All Discussions Tagged '' - Temple Illuminatus2024-03-29T09:02:54Zhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?groupUrl=pennywyze-manor&%3Btag=clean&groupId=6363372%3AGroup%3A3404193&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHousehold Items You Can Use As Toolstag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2022-06-13:6363372:Topic:36251842022-06-13T01:14:27.724ZLinda M.https://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/LindaM
<p><span>Yes yes, we know we're supposed to line up all our ingredients and tools on the counter before we start a recipe, </span><em>mise en place</em><span> and all that. But the time will come when you're ready to make dinner and you'll find yourself without one essential tool or another. And when </span><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220751/quick-chicken-piccata/" title="Quick Chicken Piccata">Chicken Piccata</a><span>, …</span></p>
<p><span>Yes yes, we know we're supposed to line up all our ingredients and tools on the counter before we start a recipe, </span><em>mise en place</em><span> and all that. But the time will come when you're ready to make dinner and you'll find yourself without one essential tool or another. And when </span><a title="Quick Chicken Piccata" href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220751/quick-chicken-piccata/">Chicken Piccata</a><span>, </span><a title="Jagerschnitzel" href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/60708/jagerschnitzel/">Jagerschnitzel</a><span>, or </span><a title="Minute Steaks With Barbecue Butter Sauce" href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/221162/minute-steaks-with-barbeque-butter-sauce/">Minute Steak</a><span> are your goal, chances are high you'll be missing one of these: a meat mallet, or meat tenderizer, depending where you grew up.</span></p>
<div class="articleContainer karma-sticky-grid"><div class="articleContainer__content"><div class="component inline image margin-32-tb align-img align-default"><div class="component lazy-image lazy-image-udf image-wrapper aspect_3x2 cache-only align-default rendered image-loaded"><br/><div class="image-wrap-container clearfix"><div class="credit body-caption padding-8-top elementFont__fine--caption">Meat tenderizer or meat mallet</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="paragraph"><p>Many recipes call for pounding pieces of meat thin for quicker, more even cooking. No meat mallet? No problem.<span> </span><strong>Here are five common household items that work just as well in a pinch</strong>.</p>
</div>
<div class="div-sm-highImpact"></div>
<h3>1. A rolling pin</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>Makes sense. But what if you don't have one of those in your back pocket, either? Then choose...</p>
</div>
<h3>2. An empty wine bottle</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>...because somehow you always seem to have one of<span> </span><em>those</em><span> </span>around.</p>
</div>
<h3>3. A really heavy novel</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>Think<span> </span><em>Anna Karenina</em>,<span> </span><em>A Tale of Two Citie</em>s, or<span> </span><em>Lonesome Dove</em>. See? Yet<span> </span><em>another</em><span> </span>reason e-readers can't replace books!</p>
</div>
<div class="component inline image margin-32-tb align-img align-default"><div class="component lazy-image lazy-image-udf image-wrapper aspect_3x4 cache-only align-default rendered image-loaded"><div class="inner-container js-inner-container image-overlay"><img src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F43%2F2014%2F12%2F450px-War_and_Peace_book.jpg&q=60" alt="450px-War_and_Peace_book" title="450px-War_and_Peace_book" width=""/></div>
<div class="image-wrap-container clearfix"><div class="credit body-caption padding-8-top elementFont__fine--caption">War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy via Wikipedia Commons</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h3>4. A large Pyrex or other shatter-proof measuring cup</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>It even has a handle!</p>
</div>
<div class="div-sm-inContent"><div id="div-gpt-native" class="tablet-ad desktop-ad ads-in-content"><div id="google_ads_iframe_3865/ddm.allrecipes.com/ntv1_0__container__"></div>
</div>
</div>
<h3>5. A cast iron skillet or other heavy saucepan</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>Use both hands to avoid wrist injury.</p>
</div>
<div class="paragraph"><p><strong>#Protip</strong>: Make sure to wrap the meat in plastic wrap, wax paper, or a zip-top bag and place on a cutting board before you commence pounding to keep things tidy.</p>
</div>
<div class="paragraph"><p><strong>Two household items NOT to use</strong></p>
</div>
<h3>1. An actual hammer</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>It's too small a surface and will shred or tear the meat (trust me on this).</p>
</div>
<h3>2. Canned food</h3>
