Difference between revisions of "Free Stuff"

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Line 25: Line 25:
  
 
====Bevel====
 
====Bevel====
 +
Just 2 thin strips of timber screwed together. Or a metal mending plate can be used for one of the pieces.
  
 
====Mallet====
 
====Mallet====
−
* A piece of 2x4
+
* A piece of [[Timber basics|2x4]]
−
* A lump of wood on the end of a stick of PAR.
+
* A lump of wood on the end of a stick of [[Timber basics|PAR]].
 
* Round the handle corners off
 
* Round the handle corners off
 +
* Its also possible to make fancy mallets from mixed colours of timber or ply, contouring the edges fluidly with a router
  
 
====Sawhorse====
 
====Sawhorse====
  
 
====Mitre Box====
 
====Mitre Box====
 +
Glue 2 strips of clear (knot free) timber onto a base sheet. Make an accurate 45 degree cut down through the sides, using a mitre saw if at all possible.
 +
 +
====Vice====
 +
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_carpentry Japanese vice]
  
 
===Silicone Tool===
 
===Silicone Tool===
Line 39: Line 45:
  
 
===Lathe===
 
===Lathe===
−
A wood screw with its head cut off makes a basic lathe for small parts.
+
A [[screws|screw]] with its head cut off makes a basic lathe for small parts.
−
* Screw into the item to be turned, put it in a drill chuck, and tool gently.
+
* Screw into the base of the item to be turned, cut the screw's head off, and put it in a drill chuck.
−
* Very coarse sandpaper can be used if no suitable tool is to hand
+
* Tool the workpiece gently using very coarse sandpaper or an [[angle grinder]] & grit disc
 +
* Only good for little items.
  
 
===Dust Catcher===
 
===Dust Catcher===
 
An envelope stuck to the wall catches drilling dust
 
An envelope stuck to the wall catches drilling dust
  
−
===[[Card Level]]===
+
===Card Tools===
 +
Printable paper or card tools:
 +
* [[Card level]]
 +
* [http://www.sticksite.com/picnic/index.html Card protractor]
 +
* [http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Printable-Tools/Rule.pdf 8" Card Ruler]
 +
* [http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Type-Chart.aspx Types of bolt, head, drive recess, nuts & washers]
 +
* [http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Printable-Tools/US-and-Metric-Thread-Sizes.pdf Bolt thread gauge/chart]
 +
* [http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Printable-Tools/Washers.pdf Washer chart]
 +
* [http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Printable-Tools/Default.aspx More bolt related charts]
  
 
===Water Level===
 
===Water Level===
 
* Pipe filled with water: water settles to same level at both ends
 
* Pipe filled with water: water settles to same level at both ends
 
* Any pipe can be used as a [[Levels|water level]], eg hosepipe.
 
* Any pipe can be used as a [[Levels|water level]], eg hosepipe.
−
* Clear pipes make this easiest, but it can be done with opaque pipes too.
+
* Clear pipe shoud be used, but it is possible to do it with opaque pipe too.
  
 
===[[Levels|Plumb bob]]===
 
===[[Levels|Plumb bob]]===
Line 57: Line 72:
  
 
===A4 Ruler===
 
===A4 Ruler===
 +
A ruler can be made out of a sheet of A4 paper. Best of all, it can be made on the spur of the moment anywhere, with no tools needed.
 +
 
A4 is 210 x 297mm. This is 8.4"x 12".
 
A4 is 210 x 297mm. This is 8.4"x 12".
  
Line 70: Line 87:
 
===Wood Ruler===
 
===Wood Ruler===
 
Mark a piece of scrap wood in units of choice. Any item of known size can be used to get distance markings in the right place.
 
Mark a piece of scrap wood in units of choice. Any item of known size can be used to get distance markings in the right place.
 +
 +
===Screw ruler===
 +
If you know the size of the screw, you can use it to measure out small distances.
  
