| How to Paint a Cooler Posted: 20 Jul 2018 01:00 AM PDT When you're painting a cooler, the color choices and design possibilities are endless. If you take the time to prime, paint and seal your cooler correctly, you'll have a personalized keepsake that you can use for years to come. EditPriming the Cooler - Fill in any logos or indents on the cooler with spackle. Spackle is a putty used as a filler. It hardens when it dries, so you'll be able to paint right over it later on. Use a putty knife to fill the indents with spackle. Scrape the edge of the knife over the top of the spackle so it's flush with the rest of the cooler. Don't worry if it's not perfect — you can sand it down later.[1]
- Let the spackle dry for several hours. The exact amount of time it will take the spackle to dry depends on how deep the indents you filled in were — the deeper the indents, the longer it will take to dry. After a few hours, try touching the spackle with your fingers. If it's hard and has a chalky texture, it's dry.
- Sand the surface of the cooler once the spackle is dry. Sanding the cooler will make it easier for the paint to stick to it. You want to sand the cooler until the surface feels smooth when you touch it. Don't forget to sand over the spackle too so it's flush with the rest of the cooler.[2]
- Start sanding the cooler with a coarse grit sandpaper (40-50 grit) and finish with a fine grit sandpaper (120-220 grit). Using 2 kinds of sandpaper will help you make your cooler as smooth as possible.[3]
- If the cooler came with a smooth finish, you still want to sand it down to remove the top layer of the plastic so the paint sticks.
- Apply a spray-on plastic primer to the surface of the cooler. A plastic primer will help the paint adhere to the surface of the cooler better. Spray the primer on the cooler so there's an even coat over the entire surface.[4]
- You can find a spray-on plastic primer at your local home improvement center or paint store.
- If the cooler has handles or wheels that you don't want to paint, cover them with painter's tape before you spray the primer on.
- Let the cooler dry in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours. Place the cooler on a tarp or sheets of newspaper while it dries so the primer doesn't get on your floor. After 24 hours, the cooler should feel dry to the touch. If it's not, let it finish drying.[5]
EditDesigning and Painting the Cooler - Paint the cooler background with acrylic paint. Before you add designs or personal touches, you should create a solid base to work on. Cover the sides and top of the cooler with paint using a large paintbrush.[6]
- To use multiple colors for the background, paint 1 color at a time and let the paint dry in between colors.
- One coat of acrylic paint should be enough for the background.
- Let the paint dry for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the cooler should feel dry to the touch. If you're doing additional colors for the background, paint them on one at a time and let the cooler dry for 24 hours in between each coat.[7]
- Print out any designs or lettering you want to put on the cooler. While you can definitely draw designs on the cooler freehand, using designs printed off the computer will make the cooler look cleaner and more professional.[8]
- Keep in mind that you'll be tracing the outlines of the designs onto the cooler and filling them in with paint, so stick with simple images and fonts.
- Trace the designs and lettering onto the cooler using carbon paper. To use carbon paper, trace the outline of your design onto the paper. Then, hold the carbon paper on the cooler and draw over the lines to transfer the design onto the cooler.[9]
- You can find carbon paper online or at your local art supplies store.
- Use printer paper to transfer your designs if you don't have carbon paper. Start by tracing your design onto a sheet of printer paper. Then, shade in the back of the paper with pencil. After the back is shaded in, place the paper on the cooler where you want the design to go and trace over the lines with a pencil to transfer it.[10]
- Try tissue paper if you don't have carbon printer paper. Trace your design onto a piece of tissue paper. Then, position the tissue paper on the cooler where you want the design to go and draw over the outline with a fine-point permanent marker. The marker will bleed through the tissue paper and transfer onto the cooler.[11]
- Fill in the designs and lettering with acrylic paint. Use small paint brushes to apply the paint so you can be more detailed.[12]
- If you want to do multiple colors in the same design, do 1 color at a time and let the paint dry in between colors — otherwise, the colors might smudge together.
- It may be easier if you lay the cooler on its side so the side you're painting is facing up. If you do this, you'll need to paint 1 side at a time and let the paint dry in between sides.
