Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Buying screws for your next DIY project is not a job that should be taken lightly, as making the right choice will have you purring with satisfaction when every screw is driven home with ease. However, make the wrong choice and you’ll be screaming in frustration when screw heads snap off, or you just don’t seem to be able to get any purchase on the screws as you desperately try to force them into place. You’ll find more information about different screw types in my ‘Household fixing kit’ read more »

Brushmate is a convenient storage system for paint brushes that have been used for applying solvent-based (oil-based) paints, or other decorative coatings such as varnish or woodstain. Basically after using a brush, you simply hang it on a little brush hook inside the Brushmate, and days, weeks, or even months later, you can simply take it out and it’s still moist, and ready to use. If this doesn’t sound exciting enough, the guide below explains why this system not only saves an incredible amount of time, read more »

Choosing paint for interior wood generally comes down to a decision based on brand reputation mixed with affordability, as it is normally the case that the big brands have the higher price tags, and you as a consumer end up thinking ‘Can I get away with using the cheaper stuff?’ The other main consideration you need to make is about the paint system you want to use on your wood, which is a subject that I cover in greater detail in my guide – ‘Which paint for wood’. read more »

Electric screwdrivers, or cordless screwdrivers as they are also called, are basically the smaller versions of cordless drills. Although they are much more lightweight in both size and power in comparison to cordless drills, they can still perform a multitude of tasks around your home. Below is some further information on the types of electric screwdrivers available, and where I feel they provide an invaluable option for many DIY enthusiasts. read more »

Buying an angle grinder is not the first power tool purchase that comes to mind for most DIY enthusiasts but once you’ve owned one, and although it tends to get pretty infrequent use, you do tend to be incredibly happy to have one when the need arises. Before I let you know what I believe to be the perfect model for DIY, and arguably most pro use, below are a few more details about angle grinders, what they’re capable of, and what to look out for when buying one. read more »