 
===Kitchen Knife Saw===
 
===Kitchen Knife Saw===
−
Big frozen meat cutting knives will saw wood. I've used one to trim chipboard. They don't make great saws, but do work.
+
Big frozen meat cutting knives just about saw wood, and are usable for very short cuts.
 +
 
 +
===Screwdriver saw===
 +
To cut a strip where a rough end is acceptable, whack the screwdriver in a few places along the cut line, and snap the wood. Quick & dirty.
  
 
===Wood Drill===
 
===Wood Drill===
 
for wood & and other soft materials
 
for wood & and other soft materials
 +
* Use a screw, turning it backwards with an electric screwdriver. Push firmly
 
* Use a [[Nails|nail]], [[Hammers|hammer]] in and remove.
 
* Use a [[Nails|nail]], [[Hammers|hammer]] in and remove.
 
* Use a [[Screws|screw]] or cuphook, screw in and remove
 
* Use a [[Screws|screw]] or cuphook, screw in and remove
−
* A very small [[Screwdrivers|screwdriver bit]] makes a barely usable [[Drill Bits|drill bit]]. Requires a fair bit of force to work, but may be less work than going somewhere when you forgot the right bit.
+
* A little [[Screwdrivers|screwdriver bit]] makes a barely usable [[Drill Bits|drill bit]] for one hole. Requires a fair bit of force to work, but may be less work than going somewhere when you forgot the right bit.
  
 
===Masonry Drill===
 
===Masonry Drill===
−
* A cold chisel makes a lousy large [[Drill Bits|masonry drill]], but it does work. Rotate it a bit between each [[Hammers|hammer]] blow, and test your patience.
+
* A cold chisel makes a lousy large [[Drill Bits|masonry drill]], but it does work. Rotate it a bit between each [[Hammers|hammer]] blow, and test your patience. Adequate for one hole in soft masonry.
−
 
 
 
* A [[Screwdrivers|screwdriver]] will drill aerated concrete blocks & soft bricks.
 
* A [[Screwdrivers|screwdriver]] will drill aerated concrete blocks & soft bricks.
 
* Even cutlery can be used on breeze blocks.
 
* Even cutlery can be used on breeze blocks.
Line 96: Line 119:
  
 
===Floor brush===
 
===Floor brush===
−
* Just grab a fistful of plant material.
+
* Just grab a fistful of plant material. Almost anything with stalks will work as a temporary brush.
−
* Almost anything with stalks will work as a temporary brush.
 
  
 
===9v Battery Tester===
 
===9v Battery Tester===
−
* Tongue. Apply battery to tongue.
+
* Tongue. Apply [[battery]] to tongue.
−
* Tongue is senitive to different voltages over the 6v-10v range
+
* Tongue is senitive to voltages over the 6v-10v range
 
* Tongue FSD is under 12v, never test batteries of above 9v
 
* Tongue FSD is under 12v, never test batteries of above 9v
−
* Never test wallwarts or other supplies, tongues are only rated for 9v batteries, not supplies connected to the mains.
+
* Tongues are NOT rated for supplies connected to the mains, such as [[wallwart]]s.
  
 
===Ladder===
 
===Ladder===
 
* People do make ladders from new wood or leftovers
 
* People do make ladders from new wood or leftovers
−
* Theyre very cheap & quick to make
+
* They're very cheap & quick to make
 
* Multisection ladders & multifunction ladder sets can be made this way at a tenth the price of a BS approved ladder.
 
* Multisection ladders & multifunction ladder sets can be made this way at a tenth the price of a BS approved ladder.
  
Line 117: Line 139:
  
 
===Half inch [[Sheet Materials|chipboard]]===
 
===Half inch [[Sheet Materials|chipboard]]===
−
Offcuts are common in skips. Not normally worth chasing, but if things are that tight its the one material you will regularly see in skips down south. Not really true up north.
+
Offcuts are common in skips. Not normally worth chasing, but if things are that tight its the one material you will regularly see in skips down south. Not so up north.
  
 
===Nails===
 
===Nails===
 
* Just use [[Screws|screws]], [[Hammer|hammer]] them in.
 
* Just use [[Screws|screws]], [[Hammer|hammer]] them in.
 
* Works best with [[Sheet Materials|chipboard.]]
 
