Posts Tagged ‘diy’
How To Make Your Own Natural Soap Without Lye
Many individuals who prefer natural lifestyles would love to know how to make your own natural soap without lye. Lye is a caustic ingredient used by commercial companies to bind all the ingredients of soap together. Lye actually allows the soap to be able to break down when used with water. If there happens to be too much lye contained in the soap that somebody is using, it can and will cause skin burns. Even though it may not help everybody, lye in the right amounts can help reduce the symptoms of poison ivy and eczema.
Using natural soaps has its advantages. It is usually glycerin based, so it will leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized. There are also many ingredients available to natural soap makers that are not possible to use with lye soaps.
With natural soap you have the option of using natural and essential oils. Using glycerin as your base ingredient you will be able to make more detailed soap molds and use a variety of colors. You can even add in freeze dried fruits or dried leaves and flower petals. You can even enjoy the fruits of your labor right after the soap making process is done.
For the soap making process you will need a double broiler or a crock pot and soap molds. For the actual soap you will need glycerin soap base, essential oils or fragrances, coloring, and melted cocoa butter. You will want to make sure that all of these items are prepared.
Make sure the temperature of your cooking utensil is hot enough to melt the soap without boiling it. Place the glycerin soap product into the cooking utensil. Wait until all of the moisture has been removed while making sure that the mixture does not bubble. Add your color choice and blend it in until the coloring is even. Then, add in the fragrance that you have chosen. Next, stir in the cocoa butter until the mixture is even and smooth. Once the mixture is completely bonded together, pour it into the molds you have set aside. Once they are cool to the touch, they are hard enough to try out.
Making soap without lye can be pretty simple. That is, if you follow the instructions carefully. With using a glycerin base and essential oils your skin will feel softer and more refreshed than using a soap that contains lye.
Did you know that you could make soap? There is nothing more soothing than natural soap. So, why would you want to use those store purchased soaps that have all of those harsh cleaning chemicals when you could make your own?
Tags: crafts, diy, family, Hobbies, homemade, soap
How To Prevent Dust Buildup During Woodworking
It’s wonderful to have a hobby that you really enjoy and especially if you can make it profitable as well. This should never be done however at the risk of your health. Naturally, you need to take all of the safety precautions necessary when using your tools and equipment. You need to ensure that your work area is a safe environment to protect from accidents. To go even further to this though you have to be certain that you are not being exposed to certain chemicals and pollutants. This is a fairly high risk in the woodworking hobby. One of the most common but perhaps least thought of is the dust. Predominantly sawdust but dust in general can be an issue.
So what steps can you take to handle the dust issue? There are a few options open to you. Ideally, though if you are working at your woodworking hobby a good deal of the time you may want to consider devising or purchasing some type of dust collection system.
There is always the option of wearing a respirator, which everyone should when they are working on their projects. The problem is as soon as they are through with the heavy cutting they remove the respirator but much of the dust is still present in the air and being inhaled. These types of problems that can be caused from inhaling that type of dust may not show up heath wise to later on down the road. By this time it?s too late, and many seasoned woodworkers suffer with respiratory problems as a result of this.
In many wood shops, you will find the shop vac type of vacuums, which are certainly a necessity, but they are more for cleaning up the debris that can seen. You may find it well worth you while to check out some of dust collection systems that are now on the market. Don?t be deceived into thinking that you have to have some big heavy cumbersome unit running all day while you are working. You can use a portable dust collector. These are just situated near where you are working and they consist of a hood that gathers the dust into a bag.
They are a great commodity because they can be hooked onto your power tools with a 4-inch port connector. If you feel that, the portable unit is just not strong enough for the type of work you are doing or there are more than one of you working in the workshop at the same time you may want to try a more centralized system. This type of unit drives the dust and sanding and cutting residues into a micron bag. To become even more elite you and go with one of the cyclone dust collector systems.