<div class="paragraph"><p>More often than not, you'll wind up denting it. Or your fingers. Game over either way.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="articleContainer__content"><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/article/meat-mallet-replacement/">No Meat Mallet? Use These Other Household Items In A Pinch | Allrecipes</a></div>
<div class="articleContainer__content"></div>
</div>
<div class="content two-col-main-content last"><div class="karma-lazy-seriesDetails"></div>
<div class="recirculation-wrapper"><div class="component recirculation recirculation__cards elementLoader--centerIt initialized enabled"><hr class="recirculation__wrapper recirculation__wrapper--top"/><div class="popular carouselNav"><div class="popular-heading-wrapper"><h2 class="popular__title elementFont__headline margin-24-bottom">Popular in<span> </span><span>Tools and Techniques</span></h2>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div> Household Items You Can Use as Toolstag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2022-06-13:6363372:Topic:36252842022-06-13T01:11:33.164ZLinda M.https://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/LindaM
<h3 class="article__excerpt"><span>At some point, you might not have the specific tools you need to tackle a particular job. Here are a few household items that will help you get the job done in a pinch.</span></h3>
<div class="rte"><p><span>We all know the feeling of reaching over to grab one of our tools, only to grasp at thin air. Maybe it's lost. Maybe you had it three houses ago, and no more. Maybe it never existed at all.</span></p>
<p><span>At some point, you might not have the specific…</span></p>
</div>
<h3 class="article__excerpt"><span>At some point, you might not have the specific tools you need to tackle a particular job. Here are a few household items that will help you get the job done in a pinch.</span></h3>
<div class="rte"><p><span>We all know the feeling of reaching over to grab one of our tools, only to grasp at thin air. Maybe it's lost. Maybe you had it three houses ago, and no more. Maybe it never existed at all.</span></p>
<p><span>At some point, you might not have the specific tools you need to tackle a particular job. (Unless you're a "tool person" in the first place and already possess everything under the sun, that is.)</span></p>
<p><span>A lack of essential tools is every DIYer's nightmare—but it's also an opportunity to get creative and give everyday items a new purpose. If the tool you need isn't yet available for </span><a target="_blank" href="https://sparetoolz.com/" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>rent on Sparetoolz</span></a><span>, it's officially time to improvise.</span></p>
<p><span>Before you start Googling how to make your own </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/stone-age" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>cavemanesque tools</span></a><span>, it's worth taking a quick look around the house to investigate the potential of household items you already own. You never know! A temporary tool solution may be sitting under your kitchen sink, in your toiletry kit, or even out in the yard—just waiting for you to discover its hidden dual purpose. </span></p>
<p><span>No tools? No problem. It's time to unleash your inner MacGyver.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<div><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0075/4178/4635/files/tools-864983_1920_1024x1024.jpg?v=1576547862" alt="Closeup of several small hand tools such as pliers, allen wrenches, and screwdrivers lay on wood table"/></div>
<h2>Household Items You Can Use as Tools</h2>
<p><span>A Google search of "alternatives to tools" or "what can I use instead of a (insert tool name here)" yields little in the way of practical, implementable results.</span></p>
<p><span>In fact, most of the results are along the lines of:</span></p>
<p><span><em>"Don't have a wrench? Try a pair of pliers!"</em> (Wowee, thanks.)</span></p>
<p><span><em>"Don't have a Phillips head screwdriver? Try a flat head screwdriver!"</em> (Brilliant.)</span></p>
<p><span>These suggestions aren't remotely helpful when you don't have a similar tool on hand.</span></p>
<p><span>That's why we've put together this mini "life hack" article. We'll be sharing our list of household items that double as the most commonly needed household tools:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span>Hammer</span></li>
<li><span>Screwdriver</span></li>
<li><span>Wrench</span></li>
<li><span>Wire Cutter</span></li>
<li><span>Pair of pliers</span></li>
<li><h2><span>Hankering for a Hammer?</span></h2>
<p><span>A hammer might only serve one primary purpose, but if you don't have one on hand, you'll realize just how well it serves that purpose. If you need to drive nails into a surface manually, you'll need to find an alternative to a hammer.</span></p>
