DO IT
REPAIR KIT
Keep equipment close by when on the job. Craftright 5 pocket leather nail and tool belt, $10.60, I/N: 5820549 (all tools sold separately)
On the mend STOCK THESE DIY ESSENTIALS TO FIX MINOR MISHAPS AROUND YOUR HOME Words GUN ARVIDSSEN
U
rgent repairs inevitably crop up when you least expect them. Stay a step ahead by keeping these 10 DIY must-haves in your workshop or utility cabinet.
Photography James Moffatt, styling Samantha Pointon. *Superglue is generally not food-safe and should not be used on items in contact with food. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
1
Stick with it
Got some timber furniture that’s developed a nasty crack? PVA timber adhesive is a reliable all-rounder, but make sure you clamp the repair until dry. It’s also a good plan to have a tube of superglue ready for making extremely strong and fast-drying repairs to broken ceramic ornaments and most plastics and metals*.
2
Choose the good oil
Silencing squeaky hinges, lubricating bike chains and helping release stubborn nuts and bolts aren’t the only things WD-40 is good for. Says Louisa Alexander at the WD-40 Company, “It cleans and protects WD-40 lubricant metals and it drives with Smart Straw, out moisture from $7.89/175g, spark plugs, too.” I/N: 6100413
3
Take your fill
No matter how careful you are, there’s a decent chance you’ll end up with a ding or scrape somewhere if your home’s walls are lined with plasterboard. Keep premixed interior filler on hand for a quick and simple solution. It can be sanded and painted once cured. Round out your kit with Uni-Pro flexible gap filler – vital ‘Multi Purpose’ if a crack opens where interior filler, movement might occur. $6.50/500g,
4
Get the picture
I/N: 1210281
You never know when a piece of wall art might take your fancy, so keep a hanging kit on hand that includes everything you need to put up a picture easily. If you’re restless with your interior decor and like to change things up, use Command picture hanging strips, which can be removed without leaving a trace. 3M ‘Command’ adhesive picture hanging strips in White, $7/pack of 4 large, I/N: 3950291
5
Be tool-ready
A collection of reliable basic hand tools should be part of everyone’s fix-it kit – you might be surprised how often you’ll need a manual screwdriver. Keep a socket set, measuring tape, hammer, pliers and other stalwarts together in a bag or container for whenever you need to tighten a handle or tap in a nail.
6
Go with the flow
Using a drain snake or caustic drain-cleaning agent to clear a blocked drain is about the only plumbing job you can do yourself. With one or both of these in your fix-it kit, you’ll be able to take action if water is taking a long time to Drain Clean drain cleaning drain. Just don’t try to crystals, modify the pipework $6.99/500g, under the sink! I/N: 4461111
7 Make it secure
Many screw types, lengths and gauges are available (the latter denoted by a ‘G’ number), but a useful few will help you cover a range of jobs. If fixing chipboard or soft materials to timber, Bhavya Mishra at ITW Proline (distributor of Zenith and Buildex) suggests using Zenith 8G x 30mm
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