You must understand though reference to a dust collector is mostly referring to the collection of the residue of your work such as the wood chips, shavings and sawdust. It really is not addressing those fine particles that are floating around in the air. This is where the respirator is necessary
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
Pen Kit Plating – Woodworking Projects and Patterns
There are all kinds of pen making kits out there and they all have different metal platings, such as gold plating, as well as 24K upgrade titanium gold plating, Swiss Rose 18K gold plating, then there are chrome, platinum and black titanium platings . There is a lot of information available on the different kinds of plating options open to you when you decide to get a pen kit.
Gold plating is the usual finish for a pen however; silver has become more and more popular lately. Gold plating looks good, but it isn?t durable when it gets a lot of abrasion, but it can be made stronger with the plating method used or through additives to the gold and/or other techniques that can be found on the net.
24k gold upgrade plating means that the rack method is used and a little bit of cobalt or palladium are mixed in with the chemicals used for plating. . With the rack method, there is literally a rack that looks like a tree with parts that are separated then individually plated. This is done to enhance the strength of the gold plating. In what we have listed here, the softest is Gold plating and it is very susceptible to the effects of abrasion. With titanium gold plating, you get a more durable gold plating.
The process is called PVD, for particle vapor deposition. Here the titanium nitride is color matched TO the gold and is molecularly bonded, or splattered on the piece to get a more exact color match. After this, the parts are re-plated, resulting in parts that seem to show any evidence of wearing. A pen plating kit of this type is not something the bulk commodity kit suppliers would use.
18Karat Swiss Rose gold plating is very rare. It consists of copper and gold that will result in a plating as a result of equally mixed atoms. This plating is done on a solid layer that is very thick. with the parts being specially treated before the process begins. This produces an incredibly lustrous, but very durable finish, and, used carefully, it should last for many years.
One of the most popular platings is, of course, chromium plating.One finish that is very durable and long lasting is Chrome when used normally. It is extremely popular because the look of chromium is dazzling while, at the same time very affordable, which is why these are used. There is no doubt the popularity of Pen plating kits has grown over the years. When using a platinum plating kit, be warned that the cheaper kits use rhodium.
The ones that use real platinum produce rugged and hard finish, and, under normal usage, it should endure for many years. The next finish is black titanium, this process uses PVD, which is oxide molecularly bonded, making incredibly durable and hard plating. This unique finish adds an elegance that is matched only by its toughness that will be of value in the coming years
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
Woodworking Guide – Using Router Bits Properly
There is no doubt that if you are a novice to woodworking and are taking it seriously then you have been gaining a tremendous amount of knowledge. Much of that pertaining to your equipment and tools no doubt. You most likely have learned it doesn’t take long when it comes to using up the budget buying all of the equipment you need and what you think you need.
Most likely you are in store to purchase a router. Along with that purchase, you are going to have to consider buying some router bits as well.
The bits that you can use with your router all serve a specific purpose and no doubt you are going to want to expand your collection of bits as you progress into your woodworking hobby.
Your router is the device that simply turns your bit. It is the bit that?s going to give you the desired results.
Most of the bits that are available are carbide tipped. This is because of the hardness of the material and what it is able to endure. It?s very much like a diamond and it has many advantages to it. For one thing, it always stays sharp and it resists heat. The drawbacks to these carbide bits are they chip easily because they are brittle and they are not cheap. It?s for this reason only the tip is made of carbide and not the entire bit.
There are high-speed steel bits and theses HSS at one time were the only type you could get. They are still available and are ok for occasional work. They are less expensive than a carbide bit but they will become dull quite fast. You will need to keep getting them retargeted otherwise they burn the surface of the wood. Sometimes you will find that these bits have been coated with Titanium Nitride. This does help them stay sharper for a longer period of time, but even this coating will wear off.
You are going to find two types of bits Pilot and Non Pilot. The pilot bits have ball bearings to keep them a specific distance from the wood. Then there are safety bits called chip-limiting bits. It reduces the chance of kickback.
The most common bit sizes are 1/4in., and 1/2in.This is the part that fits into the router. Always use the required bit for the project to ensure your safety.
Be sure to clean the pitch and tar that builds up on your bits from the wood regularly. Also regularly inspect your bits and collets to make sure they are in good condition.
