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On
this page we'll post how-to and handy-man tips from members and
guests. If accepted, it will be published here in the order
received.
Click
here
to submit your tip. Unless you tell us otherwise, if you include
your name it will be published along with the tip.
Thanks
for your participation!
Tip of the Week
2006 |
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Week
of: |
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12/25/05 |
To trim a wood door
without splintering, first mark the cut and score it with a sharp
utility knife. Use a straight edge to ensure a clean line when cutting.
This also works great on hardwood veneer plywood and paneling. |
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12/18/05 |
Tired of doors that are
out of line because someone stuck a broomstick near the top to hold it
open, and now the hinge is screwed up? There's a guy in California that
came up with a great solution. It eliminates having to pull the hinge
off, resend or repack the hinge, then reinstall it. It rebends the hinge
while it's still on the door. It's a tool called the Hinge Doctor. Try
doing an Internet search for it.
Contributed by Rick
Duskiewicz |
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12/11/05 |
When turning off
domestic water risers for repairs, ALWAYS shut the HOT water first,
then the return, and finally the cold water last. In this day and age
of too hot McDonalds coffee and little old ladies, one has to be ultra
careful not to scald a resident, if you get my drift. Even though you
might have put up multiple and concise notices about the water
turn-off, it is inevitable that that one "special" person might still
be taking a shower when you commence your shutdown. Upon completing
your repairs, the reverse order of water turn on should then be
followed. Cold water first, then hot water and finally the return
line.
Contributed by Bill Aristovulos
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12/04/05 |
To remove Permanent
marker on anything, just use Comet with a wet rag, it gets it right
out.
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11/27/05 |
To get a hard-to-clean
paintbrush clean, bring lemon juice to a boil and remove from heat.
Place the hardened brush in the juice and let soak for 15 minutes, then
wash the brush with soap and water. It should be as good as new. |
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11/20/05 |
To keep down the smell of
strong oil-based paint fumes in a tightly enclosed room, place a
chopped-up onion in a bucket of water and place it in the room being
painted. |
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11/13/05 |
If you find one or more of
your electric motors overheating, chances are that the voltage is well
below its rating (120, 208, 440 in NYC). Induction motors (in all
probability that's what yours are) draw too much juice when running on
lower than specified voltage. If you have a tester, test; if not, get an
electrician. You may need a larger connection to the Con Ed feed.
Contributed by Dick Koral |
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11/06/05 |
In
a pinch, you can use the thick rubber bands that come wrapped around
bunches of broccoli to store drill bits and screws on the side of a
drill. You can wrap the rubber band around the body of the drill and
slip the attachments up under the band. |
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10/30/05 |
Replace the cap on a bottle of wood glue with a flip-top cap from a
bottle of dishwashing liquid. This type of cap closes tightly and is
easy to pop open and closed, plus there's no tiny lid to get lost. |
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10/23/05 |
This is a simple tip that
in the middle of a building-wide emergency can save you a lot time and
headaches. Find where all your turnoffs are, water, gas, electrical.
Don't go by the building prints - they could be wrong. Find the
locations yourself, when you are not rushing around. Remember, some
buildings systems have more than one shut down.
Contributed by George
Wiggins |
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10/16/05 |
VALVE ETIQUETTE - In large system
valves, when they are OS&Y type (Outside Stem & Yoke) also known as
indicating or rising stem valves, it is easy to tell, even from a
distance, when the valve is in the open or closed position. This is
one of the reasons they are so common in the building industry. As a
matter of fact, these are the only type of main control valves allowed
in NYC standpipe and sprinkler systems. You know the ones with the
chain wrapped around them in the OPEN position.
Now on to the etiquette: If your
building has large globe type valves, which by design are
non-indicating, BE KIND to the next guy, always back off on the valve
from either the fully closed or fully opened position, JUST A LITTLE
BIT! The next GUY, or more politically correct, PERSON, who has to
service the valve, will be able to determine the position of the valve
by moving it a little first. For those of you who may have forgotten.
"Lefty, Loosey, - Righty, Tighty".
Contributed by Bill
Aristovulos
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10/09/05
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If
you need to replace a vinyl floor tile, use a heating pad to loosen the
adhesive. Place it on the tile and set the pad on high for about 15
minutes. Or you can use a hair dryer to heat and loosen the tile
adhesive.
