Wobblycogs Workshop

DIY Materials

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by

Doozer
in

I use a lot of different materials while I’m doing DIY and I figured it would be useful to keep a list of what I use so that I can buy them again if I like them and match what I’ve currently got. I’ve tried to group them by project but some don’t fit nicely in any one category. I’ve also probably forgotten as more than I can remember.

General

  • Damp Proof Membrane – Finds a million uses on the job site. Costs a bit but can usually be reused a few times. Great for throwing over the work bench as a protective cover when doing horrible jobs like paint stripping.
  • Pallet Stretch Shrink Wrap – If you need to cover something in plastic this is the stuff to use. It’s cheap and fairly tough. The only downside is it’s a pain to cut. Useful for covering Kling Strip when stripping paint.
  • Ronseal Interior Varnish – Really easy to work with interior varnish with just the right level of gloss. Apply with a small piece of sponge and overcoat after about an hour.
  • Everbuild Multi Purpose Wood Filler – an adequate wood filler, takes paint well.
  • GripIt Plasterboard Fixings – When you need something firmly attached to plasterboard these get the job done. They are expensive and require and awkward sized 15mm pilot hole (16mm spade bits are ten a penny but far too loose).
  • Fischer Nylon UX-R Universal Plug – Great plug for getting a grip in crumbly old walls.
  • Hiomant Alox Sanding Roll 115mm 80 Grit 50m – A fairly cheap way to get sandpaper. It comes on a long roll so it’s neatly stored and you can just cut a section off as you need it.

Safety

  • Uvex Pheos Safety Glasses – Comfortable and clear.

Paints and Finishes

  • Leyland Trade Fast Drying Water Based Satin Paint – Gives a reasonable finish at a reasonable price. Doesn’t yellow.
  • Leyland Trade Fast Drying Water Based Undercoat – Reasonable undercoat for the price.

Sash Windows

  • Timbabuild EHB60 – slow setting epoxy for timber repair. Can be applied up to 60mm deep but it’s way to expensive for that. I use it for splicing on new pieces of timber that are very complex fits. Takes about 12 hours in good weather before it can be touched. Useful for filling the gap between the new window sill and the sash box.
  • Timbabuild ECR10 – fast setting epoxy for timber repair. Great stuff but really expensive. Perfect for gluing together repairs e.g. new bits of sash box.
  • Timbabuild EWS – Primer for Timbabuild ECR10 and general wood hardener. I don’t like this stuff, ECR10 seems to still just fine without it and I just remove any soft wood and replace.
  • Timbaglaze Putty Replacement – Great for sticking the glass into the window frame ready to have putty applied. Extremely sticky so unsuitable for making a rebate although it’s so for that purpose. Quite expensive.
  • Pink Grip – General purpose adhesive. Cheap and gets the job done. Slow to set up (at least 12 hours) but with high grab. Apparently it’s not completely water proof.
  • Trade Mate Glazing Putty – A much cheaper alternative to Timbaglaze Putty Replacement. Suitable for making rebates.
  • EverBuild External Frame Sealant – Easy to use external frame sealant. Very slow to set up in the cold.
  • Pinnacle UV Resistant 14 Day Masking Tape – Blue masking tape from Toolstation. Easy to work with and just the right amount of tack. Also good for holding things together while glue dries.
  • Calcium Bentonite (Fullers Earth) – Clay used to make up paint stripper. Much cheaper than Kling Strip when bought in large quantities (25kg bags).
  • Sodium Hydroxide – Used to make up paint stripper.
  • Kling Strip – Caustic paint stripper. Effective but very slow.
  • Ronseal Wood Hardener – A necessary evil, never seems to dry well. Excess can be cleaned off with acetone or meths.
  • Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus – High pH tolerant, stain blocking, undercoat paint. Costs a fortune but necessary if you use caustic strippers.
  • No Nonsense Paint & Varnish Stripper – Non-caustic paint stripper for cleaning up the sash pulleys.

Plumbing

  • Sentinel X100 System Inhibitor – Keeps the plumbing in good shape, double check it’s suitable for the boiler though.
  • EverBuild Showerproof Bathroom Silicone – When applied with a profiling tool to give a good thick bead this stuff lasts for ages.
  • JG Speedfit – Various fittings in 15mm and 22mm used extensively around the house. Don’t forget to fit pipe inserts.
  • Plumbers Gold Adhesive & Sealant – For sticking two things together in a plumbing system e.g. fitting plugs.

Exterior

  • Toupret Touprelith F Exterior Masonry Repair Filler – Rock solid masonry repair.