Hot Home & Garden How-Tos
How To: Build a Rok-Bak chair out of a single piece of plywood
This is a guide to making a recliner which is comfortable, inexpensive and easy to make. All you need is one 4 by 8 half-inch piece of plywood, as well as a few power saws and some paint. Then follow along, and end up with your own chair!
How To: Use an angle grinder safely in home construction projects
Angle grinders are very powerful and useful tools, but like many such power tools they are extremely dangerous if you don't know how to use them. This video goes over a variety of must-know safety precautions that you should take before using an angle grinder to grind for your own construction projects. It covers proper eyewear, fire protection, and setting up the device for use.
How To: Make a wind turbine using a ceiling fan
Scott Brown teaches us how to make a wind turbine using a ceiling fan in this video. First, place steel banding around the middle of the ceiling fan base. Now, cross all the combinations of the wires and keep them close together so you don't confuse them. Hook these up to DC terminals so you get around 50 volts on both of them. Hook them parallel so you keep the voltage down to around 50 volts together. Then place the wires into a connector that has a pipe connected to the bottom. This will c...
How To: Install a shade cloth in your backyard
If you enjoy spending time outside, but can't stand being in the sun for too long, you have a bit of a problem. Buying patio furniture or an umbrella is a good idea, but it can be a pain lugging it around, especially if it's not weatherproof. Another great option is creating a shade cloth.
How To: Fix a GE Gas Range Burner That May Be Clogged
Sometimes overflowing liquids or food can get into some pretty small places on your stove. When this happens, it can result in your stove being damaged or not working properly.
How To: Reverse the door on a Hotpoint dryer
The great thing about some dryers out on the market, is the ability to reverse the doors at any time. This allows for the machines to be placed in a variety of different locations.
How To: Fix a washing machine or dryer that wobbles
If you have a washing machine or dryer that tends to wobble a lot, you can easily fix this problem using a couple different solutions. A wobbling machine can be a problem for people who live in an apartment and can result in damage to your machine or the surrounding area.
How To: Remove and replace a Delta chuck on a drill press
A drill press is a wonderful power tool for any craftsman's garage, but just because it's wonderful doesn't mean it doesn't need a little maintenance or repair every now and then. The drill chuck goes through a lot, and eventually, it will need to be replaced, or at least cleaned. This video will show you how to remove a Delta chuck from your drill press with ease, and shows you where to go from there.
How To: Refill a butane lighter
In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to refill a butane lighter. For this you will need any kind of butane lighter that has an opening for refill and any kind of butane refill can. Shake the butane can properly. Then remove the cap and you will see the nozzle. Now hold the lighter upside down and insert the nozzle in to the refill hole. Now press the can down and hold for about four seconds. Repeat this for three to four times. Then replace the cap on the can and try out yo...
How To: Prune trees into bushes
Pruning is a commong practice that involves removing certain parts of a plant to help improve or maintain its health. It also helps reduce the chances that any branches fall on people and keeping it safe from possible disease. For some trees, instead of letting them grow to giant proportions, you can actually prune them to a certain point so they instead grow to be the size of bushes.
How To: Easily fix a sticking Karcher pressure washer
Using a pressure washer to clean the outside of your home or driveway, is great and easy to use. But what happens when it becomes stuck and there's hardly any pressure? Well you're about to find out. In this next tutorial, you'll see how to fix a sticking Karcher pressure washer easily. It can take you a couple of hours to complete or a matter of minutes. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Remove a washing machine motor
Check out this tutorial for a step by step on how to remove a washing machine motor. This is especially important if you need to fix your machine. Although the Ultimate Handyman is demonstrating on a HotPoint machine, this fix can be applied to most models.
How To: Remove the wires from a 'Trap Door' power switch
Removing wires from a 'trap door' switch can be a bit tricky to do and of course you don't want to just yank them out. If you get yourself a thin pick to fit into the holes and just circle the wire to hit a spring you need to push down in order to release the wire.
How To: Remove a trimmer clutch from most line/string trimmers
If you need to fix or replace the clutch on your trimmer, you will be able to follow along step by step at the best way to take the trimmer apart so you can get to the clutch. There is a tip provided for removing those tricky clutch drum screws as sometimes you cannot get some parts out as easily as they look.
How To: Make a magic wooden disappearing box
The wooden magic disappearing box is a great project to work on if you are great at woodworking, this can be a great gift for someone or a great addition for your next magic trick. When working with wood and making specific sized cuts, it is important to measure as closely as you can.