* Works best with [[Sheet Materials|chipboard.]]
−
* [[Screws]] are no freer than [[Nails|nails]], but if you need [[Nails|nails]] and have [[Screws|screws]] lying about you don't need to buy anything
+
* [[Screws]] are no freer than [[Nails|nails]], but if you need [[Nails|nails]] and have [[Screws|screws]]...
  
 
===Wallplugs===
 
===Wallplugs===
−
* Matches - versatile, easy to use, strong grip
+
* Matches - versatile, strong grip. Cram hole full of matches, tapping the last one in with a hammer. Insert screw, remove it, and pack more matches in. Now its ready.
−
* Twig, & insert a match down the middle - lousy plugs
+
* Twig, & insert a match down the middle. Lousy plugs
−
* Scraps of any slightly flexible plastic or wood
+
* Scraps of any slightly flexible plastic or wood, eg from kitchen bin
−
* For bigger holes, fill hole with sawdust & pva and [[Screws|screw]] in once set
+
* For bigger holes, fill hole with sawdust & [[Adhesive|pva]] and [[Screws|screw]] in once set
  
 
===Firewood===
 
===Firewood===
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===Tyre Inner Tubes===
 
===Tyre Inner Tubes===
−
can be used as:
+
can be cut & used as:
 
* clamps or bundle ties
 
* clamps or bundle ties
−
* lightweight [[Hinges FAQ|hinges]]
+
* [[Hinges FAQ|hinges]]
 
* springs
 
* springs
  
Line 153: Line 175:
 
* [[Insulation]]
 
* [[Insulation]]
 
* Stuffing beanbags
 
* Stuffing beanbags
 +
* Use to make ultralight insulating polystyrene-concrete blocks
  
 
===Curtains===
 
===Curtains===
Line 160: Line 183:
  
 
===Chalk===
 
===Chalk===
−
* A small strip of plasterboard makes chalk for marking.
+
* A small strip of plasterboard makes chalk for marking (blackboard chalk is gypsum rather than chalk).
 
* Crushed plasterboard can often be substituted for chalk dust, though rarely worth it.
 
* Crushed plasterboard can often be substituted for chalk dust, though rarely worth it.
  
Line 180: Line 203:
 
** wetter mix for a fine finish
 
** wetter mix for a fine finish
 
* Rice pudding
 
* Rice pudding
−
** Rinse off the liquid, shake all water off, mash, add some dry filler.
+
** Rinse off the liquid, shake all water off, mash, add a dry filler.
 
* [[Adhesive|Glue]] & earth
 
* [[Adhesive|Glue]] & earth
−
* Sand can be incorporated into any filler to improve dimensional stability, but it makes it unsmoothable, so ok for bulk fill but not smooth surface filling.
 
 
* [[Adhesive|Glue]] & shredded paper
 
* [[Adhesive|Glue]] & shredded paper
 +
 +
Sand can be incorporated into any filler to improve dimensional stability, but it makes it unsmoothable, so ok for bulk fill but not smooth surface filling.
  
 
===[[Insulation]]===
 
===[[Insulation]]===
−
* Sheet Cardboard. Large sheets are available from most shops handling large quantities of goods
+
* Sheet Cardboard. Large sheets are available from many shops
−
* 1" - 2" card boxes, eg biscuit or dry catfood boxes
+
* 1" - 2" deep card boxes, eg biscuit or dry catfood boxes
−
* Filling boxes with dry leaves increases [[Insulation|insulation]] value
+
** Filling the boxes with dry leaves increases [[Insulation|insulation]] value
 
* Airbags from packaged goods can [[Insulation|insulate]] around [[:Category:Hot Water|hot water]] tanks
 
* Airbags from packaged goods can [[Insulation|insulate]] around [[:Category:Hot Water|hot water]] tanks
 
* Cardboard faced with foil is used behind [[Central Heating Design|radiators]] on external walls to reduce losses
 
* Cardboard faced with foil is used behind [[Central Heating Design|radiators]] on external walls to reduce losses
 
* Flammable [[Insulation|insulation]] such as cardboard should be fireproofed.
 
