Q: I have two expensive
crystal wine glasses with small chips in the base of the stem. My
neighbor told me she thought there were places you could take them to
have the chip filed down, or perhaps this could even be done yourself
with a file of some sort. Do you know if this is possible?
A: Yes, it's possible to repair chips on crystal
stemware. Check yellow-page directories under "China" and
"Crystal Repair," or ask a china and crystal dealer or a
department store's china and crystal department.
I don't think this is a do-it-yourself job, because
a special abrasive wheel is used to grind the chipped area. This
leaves a gray finish that is then removed when the area is polished
with a cork or felt wheel wetted with a polishing agent.
It's important to note that there is a risk to the
process, especially in cases where the chip is in the rim. About 5
percent of the glasses break.
Costs vary, but generally expect to pay around $10
per piece.
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DEALING WITH CAT HAIR
Q: Getting cat hair off my furniture and especially
the fleece blankets seems impossible. Any suggestions?
A: Yes, try the Scotch Fur Fighter. It's a specially
designed hand tool that removes cat and dog hair from furniture,
garments and car interiors. It uses disposable pads with tiny grippers
that remove embedded pet hair, even dander, according to 3M, its
manufacturer.
A starter kit of one handle and five refill covers
costs about $10 at discount stores such as Target, hardware stores
such as Ace and grocery stores such as Cub.
For a demonstration of how it works, go to
www.3m.com/product/information/fur-fighter.html.
