Got a heater for the barn the other day. It's propane so hubby had to run some copper pipe from inside to out. He got it to the point of flaring the pipe for connection and found his flaring tool was shot. The ridges were worn down from many uses over the years. It was late and no store open to buy a new one and Mr. Lixy was frustrated fore having to cut the pipe...try the flaring tool...cut the pipe again...etc. and so on. The tool just wouldn't grip the copper pipe and the pipe pushed through so that the flare wasn't proper. I suggested something rubbery to grip the pipe better. Ya know...like those rubber things to open jars and such! He scoffed and continued to try the tool as is. I handed him a wide rubberband...like the ones you get around asparagus at the market...and went into the house. I just couldn't take his frustration! I soon returned to find that he had the pipes all set up and ready to go. He mumbled that the rubberband trick worked. I giggled to myself and thought of this thread!

This is the kind of stuff I mentioned earlier. I dare not tell him HOW to get things connected because he is so mechanically inclined...but if he runs into a problem and needs to modify a situation to make the fit (or whatever)...I can usually come up with an idea that'll do the trick in a pinch!

*rubs fingernails over upper chest and puffs on them*

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~