ToolGirl

Hang & Level

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:47:43 +0000

The right tool to hang stuff.

Hang & Level is the first tool of its kind. Invented by Canadian interior design maven Liette Tousignant, Hang & Level allows you to hang artwork effortlessly with no measuring tapes and no arguing!

For great designer tips about how to hang and arrange artwork visit www.hangandlevel.com

Hand Saw Tips

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:30:00 +0000

One rusty old traditional hand saw can sideline any beginner. Just say no to exasperation. Get the winning saw for about $30 at Lee Valley Tools.

Organize your garage

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

According to a U.S. survey, the crud in our garages is taking up most available floor space. Hence the average North American chucks up to $6500 worth of mostly useless stuff on the floor of the garage, while the $20,000 vehicle sits outside in the cold, rusting. It's time to get our cars back into garages. We spent more than $688 million dollars last year on garage organization and it barely made a dent. If you don't believe me, walk down your street and count the number of houses with cars parked in the driveway. Statistics say that 50% of us can't park in our garage. I think that number is low.

Read Mag's full article on Garage organization systems.

Wash windows like a pro

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:45:00 +0000

Rubbing a window with paper towels puts a static charge on the glass and then it’s dirty again as soon as you’re finished. Where does this register on the Handyperson’s Emotional Scale? Somewhere around “Just shoot me”.

You can pay a professional to make your glass sparkly. Attractive young men with rippling musculature will swarm over your home for several hours. It may be worth it, especially if you live with your mother-in-law and she needs entertaining. Encourage her to pass snacks to the young men and yell, “Nice glass!”

Refuse to give those window-washing fellows all of the arm-sculpting opportunities. Invest about $40 and set yourself up for a lifetime of fun and deltoids that are perfectly al dente.

Read mag's article on washing windows.

Fireplace Makeover

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0000

How to add the look of stone for a fraction of the cost.

Mag ambushes a friend and does a complete makeover on her fireplace! (This video features a sweeping cinematic score that Mag created with her GarageBand software!)

NextStone is available in several styles and colours, and works equally well indoors and out. It adds R value, and is impervious to weather. Find a dealer at www.NextStone.com

Find Over Matter

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:15:00 +0000

How to find something that you've dropped.

Learn THREE fast and brilliant ways to locate any small object you've dropped on the workshop floor - even something as tiny as the back of an earring!
Never be frustrated again by missing objects!

If you're craving the kind of magnetism Mag and Andy demonstrate in this video, you can get it here!

Reset a toilet

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0000

There are many reasons to remove a toilet and store it elsewhere. Maybe you want to paint the bathroom or re-tile the floor, or you've got houseguests that just won't leave.

Mag has some tips for you when it's time to put the old porcelain potty back on her moorings.

Read Mag's article about how to reset a toilet.

Ryobi Tool Kit

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:45:00 +0000

Twice the run time with the new lithium ion powered Ryobi One Plus combo kit.

Replace a Tail Light

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Arcane tips on replacing a burnt-out tail bulb.

Now that you've seen how easy it is to change a tail light, read Mag's tips on the fine art of selecting the correct bulb for your vehicle.

Caulk Sure

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 +0000

Prevent dried caulk syndrome

If you (or someone you know) has ever experienced the disappointment of dried-out caulk, here's a moisture-enhancing tip that'll keep you calk sure!

Woodturning - Getting Started

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +0000

How to set-up and use a Delta Lathe.

Circular Saws

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:45:00 +0000

How to use a circular saw.

If you'd like a written primer to go with this video, please read Mag's circular saw tutorial.

Or get your free instructions for making a wooden basket like the one Mag uses to hold her duct tape collection.

Jumpstart your car

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Jump your car without cables

Interior painting tips - choosing colours, cutting in, prepping

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:15:00 +0000

Insider tips for interior paint jobs

Shabby interior paint may seem trivial in July. but by October, you realize you're going to be staring at those dings and divots through 8 months of indoor living. It's like having a zit on the end of your nose. It may only occupy .00001 percent of your total skin surface, but it's all anybody notices.
Find Devine paint in your area!

For more detail read Mag's article.

Make Gifts Using Pyrography (Woodburning)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

For more on pyrography see Mag's article here.

If you enjoy burning designs on small things, try experimenting with a bigger project, like a table!

Winterize your lawnmower

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:45:00 +0000

Did you know that gas only has a 30-day life expectancy before it starts degrading?
If you leave gas in your lawnmower over the winter, it'll turn gummy and you'll have a repair bill come spring.

Follow Mag's tips to winterize your mower - for more details, read her article.

Frame Stuff Cheap

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:30:00 +0000

This video will teach you how to frame anything two-dimensional using inexpensive materials and a soldering iron.

For more information and step-by-step written directions, see Mag's article about framing with tinned copper.

How to create a dazzling loft inside a regular house

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:15:00 +0000

Winston Abernethy is a DIY god.
One day last year, he woke up with an idea that he now describes as crazy.
"I wanted to do an art project. I wanted it to be fun."
Not just a small art project. a whole house, one that would be "traditional and normal looking" from the front, but from the threshold on would morph into a cutting-edge city loft.

Antique a Clay Pot

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:00:00 +0000

One way for a middle-aged person to look better than ever is to sit on a patio surrounded by well-aged pots. Flaking, lichen-covered clay pots give the impression that they’ve been around a lot longer than you have. And because antiqued pots look expensive, everyone will think that your investments are doing well and your children have moved out.

There are three methods of giving your pots the beauty of antiquity. Two of these techniques take minutes, and the other one takes months. I don’t know about you, but I want my antiquity fast.

Read Mag's article on how to antique clay pots