Handmade torch holder

Lowering standing water in pipe

Helpful sandpaper trick

Handy Holder

I have discovered that a small mapp gas or propane bottle with one of those trigger-start torch heads fits nicely into a piece of 3-inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe. Cut off a short section of pipe and put one of those rubber end caps on it, then strap it to a handy wall or shelf post in your truck. This makes the perfect holder for your torch. The rubber bottom will absorb shock and your torch will never tip over in the truck again.

Jeffery Hall
Economy Services
Sterling, Mass.

Capillary Action

Save one of those old-style 3/8-inch metal lavatory supply tubes and keep it in your tool box. It works great at lowering the water level in vertical 1/2-inch copper tubing that is holding water. Just lower it into the vertical pipe, then hold your finger over the top and pull it out, release the water into your wiping rag by lifting off your finger. Now you have lowered the standing water enough to sweat on a fitting or a shut-off.

Jeffery Hall
Economy Services
Sterling, Mass.

Both Hands

When sanding the ends of short pieces of copper tubing, use both ends of the sandpaper (one in each hand) and twist back and forth at once, sanding the pipe on both ends simultaneously. This method is twice as effective as sanding each end individually.

Jeffery Hall
Economy Services
Sterling, Mass.