Contributed by Glen Stoltz |
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10/02/05 |
Do
you find yourself getting annoyed at those paint roller pads that keep
coming off the roller frame when painting? Try this: with a file on
its edge file some cuts into the spindles of the roller frame. The
cuts prevent the roller from slipping off. Contributed
by Peter Grech
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09/25/05
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Loose screws in a
wooden door when the hinge screws are loose because the holes have
become enlarged? Try "stuffing" the hole with toothpicks soaked in white
wood glue (like Elmer’s), break or cut the ends of the toothpicks flush
with the wood. When the glue has dried, put back the same screws (no
need to get larger ones) and you have a quick and dirty fix. Yeah I know
it's as old as the hills, but it works!
Contributed by Bill Aristovulos |
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09/18/05 |
One of the best ways of
protecting yourself from attack is to avoid things that may provoke
it. Stay out of unfamiliar areas, dress appropriately, avoid walking
in unlit areas, and don't display valuables. Sometimes this however is
unavoidable. Here are some steps that may be taken:
1. Take a self-defense class be it a paid one or free one offered by
law enforcement.
2. Understand self defense equipment and its use. Pepper spray and
stun guns are good products if used correctly. Although a set of keys
or a kubaton may be a better choice both are hard to get away from you
by your assailant. The kubaton is pointy object that won't pierce the
skin but is small and handheld. It will inflict a lot of pain and
deter an attack.
3. Another good choice is a personal alarm that you carry and can be
set off. It produces a loud alarm to scare an attacker and alert
others of your trouble. There also are models for you and your child
that will alert you when your child gets out of range from you. These
are usually adjustable for a 6 to 30 foot area. Especially helpful in
store and mall settings.
4. Remember most cell phones have a speed dial setting for 911.
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09/11/05 |
Inserting small screws, bolts or nuts in hard to reach places can be
made easier by putting a small blob of grease onto the screwdriver or
socket head. Machines that need constant maintenance where panels have
to be removed, Usually end up with missing screws, or worse screws of
different head types. Buy a box of screws and keep all the screws
uniform. Best kind for panels are hex head screws. Even better would
be to convert the screws to knobs/handles with a screw tip. this way
no tool is need. When having a mechanic doing the repair, after the
mechanic is done inspect his work and check the screws. Loose screws
make noise and fall out in time. Mismatched screws slow you down and
drive you nuts.
Contributed by Peter Grech
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09/04/05
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Dent in wood furniture (a
dent - not a gouge)? Place a drop of water in the depression, covering
the spot with a damp cloth, then applying a hot iron to it for a few
seconds. The dent should pop up after one or two steamings. |
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08/28/05 |
I drill a lot in concrete to hang pictures, etc. I find for pictures
that coarse thread sheet rock screws 1 1/4 long work great. Just drill
the hole with a 1/8 masonry bit and screw in the rock screw to depth
needed. This works well when I set moldings as well - I just
countersink the holes and always use construction glue on the whole
piece. Just remember to use a screw driver to set the screws, this way
you can control the bite.
Contributed by the CondoDoctor
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08/21/05 |
A much more useful "job" for a
camera-equipped cell phone (other than the health club locker room -
heehee): Use your camera phone to reach behind, under or around places
you can not normally look into. For instance, a dropped ceiling that
has recessed lighting, remove a recessed light, stick your camera
phone inside and take a few "snaps" of the area to discern the
location of a pipes, fixtures, or obstructions etc. This also works
very well with the new small video cameras. Or how about taking a shot
of that weird part you have to describe to the electric or plumbing
supply house. Once I needed to replace a motor in a fan coil unit,
could not see the name plate without removing the motor. Whipped out
my picture phone, took a shot of the motor plate, uploaded picture to
my computer, attached and emailed the picture to the supplier, next
day, UPS delivered a perfect match to the original motor!
Contributed by Bill
Aristovulos
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08/14/05
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In
lubricating an electric motor bearing, long grease purge pipes create
backpressure, which increases the chance of grease being forced into
windings or excess grease remaining in the bearing. Therefore, drain
pipes should be as short as possible and not have any turns if possible.
Keep in mind that not all grease is equal. Make sure you are using the
correct grade of grease for the conditions and motor speed. When
lubricating pump bearings keep in mind the type of grease also. Not all
pumps and motors are designed equally. Also DO NOT OVER grease.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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08/07/05 |
When drilling overhead, take an old basketball and cut it in half,
drill a hole in it and feed the drill through the hole so that when
you drill the dust is trapped in the ball. the other half makes a
great mixing bowl for plaster - when the leftover plaster dries, just
flex the bowl and out pops the mess.
Contributed by the CondoDoctor
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07/31/05 |
The best tip I can give any Superintendent is to be organized. It will
help you to complete a job more cost effectively, quicker and
easier. For instance, I keep all my warranties in a large looseleaf
binder, labeled warranties / guarantees. Outside is a clear top loading
sheet, and inside is each individual guarantee, warranty or contract.
