Paste Solder - Sweat soldering copper pipe is not difficult as long as you have the right tools for the job. This would include a pipe cutter, pipe cleaning tool, propane torch, safety goggles, gloves, fire extinguisher, and flame blocking material.

Be sure to purchase only lead free solder. Never use lead based solder on your water pipes. The lead could find it's way into the water supply, and even small amounts are harmful. Don't forget to purchase solder flux. You will need this in order to clean and etch the surfaces to be joined.

Copper must be cleaned to remove surface contamination prior to soldering. There are a number of ways to do this. You can use fine grit sandpaper, emory cloth, or a tool designed for the purpose. Whatever method you choose, the mating surfaces of the parts to be connected must be bright and shiny. Otherwise, solder will not bond and you will end up with a leaking connection.

Here are the steps to a successful sweat solder job:

• Measure, cut, and dry-fit all parts. Be sure you have cut pipes to the correct length. When fitted together, about 3/8 additional inch will be needed on each side of an assembled joint to account for the connector.

• Clean the mating surfaces of parts to be joined - outside surface of pipe, inside surface of connector. Use one of the cleaning methods mentioned earlier, and don’t touch the parts with your fingers after cleaning. This step must be done properly. Any contamination on the surfaces to be joined will prevent the solder from bonding.

• Apply a light coating of flux to the outside mating surfaces of pipes and inside of connectors. Be sure to get an even film all the way around. Use a small flux brush for this task. The purpose of the flux is to remove any unseen surface oxidation, etch the copper, and guard against oxidation when the parts are heated.

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Cleaning Tile Grout - Cleaning ceramic tile grout can be a messy and difficult job. This is especially true if the grout has never been sealed. Stains from mold, food and beverages, and foot traffic can make your grout look old and dirty way before it's time.

Start with something simple, like vinegar or baking soda. Dilute the vinegar with an equal amount of clean water. Baking soda is mixed with water to create a paste. Apply the homemade cleaner and scrub in small circles with a nylon brush. Rinse with water and dry with a sponge or paper towels.

If your grout is still stained, the next thing to try would be commercial tile and grout cleaners. These are available where home cleaning products are sold. Start with a mild cleaner instead of jumping right to a harsh one. To get the best result from a commercial cleaner, spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Follow the directions on the label to clean effectively and prevent discoloration.

Tips for Grout Cleaning

• Clean the grout first with water and allow to dry. This will remove any loose surface debris and small stains that have not set.

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Sikkens Wood Stain - Wood stains are designed to impart a deep, rich color. When applied correctly, they also protect the wood from water damage. Unlike paint, which builds a color coat on the surface, stain will penetrate the surface when applied. The surface of wood will be partially visible and therefore requires careful preparation to minimize imperfections prior to application.

The initial application of paint or wood stain is absorbed into the substrate. Since stains contain low amounts of binder, the pigment remains near the surface, while the binder penetrates to a deeper level. On the other hand, paint has a high amount of binder, so the pigment forms a layer on the surface.

Wood stains range from very low viscosity to extremely thick. The thicker stains are designed primarily for exterior use. They penetrate better than paint, but usually do not hide surface defects as well. Exterior stains tend to be more flexible than paint and last longer. If you decide to use stain, be aware that most cannot be painted over. So once a surface has been stained, that’s most likely how it will have to stay for life.

Ceramic Tile Installation - Cleaning ceramic tile is pretty easy compared to other flooring types, but the grout is another story. Spills can easily stain unsealed grout and it can be very difficult to remove them. And stained grout will make the rest of the floor look dirty.

The best long term solution to keeping grout clean is to seal it. This will help prevent spills from being absorbed into the grout, and cleanup is much easier.

You can purchase grout sealer online or at your local home center. There are quite a few types available, so be sure to read the labels before purchase. Silicone based sealer is applied to the grout only. It provides a long life and is fairly easy to clean. There are also finisher/sealer types that are applied to the entire floor. There are different types that will enhance and highlight both the tiles and the grout, or you can get a clear finish.

