Good stuff as usual one tip I was given when starting woodworking was when using a square to draw a line place the pencil on the mark you made when measuring where you wanted the line and slide the square up to the pencil that way the line you draw will be on the measurement you made. Hope that made sense! That’s why we like TH-cam as a picture says a thousand words!!
Some great tips for the DIYer, Stuart. As a pro carpenter and cabinet maker I do a lot of measuring and have found a couple of things that work for me. Firstly I always have a folding carpenter's rule for measuring/marking along flat surfaces. I find it much easier than the 100mm method, plus it's useful for measuring in from walls, inside cabinets etc. For measuring between walls, cabinet side panels, reveals etc, I just use a laser measure, even for short distances. Offer it up and press the button, job done. With "trapped ends" eg skirting or batten between walls, it's always good practice to overcut the length you're fitting by a few mm then nibble it on the chop saw to shoot it in. Last tip: the rubber grips on those Stanley tapes can be used as pencil erasers!
OMFG that picture frame tip is an absolute gamechanger! My wife asked me to put a load of pictures up about a year ago (which all have to be aligned, of course) and I've been putting it off because it's such a fiddly and annoying job. This will make a huge difference.
Agreed...... i pop them in the fridge for overnight but for longer storage, you can also wrap them and stick them in the freezer which keeps them as fresh as when you stopped painting after defrosting of course! Always check with the wife so she doesn't bin unidentifiable frozen food.😅
Great vid as usual Stuart - down to earth, mixed with an occasional quirky look to camera, solid no faff tips, in fact proper DIY. I wonder how many 'innocent' good folk who just want a quality presentation have had to suffer the total incoherent waffle of silly nonsense BS DIY...loads, including me! My warm thanks.
Idk if I can explain it good but let's say you can't use any stakes and have a block wall or something you can put in a screw, you take ur line, pull it to where ur figure would be tight enough, if you have someone else pull it too makes it slot easier, where u calculated the line can reach the screw, make a loop(without pulling the line) you put ur finger on it and turn the loop like 6 times usually not less, you pull the line, it has to be tight you put the loop into the screw and pull the end of the line before the loop in on the screw and u pull the rest of the line, that keeps going past the screw and then you slowly let go, the loop tights on the line and it's easy to undo, just pull the right line and pull the loose line towards you out of the screw, it's better if someone helps cuz sometimes the tighter you want it the harder it's to pull the loop into the screw, idk if that makes any sense lol
Brilliant as always. Having always being an enthusiastic DIYer, I have learnt some really useful tips and tricks. The one thing that I have learnt which stands out most is that I have now become really fussy about the end product and have learnt that there is only ever one absolutely correct way to get a great project finish. This is extremely satisfying.
Thanks Stuart, the string line is easily the best tip here, use it all the time now, most of the others I've heard of, or have worked out myself over the decades, wish I could have found them all in one place like this way back then !
For the paint roller or paint brush trick, I wrap in cling film which works really well. I also use this on a bucket of wallpaper paste if I have to continue the next day.
My old dad was a Rolls Royce engineer with OCD. Hanging pictures level was a constant nightmare of measuring. What I have learned is to get the things on the wall somewhere close, putting the fixings in very lightly. Measure the error - say it's 2.5 mm high - take the pin out, move it down 2.5 mm. Perfect: time for tea and biscuits!
His tip is good, but I always hang pictures as shown on 2 hooks to prevent them from moving when dusting and 3 hooks for heavy ones with the 3rd one secured to a stud.
Nice one Stu. An idea for your channel: Get people to contribute to a wishlist of items they'd like you to cover - if enough people request it, you know it will be popular before you make it - my current hobbyhorse repairing cracks in concrete oaths and drives.
When I need to mark a location for screws or fixings on a "finish surface" (such as a wall, a floor or a work surface), I put down a piece of painters tape and make the mark on the tape. I then make a dimple with a nail / center punch (or put a drill on the mark and run it in REVERSE) to start it. Once you have your hole, carefully remove the tape (so it doesn't lift the paint off of the wall etc.) and there you are!!
Picture frame trick for some ppl!!! Would be to use a forks tines on the hook then slide the wire between the wall and the fork. The fork guides the wire onto the hook. Then remove the fork.
