Archive for the Sneade’s Helpful Hints Category

By precisely measuring 45- and 90-degree angles, the combination square is often called upon to create miter joints in addition to marking lines, measuring thickness, checking for square, and making other measurements. For instance, combination squares can be used to check the depth of cuts or to assure the straightness of the blade on a circular saw. To make sure that the combination square itself is square, extend its blade as far as possible and scribe a 90-degree angle along the blade. Then flip the tool over and scribe another line which should be perfectly parallel. “Measure twice, cut once”

Aluminum oxide, probably the most common, has a high degree of “friability.” which means that it fragments under heat and pressure. This is a good thing because fragmenting creating new “cutting edges. In a sense, then it is self-sharpening. Silicone carbide, which is harder than aluminum oxide, is better suited to cutting harder materials than wood, such as metal and fiberglass. Ceramic, the hardest abrasive, is generally available on belt sander-belts in lower grits for shaping and leveling wood. Finally, garnet, the softest abrasive, is not friable and wears out faster, but it cuts smoother than the others. Clearly, there

If not, enough new soil should be purchased to cover the projected lawn area with 4-5 inches of topsoil. If necessary, amend the new topsoil with compost (1 part to 3 parts of existing soil). Next, have the soil’s pH tested. The ideal pH for most grasses is between 6 to 7 (neutral to slightly acidic), which makes the soil’s nutrients readily available to the new grass. Before seeding, be sure the grade is sloped away from the house for a minimum of 6 feet. All soil should be smoothjed and evened out to avoid water-collecting low spots. Spring is

Instead, support the door by opening it wide and inserting a wedge under the latch edge. Then, remove the loose hinge-leaf screws and determine whether or not the leaf will accept larger-diameter screws. If so, install them and re tighten the hinge. Otherwise, you can reuse the original screws by widening the screw holes with a quarter-inch drill bit and then hammering lengths of quarter-inch dowel (coated with glue) into the holes. Work on one hinge leaf at a time. Finally, reposition the hinge leaf and secure it by driving the screws into the dowels. Is your door binding? If

Evergreen trees that need to be pruned are best clipped back in late spring or early summer. After that, they are not likely to grow much more. Evergreen shrubs can be pruned in early spring. Fruit trees should be pruned in early spring before the buds have appeared; berry bushes are typically pruned in late fall or early winter once the berries have been harvested. Rose bushes are generally best pruned in late winter, with early spring the latest cutoff time. Do you have any questions about today’s column or any aspect of outdoor maintenance? If so, you need to

While these types of bulbs are certainly more efficient than the incandescent they were made to replace, halogens emit considerable heat and compact fluorescent contain mercury, which can pose breakage and disposal issues. LEDs (light-emitting diodes), on the other hand, run cool, safely, and seemingly forever. In fact, LED bulbs are designed to last 24,000 hours. Moreover, according to the Department of Energy, with the rapid adoption of LED bulbs, electricity demand for lighting in the United States could be reduced by one-third by 2027. Choosing a light bulb used to be so simple. Now it’s a complex question of

Unfortunately, this leads to potentially disastrous results, from stripped threads to broken bolts to damaged equipment. A torque wrench makes easy work of tightening bolts, nuts, and plugs to the manufacturer’s torque value. The better torque wrenches hold their calibration longer and provide an audible “click” when the correct torque is reached. These tools are well worth their cost and should be treated with kid gloves in order to avoid repair or recalibration. The investment in money and care is well worth it. If a torque wrench is dropped, its accuracy may be compromised. We have all the hardware and