Sticky wicket: Loosening a stuck fastener is no fun. You can strain, struggle and still not get it done.
Step one is to be sure you’re turning it the right way – right is tight and left is loose. (“Righty tighty; lefty loosey.”)
When removing nuts and bolts in metal, too much force can round off corners. Use science instead: Add heat and penetrating oil then tap with a hammer, wait a few minutes and try again.
For damaged round head screws with worn slots, cut a new slot across the old one with a hacksaw. If that doesn’t work, file both sides flat, and turn with pliers.
For hard-to-turn screws, add torque with a wrench or pliers on the screwdriver shank.
And, for any fastener – should the head break off – there are extractors with left-hand thread action that, when turned counterclockwise, burrow into the stuck fastener and start backing it out.
Table manners: As the holidays approach, you may be thinking about your dining room table. Whether your table is brand new or heirloom old, the Smithsonian’s senior furniture conservator, Don Williams, has some sound advice.
Protect the tabletop by always using coasters, placemats and trivets, and table pads, preferably with fabric undersides made of rayon or polyester felt.
Keep direct sunlight off the surface.
Wipe the table clean after every meal. If the surface is sticky or greasy, dampen a soft cloth with distilled water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap. The soap should not contain emollients or skin conditioners. Dry the table well with a lint-free rag.
On the subject of commercial liquid or spray polishes, Williams is absolute: “Avoid them all,” he warns. Instead, he says, twice a year roll up your sleeves and polish the wood with a paste wax – making sure the wax does not contain toluene, “the main ingredient of paint remover. It can dissolve the varnish underneath.” Williams favors Butcher’s Boston Polish paste wax.
Early warning buzzer: All the stores seem to be thinking about Christmas already, so we’d better get on the band wagon. Several wreath-making workshops are planned: Wintergreen Tree Farm and Greenhouse in Machias is holding classes Nov. 18 and 19. Call 425-334-8899. Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville is offering workshops on Nov. 24 and 25, and Dec. 2, 3 and 9. The cost is $25 but everything is provided, Call 425-334-2002 for details. Swanson’s Nursery in Seattle will hold a number of free workshops from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1. Call 206-782-2543 for information.
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