PROBLEM SOLVING TIPS
Suggestions to live by when renting tools and equipment. Follow these simple rules to get the job done quickly and easily.
HOW TO SNIFF OUT AUTOMOTIVE PROBLEMS
The more you know about your vehicle, the more likely you’ll be to head off repair problems. Here are some warning signs that are right under your nose. (Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission)
· Burned Toast odors probably indicate an electrical short and burning insulation.
· Rotten Egg odors usually indicate a problem in the catalytic converter or other emission control devices.
· Thick Acrid Odors usually indicate burning oil. Look for signs of a leak.
· Gasoline Vapors after a failed start may indicate a flooded engine.
· Burning Resin or a Sharp Chemical Odor indicate that the brakes or clutch may be overheated. Check the parking brake. If you’ve been braking heavily, stop and let the brakes cool. · If smoke is coming from the wheel area, you may have a stuck brake.
· Sweet, Steamy Odors indicate a coolant leak. If there is also a hot metal smell and steam coming from under the hood, the engine is overheated.
HOLE SAW TIPS
Heres a special cutting technique you can use when cutting in wood, particularly sections such as two-by-fours, to reduce or eliminate jammed slugs in the hole saw. Apply a slight orbiting motion clockwise to the drill motor as the hole is fed into the material. Keep the motion small, within the diameter of the hole being cut, so the hole will not be oversized. By doing this, the saw feeds easier into the material, sawdust is augered out of the cut, no burning occurs inside the cut, and the slug can be easily removed.
LADDER TIPS
When using an extension ladder, position the base one-fourth of the working height from the house. (For example, if you’re working 16’ up, the base should be 4’ from the house.) You should use a ladder that is 3’ higher than your highest working point. That’s because the third-highest step is as high as you can stand safely.
REMOVING WALLPAPER
Steam penetrates deeper than water, and the extra heat speeds up the loosening process. Starting at a top corner, hold the steamer plate against the wallpaper until moisture collects around the edges. Then lift the wallpaper and move to the next spot.