They are easily seen as I turn each page, no chance in them getting
lost, and if needed I can take the book with me wherever I go, and once
again not worrying about dropping a single piece of paper.
Contributed by Mamerto Morales
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07/24/05
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When working with
the application of plaster or compound on any wall or ceiling, you
should apply the first coat then let that dry to semi-hard before going
over it with a wet smooth sponge or rag. This will give you
extraordinary smoothness on the application, making a perfect blend with
the original surface - no line or bumps. When the surface dries
completely, touch up the minor details that always show up no matter how
good you get at this process, then proceed to do your finished work by
amplifying the first coat of paint. If any imperfections are still
visible when that first coat dries you could touch it up with a bit of
compound mixed with paint of the color you are using.
Contributed by Jose M. Rosa |
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07/17/05
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For future reference,
write the sizes & types of belts used in your equipment at a safe but
noticeable area of the belt cover/guard of the machine, or on a card -
keeping it near the machine. Use a reflectorized arrow sticker (yellow)
for rotation direction especially on pulleys without direction
indicators.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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07/10/05 |
Refrigerator and freezer
not working: Chances are that the condenser coils are dirty and not
allowing the proper heat transfer. Cure: old refrigerators have the
condenser coils on the back. Just pull out the refrigerators and vacuum
the coils. Newer refrigerators have the condenser coils underneath. Pull
off or unscrew the bottom front panel under the refrigerator door and
vacuum. If the occupant is dirty or has pets, 90% chance that this is
the problem.
Contributed by John G. |
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07/03/05 |
If your window air conditioning unit is not working up to snuff, try
some routine maintenance to rev up its performance.
Clean the air filter regularly. They do not hold very much dirt and
should be washed every month even if they don’t look dirty. Vacuum
them using the brush attachment or wash them with mild soapy
solution. Let air dry before reusing. Replace with a new filter if
needed.
If you haven’t checked it at the start of the season, now may be the
time to inspect the condenser coil. The air conditioner must be
removed from the outer cover to see if the inside of the condenser
coil is loaded with dirt. This dirt can be cleaned with garden hose
(or blown out with an air compressor) if you have one. Carefully cover
the fan motor with a plastic bag, and clean the unit with a garden
hose. If you think you got any of the electrical components wet, wait
24 hours before plugging the a/c in. Make sure any dirt and debris is
removed from the bottom pan.
Contributed by JL
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06/26/05
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Reliability
Maintenance Tip: A reliability-based approach to maintenance uses the
probability of failure to select the most effective maintenance
strategy. The probability of failure is determined either from past
failures, knowledge and experience, or from industry references. Often
it is found that existing record systems and logs contain a wealth of
data which has not been used to predict future performance. Now with
modern computer based tools this analysis is easier.
Contributed by John G. |
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06/19/05
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Best tip of all: Be good
to yourself. Reward yourself when you have accomplished something you
are proud of. Don't second guess yourself and never put yourself down -
there are plenty of people who will do that for you. When setting goals,
set them in stages that you can achieve and see results, and can analyze
what your are achieving. This way you will make several small
achievements in steps and reach the end goal. Look at it this way, when
walking up stairs to building, there are landings per floor. Make your
goals similar to the landings, where there is an exit door in case you
need to change direction. Be proud of your achievements, blow your own
horn, you have earned it. Be good to yourself and reward yourself. Why
not?
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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06/12/05 |
Got stubborn chrome that
just won't shine up? Try these: Straight vinegar or nail polish remover
- both products work great. |
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06/05/05
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Crystal Chandeliers
Cleaning: Position a drop cloth under the chandelier. Put two or three
layers of newspaper over the drop cloth. Mix 2.5 ounces of White vinegar
in a spray bottle with warm water. Spray the solution on the crystal
(soak it) so that the solution drips. Let solution drip, and dry.
Contributed by John G. |
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05/29/05
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When painting and using a
roller, DON'T waste money by buying a paint pan liner. Get a old plastic
shopping bag, put it over the pan, Tighten it up and there ya go - a
liner. When you're done, just invert the bag and the mess is inside the
bag and that is that. You save money on not buying a liner, and have
found another use for plastic bags. This will cut your clean up time by
75%. If you're going to paint the next day with the same paint, dip the
roller in paint, and seal it in a separate plastic bag. The paint will
not dry out over night, and just throw out the bag liner and use another
one. Hey got no old plastic shopping bags? Come to my building I have a
truckload.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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05/22/05
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You know those
light-duty extension cords that comes in white or brown? To store them
neatly, wind the cord normally and insert it into a toilet or paper
towel cardboard roll. This keeps the cords tangle free, it is simple and
cheap storage and you can write on the roll what is the length and use
if you want - not to mention it gives another purpose for those old
toilet and paper towel rolls.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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05/15/05 |
HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART
ATTACK ALONE: Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest.