Some of the terminology that you are going to see associated with your router bits are solid bit, pilot bit. Arbor, collet, shank, high speed steel, carbide, cobalt, titanium nitride, and hook and rake. Take your time and research the meanings of each of these to get the most from your bits and router. Although there is a great deal to learn about woodworking, it is a hobby that is most enjoyable. There are risk factors for accidents wherever tools are involved. Make sure your tools are kept clean and in good working order.
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
Solar Energy Risks To Health
Solar energy is a potential source of free electricity and water heating. It offers the power to enjoy electrical power in remote areas of the world. It seems to offer health and safety along with power, but does it?
Solar energy health risks are seldom mentioned. That may be partially due to the limited use of this source of energy. It may also be due to the lack of research in this area. Some have begun to study solar energy health risks, however, and if one researches long enough, a few estimates are available.
Thermal solar electricity Health Hazards
Solar energy health risks are inherent to the design and installation of most thermal energy systems. These are the systems built to heat water and air for household use.
Solar water heaters complete 3 basic operations before delivering hot water to your tap or your heating unit :
1. Collect daylight and change it into heat energy. 2. Circulate liquids that transfer the heat energy to a storage unit 3. Store the hot water till you want it
The solar power health hazards with such a system typically happen in the storage units. Some units make allowance for the expansion of allergenic molds and fungi.
If correct materials are used for the storage unit these solar electricity systems present few, if any, health risks . Their advantages are that they are much safer than most ordinary fuels or nuclear power – they don’t have any emissions and don’t pollute the air.
PV Panel solar electricity Health Hazards
The solar electricity health risks related to photovoltaic ( PV ) panels happens before the panels are put into use on the customer’s home. PV panels are the panels used to gather solar electricity from daylight and change it into serviceable electricity.
The produce of PV panels needs the utilization of harmful materials. Silicon dioxide is mined from sand or quartzite and reduced with heat to pure silicon. Materials released during refining are the main health hazards. Many steps in forming the photovoltaic cells use noxious materials. These are sprayed on the cells, and can quickly be breathed.
It is ascertained that solar electricity health hazards related to producing PV panels per unit energy might be between eleven and twenty-one deaths per quadrillion joules of energy produced.
Solar energy health risks from PV panels are very slight once the panels are produced and installed on the consumer’s home. This type of solar energy is known for reliability and low maintenance. The home owner seldom needs to be involved in any repairs, and thereby cuts solar energy health risks.
Passive solar electricity Health Hazards
Passive solar energy provides safety and health. A new building that maximizes this technology can reduce energy costs by nearly one half. How?
1. Warming indoor air in a house through vertical, slanted windows facing the sun. The windows capture maximum solar energy from the sunlight. 2. Collecting solar energy in adobe or stone walls and floors, and then releasing it into the air as the temperature falls. 3. Collecting solar energy in a sun space, much like a greenhouse built on the sunny side of the home. This heat is sent into the home with proper ventilation. 4. Holding water in black roof tanks until needed, cutting the working time of the home’s hot water heater. 5. Using clerestories rows of windows near roof peaks that catch sunlight and bounce it through the building. The sunlight reduces the need for electric lights.
In Summary
Solar energy technologies present few, if any, health risks for the final user. Their use can reduce the health issues presented by other power sources, providing cleaner, safer, cheaper energy.
Lowest prices ever on Solar Powered Outdoor Lighting, grab yours now while they last at DIY Solar Power For Homes.
Tags: Design & Remodel, diy, econ friendly, Energy, family, green, Home, home improvement, how to, Improvement, solar, solar power
How to Make Candles – Column Candles
Column and Taper candles have a kinship of many aspects although a slight discrepancy in appearance. Column candles are shorter in stature, and normally a bit wider, and the tops of them are not pointed like tapers, but rather volcano shaped. Column candles have a distinct appearance but have a ageless look. A special charm will always infuse a room that is decorated with a column candle, and the great thing is that they are easy to make.
The likable charm of column candles is that they will stay lit for hours upon hours, which in turn makes them a good investment for a business using less supplies and less time making them. Many people boast of their column candles burning for 35 hours plus. Another drawing point of column candles is that they burn producing no smoke or drippings. In fact you will be hard pressed to find any cons to column candles other than finding the perfect holder to display them in. Normally column candles will fit your normal tea light holders or the bases with spikes.