- Let the painted designs and lettering dry for several hours. The thinner the coat of paint, the less time it will take to dry. After a few hours, touch the paint to see if it's completely dry. If it is, you can add additional colors to your designs, start on a new side of the cooler, or move on to sealing the cooler.[13]
EditSealing the Cooler - Apply a coat of spray-on Mod Podge to the surface of the cooler. Mod Podge is a sealer and finisher that will help prevent the paint on the cooler from chipping or peeling. Once the paint on the cooler is dry, spray the surface of the cooler with a thin, even coat of Mod Podge.[14]
- You can find Mod Podge online or at your local arts and crafts store.
- Let the first coat of mod podge dry for 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, the Mod Podge should feel completely dry to the touch. If it doesn't, let it finish drying before you move on.[15]
- Apply a second coat of Mod Podge and let it dry. Two coats of Mod Podge should be enough to protect the paint on the cooler from chipping or peeling. After you spray the second coat, let the cooler dry for another 15-20 minutes before moving it.[16]
- Cover the cooler with a thin layer of clear polyurethane to waterproof it. Since coolers have a tendency to get wet, it's a good idea to waterproof your cooler so the paint doesn't come off. Use a clean paintbrush to apply a thin, even layer of clear polyurethane to the entire outer surface of the cooler.[17]
- You can find polyurethane online or at your local home improvement center.
- Let the cooler dry for 24 hours before you use it. After 24 hours, the cooler should be completely dried, sealed, and ready to go. If you covered the handles and wheels with painter's tape, you can take the tape off now.[18]
EditThings You'll Need - Cooler
- Spackle
- Putty knife
- Coarse grit sandpaper
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Spray-on plastic primer
- Tarp or newspaper
- Painter's tape
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Carbon or tissue paper
- Printer
- Printer paper
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
- Polyurethane
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Pick Tomatoes Posted: 19 Jul 2018 05:00 PM PDT There's nothing like the flavor of a tomato that's fresh from the garden, whether you're eating it by itself or using it in a delicious recipe. To get the most out of your home-grown tomatoes, it's important to pick them at the right time and in the right way. You can either pick tomatoes when they're fully ripe or you can harvest them at first blush and allow them to ripen inside. EditChecking for Ripeness - Research your variety to find out what color your tomatoes should be. Although most tomatoes turn bright red when they're ripe, some varieties can be orange, green, yellow, pink, or purple. Be sure you know what variety your tomatoes are so you'll know what color they'll be when they're ripe.[1]
- If you start your tomatoes from seeds, you could either check your seed packet or ask the person who giving you the seeds to find out what color your ripe tomatoes will be.
- If you buy seedlings, make sure you know the variety of tomato you are buying so you'll know what color to expect.
- Check your tomatoes for ripeness every 1-2 days. Tomatoes can ripen quickly, so make sure you're keeping a close eye on them. Every day or two, visit your tomato plants to look for a change in color.[2]
- Examine your tomatoes to make sure the skin is smooth and shiny. Ripe tomatoes have smooth, slightly shiny skin. Your tomatoes should be free of any dark spots or bruising, which can indicate rot.[3]
- Gently squeeze your tomatoes to test for firmness. A ripe tomato will be slightly firm. If it's too hard, it probably needs more time to ripen. If it's too soft, it's probably over-ripe and should be picked and thrown away.[4]
- Test the weight of the tomato in your hand. As a tomato ripens, it becomes heavier. Try cupping an unripe tomato in one hand and a tomato you think may be ripe in the other. The ripe tomato should be noticeably more dense.[5]
- Check the smell. A ripe tomato should have an earthy, sweet smell at the stem. If the tomato has a slightly tart aroma (or no smell at all) it's probably not ripe yet.[6]
EditHarvesting Ripe Tomatoes - Carefully grasp your ripe tomato and gently twist it away from the stem. When it's time to harvest, gently take the tomato in one hand. Don't squeeze too hard, or you'll damage the fruit. Most ripe tomatoes will easily free themselves from their vine with a gentle twist. Try to snap the stalk just above the flower-shaped leaf on top, known as the calyx.[7]
- Use garden scissors to snip the vine if it doesn't snap off easily. Some varieties of tomatoes may have a thicker stalk, and you might not want to grasp delicate varieties like heirloom tomatoes hard enough to twist the stem. If this is the case, use garden scissors to cut the stalk, leaving just a little of the stem attached.[8]
- Harvest your tomatoes before they are ripe if they are cracking. If you notice you are having a problem with your tomatoes cracking at the stem, you can try harvesting them just as they begin to change color and allow them to ripen indoors.[9]
- Tomatoes that ripen off the vine tend not to have as much flavor as those which are vine-ripened.
