How to remove an oliveUltimate Handyman2024-10-22 | How to remove an oliveTransfer punch | A most useful tool!Ultimate Handyman2023-09-24 | Transfer punches are little known outside of engineering, but they are a very useful tool. The set in this video only cost about £20 When you need to be very precise and transfer hole markings from one item to another, these are invaluable.How to repair a completely stripped backbox lug | backbox saverUltimate Handyman2023-09-17 | In this video I demonstrate how to repair a metal backbox lug that has been completely stripped using a backbox saver.
For sale on eBay- fave.co/3sV1RxnMcAlpine Kneeler | better than knee padsUltimate Handyman2023-09-10 | The McAlpine kneeler is superb for when you need to do jobs at floor level, obviously bending down is not a good option, unless you want to injure your back, so kneeling on something that is comfortable and can be washed makes a lot of sense. Link to their website- mcalpinekneepads.com
Link to the product on eBay- fave.co/3qVDPlbEasy rust removal | Evapo-RustUltimate Handyman2023-07-23 | It can be difficult removing rust, on top of that, it can be very time consuming! A few weeks back Evapo-rust was recommended in the comment section of a video by Peter Moore. I ordered a litre of the stuff to test and was absolutely blown away by the effectiveness of it. Normally rust removal is difficult and time consuming, but with Evapo-rust, you simply put the rusty component in the liquid and leave it a few hours.How to mix concrete with a mixer paddleUltimate Handyman2023-07-16 | In this video I mix up some granolithic mortar using a mixer paddle, last year I mixed several batches of concrete the same way. This is a great way to mix concrete at home and is much easier than using a shovel.
The ratios for the concrete were as follows- Concrete using ballast- 6 units of ballast and 1 unit of cement by volume (not weight)
Concrete using gravel- 4 units of gravel, 2 units of sharp sand and 1 unit of cement by volume. Granolithic mortar – 4 units of grano dust to 1 unit of cement Granolithic mortar (smooth) – 3 units of grano dust, 1 unit of sharp sand and 1 unit of cement.How to enlarge a hole in a Corian kitchen worktop | install pop up socketUltimate Handyman2023-07-02 | In this video we enlarge a hole in a Corian worktop using a 120mm diameter hole saw, in order to replace a pop-up socket. This can be done in any wooden worktop or Corian worktop using a HSS hole saw, but for stone, such as marble or granite a diamond coated hole saw will be required.How to remove concrete anchorsUltimate Handyman2023-06-25 | In this video I remove some concrete anchors, sometimes called thru-bolts. It’s important to remove these when they become redundant, as they pose a serious tripping hazard. How to install concrete anchors- youtube.com/watch?v=hJg0xVb3eAg&t Poor man’s pointing gun- youtube.com/watch?v=OjVBBOIEMH0&pp Angle grinder safety- youtube.com/watch?v=1TFisMcDrH4&tHow to fit an integrated dishwasherUltimate Handyman2023-06-18 | In this video I fit an integrated dishwasher, this dishwasher was second hand, so there was no instructions or template for fitting the integrated dishwasher door. Fitting this was difficult, because the plumbing for the property was not fully installed, so there was a 4-inch soil pipe connection under the 900mm base unit, which had to be left accessible for the plumber, this resulted in me fitting the dishwasher, then the 900mm base unit, then the other units on that wall. I then had to fit the worktop and make the cutout for the sink, then remove the dishwasher, so that the 900 base unit could be removed!
