DIY Life

Don't you just hate it when a hinge on a door or cabinet just won't stay put because the screw hole is stripped out? Sure, you can use a bigger or longer screw, but then it won't match. Frankly, that just looks tacky. But don't lose hope; here's a trick I use.

The first thing to do is remove the offending hardware. Next, dig one of your golf tees out of your golf bag. Apply some epoxy glue or wood glue on the pointy end and sides of the tee. Tap it in with a mallet or hammer as far as it'll go. After the glue is completely dry, use your coping saw to cut off any excess tee and sand as needed. Presto! New wood!

Now you can replace the hardware and it's as good as new - maybe better. The hole is too small for a tee? Use as many toothpicks as will fit in the hole. The ones with flat sides work best. The great thing about this hack is that it really doesn't have to be pretty; the hinge covers up your handiwork.

Does one of the doors in your house swing opposite from how you think it should? Maybe every time you open it inward you're struggling to close it again inside that tiny bathroom, or maybe you open it outward, and almost push yourself down the stairs.

Whichever way your door opens, sometimes they just don't seem to make sense. I would tend to assume that the decision is made, and we're stuck with the way the door was installed, but apparently this isn't the case at all.

You can change the swing direction of a door. Reader's at GardenWeb offer their tips. Here's what you'll need:

• Screwdriver
• Vice
• Wood-glue
• Measuring tape
• Wood chisel

You'll have to switch the hinge and latch sides, then touch up any holes or damage left behind. You might also have to adjust the height or cut the door slightly if it needs to now clear carpet. This is a simple job, but it will require two people, just for the sake of balancing and measuring.

You don't have to live with it swinging the wrong way just because a previous owner made the wrong choice; it can be changed quickly and easily.

Get your magnifying glass ready. Or your patience, at least. For this is one pesky task, my friends: reattaching a laptop key that has popped off.

I experienced this particular mishap first-hand a few months ago. An over-enthusiastic terrier used my laptop keyboard as a spot from which to vault to the windowsill. Grr. The good news is that even with my non-techie abilities, I was able to fix the problem myself. However, there was a fair bit of humming and hawing involved as I figured out how to click back into place the teensie-weensie plastic hinges that keep your laptop keys click-clacking.

I wish I had known about this -- LaptopRepair101's fine instructions for reattaching laptop keys, complete with excellent close-up photos demonstrating each step. Check it out. Oh, and here are some important facts up-front: Lesson 1: the aforementioned teensie-weensie plastic hinges are actually called key retainers. Lesson 2: if you don't get them repositioned just so, your key will be useless for all time. Lesson 3: be gentle. They are super-fragile. Lesson 4: If you need a replacement key, don't bother calling your computer's manufacturer. Unless you've paid for a tech help plan, they don't care. Instead, search eBay for a replacement key.

You're bound to make mistakes while you're learning to woodwork, and even as a seasoned woodworker. The real separation is in those who know how to fix them and those who don't. A good woodworker can fix his mistakes so seamlessly that you'd never know there was one when looking at the final project.

Canadian Home Workshop compiled a list of these 10 woodworking mistakes and how to fix them:

1. Removing Router Burn
2. Tightening Sloppy Mortise-and-Tenon Joints
3. Eliminating Gaps in Face Frame Joints
4. Adjusting a Too-Deep Hinge Pocket
5. Removing Mystery Glue Smears
6. Repair Dents in Wood
7. Widening Cabinet Doors That Are Too Narrow
8. Fixing Nail-Split or Screw-Split Wood
9. Salvaging a Bubbly Finish
10. Lengthening a Board You Cut Too Short

Number 10 sounds more like a job for for a magician then a woodworker. I'll share that secret with you after the break.