The Yale hydraulic door closer is a staple in many offices. The closer shuts the door automatically when you let go of the door. The tension feel when opening the door is known as back check. The back check prevents the door from hitting the adjacent wall when you swing it open. When the back check is out of adjustment, it makes the door seem heavy and difficult to open.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that has been in use since 500 B.C. It is distinguishable from bronze, a related copper alloy, by its muted golden-yellowish tones: bronze has more of a dark, reddish hue. Brass tarnishes when the copper leaches to the surface and oxidizes, and although commercial brass cleaning products effectively clean it, you can make effective cleaners with household ingredients. When cleaning items such as drawer pulls, first ensure they aren't lacquered.

You can never be too safe when it comes to keeping your valuables in a secure location in your home. When a thief enters your home, he is going to look in the typical locations for your valuables. The desire to get in and out of your house quickly will not lead a thief to look for secret hiding spots, like your stairs. By converting an uncarpeted staircase into secret drawers to keep a safe, and not sharing this information, you can keep your valuables out of sight and mind.

Building your own oval dining room table is a simple weekend project. Choosing to make the table yourself instead of buying a pre-made one from a store gives you several advantages. For example, it is far more economically efficient. Also, building it yourself allows you to customize the table. You can choose to use inexpensive particle board or plywood to build the main table top, or you can use a more expensive hardwood, if you please.

Condensation occurs when water vapor drops gather together. This usually is the result of high moisture levels. As a result, preventing condensation involves lowering the humidity level inside your shed. This is important because condensation and high humidity can cause significant damage to your shed, including wood rot, mold and mildew, and musty odors. Wood rot can undermine the structural integrity of your shed, and mold and mildew can destroy things you store there and cause a health hazard.

The ability to run household appliances off 12-volt batteries is useful for over-the-road truck drivers to tailgate chefs at a weekend football game. The magic comes through a power inverter, which can plug into your car's cigarette lighter. While they come in many sizes, most inverters cost under $100 and are available at any hardware store. So, the next time camp with the family, don't feel like you have to rough it.

A spectator chair, sometimes called a billiards chair, is a tall chair with long legs and a low back. This type of chair is useful for events, such as billiards, where spectators in a rear row need to see over the heads of participants and other spectators, or for seating at a high kitchen island or breakfast bar. You can build a spectator chair out of basic materials to save money and customize the finished product.

If you smell a rotten, foul odor every time you turn your air conditioner on, there's a good chance an animal may have died somewhere in your ductwork. Although most ventilation systems are sealed from the outside, a crack, leak or improperly installed unit can allow small animals to enter the ducts. If you find a dead animal in your home's ventilation system, contact a professional to remove it. Things You Will Need + Flashlight Remote-operated camera Vacuum Disinfectant spray Garbage bag Heavy duty gloves Once they do, it's difficult to remove them, and these animals often die inside your home's ventilation system.

Man caves are modern-day refuges that allow boys and men of all ages to escape the rigors of everyday life. They’re typically filled with sports memorabilia, gaming equipment, and whatever hobbies and interests the man possesses. However, not every home or apartment has a large basement space or expansive spare room to make a massive man cave. Use paint, furnishings and other tricks to turn a small room into an enviable man cave.

Lining your outdoor pond with clay offers the advantage of using a non-polluting material. However, natural clay pond bottoms often leak water if they are not properly sealed and can release clay particles that float in the water and make your pond cloudy. There are a few different options on how to properly line a pond bottom with clay and how to get the water to stay clear using low technology methods.