I Re-Screened Some Window Screens Today

[Scott Weaner]

Well, I know that it is a very minor skill, but it was quite satisfying. I used the Screen Mouse that can be seen in this VIDEO. It worked very well. The hardest thing was getting the right size of spline. Took me a couple of tries, even with bringing the original spline to Home Depot. I did 8 screens, and saved a few bucks overall.

[Marc M.]

Looks like an awesome little tool. I've done hundreds of screens (worked at a hardware store in high school that repaired them) and it was always a PITA trying to pull the screen tight while making sure the spline stayed in front of the roller.

One tip: if you plan on doing these on a regular basis, take a piece of 3/4" plywood larger than the size of the screens and use screws to hold the frame in place rather than duct tape.  If you do a bunch that are the same size, it's worth creating a frame for them to sit in.  Makes it much easier to do these but may not be worth it for just a few replacements.  Also, fiberglass screening is much easier to work with than aluminum, though aluminum does tend to last longer.  I always use the charcoal color, the silver reflects too much light and can make it hard to see through.