DIY Tips: #5 How to put up brackets and a shelf

Fixing a shelf to a wall using brackets is really a simple task and should 

provide years of faithful service in holding up your books or knick-knackery. 

You will need:
Tape Measure
Electric or Hand Drill
Computer controlled robotic arm
Plastic rawl type plugs (I'd use the brown plugs although read this task first)
Masonry Drill bit size 6 - 7mm
A cross-head screw driver or drill attachment
A spirit level
Suitable screws (with brown rawl plugs I'd use 1.5” (either 8's or 10's))
Small short screws for fixing the shelf to the brackets.

First TIP: Measure Twice, Cut Once.

I presume you have already chosen your shelf and have decided where you'd like it

fixed, if not, ask your partner – they'll know where they want the shelf.

Second TIP: Measure Twice, Cut Once.

I will just mention this; when fixing a shelf I have always found it best to use good, strong, heavy duty rawl type plugs – this is because in weeks or months to come you may change your mind about what you want to display on the shelf – 

initially you may have wanted it for your china pig collection (not very heavy) 

but later you might decide the pigs are a bit naf and decide to store your 

Psychology Text Book Library on the shelf instead – if however you had only used little light-weight rawl type plugs and screws then they would not be up to the 

task of supporting your library, so it is always best to keep this in mind.

Third TIP: Measure Twice, Cut Once.

This task is very similar in many respects to our earlier task – fixing up a 

hanging basket except that we have two brackets here which do have to be level – 

otherwise your shelf will slope and your nik-naks may fall off (never a good 

prospect, especially in polite company).

Measure the length of your shelf and then divide that measurement into three.

Fourth TIP: Measure twice, cut once.

Offer up (technical term for holding the shelf in position on the wall) the shelf

to the wall in your desired fixing position and place the spirit level on top – 

carefully adjust the shelf until the bubble in the glass of the spirit level is 

dead centre and mark a feint pencil line, on the wall, along the length of the 

shelf.

Fifth TIP: Measure twice, cut once.

Measure in from one end and pencil a mark 1/3rd the length of the shelf, in from the end. Now measure another third from that mark. You will now have a feint 

pencil line (position of shelf) and two pencil marks (positions of brackets).

Sixth TIP: Measure twice, cut once.

Place the brackets on the wall at the pencil lines and mark through the fixing holes with your pencil.

Seventh TIP: Measure twice, cut once.

In the old days I'd have said at this point “stand back, roll a fag and make sure

all the marks are in position and your drill is ready – but we'll have to make 

do with a cuppa instead.

Drill into the wall approximately half a centimetre deeper than the length of the

plastic rawl plugs at each of the pencil marks for the bracket fixings.

Suck out the brick and plaster dust from each of the drilled holes with a vacuum cleaner and press in the plastic plugs.

Offer up each bracket in turn and tighten the screws.

Sit the shelf onto the brackets and for peace of mind, double check with your 

spirit level, that all is good.

Take a couple of the smaller screws and fix the shelf to the brackets up from 

underneath.

Job done. Have a cuppa and a custard cream.

We didn't need the Computer Controlled Robotic Arm for this job although in yearsto come they'll be everywhere so we need to get used to having them around.







Next week we shall look at how to overcome a crumbly wall and different types of wall fixing. Do let me know if you'd like me to suggest places to purchase tools and hardware needed for these DiY tasks and I'll see what I can do.
Also see 
http://www.getreading.co.uk/blogs/andanotherthing/s/2115805_diy_dave_how_to_put_up_brackets_and_a_shelf



Keep safe
Dave

DIY Tips: #3 Repair a fuse in a traditional fusebox

In a traditional fuse box, each fuse is for a different electrical circuit in your home. If there is a 
power surge or faulty wiring the fuse will 'blow', your home will suddenly be enveloped in a
strange and eerie silence and you will then need to replace the fusewire within the cartridge – 
and don't forget to also check any appliance which may have caused the fuse to blow in the
first place.


You will needA Torch – hopefully this has fully charged batteries
A flat bladed electrical screwdriver
A pack of variously rated fusewires
A pair of wire cutters or pliers or snips


Check other electrical appliances

When an electrical circuit 'blows' you should really check any appliances in that particular 
circuit. It could be that a fuse has blown in a plug, and that, in turn has blown the circuit fuse. 
Unplug the appliances and test them in an area of your home that still has power. You don't 
want to repair the circuit fuse only to have it blow again due to a faulty appliance.


Locate the fuse boxYour fuse box should be located close to your electricity meter – both of these are usually in the most inaccessible part of the under-stairs cupboard (get your torch to help you – they are useful not only for seeing in the dark but also for poking in spider inhabited corners. TIP:If you find the fusebox and it is buried under hats and coats and old shopping bags – please remember to 
keep it clear of clutter in the future as it could be a fire risk and meter readers may get narked if they have to clear the way each reading.


