I want to write to you about some items that you might know about or knew about but have forgotten, and for those of you that are new to the article- get ready. How many of you have a door and no matter what you do it closes by itself and you have to prop it open. Frustrating. Well here is what to do. Take out the pin in the bottom hinge. Take two pliers and rough it up. Then replace the pin in the bottom hinge. Now the door will stay where you put it. And that didn’t cost a dime. Have you bought a new home to you and wanted to paint and got confused about what kind of paint to use? Did they use latex on the walls? Oil on the trim? Everyone has told you different things about painting over oil or latex? Well here is the truth- it doesn’t make any difference whether its oil or latex- you just can paint over a shiny surface. Not rocket science, huh. So now you have 2 choices- sand(boo) or prime with Coronado Grip and Seal(yea!). I mean if you sand you will have that dust all over the house, plus it takes forever. So why not spend 20 minutes using a primer that has low(almost none) odor and cleans up with soap and water. Then you can go over that with what ever paint you want. I recommend Coronado Tough Walls, but you can buy what ever you like. But Tough Walls is scrubbable after it cures(about 48 hours). Check your yellow pages for the dealer near you or call there 800 # 883-4193 and ask them where to find the best paint for Texas. When you have a loose screw in metal or wood you take out the screw and put in a larger screw right? Wrong…. Put in a tooth pick or 2 and then put your screw back in. I was out the show last week in Vegas, working…really. And I saw something so cute that I got them for all my stores. It was a child’s chair that wobbled all around because the joints were all loose. Do you have a favorite chair that has some loose legs, or a loose spindles? Well Chair Lok comes with a tiny dropper that you can get into the joints of the chair. Now you don’t have to take apart the chair and sand off the old glue and then reglue and clamp it down and wait…and wait…Chair Lok tightens it all down in 5 minutes and you don’t have to clamp it. It’s the greatest thing. You have teenagers? Do they ever leave a glass of tea or soda on the table overnight and the next day there is a ring under the glass? You know what people used to do? Rub cigar ashes and mayonnaise into the stain and kind of sand out the ring. Nasty- I mean what if you don’t smoke a cigar? Well now there is White Ring Remove and it will take out any white ring on wood. Hey maybe it’s on the floor where you over watered a plant- anywhere. Just wipe the rag over the ring and bingo it’s gone. Just remember always take care of that white ring before it turns dark. Then it’s too late.

Now to the e-mail….

Question: I have an antique crank record player which needs refinishing. Believe it or not it still works. The finish is not too bad but it is rough and faded. Other than sanding the entire piece, what can I paint or spray on to remove old stain?
Answer: Wow, I have the perfect 2 items for you to use. Use the Howard’s Restore A Finish first- wipe it on it comes in colors so pick the one that is most like your player. Let it dry(15 minutes) and then wipe on Howard’s Feed and Wax. I’m so glad you asked this question, because most people would have sanded and painted- and what you will do will look so much better and it’s easier. Howard’s products can be found on our website or most Antique Malls.

Question: I have a front door and a storm door. When we bought the storm door it had a protective coating on it. I wanted to remove it but my husband objected. I tried to remove it anyway and it didn’t want to come off. Now it looks terrible, cracked and peeling. And what pieces I have gotten off leaves a sticky residue behind. Do you have a solution or is this a hopeless cause?
Answer: Hey it’s never hopeless when you ask the Happy Handy Man. I going to give you 3 answers. First try Lift Off adhesive remover. The second is called Painters Pal. And if those 2 won’t budge it try Bean E Doo adhesive remover. The first two you can find at a hardware store and the Bean E Doo is found on our website http://www.acmelumber.com

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KTSA (5500 AM) from 9-11 or call 828-8907. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.