3:00 frequently the body of the tape measure is a certain size, and it's marked on the casing. So you can put the end of the tape in one corner and just pull the tape until the back of the body is against the other corner. Now just add the size of the body to your measurement.
True, but frequently that size is an odd number, plus it's not easy to read the exact measure at the "mouth" of the tape body. I find easier and more accurate to use the 2 steps method.
@@LiqdPT you are lucky! All the metric tapes I've had had measures like 76mm or 83mm... Not easy to deal with! Maybe tape's bodies are designed in imperial units!
Surly the best tip is to watch all of your videos and you will not go far wrong. Everything you show is very easy to follow and well explained with added humour. Kids would excel at school a lot more if teachers took a leaf out of your book.
The trouble with drilling into plasterboard with brad point bits is that they are very sharp. If you hit a wire or a pipe there's a good chance that you will damage them. Masonry bits are quite blunt so there's much less chance of damaging anything behind the plasterboard that you don't want to hit.
I'm a landlord, and all your tips cover what I am doing on a regular basis, you have either helped me to achieve a better job or save time, especially the blinds. I think I will buy a cheap blind just to try it. Thanks
Just found your channel this AM, outstanding format, explanations, speed, and subjects. I've been woodworking for over a decade and have always been underwhelmed with woodworking DIY videos. You've knocked it out of sight. Off to start from video #1! Thanks from the US.
I really liked all of them, but especially the one where you center the hinges. If you can move it left and right for a few mm, I imagine you can also do that up and down? Could come in handy! Thanks Stuart!
For measuring inside a gap the tape has a measurement stamped on it which is the length of the actual tape case, so you can lay the full tape, plastic and metal inside the gap then take the measurement you see and add the stamped number to it, mine is 77mm. Love the hinge one
A useful video, and I'll definitely be using the hole centering tip because that's one of my 'bug bears'. It's best not to use wet wipes though because they are made from plastics and are bad for the environment. A small splodge of cooking oil and a teaspoon of sugar and 'wash' your hands well with it, then with soap / washing up liquid and you quickly end up with paint-free hands that are nice and soft too! Plus, 'free' as already in the house and environmentally friendly.
Another tip for the paint tray is to line it with tin-foil, then when the job is complete, just chuck it in the bin & there should be almost no cleaning to do.
Brilliant , always good to learn new tricks . I use the 100mm on the tape a lot , I am going to use the circular saw blade guide measurement , that will be very handy . All good as usual , cheers 👊
100% best way to measure internals = Gator Tape. Total game-changer for me after 36 years on the tools. Only found it by accident, whilst fitting a kitchen for a lady who made curtains and blinds.
Really practical videos, professionally made and delivered with a very engaging style. Despite being a fairly experienced DIYer I like learning new tricks and learn something useful from all of your videos!
i like your tips.. but mine for hanging artwork is to put a small nail through a paint stick and put your artwork on that nail then hold the paintstick with nail against the wall and when its where you want it take the art off and press the nail into the wall to mark the spot no measuring
Good tips Stuart 👏🏼👏🏼 Re: Measuring Takes, don't most decent measuring tapes have the length of the tape dispenser itself written on them, which you can just add to an 'inside' measure ?
I think it's also important to consistently use the same tape measure when doing jobs because not all tapes are accurate. I think there's a TH-cam video demonstrating how the accuracy of tape measures can vary. Using the same tape all the time means that at least any inaccuracies are consistent.
Thank you so much for a bunch of useful tips. I probably only knew 2 of those but think I will be using every single one in the next 12 months :-) Keep up the excellent work!
I learnt a few new tricks there thanks. I can possibly improve on the circular saw offset tip. Instead off just knowing what measurement to allow for the baseplate, cut a thin piece of timber to use as a gauge when marking your work.
You’re video is excellent. Well presented, with no waffle. You’re knowledge and tips are highly beneficial and I’ll certainly be using them. I’ve just subscribed to your channel 👍
Great tips 👍 the 1 with the measuring tape though, the tape should tell you on the bottom what the exact distance is so you just put the tape flush on 1 end and + on what it says 😊
Thanks for everything. As a beginner DIY'r, it'd be really interesting for your to provide your suggestions on what the most baseline tools are that everyone should have and what types of jobs persons might use them for. Also, it'd also be interesting to do something on mobile air compressors and the type specs you'd need and want for the various pneumatic tools, sprayers etc. available. You could then also speak to what types of jobs persons might use the various tools, sprayers etc. and their advantages, limitations etc. Cheers !
