Teflon tape is very handy.
When most people think about helpful tape, they think about duct tape. Sure, duct tape is a great tool and should be considered a must-have in your tool shed or garage, but what about teflon tape?
Teflon tape can be very handy around the house - but you want to make sure that you know how to use it before you start trying to fix your plumbing problems with it. In this article, you'll find some tips and suggestions for using teflon tape in the most efficient and practical way possible. Doing so is simple: use it when it will help and keep it up on the shelf in the garage when you don't need it.
When is it a good idea to use teflon tape? It applies best to the "threaded" ends of pipes in order to make sure that the pipe is fully watertight. Consider it an extra layer that is designed to keep all of the moisture where it belongs - inside the pipe. For this reason, teflon works best when you're sealing off the ends the threaded ends of pipes. For more information on better using teflon tape, see this article at AcmeHowTo.com. Follow their instructions for properly applying teflon tape.
You'll also find some detailed instructions at Howsed.com's teflon tape suggestions. Note that Howsed's article also deals with pipe dope and channel locks, which are other ways of doing similar things to plumbing that teflon tape does.
When applying the teflon tape, you'll want to make sure to apply it clockwise, as Howsed.com describes, and also make sure that it is properly applied to the pipe - you don't want to apply it in the wrong direction or the wrong place.
Be thorough when you're working with teflon tape - and make sure that you're equipped to diagnose what problem needs teflon tape to begin with. When you're working on your plumbing yourself, you should have a basic knowledge of how all of these things work in order to make sure that you apply it properly - if you're unsure, be sure to ask a professional for some help. If you ever call in a plumber and want to eventually work on do-it-yourself projects, be sure to ask them specific questions - even if you bother them a little, you'll end up with some (hopefully) helpful tips you can use in the future.
Photo Credits: Aeturnum
Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:08:20.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 20, 2011 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
How to Fix Almost Anything with Duct Tape
If you're an aspiring handyman but you don't know about the value of duct tape, you probably have a lot to learn. Anyone who's ever been interested in modern home repair soon learned the value of duct tape and its various uses around the house. Not only does it apply a durable adhesive to problematic areas, but it can also make a strong cover or repair when no other material seems to work. Let's take a look at five strong uses for duct tape - hopefully you'll learn why you should buy a roll or two at your next trip to the hardware store.
- Use #1: Repairing tears on difficult materials.
If you have a camping tent, for example, that has a tear in it and allows to much moisture from the outside in - or, worse yet, bugs - then duct tape can make an excellent substitute material. Because of its strong adhesive, it will cling to the material you're repairing while providing a very small amount of change in flexibility. This can also apply as short-term solutions for shower curtains and other materials that you don't want to leak.
- Use #2: Repairing vacuum cleaners.
If you've ever used a vacuum cleaner hose or a vacuum that has a vacuum bag, then you know how difficult it can be to work with them if there's a tear. That's why duct tape can help a lot, extending the life of your vacuum cleaner. A bonus here is that many people simply don't care about how their vacuum cleaner looks - most of the time, it will be sitting in a closet anyway.
- Use #3: Temporarily repairing glass.
Cracks in glass - such as in a car window - can mean some danger if you don't do something to repair it temporarily. That's why using duct tape can be extremely beneficial in these situations, covering up the glass and making sure that it doesn't shatter all over the place. Just make sure that this is a temporary solution, as nothing looks worse than duct tape on a car. Sure, it can work, but that doesn't mean you'll want to keep it as a permanent fixture.
- Use #4: Covering tools.
Sometimes, a tool can do just as much damage as it does repair - at least to the aesthetics of something you're trying to fix. If you cover up a tool with duct tape, you can prevent scratches and other problems that you'll usually face with using metal tools.
- Use #5: Fixing outdoor chairs.
If your chair is broken or cracked, duct tape can help keep it together - this is especially effective if you have a beach chair or similar item that doesn't need to look good in order to work well.
Photo Credits: sneakums
Originally posted 2009-07-22 08:00:19.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 10, 2011 in
Car, Handyman, How to Fix
Do you feel a draft?
One of the tools with the most uses around the house is simple: duct tape. A few rolls of duct tape in your tool shed will help you construct a temporary fix around most things, and will help to make sure that more brittle objects like glass can be rounded off so that they pose less of a safety threat. When it comes to the minor inconveniences, duct tape can deliver there, too. That's why you can repair a torn shower curtain with duct tape. Still curious as to how it's done? Let's explore.
If you tear a shower curtain down, it can puncture each hole that is meant for each of the shower rings - this leads to a "torn piece of paper from a notebook effect" that most people think means they have to go showerless. But in the time between a trip to the local home improvement store, you'll have to get by with a shower or two, especially if you have family in your home. Won't taping each individual hole require too much time and effort?
As it turns out, not if you're creative with your rolls of duct tape. Instead of taping up each hole, simply create a side of duct tape where all of the shower ring holes used to be - this double-sided duct tape edge should have as little adhesive showing as possible. This isn't totally necessary, of course, but it helps make things easier and more comfortable.
Now that you have a side of your shower curtain taped over with duct tape - the side with all of the ring holes - you'll need a way to put that side back up on the shower rings. You can do this by punching your own holes in the curtain and duct tape, essentially creating a new side of the shower curtain for temporary use. Hole punches can work if your rings are small, but you might need some larger holes if your rings are large and plastic. To do this, simply punch a hole and then poke it through with a wooden dowel or a similar object that will expand the hole.
Once you've done this a few times, you should be ready to put your repaired shower curtain up. It won't look like the best shower curtain you've ever used, but it will help ensure that you can close off your shower before buying a new curtain. If you're worried about splashing water out of the shower tub, you won't have to worry anymore; you'll be all set. Just another day in the life of a roll of duct tape.
Photo Credits: massdistraction
Originally posted 2009-08-14 03:48:27.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on September 25, 2011 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, Shower
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