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Posts Tagged ‘tool<’
Posted in Handyman Services on Aug 06
Drill and Bit Tips
Just about every householder owns a drill, and how very useful is this power tool. Before the invention of the portable electric drill, cutting holes was a laborious exercise that involved using a hand tool such as auger. If the drill itself is important, then the bits that perform the task are vital too, so choosing the correct size and the right bit for the material you’re working with is essential.
Horses for Courses
The material you plan to drill through will indicate which bit you should use for the job.  Twist bits are the most commonly used for most drilling, while steel bits are relatively cheap and suitable for use on softer woods. At the other end of the spectrum we use cobalt-tipped bits for drilling holes in harder metals, such as stainless steel. Get advice from your local hardware store, or better still find a handyman here on Mr-Skill, and get all your drilling work done expertly with minimum fuss.
Understanding Your Options
Use a brad point bit for boring through wood as it deals effectively with stubborn chips as you drill through. For larger holes in wood – say from a half-inch diameter upwards – you should use a spade bit when drilling timber. Always consult your drill maker’s manual for guidelines on drilling through various different materials. Just like any other power tool, drills come in many different choices in terms of quality and performance. Certain drilling jobs may prove challenging for your particular drilling tool, and the manufacturer may impose torque limitations, which in turn could limit the use of some bits.
Correct Drilling Action 
One of our London handymen says that it’s all in the action when operating your drill, and that the slow and steady approach always wins the day. Apart from being potentially dangerous, pushing a drill to its limits is neither good for the tool nor the operator, whereas working in unison will achieve the objective without major stress. Most drills have variable speed settings and a normal drilling function as well as an impact, or hammer setting. More sophisticated equipment usually features a reverse switch for extracting the bit from the drilled hole. Another handy tip is to make sure that your drill is properly straight when in use – otherwise your hole may end up skew.
Last But Not Least
When loading a bit to the chuck, make sure that it is correctly gripped and don’t over-tighten or you may have problems removing the bit when you’re finished. Don’t forget that Mr-Skill has many pre-screened experts ready to assist your every need – get your handyman quote right here!
Tags: chuck, drill, drill bits, drill holes, drill speed, electric drill, expert, find a handyman, handyman, handyman services quote, impact, london handyman, material, metal, power drill, safety, stainless steel, tool, wood, wood chips
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Posted in Handyman Services on Jul 10
At Mr-Skill we often talk to our members who represent just about every trade you could think of. Sometimes, they comment on their tools of trade. One very useful tool that gets the thumbs up from every direction is the pop rivet gun. In fact, each one of our London handymen can’t imagine life without this amazing gadget – it has so many practical uses. 
Popular Applications
This is one gun that every DIY enthusiast should have, and make use of regularly too. Pop rivet guns are incredibly useful for just about anything requiring quick, sturdy fastening. From mechanics in the car-repairing business to a myriad of jobs around the home, these tools are indispensable. Generally used for fastening lighter metal surfaces together, the “blind rivet” is so-named because you can’t see the one end of the rivet once in position. Did you know that you can find a handyman who’s a pop rivet specialist on Mr-Skill?
Riveting Stuff
Cylindrical in shape, and manufactured from aluminium, copper and sometimes steel, pop rivets are placed in a pre-drilled hole and squeezed through the metal surfaces using a gun to create the pressure. The shaft of the pop rivet acts in much the same way as a nail, but the main difference lies in the gun-squeezing action which compresses the rivet tightly. The name “pop rivet” comes from the snapping or cracking noise it makes while being squeezed into place. Basically, the rivet breaks at the required point. Once in position, a rivet creates an incredible bond between metal surfaces, and the only way of removing it is by drilling it out.
Loading the Gun 
Start by loading the narrow end of the rivet into the gun. Squeeze the nose-end of the rivet into the pre-drilled holes in both sheets, and then it’s time to pump the gun handles together until the rivet pops. This may require a couple of attempts as the rivet shaft can be quite resistant. The rivet pin should then break at a pre-weakened point, which is when you will hear with the popping noise. What remains is the flattened rivet head forming a perfect circle. Sometimes rivets pop at the wrong time. Check to see that you are using the correct size shaft for the operation and then load up a new rivet.
