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Useful things (187)

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Fix a leaking boat with duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Create a collapsible light box with duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Pencil grips can be made with heat-shrink tubing. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Handle grips can be repaired, revived, or improved with heat-shrink tubing. If a handle is too hard or lacking in grip, such as the handle of a hiking pole, or a screwdriver, use some heat shrink tubing on it. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Repair Your Glasses when one of the arms breaks, with heat-shrink tubing. This should last till you get a new pair. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
"Helping hands" grips can be given the soft-touch for when working with delicate objects. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Change the colour of cables by putting heat shrink around them using the colour you want. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Repair the ends of broken shoelaces with heat shrink tubing. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Shrink your heat-shrink tubing with:
- Heat guns
- Blow dryers
- Candles
- Matches
- Butane lighters, or any lighter.
- Incandescent light bulb - at a push, holding the heat-shrink tubing near a hot light bulb can work.
- Ovens

If using a flame, keep moving the flame over the surface of the tubing, to prevent charring or burning. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Generally, heat-shrink tubing shrinks to about half its original size, so make sure you use the correct diameter tubing for the job, to ensure a snug and strong fit. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Heat-shrink tubing
Keep a wide variety of sizes and colours of heat-shrink tubing available. You will always find uses for it. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Knots
The double overhand sliding loop is a knot which can slide to tighten on something. It is basically a double overhand knot over a loop ("bight"). ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Binder clips
Metal Binder Clips can be purchased cheaply online. The most useful size is 25mm. When you start using them you will find all sorts of uses for them. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Knots
Truckie's knot: This knot is very secure, yet rapidly and easily undone. It's often used for securing objects on trailers. ^{kellyjones00 (593)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Binder clips
Reduce cable clutter by attaching several binder clips to the side of your desk, and then suspending the ends of various cables in them. You can put labels on the clips if you want to. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Binder clips
Keep your earphone cables neat and tidy by wrapping them around a binder clip. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Binder clips
Create a phone holder for your mobile phone. This can support your phone whilst you watch videos on it. Use two clips holding a piece of card between them of the appropriate length. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Binder clips
A trouser clip when riding a bicycle. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Paperclips come in various sizes. The standard size is around 30mm, but they also come in larger sizes. For heavy-duty projects you will need larger clips. Most of these tips work better with larger paperclips. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Hooks can be made using paperclips. The larger the paperclip the better. There are two types: the type that you can hang on a draw, or the type that you can fit onto a wall or board, through two small holes. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Make a compass by breaking off a straight part of a paperclip. Magnetize the "needle" by "striking" (scraping) it along its length between 50-100 times, only in the one direction, going towards the "point" (i.e., one end), with a knife. You will know the needle is magnetized when the knife can pick it up. Float a leaf on some water, then place the needle on the leaf. It will find true north. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Create a micro-screwdriver by flattening the end of a paperclip, then shaping it with a file. You can use this for such as tightening up the arm of your spectacles. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Replace a zipper tab with a paperclip. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Mark the end of a role of tape with a paperclip. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Join two zippers with a paperclip, for extra security. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Create an emergency button with a paperclip. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Create a phone stand, using a large paperclip, so that you can watch videos on your phone. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Make a needle with a paperclip by breaking off a straight piece of the paperclip and then sharpen one end. Flatten the other end and then finally punch a small hole in the flattened end. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Paperclips
Bind papers together with a paperclip and a rubber band (see image). ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Keep sliced apples fresh by slicing them, and then placing the apple back together again, and holding it together with a rubber band. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Replace a wallet with a rubber band. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Revive an Old Broom. Some brooms can be revived by tightening-up the bristles by applying thick rubber bands about half way up the bristles, holding them in place. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
A rubber band around your wrist can be used as a reminder of something. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Strap an Injured Finger. Use a think rubber band to strap an injured finger to a stick, until it can be properly treated. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
As a pencil eraser, fold a rubber band in half a few times and you can use it to erase pencil marks. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Open difficult-to-open jars by placing a thick rubber band around the rim of a jar lid and use it to grip the lid while you twist it off. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Stop things from sliding on a flat surface by wrapping a rubber band around them. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
As a more comfortable handle grip. If the handle of something, such as a hiking pole, or screwdriver, is too hard or slippery, wrap some rubber bands around it to make it softer and more easy to grip. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Mark how much liquid is in a can by placing a rubber band around the can (eg, a paint can), so you can know how much liquid is in the can without opening the lid. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Secure cabinets from young toddlers by stretching strong rubber bands tightly between cabinet knobs to lock them in place. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Make tie dye clothing, by tightly wrapping rubber bands around your clothing item, in several places, and then place into the dyes. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Stop doors from locking shut while you are moving things between rooms. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Remove excess paint from paint brushes by placing a rubber band around a paint can lengthways, and wiping the brush on the rubber band. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Rubber bands
Keep tools handy by connecting them to your wrist with rubber bands. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
Re-using zip ties is possible. There are re-usable zip ties, which are more expensive than regular zip ties, but even regular zip ties can be re-used. Just stick your fingernail in the locking mechanism (or a pin, if your fingernail won't fit), press down, and slide it out. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
Mark trails, especially using a coloured type of zip tie, so you don't get lost, or to re-find a spot. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
Avoid sharp ends, which can cut you, by twisting-off the loose end with a pair of pliers, rather than cutting it off. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
If you need a longer zip tie than you have, then join several zip ties together. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
Extra traction on snow and ice can be achieved on your bicycle by applying zip ties to your wheel. ^{thesource (378)}

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Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Zip ties
Tidy up loose cables with zip ties. ^{thesource (378)}

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