Past tips on how to fix a loose door hinge are often cumbersome and time consuming.These tips often include gluing things like match sticks, golf tees or even tooth picks to tighten a loose hinge. A new solution now exists with the Fringe Screw by Fritan Technology.I recently tried out this product and am pleased with the results.

The Fringe Screw is designed to fix loose interior door hinges caused by stripped screw holes. It features a standard size #9 countersunk head but with oversized threads.Allowing the screw threads to embed in the enlarged or stripped screw hole while the head sits flush in the hinge. The Fringe Screw has the same finished look as a typical hinge screw when installed.It provides a simple, sturdy, quick, and attractive solution to loose door hinges caused by stripped door hinge screw holes and no glue or tooth picks are required.

I spoke with the inventor of this product, Frederick “Fritz” Krach, Engineering Manager with Fritan Technology, the maker of the Fringe Screw. Here is a recap of our conversation.

CHUCK: Tell me a little about your background and training.

FRITZ: I have a Master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.   I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

CHUCK: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to the shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.  Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is located.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.  I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

CHUCK: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?Any notable hurdles along the way?

FRITZ: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel. The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

CHUCK: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how you tested the product.

FRITZ: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance. Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw met its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

CHUCK: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

CHUCK: Where is this product made?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

CHUCK: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

FRITZ: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers. We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling. We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

CHUCK: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

FRITZ: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.  If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable. Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

CHUCK:  Thank you for your time!

For additional information and to purchase the Fringe Screw, please go to www.FritanTechnology.com.

>>>

Q: Tell me a little about your background and training.

A: I have a master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.

I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

A: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to this shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.

Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.

I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

Q: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?(Were there) any notable hurdles along the way?

A: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel.

The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

Q: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how or who you tested the product.

A: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance.

Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw meet its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

Q: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

A: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

Q: Where is this product made?

A: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

Q: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

A: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers.

We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling.

We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

Q: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

A: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.

If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable.

Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

I recently authored an article for the website eHow.com.  The article covers the steps on how to hire a home improvement handyman to work on projects on your house.  This article covers seven steps to help make the right decision and hire the best person for your home improvement project.  Only hire those with the proper skills for a particular project.  Remember that hiring an unskilled individual will end up costing more to redo or correct things done improperly.   Read the entire article at eHow.com.

Tool Box

What is it used for? Hold all of your hand tools, spare parts and other household repair items.  You could also simply use an old duffle bag or other sturdy container.

Price range? $20-50

Hammer

What is it used for? Driving and removing nails.  Demolition work.  Comes in many various types.  Choice an all-purpose claw type hammer.

Price range? $15-35

Screw Driver (flat head style)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening wood and metal screws.  Are often available in a small set.

Price range? $5-20

Screw Driver (Phillips head style, looks like an “+” sign)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening wood and metal screws.  Are often available in a small set.

Price range? $5-20

Pliers

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening bolts and other threaded fasteners and cutting and holding wire.  There are several different types of pliers including needle nose, channel lock, locking, electricians, vise-grip and slip-joint.  If you needed to choice one all-purpose one, then select the slip-joint.

Price range? $5-15

Adjustable Wrench (Crescent wrench)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening nuts, bolts and other threaded fasteners of varying sizes and provides more leverage and griping power than pliers.

Price range? $5-15

Drywall Patch

What is it used for? Applied with the putty knife (see below) to fill holes and

cracks in your   walls.

Price range? $2-3

Putty Knife

What is it used for? Applying putty, drywall patch, filling drywall holes, scraping loose paint from the wall.

Price range? $3-7

Tape Measure

What is it used for? Taking accurate measurements before you cut wood or other items.  Allows for accurate hanging of items on your walls.

Price range? $5-25

Wood Saw

What is it used for? Trimming and cutting wood.  Use with caution.

Price range? $10-25

Utility Knife

What is it used for? Cutting and trimming many items from wood, vinyl, paper etc.  Be sure to get extra blades as they dull with use.  Use with caution.

Price range? $5-10

Level

What is it used for? Ensuring the level of items you may construct or pictures you hang on the wall.

Price range? $10-25

Work Gloves

What is it used for? Keeping your hands protected from cuts and scrapes.

Price range? $5-10

Safety Glasses

What is it used for? Keeping your eyes protected.

Price range? $10-20

Paint Brush

What is it used for? Often times you can touch-up blemishes on your walls

without having to paint the whole room.

Price range? $1-12

Electronic Stud Finder

What is it used for? Finding wall studs for mounting heavy items on your walls.

Price range? $20-$50

Paint Can Lid Opener

What is it used for? Easily opening paint cans.

Price range? Usually free from the place you purchase paint.