The world’s best plasterboard fixings- ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=106943Hilti DX 450 | the nail gun that fixes into steel or concreteUltimate Handyman2023-05-14 | I purchased this Hilti DX 450 including a few boxes of pins and cartridges at auction and paid about £28 for it. I had to buy a new crush ring, but that was less than £5 delivered. After 20 minutes of cleaning, I had a fully functioning nail gun that is capable of firing pins into structural steel, or concrete.How to fit tall kitchen unitsUltimate Handyman2023-05-07 | In This video I’m installing some tall kitchen units, which are part of Symphony kitchens, linear concrete range. These units do not use handles, but have special horizontal and vertical trims. Fitting tall units on your own can be difficult, the following videos might be useful- Kitchen fitting basics- youtu.be/60sLQipI6w4 How to fix battens to walls- youtu.be/76RgepLKDEc
And a scrap piece of ¾ inch plywood to spread the load.How to fix a batten to a wallUltimate Handyman2023-04-23 | In this video I am fixing a timber batten to a wall, for a handle-less kitchen. The kitchen designer has specified that all base units and tall units need spacing away from the wall by 50mm, this has been achieved by fixing a 3”X2” wooden batten to the walls. One of the walls is a stud partition wall and the other wall is a dot and dab wall. These videos may also be useful, if you have to do something similar-
Fixing heavy items to plasterboard- youtube.com/watch?v=glzwY76O0d8&t Wall plugs- youtube.com/watch?v=V4wVyyfbWog&t Corefix fixings- youtube.com/watch?v=SmVgn19TqL0&pp The worlds best plasterboard fixings- ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=106943 Milwaukee 12v SDS drill- youtube.com/watch?v=0k8IVxC_LGw&tHow to join kitchen cabinets togetherUltimate Handyman2023-04-16 | When joining kitchen cabinets or any other kind of furniture made from chipboard, it is best to use cabinet connectors, as demonstrated in this video. For base units you can get away with using a couple of wood screws, but wood screws do not work well in chipboard, this is why cabinet connectors are preferred. These come under several different names, such as cabinet connector screws, inter screws, male and female screws, joining screws etc.Kitchen fitting basics plus 12 kitchen fitting tipsUltimate Handyman2023-04-09 | This is the first video in the “how to fit a kitchen” playlist, there should be approximately 20 videos in this playlist doing the majority of kitchen fitting tasks. I installed this Symphony kitchens linear matt concrete back in 2022, but have only just started to edit the hundreds of hours of footage into watchable videos. You can see more pictures here- ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=107100How to cut Quarry tiles #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-04-02 | #shorts in this video my mate, Pilky is cutting a quarry tile for a small job that we were doing. A diamond wheel tile cutter is essential for a job like this, as you cannot cut quarry tiles using a traditional score and snap type of tile cutter.Corefix fixings | Fixing to dot and dab wallsUltimate Handyman2023-03-26 | Corefix fixings are a great way to fix to dot and dab walls. If you are not familiar with a dot and dabbed wall, it is when plasterboard is fixed to a solid brick or block wall using dry wall adhesive, or fixing foam. These walls can be difficult to fix to, without distorting the plasterboard, but the corefix fixing does it perfectly. In this video I demonstrate how to use the corefix 100 for fixing items that are up to 10mm thick and also the corefix 120 for fixing items that are up to 30mm thick.How to remove a stuck tap cartridge/headgear #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-03-19 | #shorts It can be difficult removing a stuck tap head gear or a stuck tap cartridge, because the tap will move before the head gear is undone. This video shows an easy way of holding the tap, whilst the head gear is undone.Don’t waste your money on a stud extractor #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-03-12 | # shorts When removing a threaded stud, you don’t need a stud extractor. I was a maintenance engineer in two chemical plants and I never used a single stud extractor, I always used two nuts and used them as per this demo. If you need to remove studs from an engine block, such as inlet manifold or exhaust manifold bolts, I would apply a little heat to the studs first, then let them cool before attempting to remove them.How to cap off thermostatic radiator valve #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-03-05 | A thermostatic radiator valve requires capping off once the radiator is removed, this is because the valve can still open and potentially leak water everywhere. You can easily cap a thermostatic valve off using a 1/2 “ BSP blanking cap and ½” washer (it can be rubber or fibre), or if you don’t have a blanking cap, you can use the nut from a 15mm compression fitting, a 5 pence piece and a rubber or fibre washer. The lockshield valve does not need capping, as it requires tools to open and close it #shortsLeft-Handed drill bits #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-03-01 | #shorts Left-handed drill bits work in reverse, anti-clockwise. These drill bits are very useful for removing broken bolts and also stripped screws. A few years back I managed to buy a full set of these at auction for a bargain price. You don’t often see full sets of left-handed drill bits, these are made by a company called Wel-Bilt. These are certainly a welcome addition to my tool box, as I’ve removed many snapped bolts and stripped screws over the years!Chain vice | chain vise | pipe viceUltimate Handyman2023-02-26 | A chain vice (chain vise, for our overseas friends), is a great piece of kit if you need to grip metal pipe or conduit etc. Chain vices can be bench mounted like the ones in this video, or you can also get chain vices on tripods for portability. If you thread steel pipe or conduit manually, a pipe vice is the vice of choice, obviously if you have a lot of pipe to thread, then a pipe threading machine is a must- youtube.com/watch?v=TLIg4lQ_wIw&tevolution twister mixer paddle review #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-02-22 | The evolution mixer paddle is a superb piece of kit. Mine is 230v but you can also get a 110v version or even a 18v cordless version. The mixer is variable speed and can be used to mix plaster, mortar, tanking slurry, concrete, self-levelling screeds. At less than £100 this is a tool that can make your life much easier! #shortsHow to drain down a central heating system | chemical flush | add inhibitorUltimate Handyman2023-02-19 | In this video we are draining down a sealed central heating system, which is often found with combination boilers. The water in this system is filthy and needed replacing as soon as possible. It’s critical that the water in the central heating system is kept clean and free from iron oxide/rust/corrosion or limescale, as these things can cause severe damage to the system and the boiler. To do a job like this, it is going to take several hours, so it’s best to have everything ready in advance and be prepared to spend the whole day doing this job.