What can you do? Many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack.
When you begin to feel faint you have only about 10 seconds left before
losing consciousness. Start coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A
deep breath should be taken before each cough, and a cough must be
repeated about every 2 seconds without let up, until the heart is felt
to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and
coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The
squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.
Contributed by
Zoltan Papp |
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05/08/05 |
After unclogging a toilet
bowl, roll up a few pieces of toilet paper into a ball and flush. If the
job was done right, the paper goes down. This will save you from coming
back to the apartment the next day.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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05/01/05
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I don't know about you,
but in our building we go through lots of rags. These rags are not
cheap. We use the Turkish towel type. So to get better use out of a rag,
once we have 10 or so dirty rags, we machine wash them. These rags now
go for the real dirty cleaning such as oil, caulking, glue. After that
they are thrown away. So each rag in our building is used twice.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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04/24/05 |
Soda water will remove the odor from accidents caused by untrained
pets. Gently rub the soda water with a cloth dampened with soda water.
Works great on Fabrics and carpets. To discourage the pet from having
the accident (or perhaps marking its territory) in that area again,
spray a little perfume (any kind) in that spot. Just a little will do
it. Contributed by Peter
Grech
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04/17/05 |
To check whether or not
your kitchen or bathroom exhaust vent is working, take one square of
toilet paper and place it up to a kitchen or bathroom vent. If the paper
stays in place, then the vent is working, if the paper cannot stay up,
the fan motor probably needs attention.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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04/10/05 |
Rusty tools can easily be
cleaned by rubbing with a soap filled steel wool pad. Dip the pad in
turpentine and rub vigorously. If you tools are store in a damp space,
which causes the rust, then buy wax paper and wrap the tools in the wax
paper or apply a coat of wax to the metal and cutting edges. Self
polishing floor wax works wonders to protect the tools.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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04/03/05 |
When you have to place a
screw in an area too tight to get your hands in, or if you are like me,
have big hands and fingers, and it's hard to hold small screws and
nails, use a piece of flat cardboard. Cut the cardboard to size, then
push the nail or screw into the cardboard. The cardboard will hold the
screw/nail long enough for you to get a good bite into it. Just remember
to remove the cardboard once the screw or nail is into the surface far
enough. Contributed
by Peter Grech |
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03/27/05 |
Quick check with
paper: Open the door to the refrigerator or freezer. Put a piece of
paper and close the door. If you can move the paper around the door then
the seal is not good and needs to be replaced.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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03/20/05
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For minor burns that
result from touching hot pipes, (not open flame or red hot items) use
flour. Rub the flour over the burnt area and leave the flour for 5
minutes. It works, I just had to use it.
Contributed by Peter Grech |
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03/13/05 |
Before you begin any
caulking chore make sure that your caulking tubes are at room
temperature or a little warmer to allow the caulking to flow a little
easier. Problems usually arise when trying to caulk in tight places
using a typical gun with a cartridge. You can however modify the
caulking cartridge by adding a flexible drinking straw. You may need to
cut the end of the straw to allow it to position over the caulking tube
itself. Secure the straw in place over the nozzle with duct tape and you
are ready to apply caulk. You can feed the straw into whatever space you
need to deliver the caulk.
Contributed by Dick Koral
- as
seen on
www.dannylipford.com) |
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03/06/05 |
To prevent icy snow from
sticking to your metal snow shovels, spray them with WD40 before using.
Contributed by
Janet L. |
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02/27/05 |
Need to change a light
bulb, but it's still too hot to touch due to the other burning bulb next
to it? Use the ‘OVE’ Glove, it will withstand over 400 degrees
Fahrenheit. It's made with Nomex and Kevlar, also great for the barbecue
or anything too hot to touch with your hand. |
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02/20/05 |
For many kinds of soiled
carpet spots, WD-40 works very well. Spray it on, wait a minute or two,
then wipe away with a rag. Repeat if necessary. Follow up with a carpet
shampoo as needed. |
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02/13/05 |
"Build out" rodents by
filling access holes with foam from an aerosol can. (One brand is called
STUFF.) Apparently it gums up the rodent's teeth and deters them
substantially.
Contributed by Keith Williams |
