Eight Ways to Make a Do-It-Yourself Tool on the Spot

As simple as a DIY home renovation or project may seem at first, there are times when you realize you don’t have the one tool you need to get the job done. Sometimes that means a frustrating third trip to the hardware store while the house is a mess, but sometimes you can get by with a little creativity and improvisation. Here are some ideas for making tools out of other materials (or other tools) so you can finish your project and get on with your life.

Turn a hammer into a hammer with a tennis ball

People have different skill levels with hand tools, but most of us can swing a hammer. However, hammers can do a lot of damage, especially if you’re not careful and you end up with dents and hammer marks on the wood. The hammer is designed to avoid these problems, but if you don’t do a lot of DIY work, you’re much more likely to own a hammer than a hammer.

But don’t worry. If you have a tennis ball, you can turn any mallet into a working hammer by simply making a hole in the ball and putting it on the working end of the hammer . The end result isn’t pretty, but it will get the job done without leaving a ton of dents.

How to make a bubble level with your own hands.

As any experienced DIYer will tell you, it’s almost impossible to make sure everything is smooth by eye. Even brand new houses are rarely perfectly level, meaning that using any reference point in a room to determine if you’ve lined things up correctly will end in failure. But if you don’t have a bubble level to make sure you’re hanging these shelves properly, you can improvise with a clear plastic tube and some water (and a little food coloring, if you like, for easier reading). Cut a piece of plastic tubing, fill it with water, and attach it to the surface you’re working on in a “U” shape. The water level at the top of each end will be level and can be used to mark a level line. You can also use this to align marks on two separate surfaces so that they are on the same level.

Make a caulk gun with a trigger clamp

Sealant is a beautiful invention, and a caulk gun is a simple device to deliver it. But if your old caulk gun broke down — or if you forgot to get your old caulk gun at all — you can get through a day without one if you have a trigger and spare wood or other material you can cut through. down. Insert a piece of wood into one end of the caulk tube, then insert the top of the tube and the bottom of the wood into the clamp: instant caulk gun . You may need to trim the wood you’re using as the piston, replacing it with a longer piece as you go, but this hack will get the job done.

Or make a sealant with ammer

If you need a caulking gun and you don’t have a trigger, you can go completely primitive and use the hammer technique : insert the hammer handle into the tube, set the head into your shoulder, and push the caulk out by pushing the tube toward you in a slow, steady motion. It’s embarrassing as hell, but if you just want to get the damn job done without running to the store again, this might work.

Or turn a caulk gun into a clamp

If you have the opposite situation – you have a caulk gun but need a clamp – you can use a caulk gun as a clamp . You just need a few scraps of material to use on both ends so you don’t leave marks, but as long as your materials fit into the caulk gun’s opening, you’re worth your weight in gold.

Make a sanding stick with a paint stirrer

Sanding sticks are often used in crafting, but they are also very useful when you need to sand something in a tight space. However, if you don’t have one handy, you can prepare a useful substitute by gluing or gluing sandpaper to a paint stirrer . It can be used as a wood file or as a rasp , depending on the grit of the sanding paper you are using. It won’t hold up like a metal file or rasp, but it might be enough to get you through until you buy the right tools.

Turn the scoop into a hose/funnel

If you need to fill a large container like a tub or barrel with water but it won’t fit in the sink and you don’t have a hose, grab a scoop and use it as a quick and easy funnel . It’s not something you want to do often, but if it’s the end of the day and you just need to fill a bucket with water, it’s a lot better than driving around looking for a hose.

Use the tie as a wrench

If you have a few bolts to remove but don’t have the right wrench, you’ve learned a valuable lesson about torque. But don’t despair: if you have plastic zip ties lying around, you can use them to unscrew those bolts. Wrap the tie wrap around the nut or bolt, tighten it, then use the “tail” of the tie to turn the bolt. It may take a few tries, but eventually you will unscrew this bolt without a wrench.