Sentinel X 800 was used as a chemical flush for the system, because the original water was completely black (it looked like used engine oil). This was left in the system for 1 hour, with the central heating switched on. This was then drained out, and the system was re-filled again, this time a central heating inhibitor, sentinel X100 was added to the system.Prevent tool theft using this easy tip #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-02-15 | When working on site, it is common for tools to go missing. Sometimes the tools are purposefully stolen and other times people borrow the tools and forget to return them. I used to work with a great guy called Dave Sims and he always wrapped insulation tape around his tools. In all the time that I worked with him, he never had any tools disappear! #shortsJoin MDPE pipe using a Melimatic Push-Loc fitting #shortsUltimate Handyman2023-02-12 | #shorts I have used the Melimatic push-Loc fittings several times over the years, they are absolutely superb for joining MDPE pipe to MDPE, or to copper pipe. There are a variety of different types of fittings available. These fittings take up much less space than a normal push-fit fitting, so they are perfect for confined spaces. Here is a link to their website (I’m not on commission)- melimatic.com/push-loc A longer video about joining MDPE pipe can be seen here- youtube.com/watch?v=JjIp8ImrHpkHow to remove a stuck tap handle | stuck faucet handleUltimate Handyman2023-02-05 | Tap handles or faucet handles for my American friends, can often become to the spline shaft on tap head gear or tap cartridges. Removing the tap head can be very difficult as corrosion often makes removing the head very difficult. In this video I use a tap head puller, which I bought from eBay, but they are available here- bit.ly/3HyujZw (I’m not on commission). I also use a slide hammer/external bearing puller- bit.ly/3l9314q
I have done several videos on tap replacement and tap repair, some of which you might find useful-
Links to items used in video (I’m not on commission) - bmstores.co.uk/products/drain-unblocking-brush-2pk-371546 Deburring tools on eBay- bit.ly/3HEAKeIAudew jump starter reviewUltimate Handyman2023-01-22 | This Audew 2000A Peak 20000mAh Car Jump Starter for All Gas Engines or Up To 8.5L Diesel Engines with LCD Power Display, is absolutely awesome. I have used this to start many vehicles that have had flat batteries. I have never had a vehicle that it will not start! Please note that I’m not affiliated with Audew and I’m not on any sort of commission.
I got mine from Amazon, but they are no longer available there, so you have to use the direct website.How to fit a Grohe mixer tap | 3/8 tap installUltimate Handyman2023-01-15 | In this video I install a Grohe 23356 BauEdge Single Lever Mono Basin Mixer tap. This can be a difficult job due to the lack of access, in this particular case, it was in a small vanity unit. Grohe make excellent quality products, which is often why they are installed in most hotel bathrooms! I bought the tap in 2021 and never thought to check the connections. The tap I purchased should have had ½”BSP fittings, but they sent me one with 3/8” BSP tails, which meant buying the adaptors etc.