Not everyone takes to a rivet gun easily, and if that describes you, log on to Mr-Skill and get a handyman quote to do the job for you. Who knows, you may find some excellent bargains around just because it is summer!
Tags: action, aluminium, copper, drilling, fastening, find handyman-services, gun, load, london handyman services, pop rivet gun, pop rivets, practical, pump, quote for handyman services, rivet head, securing, shaft, steel, tool, trade
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I never cease to be amazed at the variety of bathroom accessories available at hardware stores across the UK these days. Every one of these has at least one fixing hole – if I got that contract I doubt I’d ever look back. Many folk are nervous about drilling through ceramic tiles though, because the consequences of cracking one can be quite expensive.
And so they try alternatives like two-sided tape and contact glue. Unfortunately these never work properly because ceramic tiles are highly glazed. Worse still, the accessories come loose, and chip even more expensive fittings when they come crashing down. If you are handy you don’t need to Find a Bathroom Fitter – you just need the right tools and your brain switched on.
• When working above a drainage point like a washbasin or a toilet, insert the plug or lower the seat. Lay down a dust-sheet to make cleaning up afterwards easier too.
HINT – Ceramic tile and masonry dust can permanently stain moist grout, so make sure your work area is dry.
• Gently tap the tile where you intend to drill the hole with something metallic that’s also light. If you hear a hollow sound there’s airspace between the glue. London Bathroom  Fitting Firms train their staff to look for another fixing point when they find this, because tiles break easily over hollows.
• Make a clear mark on the tile where the hole must go with a laundry marker. Make a cross over it with transparent tape that does not have a shiny finish. Tap the tape gently and repeatedly with a new centre punch, until you have scored the ceramic finish beneath it.
• Drill through the hole using a specialist drill bit and an electric drill set off-hammer. Once you are through the glaze you can drill into the tile and wall more quickly. Tidy up the mess, wipe things clean, and you’re good to go!
Mr-Skill is a virtual market place where customers and skilled tradespeople meet. It’s free to the general public, and bids can be up to 30% below general market rates. Click on this link – get Cheap Bathroom Fitting Quotes for your postcode right now!
Tags: accesory, accessories, bathroom, bathroom fitting quotes, bit, break, ceramic, chip, clean, crack, drain, drill, dry, dust, find a bathroom fitter, fix, gently, glaze, glue, harware, hole, london bathroom fitting, mark, masonry, punch, sheet, tap, tape, tile, tool, wall, wipe
Posted in Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting, Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
I’ve recently sanded down an old wooden table I’m rather fond of and finished it off with a high lustre polyurethane seal. I wish I could claim all the credit for the final effect – just don’t tell anybody I used ideas I gleaned from a retired London Painter living in the village not far from me.
• Work in the best light – That does not mean under blazing overhead light that shines back in your eyes.  What is does mean is natural illumination streaming softly through doors and windows at a low angle. This emphasises the grain that you must accommodate, and turns imperfections into shadows that you can easily see. If you don’t have natural light available, set a desk lamp at one end of the bench.
• Choose the right sandpaper – Sandpaper comes in different colours, although there are no industry rules. Some suppliers use colour to highlight different grit size. Others use it to indicate different types. Choose three strengths of paper designed for the job in hand, so you can work progressively from coarse to fine.
• Use sanding tools – The chances of achieving a level finish using bare hands are low, because fingers are creative things, not mechanised machines. Use a sanding block for a smaller piece of work,  and a power sander for a larger job. Bear in mind that power tools are more productive. Use finer grit paper to counteract the effect.
• Use a jig – Wrap sandpaper around a reverse shape to sand right into a tricky corner, and move your work gently up and down against it. Work carefully – the results can be quite dramatic.
• Check progress as you go along – Put a used nylon stocking over your hand and run it gently across the surface of your work to find rough spots. If you’re a guy though, perhaps you shouldn’t admit to wearing pantyhose in the workshop?
You won’t need to Find a Painter to do a hobbyist job like this. But you will need to get Painting Quotes on Mr-Skill for wooden doors and window frames. Trust me. I tried that. You don’t want to go down that road alone.
