13 Clever TOOL HACKS You Should Know!
#13 Up Your Torque
Sometimes you run across a stubborn screw that requires a bit more convincing to come
out of its hole.
Instead of going to find for another screwdriver, just grab a wrench instead.
A little known fact is that most screwdrivers have a hexagonal shape to their shafts, or
to the first quarter inch of the shaft.
This section on the handle is perfect for gripping with a wrench or pliers.
Once you have a firm hold on the handle with the wrench, you can use the added leverage
to assist in removing the screw.
Free, easy added strength means more power, more power!
#12.
Nail Clipper Stripper
Is this really a dilemma?
There are no strippers to be found in your house.
Easy now.
Okay, you’re working on a project and need to strip some wire.
For a decent wire stripper substitute, fingernail clippers can be equally effective.
If you apply just the right touch and technique.
If you have some spare wire, I suggest you practice once to get the right amount of pressure.
Place the clipper blades around the wire and squeeze just enough so they sink into the
plastic jacket, but NOT the metal wire.
Then gently rotate the clippers 360 degrees around the wire, so the jacket is sliced around
the entire perimeter.
Finally, use your fingers to pull off the separated section of jacket.
The result should be a perfectly stripped wire.
Multi-tasking tools take the cake.
#11.
Bread Stale, Mate
Bread: It’s the wonderful, yet wasteful food most of us love dearly.
Wonderful because it’s the awesome foundation for some of the most delicious culinary creations.
The ones that don’t require an oven, anyway.
Wasteful because we get about halfway through the loaf before it meets an either stale or
moldy demise.
Rumbling stomachs cringe at the moldy sight.
We pout as we put all the fixin’s back in the fridge, and call for pizza.
So how do we combat the crisis that plagues our bread-lust?
Some say use bread garages that take up a boatload of precious counter space.
Nope.
Others say to stash your lovely loaves in the refrigerator.
Nope nope.
While bread will hold off the development of mold for longer in the fridge, the bread
will go stale just as fast.
And many other science project type issues will develop behind the scenes, drastically
lessening the quality of the bread.
If you haven't guessed by now, your best bet to bettering your bread lifespan is to store
it in the good ‘ole freezer.
When you’re ready for another go at your culinary masterpiece of a sammich, just reheat
it in the oven or toaster-only the portions you wish to eat at that moment.
Freezing bread stalls the processes that make bread go bad on the counter and in the fridge.
Now, go claim a section of your freezer as your new bread thrown.
You’ll both be much happier for the long haul.
#10.
Baking Soda Bondo
Who knew that Super Glue and baking soda can form a solid, long-lasting friendship?
Caution- keep this concoction out of the kitchen!
Save it for construction and hack patchwork instead.
This bond will create a rock-hard filler, that can be both sanded down and drilled into.
You'll just need three things to create this versatile compound - Super Glue, baking soda,
and a small, inexpensive brush.
You’ll most likely toss the brush in the trash afterward.
To make the magic happen, first, identify what you need to fix or fill.
Then clean any dust off of the areas where you’ll apply the mixture.
Next, apply a thin layer of baking soda with the brush, then glue over top of it.
Alternate and repeat until you have achieved your desired results.
Finally, let the filler set for an hour before you attempt to sand, file or drill the layered
compound.
Once it’s complete, you should have a rock hard fix that should last a lifetime.
#9.
Super Un-glue
Superglue is an incredibly useful tool because of its extraordinary adhesive, bonding, and
fast-drying properties.
But, it’s these same properties that make the substance dangerous when misused.
It has a bad rap for bonding body parts, juvenile pranks, etc.
Here is what to do if someone ‘superglues’ you.
First, just chill.
Don't attempt to separate your fingers, for example.
You’ll risk tearing your precious flesh.
Get your un-stuck digits on some acetone, or any safe-ish product containing acetone,
such as nail polish remover.
Poor enough into a bowl so that you can fully submerge whatever needs to be set free.
If it’s your fingers, let your digits hang-ten for around ten minutes.
Or until the glue begins to soften enough that it lets go when you GENTLY pull them
apart.
Once you have separated you fingers, use a washcloth or sponge to rub off any remaining
glue.
Now get glu-ing.
#8.
Aux. Port Cleaner
There are few things worse to an audiophile than getting lint or other foreign objects
stuck inside your auxiliary port.
Mucking it up, or worse, putting a halt to your listening pleasure.
You then have to waste precious time, and test your patience; coaxing the stubborn debris
out of the port.
Thank the music Gods for this hack, that will have you excavating with ease.
To build the ultimate auxiliary port cleaning tool you only need a standard wire paperclip,
and a piece of double sided tape.
Straighten out a portion of the paper clip.
To ‘stick-ify’ the shaft, simply tear off a half inch section of the double-sided
tape and wrap it tightly around the probe.
Now gently place the probe inside the port, and ease it back out slowly, to free the menacing
debris.
#7.
