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http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/skills/know-your-stuff-the-110-best-diy-tips-ever Know Your Stuff: The 110 Best DIY Tips Ever For Popular Mechanics' 110th anniversary, we decided to do something special: We dived into our archives to find the 110 best, handiest, and most helpful tips ever printed in PM. It's more than a century of DIY wisdom. (You can read the introduction to the project here.) BY THE EDITORS Hole in One Enlarged screw holes can be quickly repaired, we said in March 1972, by filling the hole with a wooden golf tee. Use a hacksaw to saw the tee flush with the wood's surface, then sand and finish. Brace for Boards Our September 1948 issue showed how to store an ironing board upright in a closet by mounting a towel rack to a wall. The board's tip slips up under the chest-high rack. It's still a good idea. At the right height, a rack (or a rig made of steel pipe fittings) could support brooms or lumber. Print - Know Your Stuff: The 110 Best DIY Tips Ever - Popular Mechanics http://www.popularmechanics.com/print-this/know-your-stuff-the-110-b... 1 of 35 11/26/2012 2:42 PM

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Page 1: Print - Know Your Stuff the 110 Best DIY Tips Ever - Popular Mechanics

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/skills/know-your-stuff-the-110-best-diy-tips-ever

Know Your Stuff: The 110 Best DIY Tips EverFor Popular Mechanics' 110th anniversary, we decided to do something special: We dived into ourarchives to find the 110 best, handiest, and most helpful tips ever printed in PM. It's more than acentury of DIY wisdom. (You can read the introduction to the project here.)

BY THE EDITORS

Hole in One

Enlarged screw holes can bequickly repaired, we said inMarch 1972, by filling the holewith a wooden golf tee. Use ahacksaw to saw the tee flushwith the wood's surface, thensand and finish.

Brace for Boards

Our September 1948 issueshowed how to store anironing board upright in acloset by mounting a towelrack to a wall. The board's tipslips up under the chest-highrack. It's still a good idea. Atthe right height, a rack (or arig made of steel pipe fittings)could support brooms orlumber.

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Find a Key, Fast

File a notch in a frequentlyused key's top to locate itwithout looking through thewhole set. — April 1984

Copper Wire Flashlight

Stand

To set up a simple worklight,coil 12-gauge copper wirearound a flashlight's barreland twist the rest into a base.— March 2011

Got That Wrench?

On band saws, router tables,or other shop equipment thatrequires a wrench to makeroutine adjustments, weadvised in July 1952: Pressthe wrench into a lump ofweatherstripping putty andstick the putty on the side ofthe shop tool. The wrench willbe easy to locate for quickchanges of bits and blades.

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Pinhole Lens

The August 1955 issue told afarsighted person to punch apinhole in cardboard and peerthrough it to read small type. Itstill does the trick!

Jar Pumps Up Radio

Tunes

"Transistor radios produce adeeper, more melodious tonewhen placed speaker-down ontop of an open fruit jar." Thisworked in February 1961. Andit works today for an iPhone.

Fortify Studs

Nail 2 x 4 blocking betweenstuds when framing walls, wesuggested in November 1948.The boards provide sturdymounting bases for heavypictures or recessed medicinecabinets. Record thepositions upon installation.

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Box Prevents Milk

Theft

Depression-era milk thievesmet their match with thebandit-proof box we showedbolted to a porch in August1934. A hole in the toppermits the bottle to be setinside, and four strips ofspring brass prevent itsremoval. The owner unlocks apanel to access the milk.Home-security technologyevolved in PM's pages, fromsafes made of spare tires towhole-house diagrams onburglar deterrence.

Dry Up Paint Drool

Punch holes in a paint-can rimwith a 4d finish nail. Thishelps paint along the rim draininto the can. — January 1991

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Get a Handle on a

Broken Tool

"Replacing a shovel handle isone of those disappearingrural skills that shows basicmechanical competence—justas wrapping duct tape arounda broken handle denotes theopposite," the May 2007issue said. Getting a woodhandle's grain direction rightensures the strength of areplacement handle. Mountthe new handle so that theoval rings of wood grain runup and down the sides of thehandle relative to the blade.Handles break when the tool

is strained along those ovals. A look down the blade toward the face of the handle should revealonly straight, parallel lines of wood grain.