* Flammable [[Insulation|insulation]] such as cardboard should be fireproofed.
 +
* Straw works, but its uses are restricted by its susceptibility to both water & fire. It can be fireproofed with borax or plaster.
 
* See [[Insulation]] for more information.
 
* See [[Insulation]] for more information.
  
Line 199: Line 224:
 
* [[Paint|Emulsion paint]]
 
* [[Paint|Emulsion paint]]
 
* Subsoil - a range of colours from broken white to brown
 
* Subsoil - a range of colours from broken white to brown
−
* [[Pozzolan|Brick dust]] (red) - pink, red, brown
+
* [[Pozzolan|Brick dust]] (red) - can make pink, red, brown
  
 
===Glass cleaner===
 
===Glass cleaner===
Line 205: Line 230:
  
 
===Cistern Diaphragm===
 
===Cistern Diaphragm===
−
* Vitalite margarine tub lid, or similar.
+
* Vitalite margarine round tub lid, or similar.
 
* These lids are thicker than the usual small marge tubs.
 
* These lids are thicker than the usual small marge tubs.
  
 
===Roofing Felt===
 
===Roofing Felt===
−
For a small temporary patch only. Take some synthetic fibre cloth and apply a thick coat of [[Paint|gloss paint]]. Wait until dry enough to handle, and [[Paint|paint]] the other side.
+
For a small temporary patch only. Apply a thick coat of [[Paint|gloss paint]] to the area, apply some synthetic fibre cloth, and [[paint]] all over the cloth.
 +
 
 +
Filler can be added to the paint when needed on a steep roof.
  
 
===[[Putty & Mastic|Putty]]===
 
===[[Putty & Mastic|Putty]]===
 
* For glazing or filling wood.
 
* For glazing or filling wood.
−
* Mix just a little household gloss [[Paint|paint]] with chalk powder.
+
* Mix a very little household gloss [[Paint|paint]] with chalk powder or lime.
−
* Quick if you only want a little bit.
+
* This needs to be a very stiff mix to avoid it slumping
  
 
===Descaler===
 
===Descaler===
−
* Tomato ketchup
 
 
* Vinegar
 
* Vinegar
−
* Tomato juice
+
* Scrap battery acid
−
 
+
* syrup from tinned fruit
−
===Paint Thinners===
+
* tomato juice from tins
−
* Turps substitute
 
−
* white spirit
 
−
* boiled linseed oil - greatly prolongs drying times
 
−
* NOT petrol, its explosive and the fumes too toxic
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Wood Preservatives]] Thinners===
 
−
* diesel
 
−
* paraffin
 
−
* heating oil
 
−
* lamp oil
 
−
* boiled linseed oil
 
−
* NOT petrol, its explosive and the fumes too toxic
 
−
* Some of these thinners are not compatible with some [[Wood Preservatives|preservative]] types, try a little first.
 
  
 
===Putty Thinners===
 
===Putty Thinners===
−
* A few drops of water also works with [[Putty & Mastic|linseed putty]], despite the fact that it is not a linseed oil thinner.
+
When linseed putty has become too stiff:
−
* The paint & preservative thinners can also be used as [[Putty & Mastic|linseed putty]] thinnners for putty too stiff to use.
+
* Linseed oil is the traditional thinner
−
 
+
* Paraffin & white spirit can also be used. Its easy to add too much though, a drop or two is often plenty.
−
===Self Adhesive Sand===
+
* A few drops of water also works with [[Putty & Mastic|linseed putty]], despite the fact that linseed putty is oil based.
−
* Mix dry sand with a little clear spirit based varnish
 
−
* For gaps between paving
 
−
* For small patching only
 
−
* Varnish hardens, preventing insects & plants digging through the sand
 
  
 
===Tiles===
 
===Tiles===
−
Broken tiles can be broken down further and used as mosaic tiles.
+
Broken tiles can be broken down further and used as mosaic tiles. See [[Low cost tiling]]
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 00:23, 9 September 2012

Why use Free Stuff?

