Adhesive Tape

Did you know that a band-aid is simply small squares or circles of sterile gauze stuck onto adhesive tape and then covered with crinoline? Necessity is the usually the mother of inventions and so it was with the band-aid. We can thank Earl Dickson for it or perhaps Johnson & Johnson should do it.

1. To remove a splinter - Ever get a splinter that was too tiny or too deep to get out with a pair of tweezers? Well, forget the needle. Instead, put some adhesive tape over the splinter and leave it on for 3 days. By the third day, pull off the tape and the splinter will come out with it (usually).
   
   


2. To Stop Ants - Scout ants are always looking for that next great cookie jar or candy box lying around. One of the best ways to stop the ants is by surrounding your cookie jar or candy box or whatever with double-sided adhesive tape. Just make sure one side is sticky-side-up.
   
   
   
   


3. To remove lint - who needs to buy a lint remover? You can lift lint and pet hair off clothing and furniture by wrapping your hand with adhesive tape - sticky-side out. Works like a charm.
   
   
   
   


4. To shrink your hat size - your hat's too big so wrap adhesive tape around the sweatband in two or three layers till it fits. Sweat absorption will remain the same or improve.
   
   
   
   


5. To clean a comb - get rid of the hair and gunk that has built up in the teeth of your comb by pressing a strip of adhesive tape along the length of the comb and then lifting it off. Dip the comb in an alcohol and water solution or ammonia and water and let it dry. Voila!, clean comb.
   
   
   
   


6. To cover casters - stop your furniture from leaving marks on your floor by wrapping the caster wheels with adhesive tape or placing pieces of adhesive tape at the bottom of each leg of your furniture (if you don't have caster wheels on your furniture).
   
   
   
   


7. To hang your glue bottles or caulking tubes - cut a strip of adhesive tape or duct tape several inches long and fold it over the bottom of each tube so you have a flap at the end of each tube. Punch a hole in the flap with a paper-punch and hang the tubes up on nails or hooks over your workbench.
   
   


8. To remove broken window glass - to avoid getting cut, criss cross both sides of a broken window pane with adhesive tape before taking off the sash. Wear heavy leather gloves when you pull the glass shards out of the frame.
   
   


9. To improve your tool handle grips - overlap each wrap by half a tape width and use more than one layer. Do this with screwdriver handles, wooden hammer handles, and even hacksaw blades to create a mini-hacksaw for small unreachable locations.
   

Bruce Santucci lives in Melbourne, FL and has been a handyman for 25 years around the homes he has owned. To read more of his 'How To' tips and articles, visit his website at http://www.much-how.com

Minn Kota Trolling Motors