Slow-Leak Test

A tire tip from December1935: To locate a pinhole leakin a bike tire's inner tube, holdit under water and watch forbubbles.

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Floating Frames

Our August 1965 issuerecommended taping smallblocks of Styrofoam toeyeglasses' bows, or legs,while fishing or boating. If theglasses go overboard, they'llfloat.

Gloveful O' Tools

An old glove can become aminiature tool belt with a fewmodifications, according toour January 1949 issue. Cuta slit in the cuff of the gloveso a belt can pass through it.Then snip off the fingertipsand thumb tip. Worn on a hip,the open fingertips canconveniently carry pliers andlarge screwdrivers.

Improvised Slides for

Heavy Drawers

The January 1970 issueshowed how to reuse ableach bottle to ease actionon a heavily laden drawer.Cut ¾ x 2—inch strips from aclean, empty bottle. Heat theplastic and fold its long sideinto a ¼-inch lip. Mount thestrips at the bottom frontcorners of the drawer frame.The drawer slides on thestrips, reducing friction.

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Keyhole Guide

"A particularly useful devicefor people who are forced tostay out late at night"appeared in the September1914 issue: the key guide. AV-shaped strip of metal affixedto the door tapers to a pointjust above the keyhole. Thekey's tip slides along themetal to find the keyholeopening. "This simple deviceshould prove very useful inplaces where it is impossibleto illuminate the keyhole."

Sandbag Clamps

Use sandbags to help gluedown irregular shapes, suchas veneers on unevensurfaces. — March 1983

Block That Door

To stop a door from swingingwhile working on its lock orknob hardware, our November1948 issue suggested this:Notch a block of wood to fitthe edge of the door. Set theblock on the floor, wedge thenotch onto the door's edge,and step on the block.

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Closet-Rod Stop

"The last suit or garmentgenerally takes a beating in acrowded closet." To preventthis, wrap rubber bandsaround the rod a few inchesfrom each end to form ridgedstops for the wire hangers. —January 1959

Roof-Rack Mount

"Transporting a sheet of thinbuilding material can be tricky,as the sheets flutter and flapwhen carried flat on a car'sroof rack," we said in July1982. The solution: Set a 2 x4 on the roof rack, running thelength of the car. Secure thesheets to the rack's side rails.Twist the 2 x 4 so that itstands on its narrower edge.The 2 x 4 will bow the sheetsso they're rigid enough towithstand the wind.

No Sliding on Siding

"Jars of bolts and screws thatare placed on shelves nearpower tools often are shakenoff the shelf because ofvibration from the machinery,"according to our July 1946issue. Clapboard siding, thenand now, is beveled. The endthat would face downward ona home's exterior is widerthan the end facing upward.Nail the siding to the shelf withthe flat face down and thewide end at the shelf's edge.This tilts the shelf toward thewall.

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C-Clamp Bonanza

Tighten a C-clamp onto aladder rail, our February 1957issue said, to keep a hammer"safely at hand" when workingup high.

MORE

To make a clip-anywherecamera tripod, braze boltsonto the clamp body and fittripod heads onto the bolts. —May 1951

Use a C-clamp as a handle fora heavy bucket or drum. —March 1961

To move large furniture, weld casters onto C-clamps and clip the clamps to the furniture legs. —March 1949

When removing a brake caliper, first use a c-clamp to pinch off the brake hose to minimize fluid loss.— June 2001

Chuck-Key Clip

To keep from losing track of adrill-press chuck key, mount aclothespin to the press andclip the key in the pin's jaws.— December 1955

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Two-Step Pushstick

"When you make a tablesaw's pushstick—and thereshould always be onehandy—cut two notchesinstead of one in the end."The stepped stick end hasone notch cut at ½-inch depthand a second notch cut to ¼inch. Flipping the stick allowseither thickness of stock to bepushed safely and securelytoward the blade. — March1962

Doorknobs Access

Garbage Cans

Trash-can lids still pose aproblem that PM tried to solvein December 1946, when wesuggested mounting twodiscarded doorknobs on eachface of the garbage-can lid.The knobs act both as ahandle and a hanger. Grab theknob on top to remove the lid,and use the knob on theunderside to hook it over thecan's edge. This leaves bothhands free to deal with trash.

