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Amateur Tennis Players Unite!

by eclectic on June 5, 2008 in Sports with 1 Comment

Inspired by the amazing play at the French Open this year (visit the official site here), I thought I’d take a look and see what online opportunities there are for amateur tennis players to get support, improve your stroke or just connect with others online. There were two that appeared to be pretty popular and have a variety of features for users.

  • Racquet Speed: A social network for players and instructors. From the Web site: Raquetspeed.com lets you locate tennis courts , tennis partners , and instructors near you . You can schedule a lesson in New York , setup a match in Miami, or locate tennis courts around your home . Racquetspeed.com is a great way make new friends on the court , and stay connected to old ones. Create a custom profile, upload photos, add events and even add your favorite courts.
  • Tennisopolis: From the site: Social network where tennis fans and players share all there is to love about this amazing sport. Whether you are a fan of the pros or just love to play, Tennisopolis is for you!

Looking for a partner? Sign up for either of these networks and get connected! And to keep tennis shoes in good repair, try Shoe GOO.

Photo by small_ape via Flickr

DIY Fixes for Outdoor Faucets, Plumbing

by eclectic on June 2, 2008 in DIY, Lawn & Garden with 2 Comments

On DIY Life today Kelly Smith tells readers how to fix a leaky faucet valve. You’ll find valves anywhere water enters the home. If it’s leaking, not only can the water make a mess, but you it can also cause foundation damage.

Kelly gives readers tips for fixing the valve yourself.

After reading the post, I thought about the other places around the outside that water can cause problems – whether it’s just a mess from damp soil, so serious damage, water can be your worst enemy.

Where to look for water problems:

  • Sprinkler connections: In ground or above ground systems are typically made from a network of PVC pipes, and at each junction, it’s possible for leak problems that can be easily sealed to prevent leaking. Look for a water resistant sealant that can handle changes in temperature and remain flexible. You might try Seal-All, for example.
  • Garden hoses: If you leave them out in the weather, hoses can become brittle and crack. Believe it or not, you can use an adhesive like Amazing GOOP Lawn & Garden to fix the hose. The reason is that GOOP Lawn & Garden dries to a rubbery, flexible finish. So once dry, the hose can still bend and flex as good as new. And GOOP Lawn & Garden is UV resistant, too. Handy.
  • Water pooling: A combination of Oregon’s clay soil (which doesn’t drain very well) and what I’d guess is a slope, the west side of my lawn pools water pretty easily (even with 5 or so minutes of sprinklers or a steady rain). According to All Experts, it could be a simple fix of raising the grade. Or, another site suggested a french drain system (sounds fancy! but looks pretty easy).

Water can be refreshing and renewing – but it can also wreak havoc. Taking simple precautions and making a few DIY repairs can help save time and money.

Photo by kwsanders via Flickr

The Bottle-Lotta: Making Music with Amazing GOOP

by eclectic on May 29, 2008 in Just for Fun with No comments

The Bottle-Lotta, Musical Instrument Made with GOOP

(click on the picture to be connected to the video)

Jeffrey Barnes, saxophonist with the Grammy-award winning polka band Brave Combo, is also a musician with a “penchant for the eclectic.”

His “bottle-lotta” was borne of about 15 plastic bottles, ranging in size, glued together with Amazing GOOP and filled with varying amounts of beeswax to achieve the right pitch. Click on the photo above to see the video and click here to read the story from the Dallas Morning News.

We wish Jeffrey happy music making!

Prepping for Backyard Summer Fun

by eclectic on May 27, 2008 in DIY, Lawn & Garden with No comments

Backyard Relaxing in the Summertime Sunlight and warm breezes signal the season for outdoor entertaining. For some, those words conjure up images of lounging on the beautiful backyard patio with friends and family. But, for many of us, outdoor entertaining sets off an internal alarm, reminding us of tears in the canvas cushions and umbrellas, cracks in mosaic tables, and chipped or broken patio pots, not to mention the statue that has lost a few fingers. It all adds up to a slightly shabby look to our
outdoor paradise.