- Pull the plant up by its roots to ripen tomatoes before a frost. Tomatoes should be harvested before the first frost, but there are usually still some unripened fruits left on the plant. If a cold snap is coming and you want to save the last of your tomatoes, pull the entire plant up by its roots and hang it upside down in a basement or a garage. You can them pick the fruits as they ripen.[10]
EditStoring Your Tomatoes - Store your tomatoes in a cabinet or on a shaded countertop. If you set your tomatoes on a sunny windowsill, they may ripen too quickly and spoil before you can eat them. Keep them out of direct sunlight by placing them in a cupboard or in a shady spot on the counter instead. Try putting your tomatoes on a pretty plate to enjoy their bright color until you use them.
- Fresh tomatoes will last for about a week on the counter.
- Place tomatoes in a paper bag with a banana to ripen them faster. If you picked your tomatoes before they were ripe, you can help them ripen faster by placing them in a brown paper bag. Add a banana or a sliced apple to the bag. These fruits produce ethylene gas, which is a chemical that tomatoes produce during the ripening process.[11]
- Don't refrigerate ripe tomatoes unless you have to. Refrigeration will prolong the life of your tomatoes, but it also alters their fresh flavor and texture. Try to use as many of your tomatoes as you can without refrigerating them.[12]
- If you do refrigerate your tomatoes, put them in the crisper to preserve their taste longer.
- Tomatoes should last for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Freeze tomatoes whole to use later. If you want to preserve your tomatoes for use later in sauces or soups, try freezing them whole. Just take the core out, then place the tomatoes in a freezer-safe bag or container. There's no need to remove the skins, as these will slip off easily when you defrost the tomatoes.[13]
- Frozen tomatoes will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer. To defrost the tomatoes, allow them to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.[14]
- Do not leave discarded tomatoes in your garden, as this can attract pests and spread disease.
- Remove diseased or misshapen tomatoes from the vine and discard them to prevent any diseases or pest infestations from spreading.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Heal a Hyperextended Elbow Posted: 19 Jul 2018 09:00 AM PDT You've pushed your elbow beyond its limits, literally! While this is undoubtedly a painful experience, a hyperextended elbow can usually heal with some rest and ice. Generally, hyperextending your elbow causes a sprain, which is the stretching or tearing of a ligament. It can also tear the cartilage that covers the joint, known as the articular capsule, but that is rarer.[1] Start by applying ice and seeing your doctor if you hear a "popping" sound. EditDealing with the Initial Hyperextension - Apply ice immediately to the injured area. When you overextend your elbow, you'll know it because of the pain. When you injure your elbow, apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth as soon as you can. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes at a time, as it can keep the swelling down. Never apply the ice directly to your skin. Make sure there's a cloth between the ice and your elbow at all times.[2]
- Elevate your elbow above your heart. Set your elbow up on a high table while you sit, or sit on the ground and place it on a chair or couch cushion. Elevating your elbow both as you ice and after will help prevent and relieve swelling.
- Wrap an elastic bandage around your elbow. Hold the end of the bandage against the inside of your elbow and wrap it tightly around the injury to provide compression. This will hinder movement in your elbow, allowing it to heal. Loosen the bandage if it becomes painful or makes you lose feeling in your arm.
- This bandage wrap is typically tan in color and is sold in a roll. Look for it in the first aid section of convenience stores.
