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23 Tammuz 5759 - July 7, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family
Do It Yourself -- With Yosef Krinsky

One of the most common questions I am asked is, "Where did you find this out?" Or, "How did you know how to do this?"

Well, I started in the Do It Yourself business at a rather young age. My grandfather, Murray Krinsky (of blessed memory), introduced me to painting at the age of 6. He was a master painter, and at the time was hired to paint the Museum of Natural History in New York. It was not just to paint the walls; he painted some of the exhibits as well. I don't know how much of the paint I applied actually stuck to the bottom of the giant whale that we worked on or the dinosaur feet, but I still have fond memories of working with him.

We moved from New York before my bar mitzvah to the relative countryside of Delaware. There my new friends and I built tree forts, and even started a log cabin with a concrete floor. Before we attempted these projects we spent hours in the Talley Junior High School library researching and nudnicking our shop teacher, Mr. Driesbach. So we really had proper knowledge before we attempted building.

Later, I became an addict of our local Radio Shack: always listening to and watching the technician in the back room; meeting and talking (even tagging along) with telephone, alarm, and electronic contractors. In my late teen years I worked for one of America's foremost window companies, and always I watched and learned.

I attended the University of Delaware and was to be the first "white collar" worker in the family and did, for some time, program computers (not PC's, but mainframes). After moving to Israel and attending the Radin Yeshiva in Netanya, I volunteered to work on maintenance of the campus during the bein hazmanim. After marrying, I joined the office staff; then joined the office staff of another institution. However, I not only found myself not enjoying "office work" but having trouble making ends meet. I discussed this with HaRav Pinchas Markovitz who recommended that I start "Handyman Services," my first venture as a private contractor.

For three years I was the guy that was called to fix the triss, the toilet, the electric outlet, the washing machine, and more. I later rediscovered my love of house painting, especially the faux finishes I had learned in my youth. I founded Walls R Us and remain there to this day. I still repaired all those items from my previous clientele and now had regular callers asking, "How to. . ." And now you have it, my "Do It Yourself" history.

Mr. Haller in Jerusalem asks, "I've been told that to clean crayon off walls, you spray WD-40 on the crayon and it wipes off, is this correct?"

If your walls were properly painted with a quality undercoat and an acrylic topcoat, this can be done. Spray the WD-40 on a rag and wipe the crayon off, then clean the WD-40 off the wall with soap and water. Beware that this only works on properly painted walls and if they have not been painted properly, you will cause a bigger mess than you have now and the only option would be to repaint.

Mrs. Rivka Epstein from Jerusalem asks, "In light of our water shortage [in Israel], is it possible to use the following for potted plants: dishwater with soap suds, bath water with soap and shampoo, and water from cleaning the floors?"

I asked Landscape designer and ornamental horticulturist Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky and he said that for potted plants do not use such water ("gray water") as those plants are very sensitive to alkali and salts. However a lawn can be watered with bath and dishwater and clothes washing machine water, with no bleach after the second rinse.

Mr. Levin asks, "I have been told by various painters that only lime wash (sid in Israel) should be applied to the walls of a bathroom. Is this correct?"

If you asked me this question 20 years ago I would have said yes, but since then many bathroom paints have become available. My favorite, Zinnser's PermaWhite, can be applied directly to any clean wall (2 coats required) and it will not peel or turn black from mildew. Guaranteed by Good Housekeeping for 5 years. I have used this product in hundreds of homes and only once had a problem of mildew returning (which is an excellent track record). Another option would be to apply a quality undercoat, then apply an acrylic or latex paint with fungicide protection. I have used common latex with adding M-1, Mildewcheck, Mold Stuff, and other fungicide additive packets and have had excellent results. When a specific mixed color from a chart is required, this is the best method.

Mr. Samson from Afula asks, "I have heard that there are special bathrooms which can be used below ground and a special pump removes the waste to the sewage level. Is there any problem with using such on Shabbos?"

Such a question should be taken with the plans to your local rabbi. I have heard that there are many such items on the market in Israel and have been informed by one expert in Jerusalem that only one model and installation technique has been approved by The Institute of Science and Halacha.

Today's Do It Yourself Hint: When your water kettle or Shabbos kettle fill with lime deposits, they can be cleaned with a 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water solution left inside for a day. Some kettles may require more time. After the lime has dissolved rinse the kettle very well with water.

Yosef Krinsky, a third generation craftsman, is the CEO of Walls R Us - House Painting, Inc., Jerusalem Division. He can be reached at (02) 585-9559; common mail: POB 27355, Jerusalem, Israel; email at wallsrus@hotmail.com, and soon his WWW web site. Homeowners (renters, too) are invited to email their questions for a somewhat quick replay. He will publish names of individuals who ask for advice unless they explicitly request to remain anonymous. The whale he painted in New York is still there.

 

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