Here are links to some of the fittings and tools that I used in the video- Tap tail adaptors- fave.co/3H1wTYN 15mm to 3/8” flat faced isolation valve- fave.co/3IMcIzt Split ring compression nut spanner- fave.co/3QAc4ae Box spanners- fave.co/3X73SQZ
An outside tap cover is a great idea and can prevent pipes and taps from freezing- youtube.com/watch?v=-YzY-T3Y_l0How to replace the batteries in a UPS | replace batteries in uninterruptible power supplyUltimate Handyman2022-11-27 | In this video I’m replacing the batteries in a powerwalker UPS (uninterruptible power supply). I knew the batteries had died, because the fan starting running for no specific reason and it continued running until the batteries were replaced. I bought my batteries from eBay (I’m not on commission) bit.ly/3y3cdKgHow to secure a UPVC door that cannot be lockedUltimate Handyman2022-11-20 | In this video I secure a UPVC door which cannot be locked using the key/euro cylinder. This is useful if the door cannot be locked due to a faulty Euro cylinder, or if a key for the property is lost. You can secure the door using the method used in this video, until a replacement euro cylinder can be fitted.
Here are more videos that should help, if you are having problems with a Euro cylinder.
Vampliers- youtube.com/watch?v=dgtpF00zrng How to remove wall plugs- youtube.com/watch?v=Nk1CJ8LQIAM JCB Diamond Tech hole saws- youtube.com/watch?v=k66K520mWT4&tHow to remove a snapped screw from woodUltimate Handyman2022-10-23 | Screws can often snap or shear when tightening or undoing them in wood, this video shows how to removed the snapped screw and re-plug the holes using dowels to create a quick and permanent repair. Some screws are more prone to shearing or snapping than others, decking screws for example often shear as soon as you attempt to undo them. These videos might also be of some use- Hinge drills- youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_1pbNwA_Q&t JCB Diamond Tech hole saws- youtube.com/watch?v=k66K520mWT4&tHow to cut plastic skirting board | Cut UPVC skirting boardUltimate Handyman2022-09-11 | Plastic skirting board, which is often UPVC, can be difficult to cut. In this video I show how I cut UPVC skirting board for a modern bathroom. UPVC skirting board chips easily, so it is essential to use the correct blade and also use a sacrificial piece of wood to prevent damage to the workpiece. I have used the Evolution R255SMS to cut the skirting- youtube.com/watch?v=kVW_fMgAK6s The blade used in the video is a Saxton blade with 100 teeth, this requires the use of a reduction ring- ebay.co.uk/itm/372789655469
You can get a discount on evolution tools here- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=106596how to remove copper push fit fittingsUltimate Handyman2022-08-21 | In this video I show how to remove some copper and brass push fit fittings. Not all metal push fit fittings are demountable, but some are. Cuprofit are demountable, as are Tectite classic, but Tectite sprint are not demountable.
Some related videos here-
Joining chrome pipe- youtube.com/watch?v=L07eN3Ml3NY&t How to use push fit fittings- youtube.com/watch?v=Z83vlwUyZIw&t Push fit fittings pressure test- youtube.com/watch?v=I59OeSwrhEc&tEvolution Universal 2.8m Circular Saw Track reviewUltimate Handyman2022-08-14 | The Evolution ST2800 Universal 2.8m Circular Saw Track is essential if you want to get straight cuts on materials that are 8 feet in length. The track is also compatible with other makes of circular saw, including- Evolution R185CCSX+ - 185mm Circular Saw Festool TS55REBQ-PLUS and HK55 Titan TTB73CSW Makita DSP600ZJ, DSP601ZJU and SP6000J Bosch GKS55GCE and GKS65GCE Triton TTS1400 Erbauer ERB690CSW Metabo KS55FS Scheppach PL45
The track comes in two 1.4 metre pieces and is joined quickly using the supplied connectors.
The kit also comes with a carrying bag and two clamps.
In future videos I will be showing how the multipanels in this video were installed, also how to install the kitchen. Here are some photo's of one bathroom where the multipanels were installed- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=106960
I'm now an evolution affiliate, which means if you buy something from them using these links, I will get a small commission on any sales. You also get 5% off using the code ULTIMATEHANDYMAN at checkout.
R185CCSX+ & tracks bundle - http://aspireiq.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=7739&aff_id=16485How to drill a hole in a glass bottleUltimate Handyman2022-08-07 | In this video I am going to drill two holes through a glass bottle, this can be useful for arts and crafts projects. You can drill the hole using a diamond coated hole saw, or a spear point tile/glass drilling bit.
