Daily Star

T in the mix a quick fix

MEND EVERYTHING FROM SCISSORS TO PHONES

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IT’S likely the legs on that wobbling chair/table are either no longer the same length or the joints have worked themselves loose over time.

Step 1. To identify the wobbly leg or legs, place the chair/ table upside down with the legs sticking up. Push each leg gently to identify the wobble.

Step 2. Look for any metal brackets holding the legs in place and tighten any bolts on them that need tightening. This may be enough.

Step 3. If not, check the bottom of each leg for glides, the little feet, which prevent the chair/table scratching the floor. If one of these feet has

Step 1. Fill the pan with water and add a few spoons of baking soda.

Step 2. Turn up the heat to bring the powdery mix to the boil and it should magically loosen the burnt bits.

Step 3. Wash as normal and your pan will be as good as new. You can also sprinkle dry soap powder on the pan while it’s still hot, drape a cool, damp paper towel over the affected area and leave to work its magic.

FINDING a simple fix depends on the depth of the gouge.

A deep scratch on a car can invite corrosion if it goes first through the paint, then through the primer and finally down into the metal.

If you inspect the scratch and see metallic grey at the bottom, then call an expert before it starts to corrode.

But if you inspect the scratch and see there’s still colour at the bottom, you can fix it yourself.

Step 1. Clean the affected area well with soapy water and leave it to dry completely. When it is bone dry, take a shoe polish of a contrastin­g colour to the car’s paint and rub it over the scratch or scratches. gone missing, the table will be off balance. Replace the glide (available online) and you’re all done.

Step 4. Tighten any joint screws and secure with a wood adhesive, keeping the joint in place as it dries by using a corner clamp or a length of rope tied around the joint and another leg of the chair/table.

Step 5. If the problem persists, it may be that through general wear and tear one leg has become shorter than the others. Measure the shortfall and slice a piece of natural cork, a thick piece of felt or a wedge of cardboard to the correct size and shape. Glue the piece to the base of the short leg, and once it has dried you can use the chair/table as normal.

PURCHASE and cut through a sheet of coarse sandpaper with your scissors.

The more you cut, the more the grit will revive the blades.

And for smaller scissors that don’t need as much oomph, cut through a sheet of aluminium foil a few times for similar results.

Step 2. Sand the scratch using a 2,000-grit wet-dry sandpaper. Dip the paper in cold water to improve purchase and sand the scratch very gently, going in one direction rather than back and forth, and using light, short strokes. As soon as the shoe polish has gone, this will indicate that you’ve reached the level of the scratch, at which point stop sanding.

Step 3. Apply a rubbing compound to a soft, clean cloth and polish out the sanding scratches you’ll have left, moving in a steady circular motion.

Step 4. To finish, lightly buff with a new, soft clean cloth to remove the last of the compound, then apply a layer of car wax to protect from the elements.

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GOOD AS NEW: Anyone can sort out problems with patience along with a basic tool kit
■ GOOD AS NEW: Anyone can sort out problems with patience along with a basic tool kit

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