My Favourite Top 10 DIY Tips and Tricks - Part 2

After publishing the first 'Top Tips & Tricks' a year ago here is 'Part 2' containing a complete new 10 DIY Tips that will help any DIY'er around the home and garden.

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[EmptyGlass]

The plumb-line tip alone is worth watching this video for - top tip indeed!

[duncanstreet]

Coffee and toast at the ready for Sunday with Proper DIY!

[phowied]

That dampened plumb bob was very cool.

Alternative for marking a complex level without a laser is to use a water level. Simple and accurate.

[PurpleTT]

Can't decide what emotion to feel when you showed us the "masking tape mitre" tip. Anger at myself for not thinking of it, sadness at all the times I could have used it, happiness that I'll be able to use it from now on, worry that'll I'll forget to use it! 🙂

[ncey]

I've done a lot of mains & lighting circuits recently, pulling the CPC copper to split the insulation does work but gets old fast (imagine doing that twice for each downlight in a room!). Well worth investing a small amount in a ratcheting cable stripper, does the job instantly with a perfect finish.

[RhysMogg]

Found my wife singing the ProperDIY intro song while washing up this morning 😂

[bertgregory]

The clamp was a clever idea! Some great tips there!

[IgnatiusZaaijman]

That measuring tape trick is so simple I can't believe I haven't thought of it before!!

[martinmorgan]

The reversing of the spirit level as you mark a level around a room is a very neat trick and uses the same idea as setting up an engineers optical level (of unknown level accuracy) in the exact middle between origin and destination points to conceal out any error.
Thank you for this, it's probably quicker than setting up a laser level - certainly a lot cheaper than buying one for an isolated task.

[jernejq]

I'm always amazed and grateful for all those tips. One can immediately tell you are a professional. There are probably hundreds more up your sleeve and they become not so much hacks but the usual way of doing things. Carefully observing how you work one learns all the time. Really pure greatness.
For the cable "peeling" I usually just score the insulation all around and then bind the cable and the plastic opens up. This is also useful for making or repairing appliance cables.

[AlanBell]

If doing the IKEA hex fixings with a drill, definitely use the torque limiting numbers, probably around number 4 to avoid breaking things.

[mr_bojingles]

Some great tips there. Now to find a way of remembering them when I actually need them!

[andljoy]

With stripping the T&E you can do a very light score around the outer sheath then when you do your tip you can pull hard on the left over insulation and get a very clean end.
That plum bob trick is f****ing genius!

[c.a.g.]

There were some tips I knew, but also some I didn't! Thank you Stuart!

[martinmorgan]

I love the cable stripping tip. Yes - that's a 'keeper'!

[timfulwell]

Brill vid. Several tips I didn’t know.
BTW I used a clear plastic tube with coulered water to level floor joists. Just attach the tube at a convenient place. Mark the level you need to work to and then take the other end to each point in the room that needs a level mark. Takes two to do.

[ChrisShepherdPhotos]

My brother in law (an electrician) taught me a similar way to expose the wires in twin and earth without the need for a Stanley knife. Just catch the insulation with the edge of the pliers and twist. Then you can get at the earth and pull it without the need for two tools.

[Raymonduk]

Great tips love the masking tape one like you say easy when you know how have a great week😊

[MrBigMalT]

Nice one Stewart! Just started adding a few extra sockets in my workshop today, so I’ll be using your cable stripping tip (rather than my usual nibbling in from the end with wire cutters).

I also found that the position of the terminals in my sockets meant i needed different length cables feeding in and feeding out. So I drew a little story board with actual cable lengths marked on a scrap of wood, and used it to lay the cables on, so I could cut them all to consistent lengths. Maybe another useful tip for someone.

[welshkid]

Great tips!
The clamp one for circles, you can also use a tape measure with the blade lock on!