JCB Diamond tech holesaw- youtube.com/watch?v=k66K520mWT4&t How to drill glass- youtube.com/watch?v=m_KDslB51FMHow to cut an olive from a pipe | Cut ferrule from pipeUltimate Handyman2022-07-31 | In this video I remove a copper olive from some 15mm copper pipe buy cutting the olive with a junior hacksaw. You can often remove olives without cutting them, and you can even get special tools for pulling or cutting the olives, but these can be expensive. In the UK we call them olives, they are normally copper or brass, in other countries they call them ferrules and are used in every compression joint.
How compression fittings work- youtube.com/watch?v=KOxZE4zL6rE&tMAC ALLISTER MSHP2800D-2 2800W SHREDDER REVIEWUltimate Handyman2022-07-24 | The Mac Allister garden shredder can shred roughly 100KG of branches/bushes per hour. For small to medium size gardens this shredder is perfect. I bought this from Screwfix for about £139, I am sure I’ll get that money back in future, as I no longer need to take cuttings to the tip etc. This will Shreds Branches up to 45mm Dia.
Link to item on screwfix (I’m not on commission) bit.ly/3HgLsX3How to upgrade magnetic catches on bifold doorsUltimate Handyman2022-07-17 | Magnetic catches can be too weak to work effectively on bifold doors, this means that the wind can easily blow them shut. In this video I replace some magnetic door catches with some catchstop door catches from Doorstopworld, which use powerful N52 Neodymium magnets. When replacing the magnetic catches, I also realised that the back plates had been installed with the anti-rotational grub screw pointing in the wrong direction, which created a gap. The gap was closed considerably by rotating the back plate by 180 degrees.
I got the stronger magnetic catches from this website- http://www.doorstopworld.com/catchstop.html (I’m not on commission or an affiliate)Bullfix extra plasterboard fixingsUltimate Handyman2022-07-10 | In this video I test out Bullfix extra plasterboard fixings, these are quite an easy fixing to use and perform well. As well as demonstrating how to use the fixing, I also do a weight test to see just how much weight these fixings can hold before the plasterboard fails.
If you want to know which plasterboard fixings can hold the most weight, I have done several tests over the years, all of which have been collated into a single forum post here- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106943TOX spiral pro plasterboard dowelUltimate Handyman2022-07-03 | These TOX spiral pro plasterboard dowels were sent to me by Paul EKstorm-Hughes from Sweden a few years back. I finally found the time to test the fixings out in some 12.5mm plasterboard. I have to say that the fixings are very easy to use and performed much better than I expected.
Here is a link to them on Amazon (I’m not on commission) amzn.to/3aMo07O
If you want to know which plasterboard fixings can hold the most weight, I have done several tests over the years, all of which have been collated into a single forum post here- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106943How to drill out a grub screwUltimate Handyman2022-06-26 | Grub screws can be impossible to remove and often the only way to get them out is to drill out the grub screw. Most grub screws are made from either a hard grade steel, or sometimes stainless steel. Drilling out these grub screws can be very challenging, and is often impossible using standard HSS drill bits. In this video I drill out a grub screw using Cobalt drill bits, which are much harder than traditional HSS drill bits. Luckily this time I could do this on the bench, but normally I have to drill these out in situ, which obviously makes the job much more difficult.Dewalt DCL079 XR LED TRIPOD LIGHTUltimate Handyman2022-06-19 | The Dewalt DCL079 tripod LED light is absolutely brilliant for places where there is no mains electric. The light output is awesome and is brighter than a mains powered halogen lamp. I have been using this LED work light for months, in a property where there was not mains electricity installed. This meant that I could continue working when there were poor lighting conditions. In the UK, this is marked at 18V XR compatible, but in other countries it might be marketed as the 20V Max.How to replace a pedal on an exercise bike | Matrix U5XUltimate Handyman2021-10-17 | In this video I replace a pedal on the Matrix U5X upright exercise bike, this was purchased unseen from an online auction and cost £250+fees = £350 These exercise cycles cost over £2000 brand new, so this was a real bargain! In next weeks video I’ll show how to replace the ball bearings in the pedal.Bosch D-tect 120 professional wall scannerUltimate Handyman2021-10-10 | The Bosch D-tect 120 is a wall scanner which uses radar technology to detect objects buried in walls, concrete or drywall partitions. I picked this up from a seller on ebay for £150 a few months back. Drilling into walls always carries a risk, especially for inexperienced people. The Bosch D-tect reliably picked up all objects that I tested, although there are some issues with detecting live objects.