Gas Generator - Purchasing a portable generator is not difficult if you know how to calculate power usage. There are 120 volt and 240 volt devices in your home or on the job site, and also constant flow vs startup surge devices. This article will help you select the size you need.

Inductive load appliances and tools such as refrigerators, washers, and power tools require additional wattage for starting. The initial load only lasts for a few seconds, but is very important when calculating your total wattage. For example - Running a 100 watt light bulb, a 1,200 watt refrigerator with a start-up wattage of 3,000 watts, and a 400 watt TV, would require 3,500 watts.

Electric Generator Safety Tips

Fire Extinguisher Safety - There are four classes of fire extinguishers. Each one is designed for a specific type of fire. Modern fire extinguishers use a picture and labeling system to designate which types of fires they are designed for. Older units use colored geometrical shapes with letter designations.

Class A and B fire extinguishers have a numerical rating based on tests conducted by Underwriter’s Laboratories. These ratings determine the extinguishing potential for each size and type of extinguisher.

Class A Extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper. The numerical rating refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it is designed to extinguish.

Class B Extinguishers are used on fires involving flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The numerical rating states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that can be extinguished.

Class C Extinguishers are for use on electrical fires. This class of fire extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter “C” indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

Commercial Ceiling Tile - Installing ceiling tiles is a great way to change the look and feel of a room. And fortunately, it's not a difficult job. Knowing a few "tricks of the trade" will make things go a lot easier.

Selecting the Tiles

Most ceiling tiles are made of fiberboard. Standard tiles measure 12" by 12", although tiles are also made in 12" by 24" and other sizes. Acoustical tiles are made from the same type of fiber with an additional manufacturing process to help absorb sound in a room. A well designed acoustical tile absorbs up to 70 percent of excess noise.

Ask the supplier to help estimate the materials you need for installation. Most manufacturers provide charts to determine the number of tiles, the amount of furring, and the gallons of adhesive needed (if adhesive is used) based on the room size. Tiles are typically packed as follows: 12" by 12" ceiling tiles in cartons of 40, 12" by 24" are packed 20 to a carton.

Ceiling Tile Installation Methods

The most common methods of ceiling tile application are adhesives, stapled or nailed to wood furring strips, or a metal grid suspended from the overhead floor joists. For ceilings made of plaster, sheetrock, or other materials that provides a smooth, continuous backing, use adhesives to apply the ceiling tiles. If the ceiling has cracked plaster or other defects, apply furring strips and nail or staple the tiles to the furring strips.

Basic Rules

• All cut tiles should be used for the edges of the room where the ceiling meets the walls.

• Cut tiles at opposite ends of the room should be the same size.

• If at all possible, cut tiles should not be less than half a tile wide.

Determine the Size of Border Tiles

Measure the distance from wall to wall on the longer side of the room. If the length measures exact feet, you will not need to cut border tiles for that direction. If the distance does not come out in exact feet, add 12 to the number of inches remaining and divide by two. This gives you the width of your border tiles. For example, if the room is 10′ 6" long, add 12 to 6 (18) and divide 18 by 2. The result of 9" is the width of the border tiles for each end of the run. Do the same thing for the shorter side of the room. Confused? Here is the result of the calculations:

• 10′ 6" = 126 total inches of the run (10′ x 12" to the foot = 120") + 6" = 126"

• 6" + 12" = 18" (to make sure each end tile is at least 1/2 tile wide)

• 18" / 2 = 9"

• 9" on start of run + 9" on end of run = 18", so 126" (total length of the run) - 18" = 108"

• 108" / 12" (size of standard ceiling tile) = 9 tiles in middle of the run

• 9 tiles x 12" = 108" + 9" start of run + 9" end of run = 126"

• 126" / 12" = 10′ 6"
  

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