Fix Stripped Holes in Wood with E-Z Shim
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
Does your door sag? When you look at it, is there a gap at the top or bottom that makes the door look wonky? Or worse, do you have to pick up the door when closing to get the lock to engage? Well you can fix this and it’s not hard or expensive.
Does your door sag? When you look at it, is there a gap at the top or bottom that makes the door look wonky? Or worse, do you have to pick up the door when closing to get the lock to engage? Well you can fix this and it’s not hard or expensive. Look at your door. If the gap is at the top, then you need to fix the top hinge. Open the door so you can see the hinge. On the part of the hinge that is attached to the frame – back out the screws 1 ½ turns. This will loosen the hinge up from the frame. Now don’t be surprised if you see cardboard behind the hinge. It was used to shore up the door – just remove it. Now you need to use a product called EZ Shim. I have it on the website, it retails for under $7, and you can do several doors with one package. The shims are hard plastic and will not give over time. Take one shim out and break it on the score line. Move your door to the closed position. You will have more room to inset the shim. Place it behind the loosed hinge screws. Swing the door open to get to the screws easier. Tighten up the screws. Close the door. And that’s it. It takes one person, and one screwdriver. Now every time you open and close that door easily – you can thank yourself.
I have had customers call and say that the screws are stripped on the hinge. There is a product that can help you with that--Tank Bond Liquid Grip. Just put a drop on the stripped screw and give the screw one more try. I don’t know how it works, all I know is that it does. It’s on the website and retails for under eight dollars. And is worth every penny.
Next week we are going to tackle cabinet doors. I promise it’s just as easy. It’s s8pring- new beginnings- try something new. And then share the knowledge with your friends.
By the time you read this, Easter will have passed….and I missed talking to you. I love Christmas, but I really love Easter. It is the best come-back story. And I don’t know about you, but I need to remember to stop, slow down and reset my life to what’s really important. I want to send you an Easter gift. I will put it in each order I send out this week. Maybe it might help you remember to reset and have your own comeback story.
Now to the email….
Question: I have several cans of paint that I have stored in my garage. Well I am so tired of seeing them and would love to get rid of them. I know I can take them to a recycling area, but can’t I do something so I can throw them away?
Answer: There are a couple of things you can do. Simple and inexpensive, let them dry out in the sun for a couple of days. And when they are completely dry, they can go in the trash. Or Homax makes a paint hardener that you mix in the paint (latex) and it will harden. And then you can put it in the trash. Great question!
Question: I have grout that has stains that look pink and scummy in the corners of my shower. My grout is a light gray color and I want it to stay that way. What can I clean with?
Answer: Zep Grout Cleaner and Brightener – safe on colored grout.