How To: Remove and replace a drill press chuck
Like any machine, a drill press chuck is prone to wear and tear and with repetitive usage some parts can become unaligned. If you are going to remove a drill press chuck, keep in mind that also with any machine you work with, you'll want to clean off any gunk that accumulates so you have a properly working machine.
How To: Install a three way Lutron Diva dimmer switch
If you're looking to set a mood with your significant other or are trying to find a way to limit how much light you have, dimmer switches are the way to go. They're easy to use and are perfect for anybody who likes to have different lighting options available to them. This video will show you how to install a three way dimmer switch from scratch. When installing be aware that you need to turn off the electricity before doing so, otherwise you may be electrocuted. Be careful and good luck!
How To: Convert an old fridge into a meat smoker/cooker
Have an old fridge (or, like the creator of this video, easy access to a scrap metal yard)? Convert it into a meat smoker! This DIY guide will teach you how to repurpose a disused refrigerator for smoking meat. For complete, step-by-step instructions on how to make your own cooker from an old metal-body fridge or freezer, watch this free video tutorial.
How To: Detect bed bugs with tape
Rick Steinow shows how to detect bedbugs using tape. Rick shows that obvious signs would be fecal matter and blood stains. If you're still unable to detect bed bugs, you can purchase a roll of double-sided carpet tape. You're also going to need a roll of painters tape. Apply a strip of the double-sided tape all the way around the mattress. Place another strip of tape around the head board. Make sure to add a strip of painters tape first when doing the headboard. You'll do this because the dou...
How To: Install a porcelain tile backsplash in your kitchen
This video tutorial outlines a number of quick and easy tips for installing a porcelain tile backsplash in your home kitchen, from checking the substrate (that is, the surface to be tiled) to the application of the tile itself. For a complete, step-by-step overview of the DIY process, watch this free video guide.
How To: Replace a shower drain cover
To replace your old rusty drain cover. First, some masking tape over drain cover, to prevent screws from falling into drain. Sweep debris away, as so not to clog up the hole. Remove old shower drain cover to measure, take it to the store, to get the exact size. It's best to take along the screw too, just in case there isn't a screw thats of the same length. Chip away debris from old drain cover, as to make new drain cover fit in easily. If you follow this video, you'll able to replace your ol...
How To: Care for Mexican elder tree
In this video from nmsuaces we learn how to care for the Mexican elder tree. This is a widely used tree but it is not a good windbreak tree. It could have limb breakage. It's native to northern Mexico and southern California and is found in New Mexico. The sprouts on the tree need to be broken off the sides of the tree otherwise they are taking energy away from the rest of the tree. When it goes through its dormancy, you need to keep dead wood out of it. It needs a water source near it but it...
How To: Divide and re-pot onions and herbs
How to divide and re-pot onions and herbs
How To: Pick the lock on a garage door
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to pick the lock of a garage door. It is not recommended for users to learn this technique to use to open other people's garage doors to break in someone's home or steal their possessions. The tools needed for this technique are a L-key and a diamond pick. Put the L-key at the bottom of the lock hold and fiddle around with the diamond pick on the top part of the hole. Do this until your able to rotate the lock. This video will benefit those viewers wh...
How To: Use copper push-fit fittings to connect piping
Follow this video to learn how to use copper push-fit fittings to connect piping. 1. Sometimes we connect pipes by means of push-fit fittings which are not very appealing to look at since they are of a different color and material and so do not match with the pipe. However a good alternative is to choose copper push-fit fittings rather than plastic ones. Copper push-fit fittings would be similar to the pipe itself. 2. Open the pipe and ensure that it is clean before fixing the fitting by simp...
How To: Make a humane mouse trap from a paper towel tube
How to Make Anything demonstrates how to make a humane mouse trap from a paper towel tube. If you have a pesky mouse that you would like to catch alive, make a tube mouse trap in a few easy steps. First, put something delicious in the end of the tube. Then, balance the tube on the edge of the counter top. Below the tube, place a mouse catching receptacle like a trash can. The mouse will crawl into the tube to get the treat, tip the tube off the counter and be caught in the trash can. You can ...
How To: Plant garlic cloves with toilet paper rolls
This video demonstrates how to plant garlic cloves with toilet paper rolls. Take some toilet paper rolls and cut them in half. Fill the halves with damp soil. Put one clove of garlic into each little half, leaving the new shoot poking out of the top. You can make potting soil with peat moss, black dirt and vermiculite. When it is time to plant the garlic, you should just put the whole carton into the ground. When you buy garlic for planting, look for the giant variety. When you are saving gar...
