Glass Backwards - Revive a busted window or convert it to a
mirror
Everyone should know how to fix a broken
window because projectiles happen. And
behind every projectile is a surprised child, so you might as well teach your
kids how to fix broken windows too. It’ll save them years of allowance.
Now, if you live in an apartment or condo
and you never get pelted with baseballs or rocks, I know how disappointing that
can be. But take heart, because you can
use these glazing techniques to create a cool mirror from an old window.
There’s nothing quite so noble as an old
window. It has a special look that says
“I’ve been through some stuff.” Like the
look of a married guy who’s nearing the end of his mid-life crisis and still
hasn’t bought a sports car or shaved his head or daydreamed about the cashier
in the Tim Horton’s drive-thru. It’s a
look that says “I can hang on a little longer, but it better be worth it.” And that’s darn attractive in a man. Or a window.
Insider tips for sparkly windows - WATCH the TOOLGIRLVIDEO of this amazing technique!
Did you know that there are world class window-cleaning conventions where people compete in speed trials to see who can squeegee a window fastest? They're clocking under 30 seconds for a big store window. Sweet.
If you're like most of us, you're using Window Washing Option A from the list below. If you're a hot-dogger, you might find yourself in the Option C category.
Option A
Some people use paper towels, ammonia-based cleaners and an
old-fashioned lubricant called ‘elbow-grease’. However, rubbing a window with paper towels puts a static charge on the
glass and then it’s dirty again as soon as you’re finished. Where does this register on the Handyperson’s
Emotional Scale? Somewhere around “Just
shoot me”.
Option B
You can pay a professional window-washing company to make
your glass sparkly. Attractive young men
with rippling musculature will swarm over your home for several hours. It may be worth it, especially if you live
with your mother-in-law and she needs entertaining. Encourage her to pass snacks to the young men
and yell, “Nice glass!”
Option C
Refuse to give those window-washing fellows all of the
arm-sculpting opportunities. Invest about
$40 and set yourself up for a lifetime of fun and deltoids that are perfectly al dente.
Here are some tips to get a fast, flawless, professional sheen on your windows.
I saw a doormat on the Internet that made me think. Its entire surface is covered by a giant
barcode to wipe your feet on. The
description says “For your unique home in your unique neighborhood.” ($25 at www.perpetualkid.com).
As a rule I dislike sarcasm. But the point they’re making is that when you go shopping in the usual
places you’re not going to find anything unique. You’re choosing from the same stuff everyone
else is choosing from. Your only hope
for individuality is to utilize your items in unique ways, say, by using an air
mattress as a doormat or making hanging baskets out of bras or edging your
flower garden with luggage. Oh, I have tons of ideas.
The road to uniqueness passes through your own brain. Start by forming an idea for something truly
unique that you would love to have in your home. Figure out what something like that would
cost. Spend a fraction of that money on
tools and make it yourself.
To help you get started, here are plans for a unique wooden doormat. Making this doormat is like building a
miniature deck. All of the principles are the same. The bottom layer is the ‘framing’, and the
top layer is the ‘decking’. If you’ve never built a deck before, this
project will teach you the basics without using up a whole weekend and two
cases of beer.
I like enthusiasm. I
like people who do their automobile maintenance in the parking lot at Canadian
Tire because they’re too excited to drive home and install the new wiper blades
in their own driveway.
At my Canadian Tire there are so many of us working on our
cars in the parking lot that local entrepreneurs caught on and now we’ve got a
Hotdog Cart. Because standing around on
hot asphalt with the hood up just makes you crave a foot-long.
I’ve been getting mail from all over Canada about
the subject of car care. Some people
have questions and others have tips. Here is a quick selection of the messages from
fellow enthusiasts on the road of life.
Hi Mag,
My name is Derek. I read your article in TO Sun regarding the
appearance of haze on the dashboard. Thank
you for the tip, but I do have one question. Where can I get the denatured alcohol (methylated spirits)?? to get rid
of the haze, which is driving me CRAZY.
Marissa McTasney's fabulous boots are in stock now at The Home Depot Canada. For $99 you can have a pair of steel-toed boots that actually look hot. Check out http://moxietrades.com for the whole story. Or see this article about Marissa's boots from the Toronto Star (August 21, 2007).
Ladies Red Work Boot Size 7
Moxie Trades Ltd. offers the first ever CSA approved pink, blue, green and red work boots for women exclusively at Home Depot. Our boots are CSA approved, steel toe, steel shank, leather work boots. Finally you can work in style while ensuring personal safety and comfort. All of our work boots are made from hard-wearing, durable materials with great extra features you can trust to care for your feet when they need it most. They have been dyed to perfectly match Moxie Trades tool belts and T-shirts. Please print the foot map to ensure that you purchase the right fit for your tender toes.
Okay, who doesn't want a patented, multi-purpose floor system designed to give your garage the hot look of a professional shop? Made from high-impact copolymer, MotoFloor is built to withstand oil, chemicals, extreme rolling loads and 'tough mechanical environments' like when you require the emotional release of tool-throwing. A typical one-car garage needs 4 boxes of tiles @ $164.99 each. Black and white or charcoal. Hot or what?
This durable, multi-purpose floor system is designed to give you a clean professional work environment that can withstand tough mechanical environments. It is resistant to oil, grease, petroleum, antifreeze and most household chemicals. Great for garages, shops, retail displays or anywhere tough flooring is needed. Easy to set up and clean.
Sometimes the road to home repair has so many potholes it’s
better to pull over and park. Here’s how to tell when it’s time to take a break:
·You just spent a whole morning looking for spare
slide-rule parts on eBay
·When the phone rings, you feel defensive
·You avoid eye contact with hardware store sales
associates because you don’t want to have to explain how much trouble you’re in
·You’ve nicknamed your toolbox The Yellow Scum
The best thing you can do at this point is distract
yourself. Try hoisting your ego by using
a different skill set, one that involves sitting down, frequent snacking and enduring
noise no louder than the hum of the beer fridge.
If you're travelling this summer and you've had to factor "asking for directions " into your itinerary, these silk map scarves can bring relief.
Available in about a dozen international cities in either kerchief or scarf size. You'll feel as directionally confident as WWII British air crews, who wore map scarves on all of their missions. Romantic or what?
We're All In This Together Based on four years of interviews with Steve Smith, Mag's unconventional biography reveals the personal stories, sorrows and joys that continue to inspire the man behind the Red Green legacy.
How Hard Can It Be? Mag's quirky and entertaining book of home improvement projects for beginners.
Glass Backwards - Revive a busted window or convert it to a
mirror