Soap Speeds Screws

Wood screws turn moreeasily in tight-fitting holeswhen threads are rubbed witha slightly wet bar of soap. —September 1957

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Erudite Craftsmen

Reuse Old Binders

Fasten the metal portion of athree-ring binder to the top ofa stepladder, we said inAugust 1972. Mount thebinder so the rings facedownward. Tools with holesdrilled in their handles can bestored and replaced. Whenthe ladder is to be moved,snap shut the rings and toolswill be securely held. Therings can also be used tohang cleaned brushes to dry.

Stop Suffering From

Plywood Blowout

To prevent splintered edgesas a saw blade exits plywood,press masking tape onto theback side of the cut, we saidin May 1982. "The cut won'tbe absolutely clean, but it willbe better than without tape."

Stout-Strap Stopper

On an incline, a hand truckcan roll backward and causean injury, our February 1938issue cautioned. Reduce therisk by mounting stout fabricstraps on the truck's frameabove the wheels. Moveforward and the straps flapout of the way. Go backwardand the straps tuck under thewheels to arrest motion.

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Lick Envelopes With

Potatoes

For readers burdened bycorrespondence, ourNovember 1948 issue offered"one way to avoid theunpleasant task of lickingpostage stamps." The trick:Moisten the stamps using apotato cut in half. The water inthe potato activates theadhesive. Stamps today oftenadhere like stickers, but aspare spud can still be usedto moisten a pile of envelopeflaps.

Gloves Pad Ladders

Fit cotton gloves atop ladderrails to prevent scratcheswhere the ladder rests againstpaint or masonry. — March1959

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Tire Sled Slides Heavy

Stone

Haul a heavy boulder out of ayard, our June 1951 issuesuggested, by using an oldtire to make a sled. Use a boltand nut to fasten two thicklumber planks in a crossshape and wedge them insidethe tire. Drill a hole in oneplank near the end. Loop andfasten a chain through theplank and around the tire. Rollthe stone onto the planks;hook the chain to a tractor ora truck to tow away the sled.The stone rides above gradein the tire opening while the

tire edge drags on the ground.

Thirst: The Other

Mother of Invention

To quickly make a bottleopener, drive a nail into aboard so the head standsproud ½ inch. Bend the shankand grab the bottle by thenailhead. — March 1966

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Rattrap Reuse

"We had a door that wewanted to keep closed, andnot having any suitableready-made device at hand,we made one from a springrattrap," we said in our May1927 issue. Saw off the baitend of the trap and screw theremaining part to the doorcasing. Protect the adjacentsurface with a piece of tin."This door closer worksperfectly, and is cheap."

MORE

Screw a trap to a trailer tohold a warning flag when

towing large objects. — August 1932

Mount several traps to a workshop wall to make a handy rack for gloves, notes, and receipts. —May 1954

Anchor one end of a long tape measure by clipping the tape in a nailed-down trap. — January 1938

Retrieve dropped, unreachable tools with a trap dangling on a string. Hit the tool with the bait pan. —JULY 1961

Interior Orientation

To locate identical positionson opposite sides of a wall,we showed a method using abar magnet and pocketcompass in October 1943.The magnet, attached to asuction cup, holds the positionon one side of the wall. Onthe other side, a compasspoints to the magnet so thespot can be marked.

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How to Haul a Saw

It's tricky to protect a largepush-style handsaw whentransporting it along withsawhorses. Our November1983 issue solved theproblem. Cut a saw slot ineach end of the sawhorsecrosspiece. When finishedusing the saw, drop it in theslot.