Tags: angle, bench, block, check, choose, coarse, colour, door, find a painter, fine, finish, grade, grain, grit, jig, lamp, level, light, london painter, natural, nylon, painting quote, paper, power, progress, reverse, rough, sand, sandpaper, seal, shadow, shine, size, smooth, soft, stocking, strength, table, tool, window, wood, work
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Cleaning Services on Sep 13
As the late summer cools to autumn and the windy days arrive, it’s time to clean off the barbeque and store it away for winter. But using caustic oven cleaners is so old-fashioned these days, and  they just make the barbeque rust all that sooner too. So how did the old folks cope in days before all those aerosols? I doubt they even thought to Find a Cleaner.
• For starters, they cleaned their cooking surfaces regularly, and that’s half the trick. After all, fresh grease is a whole lot easier to get rid of, than burned-on, encrusted dirt.
• They had simple, practical tools too. These invariably included a stiff wire brush, hot soapy water, and rags to wipe the cooking surface. You can use paper towel nowadays, as long as it’s recycled!
• The old folks also didn’t leave the dirt until the morning when it had gone cold and yucky. In fact cleaning the barbeque was as natural to them as washing up the plates, and they never, ever needed to get a Cleaning Service Quote.
• Start by wiping the cooking surface with a warm, soapy cloth – you’ll be surprised how much dirt comes off that way. Loosen any stubborn bits with an old table knife that’s not too sharp, and finally scrub away with the wire brush and a little oil.
• Finally, wipe the grill surface clean with a fresh cloth or paper towel, leaving a light coating of oil behind to prevent the rust from taking hold.
What a pleasure when you wheel out the barbeque next summer. All you need to do is burn it off, and you’re ready for the pork sausages and the steaks. It’s almost as if you had had a visit from a London Cleaning Firm. Did I mention that you can Find a Cleaner on Mr-Skill Right Here?
Tags: autumn, barbeque, burn, caustic, clean, cleaning service quote, cold, cooking, encrust, find a cleaner, grease, knife, london cleaning firm, oven, paper towel, rag, regular, rust, scrub, soap, store, summer, surface, tool, warm, water, wind, wipe, wire brush, yucky
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Posted in Bricklaying on Sep 07
Sometimes finishing off the joints between bricks can seem like a never-ending chore, unless you have years of experience as some Bricklayers in London may. This is because bricks are naturally made products, and have all sorts of holes and cracks where plaster may collect. If you are contemplating a DIY job such as building a smaller set of steps, then you can try to bridge your experience gap with tips like these.
•  Buy a decent set of tools. I cannot over-emphasise the difference that a shiny new float or builder’s trowel can make, and these are inexpensive too. So throw away your rusty set and make a fresh start on your next job.
• Decide on the type of joint you want. There are a variety of different strokes for different folks, and the right solution is usually the one that you prefer the most. Some people like full grouted joints requiring fewer tools, while others want recessed, hand-tooled ones that take a little extra time. Remember to specify what joints you may require when calling for Bricklaying Quotes on Mr-Skill, as this may affect the price.
• Don’t be shy with masking tape. This may be frowned on by professionals, but can be a dab trick for weekend builders such as you and me. Time and effort spent improving techniques this way, can produce really professional looking jobs that you can be proud of too.
•  Use a grout bag or grout gun. Believe me; these make the difference between pain and pleasure. This is because they are not only quick to use, but they also make a whole lot less mess. And yes, you could even save a little plaster, although this is often more in the salesperson’s mind.
• Use a jointer’s tool to create recessed grout lines. This is essential equipment for scooping out surplus grout material, and I doubt you will Find a Bricklayer anywhere who does not have at least one in their kit. The trick is to add a little more material when required, as opposed to applying too much in the first place.
Not an awfully difficult job to do, although grouting bricks can be fiddly and frustrating. Attempt the job yourself by all means if you have lots of patience and spare time. Otherwise, why not Find a Skilled and Rated Tradesman on Mr-Skill instead, to take the hassles (and the cement) off your busy hands.