Tape measure also has a measurement at the back, which corresponds to the length of a tape measure housing. You can place the tape measure inside whatever you want to measure and add the length of the tape measure housing
...btw - I notice you include tips on hanging art and indeed framing art too - maybe a future project will be a nice sturdy, easy to use, fold-a-way art easel...?
I fitted blinds and curtains etc as a tradesperson for many years. I never took the word of the ready made roller blind makers as to the width of the blind as they often varied. So I assemble the blind complete with brackets and butt it up to the skirting board and then measure the width of the whole blind complete. (It’s important to push a bit so the spring end goes in a few MM). Then measure the window recess width where the brackets will be. Take one measurement from the other and that’s what you cut off. I also only side fixed (unless it was agreed to go into a wood frame) This hides the screw heads and avoids going into concrete lintils or UPVC frames.
I'm pretty sure I've seen blinds with a core made of a thin steel metal tube..... Check carefully before using your mute see..... That's my tip for the day.
At least a pro using wood drills for perfect holes in walls like I do and recommend. I always buy cheap ones where i can get them. And even in concrete I start with these before my pneumatic drill comes to work. Cheap bit: 50ct . Perfect hole: priceless.
Great tips as always . I’ve cut blinds using my mitre saw and I put tape around the end I was cutting and got a really neat cut
Good stuff as usual one tip I was given when starting woodworking was when using a square to draw a line place the pencil on the mark you made when measuring where you wanted the line and slide the square up to the pencil that way the line you draw will be on the measurement you made. Hope that made sense! That’s why we like TH-cam as a picture says a thousand words!!
Man why does that actually makes a lot more sense
Some great tips for the DIYer, Stuart.
As a pro carpenter and cabinet maker I do a lot of measuring and have found a couple of things that work for me. Firstly I always have a folding carpenter's rule for measuring/marking along flat surfaces. I find it much easier than the 100mm method, plus it's useful for measuring in from walls, inside cabinets etc.
For measuring between walls, cabinet side panels, reveals etc, I just use a laser measure, even for short distances. Offer it up and press the button, job done. With "trapped ends" eg skirting or batten between walls, it's always good practice to overcut the length you're fitting by a few mm then nibble it on the chop saw to shoot it in.
Last tip: the rubber grips on those Stanley tapes can be used as pencil erasers!
And i was sitting here feeling smug that I knew all this UNTIL YOU BLEW MY MIND with the picture frames 🤣
LOL blew my mind as well with the picture frames!!!
Me too!
OMFG that picture frame tip is an absolute gamechanger! My wife asked me to put a load of pictures up about a year ago (which all have to be aligned, of course) and I've been putting it off because it's such a fiddly and annoying job. This will make a huge difference.
Yep, the picture frame tip made me LOL 😂
Great tips Stuart. I always keep a roll of cling film handy for wrapping brushes, etc if I'm not cleaning them straight away.
Was going to post the same thing!
Yes, same :)
Agreed...... i pop them in the fridge for overnight but for longer storage, you can also wrap them and stick them in the freezer which keeps them as fresh as when you stopped painting after defrosting of course!
Always check with the wife so she doesn't bin unidentifiable frozen food.😅
Great vid as usual Stuart - down to earth, mixed with an occasional quirky look to camera, solid no faff tips, in fact proper DIY. I wonder how many 'innocent' good folk who just want a quality presentation have had to suffer the total incoherent waffle of silly nonsense BS DIY...loads, including me! My warm thanks.