>>>

Below you will find excerpts from my interview with James Williams, CEO of Skan Technologies (www.skantechnologies.com).  I met Jim via a Linked-In group we were both members of online.  He was gracious enough to take part in this interview.

James Williams, WurkPads Creator

CHUCK:  Tell me a little about your background and what it is that you do today?

JIM:  I am owner of Skan Technologies, LLC.  I started Skan Tech as a way to bring my ideas from the drawing board to the market.  Most of my ideas revolve around ergonomics and efficiency.  Whenever I am doing something my mind naturally starts spinning in the background looking for a better way to achieve the desired end result.  If I have an idea I write it down or make a voice note on my phone.  Tinkering in my shop is one of my favorite hobbies so I’ll make a prototype out of junk I have laying around and see if there is any future for the idea.  The downside of this is that I tend to save old vacuum cleaners and other broken stuff.  Fortunately I have plenty of space behind my shop in Alaska to hide my stuff so our house doesn’t resemble a hoarder’s domain.  Of course starting up a product development company is not cheep so I still commercial fish in Alaska 4-5 months a year to augment our income.  I started fishing for crab (Deadliest Catch) back in the ’80s when Dutch Harbor was the wild west and the Elbowroom gained it’s reputation.  Now I primarily fish for Halibut.

CHUCK:  Where did you come up with the idea for WurkPads?

JIM:  Tension on the Fishing Vessel Kilkenny was high during the summer Shelikof Straits Scallop season so we decided to take a break for a week.  I used this time to begin work on an out building on our property in Homer, Alaska.  I was putting in the sub floor, hating the latest set of kneepads that I had purchased because the strap kept biting into the back of my thighs and calves.  The idea for a strapless kneepad had been circulating through my grey matter for some time and on this day it surfaced again.  “How can a get rid of this freaking strap” kept spinning in the background.  I was blinded by the bright light that came on in my mind and immediately went to my shop to tinker.  I had some old suspender clips and foam from work I had done on the NeckAid project so I pulled my utility knife out of my tool belt, trimmed out an oval, and after modifying the suspender clips, attached them to the edges with pop rivets.  Voila, a strapless kneepad was born.

A prototype of the WurkPads

CHUCK:  How long did it take you to get from prototype to product available for purchase?

JIM:     A long time.  The light that seared my retina came on in June of 2006 and I told myself that I was going to steamroll this product to the market as fast as humanly possible.  We received our first run of 1500 pair in August 2010.  Not exactly steamrolling.  The winter of 2006-07 I refined the hand-tooled prototypes and got them into the hands of tradesmen.  My parents were building a house at the time so we had a few sets on the site for the subs to try.  Of course there were issues with the crude prototypes but we had an overwhelming thumbs up from those who tried them.  I searched for a company to help engineer and produce the product and came across GID (www.gidcompany.com).  The product development time line was agonizingly slow since Jim Grimes and I are both perfectionists.  I would tell him what I wanted.  He would come up with a better solution than my idea.  We would get a prototype made.  I would test the prototype. I would make suggestions based on field tests that I performed.  We would make another prototype.  etc.  Grimes and I are both strong headed but once the wax is cleared from the ears we both are open to alternative view points and solutions.  The collaboration was synergistic.

CHUCK:  What types of professionals are using the WurkPads?

JIM:  Carpenters, plumbers, tile guys, utility workers, handymen, landscapers, gardeners. We have a few large corporations that offer it in their PPE crib. We are working on getting it to the Air force and National Guard.

CHUCK:  I heard the WurkPad will soon be available in the big box home improvement retail stores, when will that happen?

JIM:  We have gotten the green light from one of them.  When the buyer saw the product he said that it “screamed quality” and wanted to keep the quality standard for their high volume purchases.  We are negotiating the deal this week.  I imagine it will be available from the big boys sometime in 2011.  In the meantime product can be purchased from Skan Tech’s website (www.skantechnologies.com).  You have to see the user video on the site to appreciate the product.

CHUCK:  Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

JIM:  Yes.  There are several… if your readers want to see them they’ll have to sign a non-compete agreement or look for them on the Skan Tech website in hopefully less than 4 years.

CHUCK:  Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ inventor?

JIM:  It’s not for the faint of heart.  Write your ideas down and test them out if possible.  Treat it as an expensive hobby and maybe you’ll make some $ down the road.  Get a good patent attorney.  I can recommend one.  Even if you think you know what you’re doing legal counsel is still a must.  There are a lot of scams out there that just want to take the inventor’s money and never really put any effort into their ideas.

To learn more or purchase a pair, go to www.skantechnologies.com.   Jim has offered a $5 discount to my readers to  purchase a pair of WurkPads.  Click on ‘Contact’ on the top menu and send me a request for details.