Tags: add, brick, bricklayers in london, bricklaying quotes, cement, clean, crack, DIY, experience, find a bricklayer, finish, float, flush, full, grout, hint, hole, joint, line, mask, masking tape, mess, natural, new, plaster, professional, recess, render, rust, save, scoop, shiny, skill, specify, step, technique, tip, tool, trowel
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Wouldn’t it be nice to have the dining room opening directly into the garden on a balmy summer’s day? What a good idea except you only have a window, and climbing in and out through it is hardly everybody’s idea of fun. Well then, why not convert the window to a set of french doors instead? After all, Door Fitters in London do this sort of thing every day.
o Call in a supplier to measure up, quote and make up a new set of doors for you, and do nothing else yourself, until these arrive and have been checked for size. They should be exactly the same width as the existing window, unless that  is you are looking for a whole lot more work to do.
o Empty the room completely. Remove one opening window pane so you can climb in and out through the opening. Secure the inter-leading door and mask around it. Also mask around the doors of any cupboards and protect anything else appropriate from dust.
o Remove the window and its frame completely, being extra careful not to disturb any plaster. If you notice any cracks in the wall above the opening immediately prop it, and seek expert advice. Changing windows into doors is a job only for the brave. That’s why so many British homeowners get Door Fitting Quotes on Mr-Skill instead.
o Mark perpendicular lines from the left and right bottom sides of the existing opening down to floor level, on both sides of the wall. Check and double-check these carefully. Cut through these lines with an angle grinder, working alternatively from the inside and the outside, until you can see light shine right through. Do your best to cut square with the wall, because this will make the rest of your task far easier.
o Break out the wall using a large hammer. The masonry will be resting on the damp course and may even come out in a single piece, so take care it does not fall on precious children, tools and dogs.  Remove the rubble. Tidy up the opening. Clean up the room. The dirty work is done.
o Remove the french doors from the window frame (if pre-fitted) and offer the frame up to the opening. It should be a close fit, but not a tight one. Wedge it in position and check that it is vertical, plumb, level and square. Use more wedges to adjust it until everything is perfect. Get this wrong, and the doors won’t close properly.
o Attach the frame permanently to the wall with plugs and screws. Remember to drive them in the last few turns by hand, in case they need to come out later to make a change. Then hang your doors, making tiny adjustments as you go along until everything is perfect. Install the locks and handles. Your home is secure again, and you didn’t need to Find a Door Fitter either (although you could have on Mr-Skill). You can even open up the inter-leading door again to receive a well-deserved cup of tea.
All that’s left to do is to tidy up the inside rendering, touch up with paint and seal around the frame outside with silicone. It’s nice when a job like this comes together relatively easily. Won’t the neighbours be surprised…
Tags: angle grinder, attach, brick, check, child, clean, crack, cupboard, cut, dirty, dog, door fitters in london, door fitting quote, dust, empty, exact, find a door fitter, frame, french door, Garden, hammer, handle, hang, horizontal, idea, level, line, lock, mask, masonry, measure, open, paint, pane, perpendicular, plaster, prop, quote, remove, render, room, rubble, screw, secure, side, silicone, size, square, summer, supplier, tool, true, vertical, window
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Before the first winter rains arrive, it’s time to catch up on the outstanding jobs. Do you have a broken or a missing downpipe on your house? If so, you can Find a Roofer on Mr-Skill to fix it up for you. Did you know that we review all our tradespeople personally, and  that they could come in up to 30% cheaper than prevailing rates?
If you had the time and energy, you could also do the job yourself. Here’s what you would have to do:
o First identify the guttering system on your house, and pop down to the hardware store to buy the bits you need (a digi-pic could prove handy here).
o Make sure that your ladder is in first rate condition, and that you have a mate available to hold it steady for you. If not, rather avoid injury and get some Roofer Quotes instead.
o Remove the old downpipe and set it aside to take to a recycling depot later. Clean the interface point on the gutter thoroughly, and double-check for any other damage while you do.
o Assuming the old downpipe brackets are still in place and reusable, offer up the elbow-piece into the gutter and  tighten the bracket around it. Makes sure it fits well, because believe me, this is where a leak is most likely to occur.
o Assemble the other sections of the pipe, working from the top downwards and attaching the brackets as you go. An old pal of mine named Ray, who works for a Roofing Firm in London, believes in dropping down a tennis ball as he goes along, just to make double-sure there are no stoppages.
o Finally, attach the bottom elbow to the pipe to drain the water away from the house, and hey presto, the job is done!