That string line tip is an absolute game changer. I used it today putting in some fence posts
Idk if I can explain it good but let's say you can't use any stakes and have a block wall or something you can put in a screw, you take ur line, pull it to where ur figure would be tight enough, if you have someone else pull it too makes it slot easier, where u calculated the line can reach the screw, make a loop(without pulling the line) you put ur finger on it and turn the loop like 6 times usually not less, you pull the line, it has to be tight you put the loop into the screw and pull the end of the line before the loop in on the screw and u pull the rest of the line, that keeps going past the screw and then you slowly let go, the loop tights on the line and it's easy to undo, just pull the right line and pull the loose line towards you out of the screw, it's better if someone helps cuz sometimes the tighter you want it the harder it's to pull the loop into the screw, idk if that makes any sense lol
Brilliant as always. Having always being an enthusiastic DIYer, I have learnt some really useful tips and tricks. The one thing that I have learnt which stands out most is that I have now become really fussy about the end product and have learnt that there is only ever one absolutely correct way to get a great project finish. This is extremely satisfying.
Thanks Stuart, the string line is easily the best tip here, use it all the time now, most of the others I've heard of, or have worked out myself over the decades, wish I could have found them all in one place like this way back then !
For the paint roller or paint brush trick, I wrap in cling film which works really well. I also use this on a bucket of wallpaper paste if I have to continue the next day.
Aww, how cutesy wutesy...
My old dad was a Rolls Royce engineer with OCD. Hanging pictures level was a constant nightmare of measuring. What I have learned is to get the things on the wall somewhere close, putting the fixings in very lightly. Measure the error - say it's 2.5 mm high - take the pin out, move it down 2.5 mm. Perfect: time for tea and biscuits!
His tip is good, but I always hang pictures as shown on 2 hooks to prevent them from moving when dusting and 3 hooks for heavy ones with the 3rd one secured to a stud.
Nice one Stu. An idea for your channel: Get people to contribute to a wishlist of items they'd like you to cover - if enough people request it, you know it will be popular before you make it - my current hobbyhorse repairing cracks in concrete oaths and drives.
When I need to mark a location for screws or fixings on a "finish surface" (such as a wall, a floor or a work surface), I put down a piece of painters tape and make the mark on the tape. I then make a dimple with a nail / center punch (or put a drill on the mark and run it in REVERSE) to start it. Once you have your hole, carefully remove the tape (so it doesn't lift the paint off of the wall etc.) and there you are!!
Picture frame trick for some ppl!!! Would be to use a forks tines on the hook then slide the wire between the wall and the fork. The fork guides the wire onto the hook. Then remove the fork.
Stuart, you should be on the BBC. Great tips, great presenter and great editing.
3:00 frequently the body of the tape measure is a certain size, and it's marked on the casing. So you can put the end of the tape in one corner and just pull the tape until the back of the body is against the other corner. Now just add the size of the body to your measurement.
True, but frequently that size is an odd number, plus it's not easy to read the exact measure at the "mouth" of the tape body. I find easier and more accurate to use the 2 steps method.
@@saveriog.825 my favorite tape has a 3" body, so that's easy to add
@@LiqdPT you are lucky! All the metric tapes I've had had measures like 76mm or 83mm... Not easy to deal with!
Maybe tape's bodies are designed in imperial units!
Old dog here. I have learned a new trick. Actually a couple. Thank you. Woof.
Surly the best tip is to watch all of your videos and you will not go far wrong. Everything you show is very easy to follow and well explained with added humour. Kids would excel at school a lot more if teachers took a leaf out of your book.
The picture hanging trick is golden, thanks!
The trouble with drilling into plasterboard with brad point bits is that they are very sharp. If you hit a wire or a pipe there's a good chance that you will damage them. Masonry bits are quite blunt so there's much less chance of damaging anything behind the plasterboard that you don't want to hit.
I love a DIY hack. And we got 10!!! (and maybe a couple extra)
Thanks Stuart!
"If I just un-loosen this" so tighten it then?
Lots of great tips and tricks. Very handy. Thank you.
Good trick Stuart but Clingfilm is better as NO air can get in
Plus, wrap the roller separately.
Hi Stuart , Great tip's Mate, my tip is keep on learning. As well as giving out advice I always take advice good video take care👍
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for these, I really like that string-line trick, I've struggled with untying them for years.
Clear and helpful. Subscribed. 'Unloosen the screw' and a laugh too, splendid.
I'm a landlord, and all your tips cover what I am doing on a regular basis, you have either helped me to achieve a better job or save time, especially the blinds. I think I will buy a cheap blind just to try it. Thanks
Thank you for these tips. They have helped me with so many issues I've been struggling with. The struggle is over.