Bucket Stabilizer

To prevent a bucket or otherround container from slidingaround on top of a benchwhile scouring the inside, ourMarch 1934 issue said, laythe bucket on its side andwedge auto tire tubes beneaththe curved exterior. To updatethe tip, use bicycle innertubes.

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New Life for a Broken

Broom

A broken broomstick is justanother new tool. In March1981, we showed how toshape a broken handle into aspike to make a dibble fordigging holes for bulbs andseeds. A broken shovel with aD-handle also works well. InJuly 1946, the broomstickentered the game room as adart rack: Plane an 8-inchlength of broomstick so that itcan be fastened to abackboard. Drill holes for thedarts at a 45-degree angle ⅛inch in diameter, ½ inch deep,

spaced 1 inch apart on center.

A Chisel Manicure

Because a dull wood chiselproduces slipshod work, use amethod we suggested in June1948 to test the tool foradequate sharpness. Pushthe chisel cutting edge gentlyover the top of a thumbnail. Ifit slides without catching, thechisel needs to be sharpened.

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Crescent as Caliper

To measure a drill bit to borea pilot hole for a nut and boltassembly, our August 1965issue recommended using anadjustable wrench as a crudecaliper to determine the bolt'sdiameter. Then match thewrench jaw's reading with acorresponding drill-bitdiameter.

Baste the Brakes

When replacing brake fluid,it's necessary to flush out thesystem. Don't do that byreusing the old muddy brownfluid in the reservoir, we saidin November 1992. Use aturkey baster to siphon theexcess fluid from thereservoir, then add a littleclean fluid to flush out thereservoir. And don't use thatbaster on poultry ever again.

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Sandpaper Saver

To unclog sandpaper, rinse itin lacquer thinner, then buffthe paper with a wire brush.— September 1954

Bolt + Nuts = Wrench

"If in need of a wrench andone is not at hand, take alarge bolt and run on two nuts,allowing a space betweenthem to fit over the nut to beturned," we said in March1910. "This will make aserviceable wrench, asubstitute that will prove verybeneficial in case of anemergency."

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Better Paper Cuts

We shared the secret tomaking neat cuts in largespools of paper in our March1969 issue. With the spoolstanding vertically, unfurl thelength of paper planned foruse. Begin the cut a fewinches from the top, slicingdownward. The uncut sectionsupports the sheet so itdoesn't droop and tear. Snipoff the top portion to finish thecut.

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Fuel-Spray Stifler

Servicing a fuel-injectionsystem opens up lines withpressures that can top 60 psi,we warned in August 2002."That's enough to sprayatomized gasoline across theshop." Here's how to protectyour eyes: Wrap ascrewdriver shank in a shoptowel and use the tip todepress the Schrader valvestem in the fuel rail'sdiagnostic fitting.

How to Silence a

Clanking Chain

To prevent a chain fromrattling, weave a rope inbetween the links, we said inJune 1916. Arrange the ropeso that it threads only inspaces between the links.

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Defend the Home With

a Putty Knife

To protect painted walls andother delicate surfaces whenusing a hammer to pull nails,wedge a putty knife beneaththe tool's claw, our August1954 issue recommended.

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5 Uses for Hose

Six-inch garden-hose scrapscan hold hand tools, we notedin November 1948. Cut thehose to length with a small tabat the top to take awall-mounting screw. "Usinggarden hose for this purposeis especially convenient forthe man who does not want tobuild a cabinet."

MORE

Use hose lengths to protect achild's hands from swing-setchains. — May 1933

Wrap a hose length insandpaper to abrade concave and convex profiles. — February 1972

Cut a hose strip to cushion the back of a push saw. Press the blade into the work. — January 1954

Wrap a cold chisel or a star drill in a hose length to make a shock-absorbing grip. — March 1937

Pool-Table-Tilt Fix

To level a billiard table or apiece of machinery in alldirections at once, weadvised in November 1937,use a slab of flat glass and aball bearing. "You can notethe low spot by observing inwhich direction the ballmoves." Shim the legs to levelthe surface in all directions.