How To: Install quarter round
This video will be a very quick, simple, and easy way to install your quarter round. To start you will see that instead of cutting a 45 degree corner, it was left flush. With the other piece you will cut a cove in it and then align it on top of the other piece at the corner of the wall. This method allows the pieces to fit, regardless of the irregularities in the wall (if any). To finish it up take the return and just apply enough glue to attach it to the end of the first piece. There it is -...
How To: Carry a heavy cardboard box
We can't actually lighten you load but we can make it seem that way. This simple trick of stacking your heavy box on top of an empty box will make it feel lighter. Moving a heavy box is a unpleasant so try this fun trick.
How To: Kill fruit flies
Profisher has a rather unique method of ridding your kitchen of fruit flies. Make sure you start this after you have cleared your countertops of all food. Place any kind of juicy fruit on foil on the open rack of your oven. Leave open overnight. In the morning, close the oven door, set the temperature to 400 degrees and flies will be no more! This can, additionally, be performed in the microwave oven. Set plate of fresh fruit in the open microwave for about an hour. Close the door and set tim...
How To: Remove vinyl wallpaper without a scoring tool
This video by WallpaperOnWalls shows you how to remove a paperback vinyl wallpaper without using a scoring tool. Although the use of the scoring tool is common practice the tool is not always necessary and these tools might cause damage to your walls. To easily remove the front of the wall paper use the wallpaper wetting agent and remove the wallpaper coating as shown. Wet the wallpaper backing with the wallpaper removal pump sprayer and wetting agent as shown and leave standing as recommende...
How To: Sharpen a jack knife or wood carving knife
This video shows you how to sharpen a jack knife or wood-carving knife using coarse, medium, and fine stones and cooking oil. Use the coarse stone, applying oil to the stone first then pushing the knife down on the stone in each direction, matching the bevel to the stone. Next is the medium stone. Add oil before continuing the sharpening process. Apply cooking oil to the fine stone and finish the sharpening process. Using a leather strop will remove any burrs and polish the knife.
How To: Make a humidity tray
This video tells you about humidity trays and how they are good for tropical plants like orchids. The tray consists of gravel or small stones and water in the tray. You have to have enough gravel to keep the plant out of the water. This video also discusses ways on how to make sure the humidity tray doesn't scratch your furniture. After watching this video you will have gained some insight into keeping and maintaining tropical plants as well as ferns.
How To: Get rid of bed bugs with silica gel cat litter
How to eliminate bedbugs using cat litter * You can use the silica gel in cat litter to eliminate bedbugs.
How To: Cement stones around your pond
To cement the stones around your pond, start by mixing up half of an 80 pound bag of Quick Crete. Pour the 40 pounds of concrete into a metal container, add water and mix it together. Add just enough water so that it is not too runny. Put down a base of cement around the pond where you will lay the stones. Lay the stones in the cement, then put some cement in between the stones, and smooth it out.
How To: Make your own plexiglass drawer organizer
MAKE zine aims to bring the DIY aesthetic and mindset to all the technology in your life. They want you to break open things and put them back together in a better way. In this video, MAKE and KipKay show you how to build a plexiglass drawer organizer so you'll be able to find your stuff in a pinch. This isn't a project for novice crafters, but the steps here aren't hard to follow.
How To: Lay bricks with joint spacers
Using joints spacers to lay bricks makes things a lot easier and perfect. You'll get that perfect 3/8" mortar joint every time. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to lay bricks with joint spacers.
How To: Extend your jointer for a bigger outfeed table
Shopsmith Academy shows you how to add 24 inches to your jointer for a bigger outfeed table. Apply this lesson to your next woodworking project. Watch this video for useful woodworking tips. Search Shopsmith Academy on WonderHowTo for more woodworking videos.
How To: Measure your home's square footage
If you’re selling your home, you’ll need to know its square footage. Why pay a professional when you can measure it yourself?
How To: Replace the HEPA filter on a Dyson DC07 vacuum cleaner
Watch to learn how to replace the HEPA filter on a Dyson DC07 vacuum. This Dyson spare parts video we show how to remove and replace the Dyson DC07 Pre Motor Filter and Dyson DC07 HEPA Post Motor Filter. This vacuum maintenance video also outlines the Dyson airflow path as well as removal and replacement of the Pre Filter Housing, Post Filter Lid and Filter Seals. Prevent loss of suction and motor cut out by changing the filters on your Dyson.