Wake The Lakes Lifehack of the Week: “Cool Tool Hacks That are Super Useful for Do-It-Yourselfers”

–For sanding in tight spaces. Cut a piece of sandpaper to fit around a paint stir stick. Then use spray adhesive or an all-purpose glue to adhere to the stick. Write the sandpaper grit on the handle for the stir stick, if you plan to store it for later use.

–Give your sawhorses a padded surface to protect your projects by wrapping the top rails with pieces of carpet or rugs. Use a utility knife and a straightedge to cut the carpet along the woven backing; then secure the pieces to the sawhorses with staples.

–Make a hands-free light in a snap with a flashlight, a pair of pliers, and a rubber band. Place the flashlight in the jaws of the pliers, then wrap a rubber band around the handles. That’s it! Point the light wherever you need it.

–Got a big scrubbing job on your to-do list? Attach a brush onto your drill and save the elbow grease. You can make a DIY version with a dish brush, or you can find store-bought drill-ready brushes in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit any job.

–A rubber chair leg cap instantly converts a hammer into a rubber mallet. And if you want to drive a nail without denting the surrounding wood, cut a hole in the rubber cap. Pound until the rubber strikes wood, then finish driving the nail with a nail set. A 1-1/8-in. rubber cap fits tightly over most hammers.

–There’s no need to risk hammering a finger when working with tiny nails or in tight corners. A common bobby pin makes a great nail holder, and keeps your fingers at a safe distance! Once the nail is started, remove the bobby pin and continue hammering away.