Part of being effective at DIY projects is having the right tools every time. There are some tools that you might only use once in a while but they wind up being invaluable and you can’t finish the job without them.
A pry bar is going to come in handy more often than you realize. For DIYers everywhere, you will find way more uses for your pry bar than you could have ever imagined possible.
Pallet Projects
Even though it might not look like it, pry bars are very practical and useful. It’s one of those tools that you find one use for, then another, then another. And since many DIYers like to repurpose pallets for DIY projects, you better make sure you have a pry bar available.
Pallets are great for DIY projects around the house but you need to take them apart first. That’s where the pry bar comes into play. Place the end of the pry bar between a slat and the board below. Gently tap it in with a mallet and slowly lift it up to pull the nail out. That’s all it takes to make the most of those pallets.
Taping Prior to Painting
How hard can it be to paint? All you do is tape and then slap some paint on the walls, right? Anyone who’s ever painted before knows that there is way more work involved, especially with taping. The key to getting a really clean look is to make sure that your tape lines up around baseboards and door frames. But if you’ve ever taped before, you know that isn’t so easy.
The good news is that you can use a pry bar to “knife in” the tape. While a putty knife might be more ideal, a pry bar works just as well. It keeps a clean paint line when you eventually pull the tape up.
Hanging Heavy Doors
While you might be able to hang a door by yourself, it’s never easy. Getting the height right is tough enough but gets harder as the weight increases. The great thing about a pry bar is that it can help with even really solid doors.
Stand the door up and place the end of your pry bar underneath. Keep the door steady and lift the end of the bar closest to you. Think of it like a teeter-totter, so you’ll need to hold it steady to prevent it from moving. This lets you align the door on the hinges easily and without help.
Reupholstering Furniture
Paying for furniture upholstery is expensive. Having a pry bar can keep your budget in check and help you acquire some seriously valuable skills. Get the staples out by using a pry bar, and gently tapping with a mallet to pop the staples out.
You never quite know how many staples you’ll have to deal with and a pry bar can make short work of the task. As you gain more experience, you’ll find that reupholstering furniture gets a lot easier.
Removing Carpet
Whether you are planning to put down new carpeting or are trying to install hardwood flooring, you’re going to have to pull up the old stuff. There are tons of tack strips and staples that can pop up, causing major pains (sometimes literally).
A pry bar will get those tack strips and staples out with little issue. When you get the tack strip off, pull up any nails using the nail hole on your pry bar. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to move on to the next step in the process.
