Ya gotta Have Duct Tape!!

The Order of Canada for the man with the stick on the ice and the inventor of One Million Uses for Duct Tape.

News Snip:
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean presented Canada’s highest honour to this year’s recipients during a morning ceremony at her official residence, Rideau Hall, in Ottawa.
Steve Smith, best known for his handyman character Red Green, is among the new members of the Order of Canada. The Toronto-born actor plays the leader of the Possum Lodge on The Red Green Show.
From CBC News

A true icon of Canadain comedy. Good way to be Handsome and Handy, there Steve.

I vote him Handy Man of the Year!

Dealing with water stains and mildew.

One of the most common household problems is water stains and mildew on walls and/or ceilings. It happens to most everyone. The common causes are a leaky roof, a burst, pipe, melting snow, or excessive bathroom moisture etc.
You might be tempted to cover a water stain by applying a fresh coat of paint. But, chances are, it won't work. Most water stains will bleed right through ordinary paints. Besides this problem creates an ideal environment for the growth of mold & mildew, you don't want that.

Identify and fix the source of the moisture or leak and make sure the surface is sound.

Clean the surface thoroughly to remove dirt and the deposits . Use a bleach-and-water solution to remove mildew and rinse the surface thoroughly.

Dry the surface thoroughly. Use a hair dryer to dry small areas. Larger areas may require the use of a dehumidifier, heater or fan.

Prime the surface with a shellac base primer-sealer. For small or hard to reach stains, use aerosol spray. Use an old tooth brush in corners.

In high humidity areas, like bathrooms and kitchens, repaint with a product that prevents future mildew growth on the paint film. Ask for this type at the paint counter.

Cheers

Paint and Chaulking and Fixing

Spring is on the way... well it'll come sometime! Maybe you are thinking about painting and sprucing up the place. Here are a few helpfull hints.

Save money on paint:

When painting new plaster, or similar porous surface, paint on a solution of water mixed with PVA glue first. This will seal the surface and stop the paint from soaking into the plaster, thereby making it go a lot further and giving a much better finish.

A smoother, smarter finish:

Whenever you have to rechaulk, remove old sealant from the joint and claen away build up. When sealing round a bath, basin or the like, use masking tape above and below where the sealant is to go. After placing the sealant along the edge (joint), wet your finger and run it gently along the sealant to smooth it out. Remove masking tape gently before the sealant drys. Oh and clean up your finger... I know you knew that!

Need to Refinish wood furniture:

Elevate furniture legs. for easy finishing by driving a screw into the bottom of each one. Adjust the screws as needed to keep the piece from rocking while brushing on the new finish coat.

Furniture Knob painting:

Keep the stuff off your hands by using a clothspin for neat knob finishing. Use a spring clothespin, grasp the knob by its screw and balance the assembly in upright position within the clothspin graps. You'll be able to apply the finish every area without messing your hands.

Never ‘over-drill’ again:

When drilling a hole to a specific depth, place tape around the drill bit at the required depth and when the drill reaches the marker tape you know you have reached the desired depth.

Golfing has a handyman purpose:

Golfing can make make power tools last longer! Golf tees are the perfect shape and size to ‘cork’ the inputs of air powered tools to prevent dirt and dust building up when not in use.

Untill next time happy projects for all!

Duct tape use coming up!