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Stop Dropping Those

Drawers

"No doubt you have pulled adrawer all the way outand—c-r-r-a-a-s-h!" OurDecember 1961 issue had asolution for drawers prone topulling free of dressers: Pullthe drawer out as far assafely possible and paint ared stripe on each rail next tothe cabinet face. Paint a blackstripe 2 inches closer to thefront of the drawer. Pull thedrawer out no farther than theblack mark and you'll avoidspilling its load.

Old Bleach Jug Helps

Green Thumb

Punch holes in the cap of aclean, empty bleach jug tomake a garden watering can.— December 1962

Glove Pads Make

Polishing Easy

A pair of homemade mittssimplify and speed up the jobof polishing a car, we said inJuly 1952. Stitch severalthicknesses of terry-clothtoweling or cheesecloth to apair of cloth work gloves. Useone glove to apply the polishand the other to remove theexcess. Wash the mitts insoapy hot water.

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Ladder Scraper for

Muddy Boots

Our July 1958 issue had a tipfor working safely on roundladder rungs in a muddy yard:Mount a length of bar stocklow on the ladder, then scrapemud off boot soles beforeclimbing. Mount another rigidbar near the top of the ladderand you can scrape goop offputty knives and trowels.

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Campsite Cabinet

"The camp hanger shown iseasily made by attachinghooks to an old leather belt,"we recommended in April1921. For hardware, hangS-hooks or bend stout wirethrough holes punched in theleather. "The hanger will befound quite a convenience forclothing and utensils usedaround the camp."

Bottle Caps Drain

Potted Plants

"When pebbles or ceramicfragments are not availablefor use as drainage materialin the bottom of a flowerpot,"we said in November 1956,"metal bottle caps make agood substitute." Place themwith the crimped edge down tocover the entire bottom of thecontainer.

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News on Windows

Our April 2003 issue offered aglass-cleaning classic: Useold newspapers to clean dirtywindows. Save paper towels.

Padlock Hardware

A strap hinge taken from abarn door makes a hasp for apadlock. Remove the hingepin and separate the halves.Fasten one hinge half to adoorframe, with the wide endof the strap mounted throughto the frame, and the narrowend projecting outward.Fasten the other hinge half tothe door itself, in the sameorientation, so the holes alignon the narrow, projectingends. Insert the lock so its barspans the holes. —November 1938

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Milk Carton Ignites

Charcoal

Use a cardboard milk cartonto start charcoal for a grill, wesaid in May 1960. Cut off thetop and stack the coalsinside. The wax-coated cartonwill produce a hot flamearound them.

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Training Wheels for the

Shop

Don't toss out training wheelswhen a child moves on to abigger bike. Mount the wheelsto bench saws and otherheavy shop machinery. Attachthe wheels above the floorand tilt the machines to movethem around. — April 1972

Rack for Heels

"Looking for a simple rack foryour wife's shoes? You won'tfind a more practical one," wesaid in January 1961. Drillholes to fit the heels, andmount the panel so it standsproud of the closet wall.

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Mason's Helper

"A matchbook held by a bricktakes the sag out of amason's line." The matchbooksuspends the line, keeping itthe right distance from the topcourse so it doesn't interferewith striking the mortaredjoint. — July 1962

Keep Matches Dry

To waterproof matches, dipthem in melted paraffin wax.— April 1916

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Five Auto Fixes

The October 2009 issue gave"Get-Home-at-Any-Cost" tipsfor roadside catastrophes,beginning with a leak in theradiator. Crack a raw egg intothe radiator filler cap (not theoverflow tank). The egg whitewill plug the hole—for a while.To fill the radiator back up:Top it off with water, dietsoda, tea, or any othersugar-free liquid. To fix apunctured gas tank: Stuff awedge from a bar of soap intothe hole. It'll last long enoughto get you into town. Oil panpunctured by a stone? Whittlea plug from a twig and

hammer it into the hole. But now you're low on oil. To fill the crankcase, add a quart of water. Really.The oil-pump pickup is not on the exact bottom—the remaining oil will float on top of the water.

