DIY Projects

Because I live in the South, it is time for me to think about the upcoming Hurricane Season. This week, May 23-May 29 is National Hurricane Preparedness Month, but there are other disasters that parts of this country should be worried about: Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Floods, etc.

Here are some things that you should gather up and have handy in case of an emergency.

• Batteries-all sizes (for flashlights, radios)
• Water-at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 to 7 days

Food: Non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices – Enough for at least 3-7 days

• foods for infants or the elderly if necessary
• snack foods
• non-electric can opener
• cooking tools / fuel
• paper plates / plastic utensils

 Blankets / Pillows, etc.

• Clothing – seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
• First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
• Special Items – for babies and the elderly
• Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
• Flashlight / Batteries
• Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
• Telephones – Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
• Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards – Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
• Keys
• Toys, Books and Games

 Important documents – in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag

• Insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
• Tools – keep a set with you during the storm
• Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items:

•  proper identification / immunization records / medications
•  ample supply of food and water
•  a carrier or cage
•  muzzle and leash

These are just some suggestions, and each family should have a plan for evacuation, or a Family Emergency Plan. Plan things such as where to meet, and how to contact each other.

Lawn mower maintenance is a very important ingredient to the welfare of your lawn. Making sure that the blade on your mower is sharp ensures that the blade actually cuts the grass instead of ripping and pulling the grass. Your grass will be much greener and healthier.

Remove the lawn mower blade using an adjustable wrench to remove the bolt from the center of the blade.

Pull the blade off and clamp it in a bench vise.

Check the blade edges for small nicks and remove them using a flat medium file.

Follow the original bevel of the blade and move the file toward the cutting edge with smooth, even strokes. If you are comfortable using a bench grinder or an angle grinder this is also an acceptable way to sharpen the blade. Just make sure that you do not force the blade into the grinder, this will heat the blade and cause the metal of the blade to lose its hardness.

Make sure that you make the same number of strokes on each edge. If you take more metal off of one side than the other, the blade will be out of balance. This will make the lawn mower vibrate, causing serious damage to the engine.

Make sure the blade is balanced by placing the blade on a dowel or the end of a screwdriver. If one side points up, sharpen the other side until the blade lies flat.

This Monday is Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, and it is a day of remembrance that commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service.

Over the past several years we as a country have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday. Most people think of it as the first weekend of summer, the local public swimming pools open, we have cookouts and parties to celebrate the long weekend. Most communities no longer have parades to honor our veterans.

In 2000, President Clinton asked the nation to endorse the addition of a moment of silence to the holiday, designating 3 P.M. local time for a minute of quiet reflection on the meaning of America’s war dead.

So on this holiday weekend- let’s all remember the fallen hero’s that have given their ALL for this great country, and fly our flags, and be proud of all who have and who currently serve this country.

Remember, Memorial Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have.

I recently spotted this project on the internet to make shelves to store CD’s, photos, games or whatever else you would like to organize. I thought it was quite a unique project, but I would like to take this project one step further.

Purchase closet organizers that are commonly used for shoes. You can purchase several of the organizers to make the shelves whatever size you want. You can make multiple sets. Since there are already predrilled holes, you can make the shelves whatever height you would like. Or if need be, drill some new holes for the shelves. But here is where I would like to make a change. Why not use laminate to finish them to enhance your decorating style. If you would like, choose a bold and bright color. Or choose a wood finish to match other furniture in the room. The point is, they don’t have to stay white.

Laminate is easy to install, with some contact cement and a router this would be a simple project. There are endless possibilities, since there are many, many styles of laminate to be used.

Now that the seasons are changing, it is a good time to perform some maintenance on your car battery.

Since the battery delivers power to your car through heavy cables, it is wise to check the battery cables and make sure they are tightened properly. Use a pair of channel locks to tighten.

Cleaning the terminals and clamps is the next step. Clean the posts and clamps with a wire brush until they shine.

Check the fluid level and refill with distilled water when necessary. Use a funnel to fill the fluid level to approximately ¼” below the bottom of the filler hole. Some cars have a “maintenance free battery” so this step can be omitted.

Always wear safety glasses when working near car batteries. Car batteries contain sulfuric acid, which can burn your skin. If you get the acid on yourself, immediately flush the area with water.

Depending on how much you use your jigsaw; there is a certain amount of maintenance that should be done, twice a year. Inspecting the brushes, disassembling the housing to clean out the saw dust, and checking and relubricating the gears are the major tasks.

After every use, you should unplug the saw, clean the saw dust from its vents, and wipe off any grease or oil from the cord.

Doing these few items, makes your tools last a lot longer, thereby allowing you to use your hard earned money on other things.

If your cabinet installation is close to being complete, it is probably time to think about what style of door hardware you want.

Do you like handles?  How about knobs? What style?  How about the finish?  There are many things for you to consider. The price range alone is enough to make your head spin.

There is one thing that makes this task easier. When you get ready to install, look for an alignment template at your local hardware store. They are inexpensive and save a lot of time. Read the instructions to make sure that the handles you have selected fit with the template. Whether you’re mounting knobs or pulls, these templates make alignment fast, easy and most important precise! Then just mark the location with a pencil, grab your drill and a sharp drill bit and have at it. This is one project that you can have done in just a few minutes. One that makes your cabinets complete.

Several years ago my wife and I remodeled our kitchen. We added new cabinets, new tile floor, and new granite countertops. When we were finished, there was just something missing.

I redid our recessed lighting by removing the fluorescent lighting and adding wood and can lights and that made a huge difference, then I started thinking about adding some kind of lighting that enhanced our granite countertop.

Using low-voltage under cabinet lighting fixtures made it very simple to install, and they are almost invisible since I was able to easily hide the wire for the transformers.

You can do it yourself and install these under cabinet lights if you can read and follow directions. The hardest decision was how to make them switch on and off. I prefer to have them turn on separately from the overhead lights. I also installed a dimmer switch with the lights. That way when we are working in the kitchen they are bright and then when we are done in the kitchen we can use them as night lights or as a dim light while watching TV.

It’s spring time, so it is time to do some of that springtime maintenance on your vehicle. Now would be a good time to check and if need be replace that air filter.

It is a really easy do it yourself project that you can do to maintain the effectiveness of your vehicle and save some money at the same time. Not only is it cheaper for you to change it yourself, a dirty air filter has an undesired affect on your gas mileage. It lowers it.

In just a few easy steps and hardly any tools (maybe a screwdriver), this project can be completed in just a few minutes, for just a few dollars.

Locate and Open the Filter Housing- a black plastic case with metal clips on the sides. There should also be a black tube going into the plastic case on most cars. Flip the little metal clips downward.

Secure the screws- If you removed nuts from the top of your filter housing, be sure to put them in a safe secure location.

Remove the Old Filter- the filter will either be round or rectangle and will be made of lots of folded paper surrounded by rubber. Before you remove the dirty filter, take a good look and remember how it sits in the housing so you can be sure to put the new one in correctly.

Put the New Filter in Place- Place the new air filter in the housing, if you have mistakenly put the filter in upside down, don’t worry, the housing won’t close, so just turn it over and make sure the rubber gasket is seated all the way down. Close and secure the housing and you have completed your task.

Do you have leftover laminate from building your countertops?

Would you like a wall sconce that matches your kitchen or bathroom decor?

Here’s how to make it: Cut a sheet of laminate to fit a plywood base. Use contact cement to attach to the plywood. Finish off the outside edges by making a frame. Use a sharp wood drill bit to drill a hole at the center (drill through an X of masking tape to prevent chipping). Insert a candlestick sconce, and hard-wire.

This can also be made with left over ceramic tile.