replacement easy for the average homeowner who doesn't solder.
You will need a heavy duty commercial grade garbage bag and a cable tie. I use 3mil thickness. This is a great way to mix concrete if you don't have buckets or mixers available. If you are doing a small job, you will love this tip.
To easily repair leather and fabric, a product made in 1932 is still considered one of your best bets.
Tear Mender is a liquid latex formulation designed to make permanent, waterproof repairs to clothing. The product will work for indoor and outdoor fabrics. Tear Mender works on leather, upholstery, cotton, denim, jeans, canvas and most fabrics. It is not recommended for silk, sheer fabrics or nylon.
Tear Mender says that you can repair a tear in fabric, wear it in 5 minutes and wash it in 15 minutes.
The inventor originally created the product to repair canvas belt drives on steam powered farm machinery. A torn drive belt meant the loss of a day's harvesting, so a glue strong enough to fix canvas drive belts fast and permanent was a popular invention.
Tear Mender Glue was soon being used to repair many other fabric tears around the home and farm to quickly become a successful product. During the Great Depression, repairing clothes helped many families through tough times.
The general directions for the product are; shake well before use. Spread a thin layer of Tear Mender onto the patch or the item being repaired. For thicker material, apply to both surfaces. Press the two surfaces together and allow to dry. On most fabrics, it will dry to usable bond in 3 minutes.
Watch a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CkMTwBKCp4
Most doorbell problems are caused by faulty switch button or loose wires to the switch. Replacing a doorbell button is an easy do it yourself project.
Because the button in run by low voltage of 24 volts or less, this is one of the few electrical projects that you can do without turning off the circuit.
To change the button, unscrew the old button and remove the wires. You can now test the system by touching the two wires together, if they sound the chime, it is just a bad button. To reconnect the new button, connect a wire to each screw in a clockwise motion. Then screw the button to the house. This is an easy fix that anyone can do.
If the problem is the chime or transformer, you will have to test them with a multimeter to find the problem. Always turn off the electric to the transformer if you have to change it.
Visit http://www.askthehardwareguy.com for more tips.
If you want to grow grass in a bare patch of lawn, follow these 4 steps for success.
Purchase a good quality grass seed designed for the area it will be grown. Pick sunny, shade or a sun/shade blend. Your new seeds will need water, soil, light and fertilizer.
Step one is to get the seed spread out and touching soil. The seeds need to be in contact with soil to help germination and to start the rooting of new seedlings. As the seed sprouts roots, the soil helps maintain consistent moisture, nutrients and temperature.
Spread out your seeds onto the bare soil at a rate of 12 to 16 seeds per square inch. Next, rake the area lightly to mix the seeds and soil. You don't want the seeds deeper than ¼". Some seeds should be seen on the surface and some should be lightly covered.
Step two is putting down a small amount of starter fertilizer or a garden soil with starter fertilizer. After germinating, the seedling pushes out its roots and leaves. This process uses up all the seeds nutrient stores. The seedlings now need to pull nutrients from the soil to survive.
If you use garden soil, rake the area again. You are just adding a small amount to provide nutrients for the seedlings, don't bury the seeds. Starter fertilizers helps build root growth and provide nutrients for photosynthesis.
Step three is water. You need to mist the area twice a day for at least 2 weeks and preferably up to 4 weeks. Most seed mixtures are a blend of seeds with different germination rates. It is important to keep the seeds moist, but not saturated. If the seeds or sprouts dry out, they die. You want a light mist to cover the seeds till the ground is wet, down to an inch. You don't want to use sprinklers that will pour water in the area and cause the seed to be moved around. You want a hose attachment that will mist the area for about 5 minutes. Most seeds will germinate within 2 weeks, but some can take up to 4 weeks. So even when you start to see growth, keep misting the area. The seedlings need water too. You are going for moist, not soggy. When your grass has grown to 1 inch in height, you can start watering once a day. When your grass is 2 inches in height, you can mow, with the lawn mower set to the highest setting. After you have mowed a couple times, you can water once a week, soaking you lawn down to a 1 inch depth.
Step four is temperature. The best time to grow grass is in the spring or fall. Ideal air temperature is between 45 and 75 degrees. The perfect soil temperature is 55 to 65 degrees. In most parts of the country, spring and fall are the best times to grow grass. High temperatures dry out the soil too fast and can kill seeds and seedlings.
For drywall projects, a drywall saw will help you create professional looking cuts. Using a drywall saw is much easier and more exact than box cutters for the average homeowner. It is an excellent tool if you are removing sections of drywall or cutting openings for electrical boxes.
