Give and Get Advice

Tips of the Day

• "Deep drawers wider than your biggest roasting pan—36 inches—can hold pots and plates and help reduce the number of wall cabinets in a small kitchen."
  — Susan Smart, kitchen designer and homeowner – 11/06/2009
• "If you plan to use a salvaged door inside, preserve its stripped wood finish by sealing it with paste wax, such as Briwax, in a light-brown color. Just be sure to first smooth the door's surface with fine-grit sandpaper."
  — Kelly Wilkerson, The Bank Architectural Antiques, New Orleans – 11/05/2009
• "When I'm toting extra batteries to the job site in my tool bag or belt, I cover the contacts with electrical tape to prevent them from shorting out on a nail or other piece of metal."
  — Norm Abram, TOH Master Carpenter – 11/04/2009
• "Instead of throwing away burned-down candle stubs, I rub them against the threads of long screws. The lubrication makes driving the screws a lot easier."
  — Ed Leggoe, Medford Lakes, New Jersey – 11/03/2009
• "Always use primer on wood windows. Without it, the wood will suck the oils out of window putty and turn it brittle prematurely."
  — John Dee, painting contractor – 10/30/2009

Your Old House

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