Welcome to my Top 6 Most Requested DIY Tips!
OMG!!!…The toilets overflowing!! What do l do?
Unlike this guy, I probably wouldn’t leave it so late…maybe get onto it a little quicker 🙂
Check out the Video list below to see how to do it, Easily, Quickly, and Without Any Mess!
OK….You have this Bathroom Fixture that needs to be fixed to a tiled wall…how are you supposed to drill a hole into that tiled wall??
This guy here may have gotten a little carried away with his drilling technique. What do you think? 🙂
It’s actually not as scary to do as you may think…In Fact..it’s Dead Easy! The answer to Drilling a Hole in a Tile can be found in the Video List Below.
Now you have a TV, or maybe even a mirror, that needs to be hung on a wall…
If you don’t have a stud finder, how can you find a wall stud to attach your fixture to?
I’m thinking that this guy missed the studs with his fixtures all together ?
I have a Great Simple Solution that costs very little money and is very effective. Check out how Easy it is to find a Wall Stud in the Video List Below!
I Think You Get the Picture ?
Over the last few years, l have often received requests to do certain videos, around certain topics, relating to DIY Tips for quick fixes around the home.
I’ve collated my Top 5 as requested by you and those video solutions are below. Enjoy!
PS: If you would like to see something else covered, please let me know in the Comments Section down below and l’ll see what l can do.?
Important Disclaimer:
The majority of the links below for recommended tools are affiliate links which means that if you choose to make a purchase, l will earn a small…and l mean small, commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you but it certainly helps to keep the lights on here over at DIY For Knuckleheads so that we can afford to keep producing great, informational content for You.
DIY Handy Tip 1:
How to Easily, and Cheaply, Unclog your Toilet Without Mess!!
This Video Has Been Viewed Over 1,300,000 Times!
The Secret Sauce: Ordinary Dishwashing Liquid!!..That’s it!
DIY Handy Tip 2:
No Need to Stress Out..Drill a Hole in a Tile Like a Pro!
More than 1,800,000 People have Viewed this Video!
Recommended Drill Bits:
Option 1:
Dewalt Masonry Drill Bit Set: Quality Drill bits for drilling into masonry which includes ceramic tile. This is the type that was used in the video and are suitable for a range of masonry products and not just tile and are therefore multipurpose.. Not suitable for porcelain tiles.
Option 2:
Vermont Tile and Glass Drill Bit Set. If all you need to do is drill a hole in a ceramic tile then this is the Go-To Drill Bit! Beautiful clean round holes every time with very little effort and you won’t need the Nail Punch to start the hole off. The difference between this and the masonry drill bit above is that this one isn’t multi purpose. It’s for ceramic tile and glass ONLY. 
DIY Handy Tip 2.1
This is My Updated and Improved, How to Drill a Hole in a Tile Video.
Recommended Drill Bit:
Vermont Tile and Glass Drill Bit Set. If all you need to do is drill a hole in a ceramic tile then this is the Go-To Drill Bit! Beautiful clean round holes every time with very little effort and you won’t need the Nail Punch to start the hole off. The difference between this and the masonry drill bit above is that this one isn’t multi purpose. It’s for ceramic tile and glass ONLY.
DIY Handy Tip 3:
Simple Method to Locate Wall Studs. Great Party Trick as Well!
This Video Has Been Viewed Over 500,000 Times!
The Secret: Rare Earth Magnets!
Where to Find Them:
For Free: You can find them in the hard drive of a discarded computer. These are very strong magnets but it can be a little tricky breaking into an old hard drive if you dont have the right tools.. Check out this video from LifeHack2012 for a very clear demonstration of how to remove the magnet from your hard drive.
To Buy you have Two Options:
Option 1:
StudPop: The StudPop is a Fantastic little magnetic tool that has a unique way of telling you when you come across a stud.
Check out this video l made where you can see me using the Studpop. The Demo starts at the 11.30 minute mark.
Option 2:
Rare Earth Magnets (Also known as Neodymium Magnets):
Rare Earth Magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets made, producing significantly stronger magnetic fields than other types such as Ferrite or alnico magnets. The rare earth magnets featured here have a pulling power of 12 pounds per magnet and have a multitude of uses such as:
- locating wall studs
- hanging tools in the garage
- clean up nails or metal shavings
- stick photos to your fridge
- retrieve objects from drains, etc, etc….the list goes on.
DIY Handy Tip 4:
Nifty Little DIY Trick! Fix Stripped Screw Holes in a Jiffy!
Has Been Viewed Over 350,000 Times!
The 3 Recommended Hole Fillers:
Method 1: Toothpicks or Matches
Fill hole with wood working glue and jam in the toothpicks or matches. Trim the toothpicks or matches flush with the surface. Leave to dry and then insert the screw. Too Easy!
Method 2: Plastic Wall Anchors
Plastic Wall Anchors are perfect when the situation requires a more heavy duty fix such as a heavy door where the hinges have worked loose on the jamb quite badly.
The anchors come in various sizes to suit the size of the screw hole that needs to be filled. The type pictured here are great as you can cut them down to the size you want and they finish flush, or can be trimmed flush, with the surface of the wood once tapped into the hole.
The plastic anchor here is for a 1/4″ hole.
To insert:
- Drill a 1/4″ hole in the damaged area
- Fill the hole with wood glue and tap the plastic plug in,
- Trim the anchor flush with the surface of the wood, wait for it to dry, and you’re good to go to insert the screw!
Method 3: Wooden Golf Tees.