Excellent video. Informative, no hype, no waffle. In my opinion you're the best DIY TH-camr.
Love all your tips Stuart. Agree with another comment you should be on national TV sharing your DIY skills
Just found your channel this AM, outstanding format, explanations, speed, and subjects. I've been woodworking for over a decade and have always been underwhelmed with woodworking DIY videos. You've knocked it out of sight. Off to start from video #1! Thanks from the US.
I really liked all of them, but especially the one where you center the hinges. If you can move it left and right for a few mm, I imagine you can also do that up and down? Could come in handy! Thanks Stuart!
Thanks for legitimizing my fumbling around the center hole, works really well indeed😅.
Excellent tips and excellent video as always Stuart. Thank you 👍
Nice, like the string thingy.
Angle your drill tip to the centre works when you drill SDS into masonry.
It’s very easy for a drill to jump away from your mark
Brilliant!! Really useful. Thanks Stuart. There’s a book in all this you know…..
That blind adjustment is a landlord special 😂😂 string line tip was good though. I can stop using tiewraps now
For measuring inside a gap the tape has a measurement stamped on it which is the length of the actual tape case, so you can lay the full tape, plastic and metal inside the gap then take the measurement you see and add the stamped number to it, mine is 77mm. Love the hinge one
Been a long time viewer and really enjoy your videos....Subscribed....
Some brilliant tips here. Thank you!! 😊
A useful video, and I'll definitely be using the hole centering tip because that's one of my 'bug bears'. It's best not to use wet wipes though because they are made from plastics and are bad for the environment. A small splodge of cooking oil and a teaspoon of sugar and 'wash' your hands well with it, then with soap / washing up liquid and you quickly end up with paint-free hands that are nice and soft too! Plus, 'free' as already in the house and environmentally friendly.
Stuart.....you really are a living legend mate 👍
Brilliant! Thank you!
Thank you. I consider myself old and wise but even I learned several things from your video 😊
So clear and Concise illustration. Good Job.
Another tip for the paint tray is to line it with tin-foil, then when the job is complete, just chuck it in the bin & there should be almost no cleaning to do.
Brilliant , always good to learn new tricks . I use the 100mm on the tape a lot , I am going to use the circular saw blade guide measurement , that will be very handy . All good as usual , cheers 👊
Thank you sir! That string trick! Love it. That is going to save me so much time.
100% best way to measure internals = Gator Tape. Total game-changer for me after 36 years on the tools. Only found it by accident, whilst fitting a kitchen for a lady who made curtains and blinds.
Nice one
Like them all but the string tying up is best.
Really practical videos, professionally made and delivered with a very engaging style. Despite being a fairly experienced DIYer I like learning new tricks and learn something useful from all of your videos!
Perfect tips as always 😊
Hi stewart,nice tips and tricks for all DI yers!!
i like your tips.. but mine for hanging artwork is to put a small nail through a paint stick and put your artwork on that nail then hold the paintstick with nail against the wall and when its where you want it take the art off and press the nail into the wall to mark the spot no measuring
All these go in the back of the mind and pop out mid-diy in the future. I’ve used loads of your others and these are excellent too!!
Absolutely love this channel mate 👌👌👌
Wow 1/4M subs, well done Stuart!
I use a fine tooth hack saw for blinds and cut it in a mitre jig, that way you get less frayed edges.
This is my second year coming back to DIY. I've moved into a right state of a place. Thankyou mate, save a young man a few hours
I,m just about to start my 1st cottage renovation and your videos are invalubale!
Brilliant as always.
You are the best at instructing, thank you so much for your useful tips
8:57 If your window gap (recess) is 500mm your blind needs to be 480mm to allow for the brackets. Always have a 10mm gap each side.
As per usual, great videos, great fun, AND the last top tip on this video was new to me, so thanks as usual. Keep doing what you do!👍
Very helpful as always. You give us hope for a good, clean job.
Thanks Stuart, for loads of ideas and tips, looking forward to 2024. All the very best for the new year
Thank you sir, I like the picture hanging one, I knew the rest but you’re right, we always learn something.