Shoehorn Weeder

For weeding in the cracks ofconcrete, our June 1938issue said, "a shoehorn ishandy... it enables you to dothe work quickly and preventssore fingers." Good luckfinding a spare shoehorntoday. Those weeds can nowbe uprooted from tight crackswith an old putty knife or apainter's five-in-one tool.

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Fixing a Hole

In the January 1963 issue, werecommended using a sliversnipped from a toothpastetube to fill a stripped-outscrew hole. Screw threadsbite into the metal. Withtoday's plastic tubes, atoothpick works better. Butthe essence of the tipremains: Implements of oralhygiene can fill cavities.

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Quick Fixes

Use a sink plunger to pull outa stuck drawer with a missingknob — February 1966

Fit bottle caps onto c-clamppads to make a mark-freeclamp. — January 1963

Add sand to floor paint, apound per gallon, for askid-free coat. — February2010

Mist water at a spark plug asa vehicle idles. Visible arcsshow voltage leaks. —February 1995

Fill empty shotgun shells with melted was and a wick to make campsite candles. — February 1961

Pick up slivers of broken glass with wads of moist cotton. — March 1949

Use an ice-cream-bar stick to smooth caulk in corners. — February 1963

Nest a brick chisel in broom bristles to contain dust from a strike. — April 1984

Groove an ax head to aid chopping. — August 1924

Polish metal with a cloth dusted in chalk. — April 1957

Slit a radiator hose end to ease removal. — May 1990

Stack bricks in a cylindrical shape to make a vented leaf-burning bin.— April 1947

Stroke a pencil over a sticky key's surface to lubricate it and the lock. — July 1926

Cut discs from wine corks to make sliding feet for chairs. — March 1963

Drill guide holes in a block to stop screwdriver slips. — April 1957

Swap fat safety pins for machines' missing cotter pins. — September 1917

Hang a funnel on the wall to easily dispense a spool of twine. — August 1939

Line garden cold frames with aluminum foil to concentrate heat. — April 1964

Store a wet paintbrush overnight in tightly wrapped wax paper. — April 1957

Use a punctured coffee can to shield a bare basement bulb. — January 1950

Pull headless finish nails tip-first to avoid splitting lumber. — April 1963

Sand a squeegee's rubber to restore its worn edge. — April 1957

To hide a scratch in walnut finish, rub it with a sliced walnut. — October 1954

Give a hammer claw a fresh bite with a hacksaw cut. — November 1957

Roll tire chains in burlap to stop tangles and noise. — November 1948

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Regrets... We've Had a

Few

Shirt-Shredding Washing

Machine

"Facing an accumulation ofsoiled clothing that wouldhave cost at least $10 if doneat the laundry," a readerreasoned that his outboardmotor could agitate suds.Mounted on a barrel dividedby a screen, the rig worked,he claimed—for 10 cents. Theclothing's condition afterwardwas never mentioned. —September 1926

Regrets... We've Had a

Few

Filthy Playpen

"When a playpen is neededand none is at hand, just takea kitchen or other small table,turn it upside down, andstretch cloth around theoutside of the legs." The tipsuggests padding the table'sunderside with an oldcomforter, but doesn't mentionclearing out the cobwebs andchewing gum first. —February 1938

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Regrets... We've Had a

Few

Rattraps Murder Turtles

"Spring-type rattraps are aneffective means of disposingof turtles which menace gamefish in a pond or lake." Anillustration shows a turtleabout to bite a chicken headin a trap mounted to a postset in shallow water. Sorry,turtles. Our apologies to thechickens too. — June 1948

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Regrets... We've Had a

Few

Trunk Lid Makes Boss

Awning

"One home craftsman usedthe trunk lid of an old sedan tomake a serviceable andinexpensive canopy for theback door of his home." Thetrunk was dressed up, atleast, with wrought-steelsupports.— June 1954

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