Outdoor living spaces can be your summertime getaway, but before you panic and spend too much money on design consultants and all new patio furniture, stand back and take a look around your backyard like you’re seeing it for the first time.

Decide what is too shabby to save and get rid of it, whether it’s that scraggly shrub that has never thrived or those faded and chipped lawn trolls that have gone from cute to tacky. Clean away all “trash”— that stack of empty plastic flower pots from the nursery, debris around the barbecue area or tools leaning against the house

Be merciless in getting rid of scraggly flowers and shrubs. Replace them with hardy colorful species that are proven winners for your climate. If you have a “black thumb,” don’t worry. Tucking some seasonal silk flowers or ferns in a few hanging pots can be very effective and, of course, care-free!

Now you are ready to transform your outdoor living space, armed only with your imagination and a tube of versatile one-part adhesive like Amazing GOOP Lawn & Garden.

Here are some ideas (with some inspiration from award winning landscapes, via HGTV… we can dream right? Click on each image for more information):

  • Try re-creating your outdoor space as several intimate “rooms” by the way you group your furniture around the lawn or patio. Subtle lighting and colorful clusters of pots or curving beds with seasonal flowers or shrubs can make these areas irresistible

  • Paint inexpensive chairs and tables in bright colors to add a touch of whimsy and fun. You can turn an old table into a beautiful mosaic with some broken china and a little Amazing GOOP Lawn & Garden. This adhesive also will easily repair tears in canvas umbrellas and chair upholstery; it won’t chip or flake off because it dries to a rubbery, flexible finish that moves with the material. In fact, a tube of Amazing GOOP Lawn & Garden that is formulated for withstanding temperature change and moisture is your best bet for repairing almost anything outdoors that is cracked, torn, worn or broken.

  • Create a warm, inviting experience in your own backyard — whatever fits your taste. One woman created a whimsical touch for her children by “GOOP-ing” little ceramic fairies among the branches of a small Japanese maple tree.

With a little preparation and a tube of Amazing GOOP Lawn & Garden, you can have a backyard that will keep you entertaining all summer long.

Top photo by Mathowie, via Flickr

A Sticky Situation: Tips for Success with Adhesives

by eclectic on May 24, 2008 in DIY, General Information with No comments

There are many sophisticated products around to make things and stick them back together when they break, but probably the one product that everyone has is the lowly substance called glue! Knowing what kind of glue works best for your project is the key to success. Here are the basic types and what they can (and can’t) do.

General purpose adhesive
It dries clear with superior strength, but stays flexible with a permanent bond. It is usually water resistant and won’t turn brittle. It can even be painted after drying.
Uses: Join two different materials with different drying times (rubber to metal); repair materials where a flexible bond is necessary like a repair to a showerhead hose leak.
Examples: Perfect for everyday repairs, even sealing sinks and countertops; repairing broken or leaking porcelain; repairing tears in canvas or upholstery,

Epoxies
This two-part adhesive is considered the most durable of all adhesives. It’s best suited when water or gas and oil resistance is required. Some can withstand high temperatures. It is not flexible and requires mixing.
Uses: Good for permanent repairs that don’t require flexibility and for repairs that come into contact with solvents
Examples: Connecting copper to plastic pipes

Rubber cement
This brush-on adhesive is made of white crude rubber. It works best for joining paper, both temporarily and permanently.
Uses: Apply paper liner to a drawer

Wood glue
Wood glue has been created especially for woodworking. It sands cleanly, leaves an invisible glue line and cleans up with water.
Uses: Build and fix wood projects such as cabinet doors in a bathroom or kitchen or furniture repairs

Super glue
This adhesive is useful when an immediate hold is needed. Super glue will provide a fast and dry hold without any flexibility.
Uses: Reattach a broken knob or handle

Mastics
Mastics are pre-mixed adhesives used with wood, tile, Formica and ceramic. It will not stick to metal or concrete and it is not waterproof or flexible.
Uses: Attach tiles to various surfaces.

