STEP 1   COLLECT THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS AND TOOLS:

• stainless steel kitchen tongs, 20-22 cm long
• empty 1.5 or 2L plastic bottle with handle
• sandpaper, wire brush or a stone
• tin snips and scissors
• a short piece of elastic or cord
• hammer
• pieces of high density foam [Step 6]
• water resistant contact adhesive (NOT water soluble) [Step 7]
• scraps of cardboard cut from a box (Step 8)
• wire or rubber bands [Step 8]

STEP 2   MAKE A HOLDER

Take your 1.5 or 2 litre plastic bottle and cut a hole in the side opposite the handle. See illustrations opposite and below in Step 4 for a guide to size and shape. The holder is needed to ensure the herbicide does not drip on native plants, and so that the wiper can be put down without getting dirty. It is also essential for carrying the wiper safely.

STEP 3   FLATTEN ENDS OF TONGS

Use the hammer to fl atten the ends of the tongs so that the foam can be glued on to a flat surface.

STEP 4   CUT ENDS OF TONGS TO FIT HOLDER

Buy tongs approximately 20-22cm long. If they are too long to fi t in the holder, use the tin snips to cut the ends to size so that they fi t easily.

STEP 5   ROUGHEN SURFACE

The inner surface of the tongs needs to be roughened to allow the adhesive to stick. Use 60 grit sandpaper or coarser. Emery paper, a wire brush, or a stone can also be be used.

STEP 6   CUT FOAM TO SIZE

Foam needs to be dense rather than coarse. It should be between 10mm and 25mm thick. Suitable foam can be purchased as offcuts from a specialist rubber store. [ see Yellow Pages: Rubber Products — Retail ]

STEP 7   APPLY ADHESIVE

Use water-resistant contact adhesive. [ available at hardware stores ] Spread on inner surfaces of tongs, ollowing the manufacturer’s instructions. Next apply to one side of each piece of foam. Allow to dry according to the instructions on the product.

STEP 8   FIT SPONGES TO TONGS

Apply coated sides of foam to inner sides of tongs. Separate the two pieces of foam with some cardboard. Clamp lightly (eg with wire or rubber bands) without squashing the foam, for at least an hour. The cardboard ensures the sponges do not stick together. It can be removed after an hour or so. Do not use the tongs until the adhesive has reached its full strength: follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

STEP 9   STORE IN HOLDER READY FOR USE

Extend wiper life by rinsing it out regularly and not allowing it to become ingrained with dirt. Rinse thoroughly and dry after every use. Wipers are best stored open - not clamped or tightly closed. Use a piece of elastic or cord to stop the wiper from falling out when the user bends over.