Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Family Handyman

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The telltale signs of a bad spraypaint job are easy to spot. Stripes of uneven coverage, paint buildup in the corners, a stray hair in the finish —the list goes on. Worst of all is the dreaded run, an obvious sign that the painter applied too heavy a coat. Here are a dozen tips to help you get a smooth, consistent finish on your next painting project. For more on this topic, including how to build a spray-paint booth, search for “spray painting” at familyhandyman.com. Spray-can trivia Ever wonder what gives spray cans their rattle? It’s a glass marble most likely made by Marble King, a company in West Virginia. Marble King makes spray-can marbles and most of the marbles sold in the U.S.A., 1 million a day, 365 days…

Coffee pods, knives, utensils, spices—there are so many good uses for an extra drawer or two under your upper cabinets. You can put one under almost any upper cabinet as long as there’s enough space underneath to fit your countertop appliances. So take a look at what’s currently cluttering your countertop and make a nice, neat home for it above! Two boards and 1/4-in. plywood This really is a simple project. For lumber, you’ll need 1/4-in. plywood for each drawer bottom (see Figure A), 1x3 for the drawer box and 1x4 for the drawer supports, drawer front and trim board. (You’ll need two trim boards if the drawer is visible from both sides.) We used poplar for all the parts because the exposed parts will be painted to match the…

LABOR SAVER Easier twisting for wire connectors When you have multiple or heavy-gauge wires to join, twisting on wire connectors by hand can be a real bear, even when they have wings on them. Several manufacturers have tools that make the job easier, but we especially like this one from Ideal Industries. Ideal creates a recess in the handle of several of its screwdrivers, conduit reamers and other tools. You just insert the wire connector into the star-shaped recess as shown; the recess and the tool’s large rubber grip make twisting wires much easier. You can find these tools for about $6 and up in home centers and online. PROBLEM SOLVER New parts for old tools I’ve bought a lot of old, used power tools, woodworking machines and outdoor power…

Laundry washout While folding laundry one rainy Saturday, I noticed water seeping from the sill of a basement window. Figuring the window had not shut properly because of a dirty seal, I got a small rag and started to open the window to wipe it out. When I turned the latch, a tidal wave washed over the whole laundry room, completely soaking me and everything in it. I hadn’t realized that the entire window well was full of water. I went upstairs to change and told my wife the laundry was still a little damp. — TERRY JOBKE No free lunch I decided to save the price of a plumber by replacing my kitchen faucet myself. After installing the new faucet, I treated myself to lunch out with all the…

WORTH THE SPLURGE Love at first bite I’ve been a charcoal snob for most of my life. But a few years ago I decided to buy a gas grill just for those times when I was in a hurry. I did my research, bought a Weber Genesis grill and was instantly impressed by the quality of its construction. It felt super-solid and had an excellent fit and finish, and its three burners delivered even heat and outstanding flavor every time. I gave away my charcoal grill and never looked back. Now Weber has introduced its Genesis II line, with prices ranging from $700 to $2,000. The Genesis II LX E-640, shown above, is the top of the line. You can choose between an LP model and a natural gas model.…

Expert advice from the job site. MEET THE EXPERT: Gary Hakkinen is the sole proprietor of Empire Painting in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. He’s been painting, staining and varnishing residential homes and commercial buildings for more than 40 years. Sand wood for even finishes The trim you bought may look perfect, but it likely has imperfections from machining that won’t show up until you stain it. Sand every contour and flat area in the direction of the grain with a combination of medium-grit sanding sponges and pads. When necessary, fold 120-grit paper to get into tight cracks. Dry-brush crevices Stain will pool in cracks. Use a dry paintbrush to remove it from each piece after it’s been completely wiped. Wipe the brush on a clean rag or brush it on newspaper to…

1 Self-cleaning paintbrushes Just hang your brush in a jar of solvent: water for latex paint, and mineral spirits or paint thinner for oil-based. Using a clamp, suspend the brush in the jar with the bristles fully submerged almost to the ferrule, but not touching the bottom of the jar. Finish will slide off the bristles and settle on the bottom of the jar. If you’re using paint thinner or mineral spirits, set the jar outside to keep fumes out of your house. Be sure it’s away from children and pets. After a day or two, remove the brush and give it a thorough rinse in clean solvent. — PAT GUSTAFSON, READER 2 Patch, prime, patch, prime … You’ve done a great job of patching and smoothing over all those…

Over time, engine coolant loses its anticorrosive properties and lubricating ability. Some carmakers recommend changing the coolant every 30,000 miles. The recommended change intervals vary widely, however, so check the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. You can change your coolant yourself in about an hour. You’ll need to invest in an air-powered refilling tool to remove air pockets from the cooling system as you fill. You’ll save about $50 on your first coolant change and about $100 on each one after that. This procedure works for any cooling system that’s not contaminated with rust or oil. I’ll show you how to check yours and then how to change the coolant. Here’s what you’ll need: ▪ Coolant (2 gallons; about $40) ▪ Air-powered refill tool ($90) ▪ Air compressor ▪…

If you’ve investigated rustic “barn” doors, you’ve probably gotten sticker shock. But we can help. In this article we’ll show you how to build a simple barn door, including how to distress new pine boards for a weathered look. Fooled by a forgery I’ve harvested loads of lumber from abandoned farmsteads. But Jeff’s fake barn wood fooled me. I really thought it was genuine until I took a close look. Even then, I was impressed with the quality of the counterfeit. And in some ways, fake barn wood is better than the real thing: There are no rotten, splintered boards, lead paint or musty odors filling the air. In fact, Jeff’s forgery made me wonder: Was collecting real barn wood—with all the sweat and splinters—a waste of my time? To…

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