Thin-set adhesives
This mix-it-yourself mortar-based adhesive is the best choice for concrete, terra cotta and backer boards. It will not stick to non-porous surfaces and it is waterproof and flexible.
Uses: Interior or exterior tiling

Paper glue (white glue)
This works well for simple paper and wood projects. It dries quickly, but isn’t flexible or super strong and it dissolves with exposure to water.
Uses: Paper to paper adhesion and repairs to objects where a lot of stress is not involved; not recommended where water is a factor.

More Tips for Success with Adhesives:

  • Every junk drawer should be equipped with three types of glue to cover a variety of everyday needs: paper glue such as Elmer’s, general purpose glue such as Amazing GOOP and super glue such as Krazy Glue.
  • Use the right glue for the project. Indoor or outdoor project? If the project will be placed outside, the changing temperatures will cause the adhesive to expand and contract.
  • Choose a glue that dries to a rubbery, flexible finish, can handle temperature extremes and has UV resistance if the project is exposed to direct sunlight.
  • Practice on like materials before committing to a cherished keepsake, for example, and just use a little bit at a time then wipe off the excess.
  • Always read the directions to ensure best results.

Good old glue is the DIYer’s best friend. Knowing which kind to use for your project and how to use it properly will ensure a successful result.

Why Good Shoes Matter

by eclectic on May 12, 2008 in General Information, Sports with No comments

Wall of Sports Shoes If you’re active in a sport like tennis, basketball, running or skateboarding, you know that your shoes can take a beating.

In fact, A 150-pound person walking just one mile exerts a force of 63.5 tons on a single foot, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. Selecting the right shoe is paramount, especially in preventing foot-related injuries.

Each sport will have specific shoe features that are important, but there are also a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when choosing shoes.

We all have different types of feet, but there are two ways to consider foot type. One is your “strike,” or how your foot hits the ground and the other is arch.

Strike is generally categorized in three basic types: supinated, pronated and ideal. To figure out which one you are, you can look at the wear of your current shoe.

SUPINATED – if your shoes wear is on the outside of the shoe first. The heel will be worn, but so will the shoe outside edge or little toe area.

PRONATED – with a pronated foot, the wear is on the inside heel and around the ball of the foot.

IDEAL or NEUTRAL – this foot will show little wear in any particular place.

You can also do the “wet foot” test gauge your arch.

Based on the pictures, decide which type is similar to your foot. Shoe manufacturers have taken foot types into account and created three functional categories for walking and running shoes:

Motion Control
Design: A straight shape shoe that is the most rigid and resistant to twisting and bending of all three styles
Best Fit: Individuals with a low arch, flat and generally straight feet

Stability
Design: A shoe with a slight curve to the shape
Best Fit: Individuals with medium-arched feet, typically deemed “normal”

Neutral
Design: A curved shoe that is the least rigid and resistant to twisting and bending of all three shoe categories
Best Fit: Individuals with high-arched feet
Knowing your foot type will help you choose the right shoe, but again, a few basics apply for all feet when choosing a shoe.

  • A removable insole: allows you to replace it with your own if necessary.
  • A snug heel: better for control of the back of the foot. Women purchasing men’s shoes should be aware of this.
  • A roomy toe box: you should be able to wiggle your toes comfortably and wide is better. Your toes should not touch the front of the shoe.
  • Try shoes on late in the day when you feet have expanded. You should be able to fit a finger between your heel and the back of the shoe when sitting.
  • To maintain your shoes, try Eclectic Products Shoe GOO.

For more tips visit our sources for this blog post:

Clever Projects For Mother's Day & Beyond

by eclectic on May 10, 2008 in Crafts, Just for Fun with 2 Comments

A plain serving tray, a simple TV tray, unembellished wooden egg or an end table that needs a little pizazz. FAMOWOOD’s Glaze Coat can help you create memorable projects for moms or for yourself.