Totally Tube-ular
These times, they are a corded. Power cords, charging cords, extension cords, USB cords,
Micro USB cords - you get it.
Unfortunately, most of our coveted gadgets are not all wireless-yet.
So what are we to do?
If you aren’t going for a world record for the largest rat’s nest of tangled cords,
you can try dad’s old way, and shove them all in a storage box.
Only to spend too many minutes finding, fighting, and untangling the ones we need from the rest
of the chaotic nest.
Better option-become a recycling ninja by repurposing toilet paper and paper towel tubes.
Okay, don’t repurpose toilet paper.
Just seeing if you’re paying attention.
Use the empty tubes as individual storage vessels for your unruly cords.
The process is simple.
To get the cord inside of the tube, neatly wrap the cord into a coil.
Next you'll want to pinch the coil so it resembles a narrow oval shape that is roughly the length
of the tube.
You may have to re-coil to get the size just right.
Then, just slide the contorted coil into the tube.
It should stay snugly inside its new home.
Repeat with all of your cords, and put them in a box.
You can easily label them if they belong to certain gadgets.
And even note their length on the tube for easy access, too.
Congratulations, you conquered the chaos!
Planning for this hack is probably the only time you’ll celebrate running out of toilet
paper.
For a time-saver, re-organize the cords while you’re watching TV.
#6.
Free The Pickles!
You’re jonesin’ for a juicy pickle as the perfect accoutrement to your sandwich,
but it’s stuck!
Everyone comes across a lid of a jar, now and then, that makes them feel like they have
the physique of an underdeveloped child.
Stubborn lids don't discriminate, with their mighty vacuum-sealing action.
Sometimes, there just isn’t enough friction to allow your hand a good grip on the lid.
To gain access to the coveted tasty treats, just stretch the widest rubber band you can
find around the perimeter of the lid.
The rubber will add the needed friction to allow you to finally access your favorite
pickles or jam, AND, redeem your pride.
#5.
Free Your Drain
When you were playing with vinegar and baking soda in science class, you were really being
trained for a career in plumbing.
If you have a drain that’s on strike, just grab the dynamic duo.
Measure a cup of each ingredient.
Dump the baking soda directly down the clogged drain, and follow it with a vinegar chaser.
The resulting bubbles will push through that picket line, dispersing any stubborn goo.
This team provides a powerful and inexpensive burst of strength for stubborn jobs.
#4.
Hand Drill Cables
Here’s a good hack for taming tangling wires on wiring jobs.
The solution is absolutely electric.
You can actually create a neat cable out of individual wires.
Just grab an electric hand drill, and the assistance of a human or a clamp type vice.
To begin, get your wires together and straightened out as neatly as you can.
Then, twist the first few inches of wire together by hand and bend it in half to resemble a
hook.
Next, open the chuck of the drill as wide as it will go and place the hooked cable inside.
Tighten the chuck so that it has a firm grip on the wires, but is not causing damage.
Now secure the loose ends of the cables with your vice, or have a willing assist hold onto
them.
Have them hold the wires taught, without any droop.
Now just pull the drill trigger, slowly, so that the wires begin twirling their way into
a cable.
Once you've achieved your desired twist, simply loosen the chuck, and release your creation.
#3.
Scuff Eraser
Did you run through the house with soccer cleats, and leave some serious skids marks?
If you laid rubber on your hard floors, don't reach for the spray cleaner.
Instead, find a tennis ball.
The fuzzy surface of a tennis ball provides the perfect amount of abrasion to combat the
worst scuffs.
Just rub the ball on the scuff.
You should notice the scuff dissipate almost instantly.
For bigger jobs, cut a slit in the tennis ball and insert a broom handle to create a
handy scuff removal tool that will keep you off your knees.
#2.
Carpenter Clothespin
Does anyone actually have clothespins anymore?
You might want to get a few for this hack.
We’ve all been there.
One moment you’re feeling good about yourself because you are finally hanging up that picture
frame.
The next moment your hand is in crippling pain because your reflexes pulled a cruel
prank on you; orchestrating a rude introduction between your hammer and fingers.
A simple clothespin can spare your digits the next time you decide to get handy.
Grab a clothespin, your handy-dandy hammer and some nails.
Instead of holding onto the nail with your fingers, use the clothespin to hold it steady
against the wall.
Give the nail a few gentle taps with the hammer, and it should be far enough in to finish the
job safely.
Unless you are painfully uncoordinated, of course.
In that case, hire someone!
#1.
SIM Card Remover
You’re itching to swap that tiny, factory-issue memory card, with your brand new, super-ultra-custom-deluxe
mega multi-terabyte SIM!
It’s not everyday that we’re required to remove our SIM cards.
But there are occasions where it becomes necessary.
Don’t get bent out of shape because you think you need a special tool.
Instead, just bend a paperclip out of shape.
Straighten out part of the clip wire.
Check it out.
It fits perfectly into the ejection hole on your phone or other device.
Insert the wire and push firmly until the card ejects.
Simple.
Now you can store selfies like a champ!