That could take the better part of a Saturday afternoon and you might have other plans in mind? No worries, simply Click on Mr-Skill, and we’ll sort everything out for you instead.
Tags: assemple, bottom, bracket, broken, buy, cheap, clean, downpipe, drain, elbow, find a roofer, fit, gutter, injury, job, ladder, leak, leaking, missing, photograph, rain, roofer quote, roofing firm in london, rusted, safe, safety, spares, steady, system, tennis ball, tight, tool, water, winter
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
I have noticed something interesting about the Gardeners in London that I come across, and that is the super condition of their tools in general. No doubt they do a better job with them that way,  and of course they also have to replace them less frequently. I have to admit though that mine used to be a total disaster, but only before I discovered these useful tips.
You will need a bucket with a lid, enough sand to almost fill it, new or used engine / cooking oil, and a few old rags. The bucket lid is to keep out the dust and dirt, so almost anything will do.
• Make a habit of keeping the bucket in a dry corner of the garden shed or garage
• Fill the bucket with the sand except for the last four inches. This helps keep it stable while sprucing up your tools. I agree that this can make it heavy, but at least your wallet won’t be lightened by the cost of Gardening Quotes after your tools all rust away.
•  Top up the bucket with the oil, and watch it as the sand absorbs it. If you spilled some, well… that’s a further use for the old rags…
• Take each garden tool in turn and shove the working edge in and out of the sand until it is cleaned. Four or five repetitions should do the trick.
• Wipe the tools with the rags as you go along, remembering to leave a thin film of oil behind.
How’s that for something different from us? Should you need to Find a Gardener on Mr-Skill (which is easier than you think), you could leave your tools out in the garden for them to admire while working (but not to borrow, naturally). It’s a funny old world isn’t it. The cleverest ideas are often the simplest too.
Tags: absorb, better job, bucket, condition, cook, corner, cost, dirt, dry, dust, edge, engine, fill, film, find a gardener, garage, Garden, gardeners in london, gardening quotes, lid, motor, new, oil, rag, replace, sand, shed, spill, stable, tool, used, wipe
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
The prospect of picking up a few pots of paint and some paint brushes down at the hardware store, and getting stuck into redecorating over the weekend is an attractive one. But plummeting off a ladder and being crowned by an open tin of paint is hardly such a good idea. 
If you can’t find someone to do a Painting Job in London for you (which is unlikely on Mr-Skill) then here are a few tips to keep you safe:
o Avoid wearing loose clothing of any kind, as this can get tangled in tools and ladders, and might cause a serious injury. The same goes for necklaces and bracelets too. While on the subject of clothing, remember to wear sensible shoes. Many an accident has been caused by beach thongs.
o Make sure that your ladder is in perfect condition, with no damaged steps or missing parts. If it doesn’t click firmly into position and stand steadily, don’t use it. Rather be safe and get some Painting Quotes instead.
o  Keep the floor area clear. More people have tripped and fallen this way than in any other. Create a rule and stick to it.
o Turn off the electricity main switch before you remove any cover plates, and seal off any open spaces around them with painter’s tape before you turn them on again. Don’t take chances here – it’s not all that unusual to find the internals of a switch lying loose inside the cover.
Now that you have had a chance to review the safety aspects outlined above, you may be more inclined to Find a Decorator. Should that be the case then you can locate one on Mr-Skill, where we cover almost every post code, and recommend our tradespeople personally. We wish you a safe day, and happy home decorating!
Tags: accident, bracelet, brush, clear, click, clothing, cover, decorate, electricity, fall, find a decorator, firm, hardware, injury, ladder, loose, necklace, paint, painting job in london, painting quotes, part, plate, pot, safe, shoe, shop, steady, step, store, switch, tape, thong, tin, tool, trip, weekend
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
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