Glaze Coat Pour-On High Gloss Epoxy Coating is an ultra-clear, high-gloss finishing epoxy ideal for home improvement and craft projects. Just one coat equals 60 coats of varnish.

  • Coat tables, clocks, game boards and furniture
  • Imbed coins, rocks, sea shells, flowers or any non-waxy material
  • Preserve pictures, photographs, posters, signs and ceramics

Below you’ll find the directions for one of many Glaze Coat projects you can do. The end result may be different, but the steps are the same. For more detailed instruction, watch our video about Glaze Coat here. And get your questions answered on our FAQ page.

Glaze Coat Serving Tray Project

Supplies:

1 pt. Kit Glaze Coat
Unfinished or painted wood serving tray
Assorted photographs (we suggest color copies)
Apron
Latex gloves
Scissors
Masking Tape
White Glue
Mixing container
Stir stick
Spreader
Paint Brush

Tape bottom edge of tray with masking tape.

Cut photos in decorative shapes and apply to surface with white glue.

Let dry thoroughly.

Position tray on level pedestal for glaze coat application.

Wearing an apron and gloves, mix Glaze Coat precisely according to package directions

Pour Glaze Coat in the middle of serving tray. Spread to outside edges. With a paintbrush, brush additional Glaze Coat on the inner and outer sides of tray as well as in the inside of the handles. Use a hair dryer or torch to remove any air bubbles that might rise to the surface. Dry completely. When dried remove the masking tape from bottom of tray. For a high gloss finish – repeat procedure.

Other projects you can do with Glaze Coat:

Tips for Professional Interior Paint Results: Preparation is Key

by eclectic on May 4, 2008 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Say goodbye to gray winter doldrums and bring the bright light of spring into your home with a luscious coat of paint. Nothing changes the feel of a room faster and sets off your belongings better than the right color chosen from the almost endless palette available.

Best of all, painting is the fastest and least expensive way to transform the rooms you live in. However, preparing the walls is the key to outstanding results—especially with a spackling product that gives you better results than you ever thought possible

Choose the color at your house, not in the store.

Bring home color chips from the paint store. Hold the colors you like up to each of the four walls of the room—the color will look slightly different on each wall because of light differences. The time of day also affects the hue. A yellow may look buttery at noon and almost creamy or tan in the evening. Finally, before buying several gallons of the color you like, invest in a quart of it and paint a swatch on each wall to see how it will look. Live with it for a few days. If you still love it, then buy enough to do the job.

Prep the Room First

  • Protect your belongings by moving all the furniture out of the room or to the middle and cover it with plastic. Protect the carpet with drop cloths.
  • Avoid the “paint around” that can lead to odd circles, streaks, or drips by removing switch plates, outlets, knobs and hinges and bag each with its screws– you will be glad you did when you’re ready to put them back.
  • Use painter’s tape to protect wood trim. Now you are ready to prepare the walls.

Prepare the walls

  • Remove all decorations from the walls. Using a general all-purpose cleaner, lightly wash off the dust and grime. Rinse with clean water and a sponge to make sure you’ve removed any soapy residue.
  • Fill all holes in the walls with spackling compound.

Secrets of spackling success

  • Use the right product. Nothing can make your efforts look more amateurish than wall “craters” from shrinking putty. Traditionally spackling has been done using a can of spackling paste and up to two putty knives. The frustrating experience of many non-professionals is that the putty has dried out since the last job and the putty knife is nowhere to be found. Also juggling a spackling can and applying the putty is awkward and messy.
  • Painter’s Nail Hole Filler comes in a tube with an angled sponge-tip applicator that evens out and finishes the surface, whether textured or smooth—no scraping or sanding required. No mixing–Painter’s Nail Hole Filler’s applicator tip guides the filler into cracks, holes and nail heads and rubs the patch to a clean smooth surface. With the tip, you can easily match the texture of the surface around the hole. The product won’t dry out in the tube and never shrinks or discolors paint or wallpaper—best of all it’s ready when you need it. Painters® Nail Hole Filler works on any wall texture or composition (wood, stucco, wallboard or plaster).
  • Clean up the hole before filling. Brush or wipe away any plaster flakes around the hole or debris in the hole so that you have a smooth surface.
  • Using Painter’s Nail Hole Filler. No mixing—just shake and knead the filler within the tube before opening it. Remove the cap and applicator. Snip the tip to open and attach the special angled sponge tip applicator. Squeeze a bead of filler to the top of the applicator and begin filling the hole or crack. Smooth and finish to desired texture. The fill is dry and ready to paint in 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Different strokes for different holes. When filling deeper and/or wider holes than the normal nail holes or small cracks, fill partially and allow the filler to set up and dry a little before adding more filler. Depending on how deep the hole, you may want to apply several layers of Painter’s Nail Hole Filler before the hole is entirely filled. Then smooth and texture the final layer and allow the fill to completely dry before painting.

