The Adventures of a Haphazard Handywoman #2

It has been quite some time since the last installment of my handywoman escapades(and my last blog post for that matter) the first one can be seen by clicking here

Problem: The kidlet is plundering the cabinets and drawers.
Welcome to the exciting adventure of practical baby proofing as my wonderful daughter transitions from baby to toddler and proceeds to attack all things that were previously out of her reach. She is now crawling, standing and getting her cute pudgy little fingers into everything.
However, one thing I despise is the impracticality of baby proofing by using things such as cabinet or drawer locks that one has to fidget with every time to open a darn drawer or cabinet, that's just outright annoying and they look like cheap plastic eyesores that would attract a child like metal to a magnet! So I had to find something that wouldn't piss me off every time I use or even looked it as I (and most of my generation) was raised without such things.

Solution: Install a double roller catch. I've found these common yet simple devices to be successful at preventing kids (at least till they're a kindergartner) from getting into things and I specifically remember dealing with them as a kid too.
Things you will need: A drill, as many double roller catches you need, and extra screws the same amount as what comes with the catch, and roughly the same size (they can be a little bigger, but try not to get smaller) as the ones that come with the catch.



Step 1: Remove the drawer or open the cabinet door.



Step 2: Put the catch part on the area that you want to have it installed and mark the holes with a pencil. Make sure the when the cabinet or drawer is closed that the catch will not prevent the door from closing all the way, and that it is not too recessed that it won't catch the prong or spear. I usually do this with the haphazard method of eyeballing it but you may want to measure.



Step 3: Then drill where you made the pencil marks, with an appropriate sized drill bit. I usually stick with one just a bit smaller then the screws or the same size as the screws. Also don't drill too deep as the screws are relatively short and you want them to anchor into the wood securely and you don't want to go bawls out and destroy the area where you're drilling.

Step 4: Drill the screws in with the catch where you have pre-drilled your holes, one side at a time.



(NOTE) At this point I ran into a problem as the screws the double roller catch came with were badly manufactured and the heads broke off on them, which I should have figured out by the catches being mis-named on the package.

So if this has happened to you grab a pair of pliers (I used needle nosed) grip those suckers on the threading and remove the screw by twisting it out of the wood. If the screw is too deep you could try to gouge around the edge so enough of it is exposed that the pliers can grip or you could start drill a new hole near it (I would suggest drilling it so the catch would cover up the broken screw once installed).



Step 5: Once the catch has been installed successfully put the spear or the prong into the catch, and mark the back of it with a pencil or a marker making sure to coat around the screw holes thoroughly. Then close the dawer or cabinet door and press it firmly closed. The pencil or marker marks should transfer to the other
side marking where to pre-drill the holes.



Step 6: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the prong or spear and check your work to make sure it closes properly.



Step 7: One down and the rest of the house to go ;)

The Adventures of a Haphazard Handywoman #1

I've decided to start posting on some useful things that just about anyone can do around the house. Some of the handy remedies I've stumbled upon with creativity and others I've done a bit of research, anyways these should be jolly good reads!

Problem: That plastic wall anchor ain't anchoring no more!


I recently came into this problem with the left side of the toilet paper holder. The dry wall (frail plaster-like wall surface) had eroded around the plastic anchor of the screws. So I removed the left side of the tp holder (there was a teeny tiny screw that needed to be unscrewed in the inner part close to the wall) and yanked the plate out of the wall which is not a thing you should do! I'm haphazard so you don't have to be =D unscrew the screws and gently remove the anchors. Anyways above you can see the blue plastic wall anchors on the screws in the plate and the nice big worn holes in the dry wall.


Next I measured the holes they were about half an inch in diameter which means I can't just go and place another drywall anchor in those, so I had to come up with something different.

Solution: Toggle Bolts!


You may have seen these guys if you ever installed a hook for a hanging plant or one of those old school lamps with the chain. These guys are tough and in this case a life saver! Buy the appropriate sized toggle bolt, ones that will fit in the holes without having to do mire damage to it, and the correct screw that goes with those toggle bolts.


Put the screws through the plate and thread the toggle bolts on with a few twists as depicted above.


Now here's the hardest part clamp the toggle bolt in half so you can get it into the wall, if the bolt is a bit too big use a flat head screwdriver to shave off a bit more of the wall by pressing in with it or rotating it in the hole so you don't damage that nice paint job.


Once you get the bolt(s) in the wall pull a little on the plate or screw so you create some tension to tighten the screw.


Now get the screw(s) secure and not wobbling in the wall you are set!
Here's the end result:


a toilet paper holder that does it's job!