Binge watching your vids tonight 👍
Respect. I really liked the last one, with the paintings; will use soon. Wish you all the best.
Great job - additional idea - cap the timber fixing to the house with lead or other water proof material to throw water of the end grain.
I’m off to write two numbers on my circular saw!!! Great tips!!
Greetings from across the pond. Great tips will definitely use the hinge centering it's an epiphany
Great tips, with the picture hanging tip, I'd alter the strings to get each picture level.
Good tips Stuart 👏🏼👏🏼 Re: Measuring Takes, don't most decent measuring tapes have the length of the tape dispenser itself written on them, which you can just add to an 'inside' measure ?
I think it's also important to consistently use the same tape measure when doing jobs because not all tapes are accurate. I think there's a TH-cam video demonstrating how the accuracy of tape measures can vary. Using the same tape all the time means that at least any inaccuracies are consistent.
Thank you so much for a bunch of useful tips. I probably only knew 2 of those but think I will be using every single one in the next 12 months :-) Keep up the excellent work!
Excellent tips, thanks
Good tips. Thanks as always.
I learnt a few new tricks there thanks.
I can possibly improve on the circular saw offset tip. Instead off just knowing what measurement to allow for the baseplate, cut a thin piece of timber to use as a gauge when marking your work.
Now that is a great tip - always learning!
I am a blind fitter we use a recess tape from Stanley can get your measurements mm perfect especially if measuring for shutters. Screwfix sell them.
You’re video is excellent. Well presented, with no waffle. You’re knowledge and tips are highly beneficial and I’ll certainly be using them. I’ve just subscribed to your channel 👍
Great tips 👍 the 1 with the measuring tape though, the tape should tell you on the bottom what the exact distance is so you just put the tape flush on 1 end and + on what it says 😊
You beat me to it lol. It's also 2 and 3/4 inches for that Stanley tape measure.
Fantastic, i love your videos, they help me so much with jobs around the house......keep it up buddy, youre vids are awesome
Brilliant
Awesome video. Thanks for all the great tips.
Great tips. Thanks
I always put a sheet of plastic over an open paint pot before pushing the lid back on. The paint lasts for ages
Excellent lot of tips. Thank you.
That was really good, thank you 👍
Thanks for everything. As a beginner DIY'r, it'd be really interesting for your to provide your suggestions on what the most baseline tools are that everyone should have and what types of jobs persons might use them for. Also, it'd also be interesting to do something on mobile air compressors and the type specs you'd need and want for the various pneumatic tools, sprayers etc. available. You could then also speak to what types of jobs persons might use the various tools, sprayers etc. and their advantages, limitations etc. Cheers !
I picked up a few tips from your video, well done great video 👍
Great tips 👍 love watching your videos so informative
Proper job. Brilliant
Tape measure also has a measurement at the back, which corresponds to the length of a tape measure housing. You can place the tape measure inside whatever you want to measure and add the length of the tape measure housing
Very good, thank you
...btw - I notice you include tips on hanging art and indeed framing art too - maybe a future project will be a nice sturdy, easy to use, fold-a-way art easel...?
I fitted blinds and curtains etc as a tradesperson for many years. I never took the word of the ready made roller blind makers as to the width of the blind as they often varied. So I assemble the blind complete with brackets and butt it up to the skirting board and then measure the width of the whole blind complete. (It’s important to push a bit so the spring end goes in a few MM). Then measure the window recess width where the brackets will be. Take one measurement from the other and that’s what you cut off. I also only side fixed (unless it was agreed to go into a wood frame) This hides the screw heads and avoids going into concrete lintils or UPVC frames.
I'm pretty sure I've seen blinds with a core made of a thin steel metal tube..... Check carefully before using your mute see..... That's my tip for the day.
carbide should go through it (unless hardened, or stainless)
At least a pro using wood drills for perfect holes in walls like I do and recommend. I always buy cheap ones where i can get them. And even in concrete I start with these before my pneumatic drill comes to work. Cheap bit: 50ct . Perfect hole: priceless.
10:44 - Wrap it tightly and add some packing / masking tape over the cut (mark the tape) and you'll get even less frayed edges.
Some really helpful tips and I thought I knew it all.