Once the prep is done, it’s time to create your masterpiece. With the array of paint colors and application techniques available for today’s do-it-yourself decorator, you can create the perfect room with the perfect ambiance for you and your family.

Most home improvement and hardware stores carry a large variety of spackling products, including Painter’s Nail Hole Filler.

Save Your Shoes! Shoe GOO Tips for Skaters

by eclectic on April 27, 2008 in DIY, Sports with No comments

If you’re a skater (or the parent of a skater), you know that skate shoes are not cheap! And the wear and tear of skateboarding on the shoe sole is brutal.

Skaters have long known that Shoe GOO can salvage their shoes and make them last just a little bit longer.

Here are some tips from Shoe GOO fans:

  • Dam holes from the inside with duct tape before applying Shoe GOO to the outside.
  • Seal frayed or open seams with a bead of Shoe GOO.
  • Drop globs of Shoe GOO all around the area to be covered and then spread it into a sheet for seamless rubbery “shield” of adhesive from top to sole.
  • Finally, the secret to a great shield: ICE CUBES! Spreading the adhesive is the biggest challenge with these kinds of adhesives. Being “glue”, they are sticky and stick to everything, including whatever you are trying to spread them with. Here’s the trick: use an ice cube to spread it around. The glue won’t stick to ice and the adhesive will flow where you want it. The temperature of the ice also helps set the adhesive a little.

More tips here from About.com.

Watch a video review from ExpoTv.com here.

photo courtesy of ktpupp via flickr

Simple Ways to Go Green

by eclectic on April 22, 2008 in Green with 1 Comment

On this Earth Day, remember that going green does more than benefit the earth — it benefits your pocketbook by saving money on energy bills. Some of the following tips are inexpensive and easy, while others require an initial investment but pay for themselves in time.

  • Since older models require significantly more energy to run, consider replacing your air conditioner or furnace if they are more than 10 years old. Before you buy, look for Energy Star rated models which meet strict EPA and Department of Energy guidelines.
  • Plant deciduous trees to shade the south side of your house. Deciduous trees will shade in the summer and lose their leaves in the winter to let more sun (and heat) into your house. For more landscaping tips visit HGTV and for more about planting trees visit American Forests.
  • Reduce water consumption and lower the cost of heating water by repairing leaky fixtures and installing low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.
  • Make sure the walls and attic are well-insulated, adding more where needed.
  • Prevent wasted heat or cooling by sealing leaky windows.
  • Replace bulbs and lighting fixtures with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. These pay for themselves with the savings they provide.
  • Recycling kitchen waste into garden compost is another great way to contribute to the health of the environment. It not only reduces the amount of garbage going into landfills, but makes for healthier plants, too. Learn how at HowtoCompost.org

Finally, look for green products to replace your everyday household items. Green cleaners, paper products and even DIY tools can be found at your local store. For DIY, we at Eclectic Products have developed an adhesive that is earth-friendly without sacrificing the strength. Amazing EcoGlue is an industrial-strength adhesive for the green-conscious DIYer. EcoGlue has less than one percent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by weight, no animal derivatives and virtually no hazardous pollutants. Even the bottle and packaging are recyclable.

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