>>>

Exterior caulking is a pliable material designed to span small gaps between joints around the outside of your house. Some common places to find these joints are where siding meets a corner trim board, and around doors and windows. Weather, sun, and temperature can cause your caulking to degrade, crack, shrink, and generally fail over time. This can lead to moisture seeping in and the inevitable wood rot damage to follow.

Autumn is a great time to fix minor exterior caulking problems to kee your home in top shape for the winter months to come.

What to do? This is something a handy homeowner or Do-It-Yourselfer can do at least once per year. Simply visually check around the outside of your entire home. If you find degraded caulking, remove any loose caulking and reapply. I like to use white paintable exterior caulking. After the caulking dries you can paint right over with your matching paint color. While you have the paint can out, any areas of bare wood in need of touch-up can be painted at the same time. If home improvement is not your thing, hire someone to do it for you.

I have heard this one before…My home is newer and has cement board siding. I don’t need to worry about this right? Homes that have cement board (hardi plank or hardi siding are other names for similar item) also have many areas that are wood and need sealing. Some common areas typically constructed of wood include: corner boards, facsia boards (this is the board where your gutter attaches), soffit (this is the area underneath your roof over hang or eave) and around doors and windows.

If you find areas that are rotten, don’t wait to take care of it. It won’t get better and in fact, will only gets worse over time. Also, rotting wood can be an invitation to some wood destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants. So hire someone to take care of this for you before the problem gets bigger and more costly.

As a contractor, I see wood rot damage over and over in homes that leads to costly repairs that could potentially be avoided through routine home maintenance. Your house is likely your largest investment. Don’t wait until you have a big problem on your hands. Act while it is still small. And remember a little bit of annual home maintenance goes a long way.
Find more helpful tips at HouseFixer.Info

by www.HouseFixer.info

Winter is coming and that means we will be spending more time at home. To ensure a safe and cozy winter, here are seven easy steps you can take to prepare your home. The majority of these tasks can be completed by a “Handy” homeowner. If you are in doubt about any listed task it is best to call a qualified professional. Maintaining your home this Fall will ensure your home is in good shape through the Winter.

STOP THE DRAFT. Prevent cold air from entering your home by checking your home’s weather-stripping and caulking. You’ll find weather-stripping and/or caulking usually around windows and entry doors. Look for signs of wear and replace if needed. Consider sealing up your drafty windows with a clear plastic film. This is inexpensive and kits are readily available at your local hardware or home improvement store. If you have a crawlspace or basement equipped with vents, it’s generally a good idea to close them during the winter to help keep pipes from freezing.

BRING IT INSIDE. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, it’s time to start bringing in those outside items inside. Plants are a good place to start, but check with your garden supply store for specifics. Clearing garden hoses of water and storing them inside. Outside furniture, grills, toys and other recreational items usually last longer if they aren’t exposed to the winter weather.

DON’T BE COOL. Finding out your heating system doesn’t work properly on the first cold night of the year is not fun for anyone. Go ahead and turn on your heating system and check to see if it appears to heat your home. Don’t forget to change all of your air filters too! It is best to have a qualified heating specialist come check your system before it gets cold.

WATER TRYING TO GET IN. Water will enter your home if your home is not properly sealed and weatherized. Your first line of defense is your roof and siding. Take a good look at your roof and siding from the ground looking for missing or damaged shingles and siding. Looking through a pair of binoculars often helps with this. Next check in your attic looking for signs of water. Finally, check your basement or crawlspace for signs of water. Remember water usually leaves a mark darker than the item it dried on. It is good to catch these problems while they are small.

WATER TRYING TO GET OUT. Fall is a good time to check each of the plumbing fixtures in you home to be sure that you don’t have any leaks. Remember many times leaks start small and get bigger thereby causing greater damage. Places to check include: around toilets, under sinks, around tubs & showers, and your hot water heater. Again, check for signs of water where it shouldn’t be, all around your home.

DON’T GO UP IN SMOKE OR FLAMES. If you use your wood burning fireplace or stove, have it checked by a qualified chimney sweeper before the winter hits. Excessive build up of creosote in your chimney flue can cause fires in your chimney which can spread to your house. Most chimney sweep companies offer low-cost or even free inspections. Be on the safe side and have it checked. While on the subject of fire safety, go ahead and check the operation of and change the battery if needed in each of your homes smoke detectors.

ASK FOR HELP. Don’t wait until something breaks to find someone to repair your home. You should have the names and contact information for qualified service people in your area. Ask your friends and colleagues for referrals. Getting referrals are often a great way of finding someone that you can rely on. Some service professionals to consider having names and phone numbers for include: Plumber, Electrician, Heating & AC Repairman, and a General Handyman.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. Attribution must read “Infomation provided by www.HouseFixer.info” and link is live whenever possible.