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Save tons of money on paint, if the color doesn't really mattter

By alexrussell Paint_large

Have a closet or garage that needs a coat of paint, but you don't want to shell out the $20 for it? There's a couple easy ways to find paint for pennies on the dollar, and they're closer than you might think. The first place to look is the same place you'd go to pay full price. Any paint store will have cans of paint leftover from mistakes in the mixing process. When a customer comes in with a swatch of fabric or a flower petal to get a match, and he's not happy with the end result, the store has to eat... »MORE

February 05, 2007
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Help your new plumbing pay for itself

By alexrussell Old_copper_large

 The price of copper has skyrocketed, and it's not an all bad thing. There are great alternatives to copper when it comes to re-piping your home, so there's no real need to pay any premiums there. But why not take advantage with the old copper pipe you're going to replace? Scrap metal recyclers in Seattle, where I am, are paying upwards of $1.75 or so per pound for scrap copper. This is what they'll pay you for what you'll probably throw away anyway. Why not take advantage? If you're lucky enough to have all your waste lines in old copper pipe... »MORE

January 23, 2007
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How the pros paint doors two sides at a time

By alexrussell Painting_doors_large

 Painting a door can be a chore, but there's an easier way to do it than painting one side at a time. Some pros I've worked with have a great way to keep doors upright, so they can paint both sides of a door in one go. Here's what they do. The only tools you'll need aside from painting materials are a cordless drill or screwdriver, and a hammer. The extra materials are a scrap board and a few finish nails at least 2 inches long.First, take the door off the hinges, and remove all the hardware (the doorknob and lockset). This is easy with a cordless... »MORE

January 23, 2007
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Not your mother's beaded curtain

By alexrussell Beaded_curtains_large

 Remember those cheap plastic things that used to hang in the doorways of every card-carrying hippy back in the day? They're still around, just much cooler. And you don't need to wear tea shades to rock them properly. The Beaded Curtain brings back these free love relics for every hip home, and their beads are anything but cheap plastic. They come in acrylic, wood, feathers, fabric and shells. They can add a lot to any neo-hipster's pad. They bring to mind a mythologically simpler time and place while helping create a modern and artistic environment. Plus, nothing beats the clanking of beads when... »MORE

January 16, 2007
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How to keep your computer wires in line

By alexrussell Computer-cables_large

Not everybody has gone completely wireless. It's these poor souls who are destined to trip in the mess of wires dangling in bundles behind the desk. But there's a quick and easy way to straighten things up. Zip ties!The lowly zip tie isn't just for cops to keep unruly folks in line. They're also great for putting those unruly computer wires in their place. Zip ties are cheap and come in all different colors. Just one zip and your wire problems are gone. And they're not just for computer wires!Wires behind your tv making a mess? Zip it! Appliance wires making that clean kitchen counter... »MORE

January 16, 2007
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A space of her own: how I built Angel an indoor doghouse

By alexrussell Puppy_house_large

 Every bed we’ve ever bought for our Rat Terrier Angel, our American Staffordshire Ana has managed to squeeze herself into by morning. What Angel needed was a space of her own. I just happened to have a cardboard box lying around the house.The box I had was a lot bigger than the house would be, so I cut it down and used the extra for the roof. If you have a box big enough for the house as is, have a second box for the roof. Total time for construction was about a half hour. Other than a box, I... »MORE

January 08, 2007
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Anybody else growing an avocado?

By alexrussell Avo2_large

 About a year and a half ago I left an avocado pit in a bowl of water for no reason in particular. A few weeks later I noticed it had cracked open and a shoot was poking out. I let it grow and kept the bowl full of water until it was a couple inches out of the pit. Then I planted it in a pot and let it grow. Since then it has died and been resurrected twice. Once through the violent actions of a squirrel, and once through neglect. I like my little avocado plant. Has anybody else... »MORE

January 06, 2007
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Beaded Curtains...on a bathroom sink?

By alexrussell Moxie_beaded_curtain_lav_installed_large

 I can't tell if the Moxie wall-mounted lavatory from Kohler is cool or just weird. Hanging beaded curtains along the edges of a wall-mouned lav is definitely a new idea. A sink is a wonderful thing, but there's always functionality right at the throat of aesthetics. People want dirty water to go away but almost nobody wants to see a sink's p-trap underneath, even if it's chrome and flawlessly installed. Hence, the beaded curtain. My question is, why not a beaded curtain along the front as well? That's what you'll see walking into the bathroom anyway. It would also be cool if the sink came in different colors,... »MORE

January 06, 2007
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Wheelbarrow, bucket, or mixer: how to mix up a batch of concrete

By alexrussell Big_mixer_large

You don't really need an industrial mixer like this one to mix up a batch of concrete. Or mortar. Or tile grout. When it comes to mixing any cement-like material, the process is essentially the same. If you'd like the thrill of renting a big mixer, I don't blame you. They're bad ass. But there are other ways to do it. A couple things to remember before getting started: Wear gloves. Cement will dry out your hands like nothing else. Wear eye goggles. Cement will dry out your eyes like nothing else.   1. The old hoe and wheelbarrow method: Mixing up a... »MORE

December 30, 2006
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Save money this winter on your electric heating: get rid of that ugly baseboard heater

By alexrussell Wall_heater_large

The trouble with baseboard heaters is complex. They are both ugly and they use a lot of electricity to keep a room warm. You really need a heater that moves the air and heats a room quickly. The answer is to replace that baseboard heater with an electric wall heater, and you'd be surprised how easy it can be to do this job yourself.  A wall heater is a single unit that sits inside the wall and forces hot air throughout the room with a fan. It's simple to install one because you don't have to do any new wiring. All the time in... »MORE