<p><span>While nothing nails it—see what we did there—quite as well as a hammer, there are a few household items that can act as a makeshift hammer. Most people head out into the backyard and pick a flat or round rock, but you could also raid your kitchen cupboard and grab a rolling pin or even a heavy-bottom saucepan. (Way overkill, of course, but it'll get the job done!)</span></p>
<div><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0075/4178/4635/files/cast-iron-4229579_1920_1024x1024.jpg?v=1576548043" alt="Cast iron skillets hang from a rack"/></div>
<p><span>Obviously, take note of the size of the nails you're trying to drive into the wall. If it's a thin picture nail, thumbtack, pushpin, or similar, a makeshift hammer will work just fine. If it's a giant heavy duty nail…proceed at your own risk.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h2><span>Shortage of Screwdrivers?</span></h2>
<p><span>If you find yourself in a situation where you need to remove a screw, sans screwdriver, you're in luck. Many household items double as makeshift screwdrivers, but what to use is dependent on the type of screw.</span></p>
<p><span>Removing a flat head screw is a breeze. You can use a credit card, the tab of a soda can, a metal letter opener, a metal nail file, metal tweezers, or pretty much any thin, firm, flat object.</span></p>
<p><span>To unscrew a Phillips head (or star) screw, you can use a butter knife, a dime, or the edge of a CD or DVD.</span></p>
<p><span>To remove super small screws, you can use whip out that metal nail file or pair of tweezers or—if you're steady-handed—the tip of a sharp kitchen knife.</span></p>
<p><span>Some (probably pretty frustrated) people resort to using the edges of their nails to remove screws, but we don't recommend this as your nails can easily crack, tear, or snap.</span></p>
<div><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0075/4178/4635/files/NOT_A_TOOL_1024x1024.png?v=1576548353" alt="Closeup of woman's hand, her fingernails painted red with silver detail, text reading "not tools""/></div>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2><span>Whining for a Wrench?</span></h2>
<p><span>Do you have nuts, bolts, pipes, or pipe fittings that desperately need tightening? If so, you need to wrangle a </span><a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrench" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>wrench</span></a><span> and get to work. But what happens when there isn't a wrench in sight and those aggravatingly loose chair legs are sending you in the direction of your nearest asylum?</span></p>
<p><span>Don't worry—your household items can make for a suitable wrench replacement.</span></p>
<p><span>Per the </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.fantastichandyman.co.uk/blog/what-to-use-if-you-dont-have-a-wrench/" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>Fantastic Handyman</span></a><span> blog, "Take two large coins and place them on either side of the nut. </span><span>Grip the coins between the knuckles of your index and middle fingers for extra grip and twist in the direction needed to loosen the nut."</span></p>
<p><span>A zip-tie also makes for a wonderful wrench supplement. Just zip-tie it around the nut as tightly as you can, and use the "tail" to pull in the direction necessary to loosen or tighten.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h2><span>Wishing for a Wire Cutter?</span></h2>
<p><span>As the name implies, wire cutters are used to cut wires, but a few other items can also do the job effectively.</span></p>
<p><span>If you can get your hands on a utility knife, you're sorted. If you don't have one handy, you can use a sharp pair of crafting scissors or even a pair of nail clippers—which we really, really hope you have.</span></p>
<div><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0075/4178/4635/files/tools-4328655_1920_1024x1024.jpg?v=1576549247" alt="A few small hand tools rest on a smooth, bright white surface "/></div>
<p> </p>
<h2><span>Pining for Pliers?</span></h2>
</li>
<li><p><span>Anything you need to grip and turn, twist, pull, or bend will call for the usage of pliers. Depending on the task you're trying to accomplish, there are a few household objects you can use in their place.</span></p>
<p><span>If you need pliers to grip onto something large, you can try a pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs, although you may struggle with torque. If you think you can manage it with your hands but need a better grip, try using a silicone kitchen mitt or one of those jar-opening pads.</span></p>
<p><span>But if you need to grip onto something smaller, a pair of metal tweezers is surprisingly effective! (After all, they're basically tiny pliers.) </span></p>
<p><span>If you don't have the necessary tools to perform a job, it's not the end of the world—but it's definitely not recommended to wing it </span><em><span>every</span></em><span> time, as you might not always be so lucky.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span><a href="https://sparetoolz.com/blogs/news/household-items-you-can-use-as-tools">Household Items You Can Use as Tools – Sparetoolz</a></span></p>
</div>