Yep that’s right! A good ole wooden golf tee is perfect as a hole filler and is again suitable for a more heavy duty type of repair. The method is dead simple… 
- Fill the hole to be repaired with wood glue,
- Lightly tap in the wooden golf tee until it’s nice and tight in the hole,
- Trim the Golf Tee flush to the surface of the wood with either a chisel or utility knife, wait for glue to dry and then,
- Simply insert your screw.
DIY Handy Tip 5:
The Best and Most Secure Way to Repair a Moderate, to Large Hole in the Wall!
This Youtube Video has been Viewed over 370,000 Times!
There are many ways to repair a hole in Drywall/Plasterboard. You can buy Patch Kits like this 3M Kit
which will do a fantastic job for those smaller holes such as where a door knob has gone through the drywall.
For Larger holes however you need a slightly heavier duty approach like is demonstrated in the video. The most important part is to use the correct Jointing Tape and Jointing Compound as you dont want the patch to crack over time.
So where can you find a piece of drywall for the repair? Most Hardware stores sell small sheets of drywall just for the purpose of drywall repair. They cost very little and do the job perfectly.
The Jointing Compound:
In America, for the Jointing Compound, a product like Sheetrock Easy Sand (which comes in a variety of setting times) is a good choice. Be careful though as it does set very quickly so it does allow you to apply the second coat very quickly.
The product comes in setting times of 5, 20, 45, 90 and 210 minutes. If you are a beginner, l would suggest the 45 minute powdered compound, which you mix with water, as that gives you a bit more time to finesse the finish before the product hardens. For the final coat l’d recommend a lightweight All Purpose Joint Compound. These compounds are premixed with water (normally in a bucket of some sort), are lighter in weight than the initial coat of mud (Compound) which make it very easy to spread and a piece of cake to sand.
Mesh Jointing Tape:
Mesh Tape or Paper Tape is used to go over the joins prior to the Joint Compound being applied.
In my opinion, Mesh Tape is far easier to use for the beginner rather than the paper tape and it performs really well on drywall repairs.. Contractors on the other hand will probably use the paper tape but there is a lot more skill involved to apply it to prevent air bubbles coming through.
The Drywall Jointing Knife:
Very important tool for applying the compound and for achieving a seamless finish. If you can, go for the metal blades over the plastic types as they give a far superior finish.
6″ Drywall Joint Knife:
Use this Drywall Joint Knife for the first and second coat of Compound.
Make sure when applying the first couple of coats that you don’t over load the Compound. You just want to bed the tape in. The finishing comes with the next two coats using the 8″ knife which you can read about below.
As always with Compound…DON’T leave thick edges as it makes it hard to sand flat and the patch will stand out when painted. Always feather the edges, or thin the edges of the compound so that it blends into the wall.
8″ Drywall Joint Knife:
Use this size Drywall Joint Knife for the third and fourth coat of Compound.
The 8 Inch blade is perfect for spreading the compound over a wider area. Use this drywall knife to cover the patch with the lightweight Joint Compound in a crisscross pattern, feathering the edges so it blends with the wall. To feather the edge, increase pressure and angle on the drywall knife as you reach the outer edges of the patch area to minimize, or thin, the joint compound on the drywall.
Drywall Screws:
Drywall screws are necessary to attach the wooden cleats behind the drywall hole and to attach the new piece of drywall to the wooden cleats.
Drywall screws, once driven in, are designed to slightly embed the head of the screw, just under the surface of the drywall, so that the screw can be covered over, and hidden with Compound.
Drywall Saw:
The drywall saw is a very handy tool for cutting out patches in drywall.
The blade is quite stiff with a sharp end which makes it easy to punch through a wall to get the cut started.
WARNING: Please check for electrical cabling or plumbing pipework behind the wall before you start cutting with the saw. To check, just reach inside the hole and feel around.
Utility Knife:
The Utility Knife or Box Cutter is the perfect tool for cutting a sheet of drywall to length.
For ease of cutting, you will need one of these tools. To see some more helpful Tips and Tricks on How to Cut Drywall, check out my video below!
How TO Cut Drywall….and NOT With a Chainsaw! ?
Drywall Sanding Mask:
Sanding drywall is a very dusty job which does require a mask.
Drywall dust can wreak havoc on your lungs. A mask that has a N95 Certification is necessary to handle drywall dust particles.
Forget the cheaper , non certified masks as they don’t really do anything. The good thing about this mask is that you can use it for other dusty type jobs as well.
Top Tips to a Hassle Free Job:
Dust Control:
- Cover all furniture and floor coverings in the immediate area as it can get dusty during the sanding process.
- Close the windows and doors in the room that is being sanded to prevent the dust from spreading.
Safety:
- WARNING: Please check for electrical cabling or plumbing pipework behind the wall before you start cutting with any Drywall saw. To check, just reach inside the hole and feel around.
Compound Application:
- Feather, or thin the edges of every coating of Compound to ensure that the patch blends into the wall.
- Wait until Drywall Jointing Compound is Totally Dry before applying the next coat…be patient, you will experience less problems if you do. Applying compound over a compound that has not dried completely may crack over time.
- Clean tools immediately in water after applying compound to prevent the compound from drying solid on the tool making it difficult to clean.
Painting:
- Paint the patch with a coat of paint primer once the repair has fully dried (please read manufactures directions on the pack regarding Compound drying times). If you don’t, the patch will stand out after it is painted with the wall colour.
- If you don’t know the colour of the paint, find an area where you can peel a slice of paint off the wall with a utility knife, roughly the size of your thumb nail, where it won’t be noticed. You can sometimes find a paint sample size if you remove a power outlet cover. If the house was painted with the power outlet cover off, there will be fresh paint there that you can peel off the wall. Put the power outlet cover back on and you won’t even notice. Otherwise, inside robes, above kitchen cupboards, under beds etc are all good places.