  • Why travel out when you can make it in 5 or 10 minutes for free.
  • Finances are very tight for some people
  • Sometimes there's just no need to go & buy
  • Sometimes I can make better than I can buy


Sources

  • Skips
  • Freecycle & similar schemes
  • Leftovers


Tools

Tools from scrap wood

Many tools can be made from scrap wood, such as:

Sawboard

Ensures a straight cut with a circular saw. Improves cleanness of cut to some extent too.

See Sawboard

Sheet metal bender

Bevel

Just 2 thin strips of timber screwed together. Or a metal mending plate can be used for one of the pieces.

Mallet

  • A piece of 2x4
  • A lump of wood on the end of a stick of PAR.
  • Round the handle corners off
  • Its also possible to make fancy mallets from mixed colours of timber or ply, contouring the edges fluidly with a router

Sawhorse

Mitre Box

Glue 2 strips of clear (knot free) timber onto a base sheet. Make an accurate 45 degree cut down through the sides, using a mitre saw if at all possible.

Vice

Japanese vice

Silicone Tool

Silicone Sealant smoother & profiler is made from feathered polypropylene

Lathe

A screw with its head cut off makes a basic lathe for small parts.

  • Screw into the base of the item to be turned, cut the screw's head off, and put it in a drill chuck.
  • Tool the workpiece gently using very coarse sandpaper or an angle grinder & grit disc
  • Only good for little items.

Dust Catcher

An envelope stuck to the wall catches drilling dust

Card Tools

Printable paper or card tools:

Water Level

  • Pipe filled with water: water settles to same level at both ends
  • Any pipe can be used as a water level, eg hosepipe.
  • Clear pipe shoud be used, but it is possible to do it with opaque pipe too.

Plumb bob

Hanging a weight on a string only works correctly if the weight hangs symmetrically.

A4 Ruler

A ruler can be made out of a sheet of A4 paper. Best of all, it can be made on the spur of the moment anywhere, with no tools needed.

A4 is 210 x 297mm. This is 8.4"x 12".

  • Fold the paper in half and quarter in each direction.
  • Down the side the folds are at 3", 6", 9"
  • Across the top the folds are at 2", 4", 6" (or to be more precise, 2.1", 4.2", 6.3").
  • Halfway pen marks can be added by eye to give a mark every approx 1".
  • If you snip off (or fold over) a half inch before folding, the horizontal inches will be fairly accurate too.

Hand Ruler

Know your hand span. You now have a built in ruler.

Wood Ruler

Mark a piece of scrap wood in units of choice. Any item of known size can be used to get distance markings in the right place.

Screw ruler

If you know the size of the screw, you can use it to measure out small distances.

Kitchen Knife Saw

Big frozen meat cutting knives just about saw wood, and are usable for very short cuts.

Screwdriver saw

To cut a strip where a rough end is acceptable, whack the screwdriver in a few places along the cut line, and snap the wood. Quick & dirty.

Wood Drill

for wood & and other soft materials

  • Use a screw, turning it backwards with an electric screwdriver. Push firmly
  • Use a nail, hammer in and remove.
  • Use a screw or cuphook, screw in and remove
  • A little screwdriver bit makes a barely usable drill bit for one hole. Requires a fair bit of force to work, but may be less work than going somewhere when you forgot the right bit.

Masonry Drill

  • A cold chisel makes a lousy large masonry drill, but it does work. Rotate it a bit between each hammer blow, and test your patience. Adequate for one hole in soft masonry.
  • A screwdriver will drill aerated concrete blocks & soft bricks.
  • Even cutlery can be used on breeze blocks.

Holesaw

  • For aerated concrete & soft brick:
  1. Take steel tube, such as scaffold pole.
  2. Cut rough teeth on the end - shape and accuracy don't matter much.
  3. Hammer once, rotate a bit, repeat till done.

Countersink

Knife. Make 4 cuts to remove the material.

Floor brush

  • Just grab a fistful of plant material. Almost anything with stalks will work as a temporary brush.

9v Battery Tester

  • Tongue. Apply battery to tongue.
  • Tongue is senitive to voltages over the 6v-10v range
  • Tongue FSD is under 12v, never test batteries of above 9v
  • Tongues are NOT rated for supplies connected to the mains, such as wallwarts.

