12 DIY tips to make your projects easier

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12 DIY Tips to make your projects easier | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Raise your hand if you like easy.

Raise your hand if you like tips.

Raise your hand if you like DIY.

Okay, now our exercise class is over at least for one arm!!

Today I thought I would share my collection of DIY tips.

 

12 DIY tips to make your projects easier

DIY tips to make Projects Easier | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com
  1. Use a small piece of aluminum foil to hold small amounts of paint.  Every couple of months I grab a small paint brush and a small foil tray with a dollop of wall paint.  Then freshen up the walls.  Note:  That’s not what I’m doing above…so far we don’t have any black walls…so far!!!  Above I was painting a couple of hooks black for a sign outside.
cleaning paint jars | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

2.  Wipe edges of chalk paint jars with wet wipes to make opening again easier.

3.  Use rubber gloves if you forgot to wipe the jar.

Easy tip for screws | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

4.  If a screw will not go in easy rub an old candle across the threads.  Above I’m sharing an old candle and piece of woodworking beeswax just for woodworking.

12 tips to make diy easier | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

5. Use a small nail to keep glue from clogging up.  The top fits right over the nail.  Use a condiment or food prep bottle for wood glue.  In the winter I bring the wood glue inside.  Glues don’t like freezing temps.

6. A stiff small artist type brush can be used to apply wood glue to the edges of boards.

7.  Clean brushes right away or at the very least drop into a cup of water.  Use old newspaper to remove extra paint from bristles.

8.  After washing your paint brushes, hang with bristles down.  This will help water dry from inside the ferrule or metal part.  Water in the ferrule will break down the bristles over time.

9. Use shampoo and conditioner to wash paint brushes.

Using clamps | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

10. Use those quick grip type clamps to extra hands.  Use the screw down type clamps for extra strength.

Using a rope as a clamp | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

11.  Making a wood crate or box and don’t have enough clamps?  Use a piece of rope and a screwdriver.  Wrap the rope around your glued up boards.  Tie in a knot.  Insert screwdriver and twist tightening up the rope around the box.  Use one clamp to hold the screwdriver in place until the glue dries.

12.  Why do I use 3 by 5 recipe cards in the workshop?  To clean up any wood glue that oozes out from wood.  Easy Peezy!

Bonus Tips

Grab a Dollar Tree spray bottle, add water and spray lightly over the paper. Watch the magic happen as the paper uncurles and lays flat. Watch the magic on this Pinterest pin.

Tips to make DIY easier | Country Design Style | countrydesignstyle.com

Here’s several Hot Glue Gun tips.

Do you have any DIY tips to share?

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10 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh, Nancy, I’ve never heard of that one. So doing this to a couple of brushes this afternoon!!! Yep, I have hardened paint brushes laying around. Thanks!

  2. To help loosen old paint from a brush you’ve neglected…gasp! (Guilty!). Soak it in a jar filled with 1/2 liquid fabric softener and 1/2 water. Soak for a couple of days. The fabric softener loosens the paint residue enough to clean the bristles and salvage the brush.

  3. Excellent tips Jeanette! The nail in the glue bottles is so happening in my workshop. The wax on the screws is also happening (no more spewing curse words). Pinning your awesome tips to share ☺ Thanks so much!

  4. I find this tip very good. Send your husband away for a weekend, then all you have to do is work on whatever you are making. No need to stop and fix dinner , clean the house or answer to anyone! A whole weekend to do just what you want to do. Heaven!!!

  5. Carole Core says:

    Great tips! I use a small stencil brush for spreading glue.

    1. Thank you Carole for your tip. I stencil brush would be perfect for glue. Thanks for reading and helping. 🙂

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