Turn the Master Switch offNormally when a fuse blows it is automatically thrown into the off position, but make sure, just in case. TIP You should be aware that when you turn this switch off – everything in the home will 
be turned off including all clocks, VCR's, 8-track tape players, washing machines, bread-makers, electric ovens, central heating timers, computers, phone chargers – EVERYTHING. If you 
have a house alarm this may start to complain and will let you know by beeping or buzzing but 
don't worry as this will be happy again once you finish the job and turn the power back on.


Locate the blown fuseIf there's more than one fuse, remove them one by one and inspect the thin fuse wire to see if it's broken or not. They may be a bit stiff but give them a good yank and they'll pull out of the fusebox – a good TIP here is Do not be tempted to pull them all out at the same time – pull one, check it and put it back. This way you will not be left with a handful of fuse cartridges and not know which positions they came from.


Select fuse wireYou must replace the fuse wire with a fuse wire of the same amperage. 

As a general rule these circuits require the following amperage ratings
Light circuits run on 5 Amps
Immersion heater circuits run on 15-20 Amps
Wall socket and cooker circuits run on 30 Amps
Electric showers will run on 45 greater amps (check the shower instructions)



WARNING - Never replace a fuse wire with one of a higher amperage rating. This could risk 

damage to your appliances or even cause a fire. 

Replace the fuse wireLoosen the screws at either end of the fuse.
Remove the damaged remains of the old fuse wire and carefully thread the new wire through
 the central porcelain part of the fuse.

Wind the wire around each screw, and tighten the screws.
Make sure you snip off any excess wire with the pliers or snips.


Replace the fusePut the fuse back in the fuse box – in the position it came from.


Turn on the master switch

TIP If you have a teenager in the house, you could get them to do this bit – it makes them feel 

useful and if the fuse blows again immediately, it will wake them up.
TIP If the fuse does blow again immediately – check the fuses in your appliances again and if all looks good and a fault is not obvious – CALL A FRIENDLY ELECTRICIAN



Next week we will put up a hanging basket on a fence post and a garden wall.


Keep safe


Dave

DIY Tips: #4 How to fix a bracket ready for a hanging flower basket

Spring and summer months cause many of us to imagine sitting amongst baskets of 

colourful, scented flowers hanging from every conceivable free space on our walls, fences, 

patios, trees, sheds and deckings. For some this will be a simple and well practised task, 

for others however, this will cause questions such as: 

Should I hang it on a wall or a fence post? 
Should I drill and screw into the brick or mortar between the bricks? 
How should I test the strength of the bracket for my hanging basket? 
What height should I mount the basket? 
And finally, 
What tools will I need for this job?

You will need:

• A drill – battery or mains

• A pack of “Rawl” type plugs (brown) (medium to heavy duty)

• A suitable drill bit (sometimes the pack of plugs will

   come with a drill bit – see picture)

• A screw driver or driver attachment for your drill

Specific fence-post hangers are available for hanging baskets onto fence posts as can be seen in the picture – they fit over the concrete or wooden post.


Where a bracket needs to be fixed to a wall or shed with screws, you will need to assess 

what height you need the hanging bracket to be for the height you want for your basket. 

Bear in mind here that hanging baskets full of flowers and water are very heavy and solid

 objects and if you bang your head on one – it will hurt for at least a couple of minutes 

afterwards. 
If you are old, like my nan then you could probably have the basket a little lower than if 

you are a younger person – don't worry about this as the younger people should look out 

for low hanging baskets at their nan's house and it will be their own fault if they get skittled by one of your baskets one day when they're not looking. 

TIP If you have a tall teenager about the place, you could use them to walk around 

checking the height of the baskets – if they bump their head, it will wake them up and help them to feel useful. 

So, firstly hold the bracket at the desired height and mark the holes with a pencil. I always 

find it gives better results to drill into the actual brick rather than the mortar between the 

bricks – gives a more solid fixing. Are you sure you want to fix it just there? 

Remember TIP Measure twice, cut / drill once.

• Drill holes around half a centimetre longer than the rawl plugs.
  

• Push in the plugs until they are flush with the wall surface as per the diagram.
  

• Line up the bracket and screw through and into the plugs in the wall ensuring all 

  screws are tight and the bracket is firm (give it a good tug to make sure).
  

• Fill the basket with compost and flowers or whatever you have planned (do not water).
  

• Hang the basket onto the hanger and now water.

TIP If you are fixing the bracket to a shed – do make sure you are screwing into a wooden batten or beam and not just into the feather edged boarding. Also you will not need the 

rawl plugs if you fix into wood.


Next week we will fix a dripping tap. Do let me know if you'd like me to suggest places to 

purchase tools and hardware needed for these DiY tasks and I'll see what I can do.


Keep safe

Dave