Mendology

Mendology is the art of making something of nothing, recognising the value in rubbish, and always having something in the mendology drawer to mend something else.

Everyone needs at least one Mendology Drawer!

Mendology Top Tip - Trouser Presses!

Take a look at my Bandsaw Rip Fence to see the value of old flea market trouser presses! Don't pay more than 2 quid!

Whether it is from a Skip, a charity shop or a boot fair, there is often some worthless article that is very cheap, but which contains a mine of useful bits.

Take this horrible towel rail that I bought in a local charity shop from the 25pence box. It has bits missing and is covered in limescale. But look at the naff decoration - imitation hot and cold water tap (faucet) heads. They seemed to be screwed to the rail with metric nuts.

They turned out to be M6, the most common thread in the UK. With some M6 long nuts added I have two clamp knobs for my next jig!
I also cut off two 2ft lengths of 5mm chrome plated rods for a future make or mend.
Also pictured is the previous week's purchase, a broken cracked Edwardian tie-press for £1. But the running gear will make two great clamping rigs for my dovetail clamping jig - when I make it.

...and the bit that the tap heads were bolted to had made two coat hooks for my workshop!