- Rest your elbow while it heals. Keep your elbow as still as possible while it's injured. The bandage should help with this, immobilizing your elbow to help it heal and prevent re-injury. Keep it wrapped as much as possible, and avoid moving it as much as you can.
- Visit the doctor if you hear a "pop." While not every sprain needs to be seen by a doctor, you should visit your doctor if you heard a popping sound when your elbow hyperextended. That could mean your ligament tore rather than just stretched. The doctor will take an x-ray to check for fractures and an MRI to check the tissue, including the ligaments.[3]
- Take over-the-counter pain medications if you're in pain. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for instance, to help you cope with the initial pain. If these aren't helping after a day or 2, talk to your doctor about a prescription.[4]
- For ibuprofen, you can take 400 milligrams every 4 to 6 hours or so. Do not exceed 3200 milligrams in a 24-hour period.[5]
- For acetaminophen, you can take 650 to 1,000 milligrams every 4 to 6 hours. Don't exceed 4,000 milligrams in a 24-hour period. If you're taking extra strength, don't go over 3,000 milligrams in a 24-hour period.[6]
EditImmobilizing the Sprain - Use a sling for your sprain. Your doctor may recommend that you wear a sling to help keep your arm immobile for a time. You may need to wear the sling for a couple of weeks until the sprain heals.[7]
- A sling will immobilize your elbow at a right-angle and hold it next to your body.
- Ask about a cast for a more serious sprain. If you have a more serious sprain, your doctor may recommend a cast or splint instead of a sling. These solutions will keep the elbow even more immobile than a sling, and you may need to wear 1 of them for up to 3 weeks.[8]
- Try taping your elbow if you need to be more active. If you're an athlete, you may decide to keep using your elbow, even against doctor's wishes. If you do, you can stabilize your elbow using medical/athletic tape to help prevent overextension again.[9]
- Have your doctor show you the best way to tape your arm to keep it immobile.
EditProviding Further Treatment - Let the elbow rest. The sling, cast, or tape should help you rest the arm for the first few days. However, make sure you aren't doing things that cause pain or discomfort in your arm. You risk re-injuring your elbow if you do too much.[10]
- Use ice on your elbow during the recovery period. Ice can help with swelling and pain. You can apply ice 3 to 4 times a day. Don't keep it on longer than 20 minutes. Also, make sure to wrap the ice in cloth. Putting ice directly on your skin can cause damage.[11]
- Apply a compression bandage to help with swelling. Wrapping your arm in an elastic bandage can help keep swelling down. In addition, it can reduce pain. An elastic bandage will likely only work in conjunction with a sling, as a cast or tape will apply their own compression.[12]
- Elevate your elbow above heart level. When your elbow is below your heart, gravity encourages more blood flow to the area. When your elbow is injured, that can lead to increased swelling. To help prevent this issue, rest your elbow on pillows so that it's above your heart.[13]
- Elevate your elbow as often as you can, particularly when you're asleep.
- Ask about surgery for severe sprains and torn articular capsules. In some cases, you may need to have surgery to repair the damage done to your elbow. However, in most cases, the doctor will only perform surgery if you also have a severe strain in the muscle rather than just a sprain in the ligament.[14]
- The doctor may also suggest surgery for a torn articular capsule.
- Discuss physical therapy with your doctor. In some cases, physical therapy may be appropriate in helping you heal from this injury. Your doctor is the best person to make this decision. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help strengthen your elbow, for instance.[15]
EditAvoiding Common Irritants - Skip heat for the first 3 days. Heat may sound like a good idea on a sprain, but it may actually do more harm than good. Avoid using heat sources like saunas, hot baths, or hot pads while your elbow is healing.[16]
- Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol can slow down your healing process. Plus, it increases bleeding, which can make swelling worse. While it may be tempting to deaden the pain by drinking a bit, it's best to skip it for the first 3 days or so.[17]
- Don't massage the area. When you get an injury, you may want to massage it to try to make it feel better. However, that can make swelling and bleeding worse, so try to skip it for the first 3 days or so.[18]
EditSources and Citations
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