You will only need your normal basic supplies to produce column candles such as molds, wicks, wax and colors and fragrances if so desired. For best results always use a double boiler to melt your wax in, as you would with all types of candles. Don’t cut corners on cheap wax, or your candles will show cheaply in appearance. Many people have tried Beeswax only to find out it is not structurally sound for column candles. After the first burn when a fair amount of heat is applied the beeswax will start to ooze. You will end up with a very unpleasant candle to look at.
Before using your molds make sure you coat them with a thin coating of non stick spray, this will prevent your candle from sticking and possibly breaking when removing it from your mold. Once you get your wax melted in your double boiler take your wick and dip it in the wax a few times letting it dry slightly between drips, you want to make sure it gets a good coating. You will want your wick a few inches longer than your mold. A good trick to get your wick perfectly centered in your candle is to tie it to a pencil and set the pencil horizontally across your mold letting the wick hang down perfectly into the center of your mold.
If your desire is to add fragrances or color to your project, now is the time to do it while your wax is hot. Mix any color or fragrances that you desire into your wax mixing it in well. Next you will pour the hot wax into your mold making sure it has not started to cool. Wax that has started cooling will produce lumps and make a visually unappealing candle. You may remove your candle from the mold as soon as it has completely cooled. Lastly you want to trim your wick about one fourth of an inch from the top of your column candle.
To set your column candles apart from others try gathering some flowers and leaves and pressing them into the side of your candle crafts while holding them in place for a few seconds. You can also create a unique ice crystal look by adding crushed ice to your mold before adding in your hot wax. There are many tips to be found in creating unique candles from crafting magazine to online. Grab some new ideas and add your twist to it to give your candles a look of there own.
You cannot go wrong with a column candles, they have a unique appeal and are a great first project for beginners. They are great as gifts or an elegant addition as a centerpiece to a dinner table. The supplies are easy to find at any local craft store or of course found online.
For the beginner wanting to get into candle making, column candles are a great starting point. Many people have turned their love of candle making into a small home business that is turning huge profits. Try out candle making for yourself, you never know where it may lead.
Tags: candles, crafting, crafts, diy, do-it-yourself, fun, fun projects, Hobbies, Home Business, interior design
Don’t Build Your New Patio Out of Concrete
If you are thinking about constructing a new patio this summer or just overhauling the one you have, there are lots of materials you can choose from. They each have their benefits and drawbacks but they will each contribute to a beautiful patio if used correctly.
Anyone who lives in a climate that is cold in the winter and hot in the summer might want to use flagstone to build his or her patio. This is because flagstone is very strong and can withstand the elements better than some of the other rocks. A harsh environment requires you to use a material that wont crack easily and flagstone fits the bill. You can buy flagstone as a man made material or you can buy the real thing but whichever you do, no two flagstone patios will ever look the same. This kind of rock looks different every time you build something with it and it is a great choice for any patio.
Another choice you might make for your patio is to make it out of tile. A patio made out of tile will undoubtedly be a unique one as tile comes is so many colors and textures that no to patios would ever look alike. Another good reason for using tile is that it is smooth and flat, which will allow the patio furniture to sit squarely on the ground without rocking. It will also be safer because there will be no protruding parts for people to possibly trip on.
Brick is a very popular choice for patios because it is easy to construct and it looks great. Houses with brick on the outside have always looked classy and substantial and this will also be the case with your patio. The color of brick looks nice on a patio especially if it is surrounded by a garden. With the help of a friend, someone who knows little about brick will probably be able to lay the whole patio with not too much trouble which is another reason to use brick.
Finally, slate is another stone material that will give your patio a one of a kind look. Slate comes in all colors and textures that allows you to construct a patio that will look different from anything else in your neighborhood. You can most likely find slate at some of your local shops that carry stone or marble and if not, you can ask around for it at a home improvement store and they will know where to go to get it.
