Durable Paint In the process of working with various oil paints and enamels, I noticed that the pigment durability of colored oil paints and enamels is quite low. Over time, they fade and lose their color. There is a budget-friendly way to make enamel or paint that will not fade for 10–15 years, even with the degradation of the paint film. For this, you need to take any white non-aqueous paint or enamel and mix it with artistic oil paint used in painting. This type of paint has increased color and lightfastness, and the quality of the pigments in it is excellent. Mixing white paint with artistic paint is conveniently done as follows: squeeze the required amount of colored oil paint into a small container and thoroughly mix it in a ratio of 1:1 with linseed oil or solvent (depending on what is being tinted - oil paint or enamel). Gradually, while stirring and pouring the colored concentrate into the white base, create the desired shade. The cost of a 50 ml tube of artistic oil paint is low. With it, you can tint 3–5 liters of oil paint or enamel to achieve a bright color. However, dark and saturated shades cannot be made using this method. Adding artistic pigments to construction enamels and oil paints slightly slows down their drying time, but this does not affect the strength of the coating. How to Magnetize Screwdrivers It is more convenient to screw and unscrew screws with magnetized screwdrivers. To keep them magnetized at all times, you can make a special stand. Glue a round magnet to the bottom of an empty tin can using a hot glue gun - and the stand is ready! Keep the screwdrivers in the stand, and the screws will securely magnetize to them while working, so you won’t have to hold them with your fingers. This stand can also be used differently: it is convenient to place small metal parts on an upside-down can when repairing equipment. Thanks to the magnet, no part will be lost. Flawless Air Conditioner External air conditioning units have a drawback: drops from the drain pipes fall, clattering against cornices, windows, and the heads of passersby. To prevent the drops from reaching the ground, attach a “tail” made of thread and thin wire to the drain pipe. The thickness of the “tail” should be sufficient to absorb all the water, then gradually decrease (at the end - one thin thread). From the end of the thin thread, small drops fall slowly and almost immediately evaporate. The wire prevents the “tail” from winding around the pipe in the wind. The length of the “tail” is about 10–40 cm. This device successfully eliminates the drawbacks of the air conditioner. Convenient Tool Holder In a friend's garage, I saw an interesting idea: a homemade holder for various tools made from a strip of aluminum. I don’t know what such a strip is used for in production, but it is available to many who love to craft. The width of the strip is 1-2 cm, and the thickness is 2–4 mm. The holder can be made any length. The strip is bent with pliers into a zigzag shape, consisting of compartments for tools and gaps for mounting to the wall. Then, holes are drilled in the gaps, and the device is fixed in place with screws or nails. Choosing Sealant When erecting a wooden structure, it is impossible to avoid small gaps. To prevent heat loss and moisture penetration, such gaps are sealed with construction sealant. However, choosing a quality sealant is not so easy. When selecting sealant for wood, you need to find out if it can stretch and deform without cracking or breaking. This is important because wooden houses gradually settle. It is also worth paying attention to the aesthetics and smooth surface of the joint, especially if the walls will not be covered with anything. Don’t forget to check if the sealant changes color over time and how exactly - the color should harmonize with the color of the wood. To Prevent Tiles from Cracking Before moving into an apartment in a new building, we did some renovations: we put up wallpaper, replaced the faucets in the kitchen, and tiled the wall near the sink with ceramic tiles. However, after a month and a half, 4 tiles cracked! We checked each one before laying, and the tiler was a good specialist. I called the construction company for advice and learned that the reason was the natural settling of the house. To avoid the destruction of wall tiles, it is better to lay the tiles not immediately, but a few months or even years after the construction is completed. You can also use flexible adhesive, but there is no 100% guarantee that the tiles will withstand the settling. I hope my experience helps someone avoid unnecessary spending of money, time, and nerves.
