What's the best D.I.Y. advice you've ever received?

[Jason]

Hi everyone,

Whether it's a cherished lesson passed on from one generation to the next, a throwaway line from a mate, or something you've personally learned the hard way, please share your favourite D.I.Y. tips in the discussion below.

What is the best D.I.Y advice you've ever received?

Jason

[Jason]

There are lots of quick tips videos @MartyH, including how to screw into metal, how to remove stuck screws, how to stop your screwdriver from slipping and how to remove headless nails.

Jason

[Daves880]

My advice was from my Dad when I was @ 10. Look after your tools and they will look after you, put them away clean! Dave

[Kermit]

Saw a good simple tip today to use a blob of blu-tac when position small nails for hammering in. Might save a finger or two. 

[Jason]

Some more quick tips courtesy of the Bunnings team....

How to remove headless nails

How to remove excess grout

How to stop your screwdriver from slipping

How to tie a string line

How to paint with a roller

Hope you find these tips useful. Feel free to share your own!

Jason

[Kermit]

Anyone keep their paint tins upside down?

I just read this tip and am a bit dubious....

When a paint can is stored upside down, the paint creates an absolutely airtight seal, which will make your paint last longer.

[Prawns]

Interesting tip on putting the paint tin upside down kermit   I  buy "too much" paint myself  (need 1 litre? I'll buy 4)
Biggest problem Ive had with old paint tins sitting around half full or less - the paint tin rusts over time - and the rust falls into the paint when u remove the paint tin lid with a screwdriver later on

I no longer store my paint in the original tins - mine goes in clear tupperware containers lol. No more rust - can see how much paint you have left - and its a airtight seal that doesnt require a screwdriver to remove, and you can see when the old paint needs a shake up (can see the seperation)

[casper1]

Haste makes waste, and so do poorly maitained tools.

[woodenwookie]

Further to the screw thing the best advice I’ve had is always use screws that have a threadless shaft at the head of the screw when working with wood. It will pull the work together better.

[Aussie-Garden]

I'm still a complete novice at anything involved in using a tool.

The tip on drilling a small hole before putting in a screw is the best one I can think of. 

I have split so many bits of wood or skidded the tip of the screw across the surface of the wood countless times until I was told that gem.

A close second was to hold a small nail with a narrow ended set of pliers when hammering.

[ayahchristensen]

If it ain't broken don't fix it!