Ladder

  • People do make ladders from new wood or leftovers
  • They're very cheap & quick to make
  • Multisection ladders & multifunction ladder sets can be made this way at a tenth the price of a BS approved ladder.

But...

  • A simple design or construction oversight can cause very serious injury, so I wouldn't be happy to recommend making one.


Materials

Half inch chipboard

Offcuts are common in skips. Not normally worth chasing, but if things are that tight its the one material you will regularly see in skips down south. Not so up north.

Nails

Wallplugs

  • Matches - versatile, strong grip. Cram hole full of matches, tapping the last one in with a hammer. Insert screw, remove it, and pack more matches in. Now its ready.
  • Twig, & insert a match down the middle. Lousy plugs
  • Scraps of any slightly flexible plastic or wood, eg from kitchen bin
  • For bigger holes, fill hole with sawdust & pva and screw in once set

Firewood

  • Plentiful in skips
  • Offcuts from DIY sheds

Mortar

Many free additives can be used in mortar to reduce material cost. See Mortar Mixes

There are also some alternatives to cement mortar, such as:

Tyre Inner Tubes

can be cut & used as:

  • clamps or bundle ties
  • hinges
  • springs

Expanded polystyrene

  • Insulation
  • Stuffing beanbags
  • Use to make ultralight insulating polystyrene-concrete blocks

Curtains

  • Most types of cloth can make curtains.
  • Natural fabrics can be bleached if ugly, and dyed with the few very low cost dyes available.
  • Used clothes yield cloth patches for applique, especially velvet, satin etc

Chalk

  • A small strip of plasterboard makes chalk for marking (blackboard chalk is gypsum rather than chalk).
  • Crushed plasterboard can often be substituted for chalk dust, though rarely worth it.

Wallpaper Paste

  • Boiled flour & water
  • Adding alum makes it storable.
  • Not for cold damp locations where it may moulder

Fillers

Lots of things can be used as effective fillers.

  • Lime & chalk
  • Lime & sand
  • Lime & mud
  • Paper, flour, water & alum, boiled
  • Toilet paper & glue
  • Sawdust & (preferably diluted) glue
  • Ground rice & water
    • dryish mix for a coarse bulk fill
    • wetter mix for a fine finish
  • Rice pudding
    • Rinse off the liquid, shake all water off, mash, add a dry filler.
  • Glue & earth
  • Glue & shredded paper

Sand can be incorporated into any filler to improve dimensional stability, but it makes it unsmoothable, so ok for bulk fill but not smooth surface filling.

Insulation

  • Sheet Cardboard. Large sheets are available from many shops
  • 1" - 2" deep card boxes, eg biscuit or dry catfood boxes
    • Filling the boxes with dry leaves increases insulation value
  • Airbags from packaged goods can insulate around hot water tanks
  • Cardboard faced with foil is used behind radiators on external walls to reduce losses
  • Flammable insulation such as cardboard should be fireproofed.
  • Straw works, but its uses are restricted by its susceptibility to both water & fire. It can be fireproofed with borax or plaster.
  • See Insulation for more information.

Pigments

Glass cleaner

  • Diluted vinegar.

Cistern Diaphragm

  • Vitalite margarine round tub lid, or similar.
  • These lids are thicker than the usual small marge tubs.

Roofing Felt

For a small temporary patch only. Apply a thick coat of gloss paint to the area, apply some synthetic fibre cloth, and paint all over the cloth.

Filler can be added to the paint when needed on a steep roof.

Putty

  • For glazing or filling wood.
  • Mix a very little household gloss paint with chalk powder or lime.
  • This needs to be a very stiff mix to avoid it slumping

Descaler

  • Vinegar
  • Scrap battery acid
  • syrup from tinned fruit
  • tomato juice from tins

Putty Thinners

When linseed putty has become too stiff:

  • Linseed oil is the traditional thinner
  • Paraffin & white spirit can also be used. Its easy to add too much though, a drop or two is often plenty.
  • A few drops of water also works with linseed putty, despite the fact that linseed putty is oil based.

Tiles

Broken tiles can be broken down further and used as mosaic tiles. See Low cost tiling

See Also

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