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Exterior Painting Tips and Techniques
Reader's Digest — Painting the exterior of your house is a huge job. But the rewards are great too. With a minimum investment in tools and materials, you'll save thousands of dollars, extend the life of your siding and trim and increase the value of your home. ...More…
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Workshop Tips
Reader's Digest — Organize your paint brushes, scrapers, roller frames, rags and paint cans with this shelf made from two 1x8 boards screwed together and reinforced with metal shelf brackets ($1). We built ours 38 in. long to fit three brackets of sliding spring ...More…
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Step-by-Step Pictures and Instructions To Paint Woodwork
Reader's Digest — Remove all loose or cracked paint with a stiff putty knife. Work in various directions to get underneath the loose paint. Fill nicks and gouges with a two-part wood filler. Mix it thoroughly (following label directions) with a 2- or 3-in. ...More…
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Wood Close to the Ground
Reader's Digest — Scrape away all the paint within 16 in. of the concrete. Scrapers with replaceable carbide blades work best. Also dig any old caulk out of joints. Sand remaining paint off curves or in corners where scrapers don't reach. Coarse sandpaper, 60 or ...More…
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Step 1: Wash the Woodwork
Reader's Digest — Have two buckets and two scrub sponges at hand (such as Scotch-Brite scrub sponges), one each for washing solution and clear water rinsing. Don't wash with a cloth rag, as it may shine a flat surface or dull a lustrous one. The goal is to remove ...More…
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Step-by-Step Instructions and Pictures of How To Stain ...
Reader's Digest — Sand flat surfaces with a 100-grit sanding sponge, in the direction of the grain, until you eliminate imperfections and rough areas. Sand curves with a 100-grit pad. You can easily mold it to the contours of the various trim profiles. Sand tight ...More…
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Step-by-Step Instructions and Pictures of How To Apply a ...
Reader's Digest — Make your own sealer by thinning oil-based polyurethane with mineral spirits. Brush the sealer on with a natural-bristle brush using long, even strokes. Be sure to catch any runs. Use undiluted polyurethane varnish straight from the can for the ...More…
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Step Brush Technique
Reader's Digest — Load the brush by dipping about 2 in. of the bristles into the paint. Slap the brush back and forth once against the sides of the can to remove excess paint. Lay on the paint thickly with two or three back-and-forth strokes. Don't worry about ...More…
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NEW PRODUCTS: 7 tools for faster painting
Reader's Digest — I love this thing. It's stable and light, just the right height, and it folds up for easy storage. Plus, it's cheap! The Gorilla Ladder Work Platform ($35) sets up in seconds and is just under 2 ft. tall, so it's great for working near ...More…
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How to Repair Chipped Car Paint: Step-by-Step Pictures ...
Reader's Digest — Clean the chip with soap and water and then dry it with a soft cotton cloth. Rub a dab of automotive polishing compound over the chip to gently soften any ragged edges. Just a dozen swirls or so will do the job. Too much rubbing could damage the ...More…
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Step-by-Step Photos and Instructions for Decorative Painting
Reader's Digest — Mask all your woodwork and the ceiling, lay a dropcloth on the floor and have some newspaper on hand before painting. Pour equal amounts of ordinary flat latex paint into the sections of the split roller pan provided in your painting kit. Evenly ...More…
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Soft jaws for slip-joint pliers
Reader's Digest — Here's a classic hint worth repeating: When you're working on pipes, prevent scratches and get a better grip by covering the jaws of your slip-joint pliers with short pieces of garden hose. When you're done, store the "soft jaws"on ...More…