Loose Spindles.
When your wood furniture is loose and your wooden dowel seems to move around too generously, you know that it's time to tighten up the loose ends and make sure that your furniture spindle won't suddenly go flying off in the right direction. Luckily, wooden chairs and tables that have been put together with dowels and spindles are actually very easy to repair: that is, if you know what you're doing. By the time you're done reading this article, you will.
The first thing you'll need to do - and this is the case in many around-the-home repairs - is actually to take your furniture apart. Don't worry; this is the point. If you don't take the spindle out of the dowel socket and retreat it, you wouldn't be able to fix much. Remove the spindle from the furniture socket and take a look at the edge. In all likelihood, the point of the spindle has seen its glue worn off, which explains why it has become loose. It's time to use a tool to remove the glue that remains. If you have a power drill, you should be able to use a grater-like tool in order to do this. Failing that, try some sandpaper.
Now that the wood is exposed, dry without the glue, and you will be able to re-treat the end of the spindle. Apply some basic glue to one side of the spindle, making sure to wrap silk thread around the entire area - don't try to puncture the glue. The thread will help expand the radius of the spindle, keeping it tight once the glue sets.
Once the spindle is ready, apply some more to the tip, and then on the inside of the socket. Slide the spindle into the socket, and then set the entire thing aside (with a clamp if you have one) so that it can dry - usually, you'll want to let wood set overnight. Once the glue is dry, take out the furniture and see how stable it seems. If it's still a little loose, you may need the glue to dry a bit longer. Another possibility is that there is another spindle that needs fixing.
Now that you've fixed your spindle, however, there's a good probability that the chair will feel good as new. Now if you ever come across another piece of furniture that has lost its sturdiness, you'll know just what to do with the spindle.
Photo Credits: jek in the box
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 19, 2009 in
Furniture, 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
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 14, 2009 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, Shower
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