Amazing Carpenter & Handyman Tricks

🔧 Amazing Carpenter & Handyman Tricks

1. Use a Post-It Note as a Dust Catcher

Stick a folded Post-it under a hole you're drilling into drywall to catch dust. It’s a simple way to keep your workspace clean!

2. Magnetize Your Screwdriver

Rub a magnet along your screwdriver to magnetize it. It helps hold screws in tight spaces and overhead work.

3. Speed Square as a Saw Guide

Use a speed square to guide your circular saw for straight, accurate cuts every time.

4. Rub Screws on Soap or Wax

If screws are hard to drive in, rub them on a bar of soap or a candle. This reduces friction and prevents wood from splitting.

5. Painter’s Tape for Clean Cuts

Apply painter’s tape over where you're cutting plywood or MDF. It minimizes splintering and helps you cut straight.

6. Use a Rubber Band to Remove Stripped Screws

Place a wide rubber band between the screwdriver and the stripped screw head to improve grip and remove it easily.

7. Flip a Pencil into a Marking Gauge

Drill a hole in a small block of wood and insert a pencil. It becomes a perfect marking gauge for drawing parallel lines.

8. Use a Clamp as a Third Hand

Clamps are more than just for holding—use them to keep things steady when working solo, especially for glue-ups or driving screws.

9. Tennis Ball Tool Holder

Cut a slit in an old tennis ball, screw it to a wall or pegboard, and use it to hold tools or fasteners.

10. Hot Glue Temporary Jigs

Use hot glue to make temporary jigs or hold pieces in place during layout. It peels off easily and doesn’t damage surfaces.

11. Mark Stud Centers with Lipstick

When finding studs behind drywall, dab lipstick on the screw tip and insert it lightly—when it touches wood, it leaves a mark.

12. DIY Saw Blade Cleaner

Soak your saw blades in a mixture of water and laundry detergent for 10 minutes to remove sap and grime.

13. Use a Nail to Pre-Drill Soft Wood

If you don’t have a drill handy, tap a nail in and pull it out—voilà, a pilot hole for your screw or fastener.

14. No-Wobble Hinge Screws

If a screw hole is stripped, glue a matchstick or toothpick in the hole, let it dry, and drive the screw back in for a snug fit.

15. Tape Measure as a Layout Compass

Anchor the end of your tape measure and swing it like a compass to draw large-radius arcs and circles.