Tags: construction deck, Design & Remodel, diy
Basement Remodeling Comes With These Problems
Refinishing your basement so that it can be used as another room is a great idea but it comes with a problem or two. Since most basements are both dark and cold, you will have to figure out ways to overcome those obstacles so that the new room you create will be comfortable.
Anyone considering remodeling or finishing their basement is going to have to consider what type of basement lighting works best with what they have in mind. Basements are usually very dark as they have little to no window light and so choosing the right lighting becomes very important. Not only is lighting necessary to make the basement functional but various types of lighting can also be used to enhance and highlight certain aspects of the new basement.
Track lighting can be used in a case where you are turning your basement into a room where you will be having friends over and entertaining in. Track lighting looks cool in a bar setting, a game room setting, and any other type of room that you want to look special and highlight certain aspects of. If you are going to be using your new basement for a family room or a playroom, more consistent and bright lights should be used so that the whole room is lit well.
The other problem you will run into with basements is their temperature. Basements are at the bottom of the house and this means that they will always be colder than other areas. There can be as much as a 10 degree difference between levels of a house and the basement can get downright cold.
To combat that problem, you may have to install a separate heating system that automatically keeps the basement room at a desired temperature. This can be expensive though, and most people will opt for some kind of stand alone heater. The problem with this is that when you want to use the basement, it will always take time before it is heated to the proper temperature. If you just heat it with the heating system already installed in your house, it will make the rest of the house too warm before the basement becomes a good temperature.
Tags: basement, building, construction, Design & Remodel, diy, heating, house, how to, lighting, living
Something New for the House
Here’s one really great idea to give the home a new ambiance, a new opportunity for DIY decoration, with little or no expense – re-arranging the furniture.
Some people make this is regular routine to keep their house from becoming boring or to make their house more convenient as the seasons change. For instance, some homeowners move their furniture around to accommodate a Christmas tree or extra guests during the holiday season. A large party might create the need to change the furniture arrangement, as might a new addition to the family.
There could be new furniture additions, like a new play pen or crib for the new baby, or a new study table for junior. But for the most part, rearranging what you have can impart an entirely new ambiance to your home. You won’t need outside help here, except maybe some hired hands. It’s essentially a DIY home improvement initiative. And your imagination and creativity can make it happen.
Larger houses with open floor plans offer lots of possibilities for rearranging your furniture. If your home is on the smaller side, however, you will probably have fewer options when it comes to moving large items like your sofa or entertainment center. If you live in a house or condo with built-in features like shelves or desks, you will have to design your layout around these stationary objects. These features are particularly common to bedrooms and kitchens.
In such dwellings, furniture relocation can be minimal at best. But for the typical suburban homes, there will always be good reason to put the sofa here next time, or the cabinet elsewhere. It just takes a free weekend and a determine drive to spend a DIY project to get those future moving.
Follow the guidelines below to make your furniture-moving endeavor a success:
* Get modular. If you plan to re arrange the furniture regularly, it’s a good idea to keep your shelves, cabinets and drawers and sofas modular. That means they come in pieces rather in one bulk. Some sofas have sections you can rearrange anytime. Shelves can have adjustable planks. Drawers can be stackable with different sizes stacked on top of the other and you can re-arrange them too.
* Don’t damage your surfaces. Unless a bookshelf is in danger of toppling over, don’t nail or otherwise affix it to the wall. Doing this can damage the wall, floor, or any surface it’s attached to. This will cause problems when the furniture is moved; the wall may need to be repainted or the sheetrock repaired, or you may be forced to design a new arrangement around the damaged area.
* Don’t push heavy furniture across the floor. Heavy objects or furniture with claw feet can easily gouge your floorboards or tear up carpet. This type of damage can be difficult and expensive to fix.
* Add a fresh coat of paint. Moving your furniture around might make you realize that your paint is fading or discolored. If you have moved an armoire and exposed a wall that’s been hidden for 15 years, you will probably note a difference in the color of the newly exposed wall. This will probably necessitate a fresh coat of paint, which will liven up the room. This is also an opportunity to change the color of the entire room. As long as you have to paint, why not try something new?
Tags: decoration, Design & Remodel, diy, home improvement, Home repair, interior design, redecorating