December 30, 2006
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Space Invaders on your walls: blik graphics wall decals

By alexrussell Space_invaders_wall_decals_large

Think of them as stickers for your walls, but they don't have to be of Space Invaders, that Taito smash hit that today still gets play by teenagers around the globe. The blik Surface Graphics decals are made from designs by pop artists like Keith Haring and Matthew Haggett, but have their own original designs as well. If there's something you want done custom, they'll create it and even come to do the install. They've got a pretty impressive client list, including the SF Arts Commission and the Smithsonian. But there's not much cooler than having three Keith Haring dogs barking on your wall. It's only... »MORE

December 27, 2006
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Radon, the other silent killer

By alexrussell Radon_large

It kills 20,000 people every year, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. It's radon, and you may be breathing it every day and never know it. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you can't see, taste or smell. The worst part about it is that if you're breathing it, you're probably breathing it in your very own house. It comes up from the ground through your foundation, even if it's poured concrete. The good news is that there are plenty of home testing kits to see if you've got a radon problem. There's one that sells for $20... »MORE

December 27, 2006
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The copper pipe sculpture: what to do with your new soldering skills

By alexrussell Finished1_large

While soldering joints in your new copper water lines is great, there are other ways to put those new skills to use. A fun and low-risk way to practice and perfect your soldering skills is to build sculptures out of copper pipe and fittings. It's surprising how many shapes and forms you can make out of rigid pipe and the limited types of copper fittings used for plumbing. See my copper soldering tutorial if you don't know how to do it. I've listed all the tools you need and an easy guide to get through it. For sculpture materials, feel free to... »MORE

December 21, 2006
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Discover your inner plumber: how to solder copper pipe

By alexrussell Clean_joint_large

If you're thinking about doing the water lines in your home remodel, you'll first need to learn how to work with copper. Copper pipe skills really begin with being able to solder a viable joint, one that is relatively clean and doesn't leak. Here is how to do just that. To work with copper you'll need the right tools. 1. a copper tube cutter2. emory cloth3. a wire fitting brush (make sure to get the right size for the pipe you are using)4. flux and an applicator brush5. solder6. a mapp gas torch kit, including a torch head and canister of mapp gas7. an old... »MORE

December 20, 2006
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Stocking the ultimate toolbox: every tool a homeowner will ever need

By alexrussell Toolbox_large

Tools are the kinds of things you don't really know you're missing until you really need them. The best thing a homeowner can have at his or her disposal is a good set of tools for about everything that doesn't really need the attention of a professional. If you have a cordless drill, for example, why call a handyman to bolt your new bookcase to the wall? The Adam Savage sculpture above is a bit of an exaggeration, but to be modest I've set out to build the ultimate tool box here at Curbly, and I've made a list of every tool you'll need... »MORE

December 19, 2006
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The perfect dresser addition: JBL On Time iPod/MP3 dock

By alexrussell On_time_large

Alarm clocks have come a long way in the past twenty years, from the clamoring ringer to the smooth digital radio. With the advent of digital music players, the clock radio has evolved in kind. The JBL On Time is a great-looking MP3 dock and clock radio that blows away anything else you've ever had on your dresser, besides your lava lamp, of course. With the JBL price tag of about $250, I'd say it's about a toss up. »MORE

December 18, 2006
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Bathroom sink is clogged again? Replace that p-trap!

By alexrussell Nice_ptrap_large

Standing by in frustration to watch the water in a clogged bathroom sink drain will not make it go any faster. There is a clog, and it needs to be dealt with. But before you make that call to enrich your local plumber, try replacing the p-trap under the sink yourself. Most likely the clog is there, and when you remove the old one you'll know right away if a tangle of hair and grime is the problem. A sink's p-trap is there to seal off the pipe with water to keep sewer gas that bypasses the vent from rising into your bathroom. Replacing your old p-trap should... »MORE

December 16, 2006
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A DIY do-gooder's dream: Rebuilding Together

By alexrussell Rebuilding_together_large

There's a place you can go and put all your home improvement skills toward doing good. Since 1988, the non-profit Rebuilding Together has been giving low-income homeowners free repairs to help them keep their homes safe and livable. Rebuilding Together is different from Habitat For Humanity, another very worthy non-profit, in that it doesn't build houses. Rebuilding Together's local affiliates throughout the country bring together sponsors who want to contribute both labor and materials to a community-driven project, and homeowners who need help. Their overall goal is, "to preserve these houses and neighborhoods and assure a warm, safe and dry home for people... »MORE

December 16, 2006
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The BioLet composting toilet: because human waste is biodegradable

By alexrussell Biolet_large

We're a giant leap closer to the green revolution, thanks to the BioLet composting toilet. At first glance, this seems like just a box to drop your business in, and that by itself is kinda gross. There's definitely something about swirliing water that makes it all disappear. With the BioLet, it stays right there to biodegrade natually, with constantly flowing air to both help the bacteria do its job and to keep all odors flowing out the vent pipe rather than into the house. You empty the thing once every two to 12 months, and it never needs cleaning. Realistically, this is a lot better for... »MORE

December 15, 2006
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Installing a new water heater (getting it up the stairs is the hard part)

By alexrussell Water_heater_ninja_large

So you’ve got the old tank out and it’s time to put in a new one. If you need help taking out the old one, see the first part of this guide. The fact of the matter is, if you can remove an old electric water heater, you can replace one without a step-by-step. But to help you along, I've got a list of tips to make the job as easy as fixing a toilet. Here is a picture of the lines running to the water heater to get you started: You'll need the same tools to install a water... »MORE

December 14, 2006
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