Fix It Fast: Start here for DIY help! (You'll know when it's a problem by smell.)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Hobbies, Crafts, & Houses > Fix It Fast: Start here for DIY help! (You'll know when it's a problem by smell.)

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I cut a hole (roughly 1'x1') in a plaster & lathe wall and need to patch it back up. It's in the back corner of a closet so "good enough" is fine - cut a piece of drywall to size, tape & mud?

# ¿ Oct 20, 2020 02:40

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# ¿ May 14, 2024 16:15

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

My house has a dining room built-in with a couple drawer holes and no drawers. Anyone have tips or a guide for cobbling together a couple replacements?

# ¿ Nov 3, 2020 13:59

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I'd try a dremel or drill with a wire brush. An angle grinder seems a bit excessive for caulk.

# ¿ Nov 12, 2020 14:49

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Are combo leaf blower/mulcher/vacuums any good at the vac & mulch part? My backyard is tiered so leaves have to be carried out to the street instead of just blown/raked, it'd be easier if I could just suck them up.

Toebone fucked around with this message at 11:51 on Nov 16, 2020

# ¿ Nov 16, 2020 11:47

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

PainterofCrap posted:

What worked for me was a yard vacuum: https://www.craftsman.com/products/outdoor-tools-equipment/chippers-shredders/cmxgpam1080054--24-in-163cc-chipper-shredder-vacuum

I avoid anything large/wheeled like that, since my backyard is tiered and I'd have to build a ramp or carry it down the staircase. Maybe I'll grab a pair of those big plastic hand scoops for leaves.

# ¿ Nov 16, 2020 18:55

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

What's the proper way to secure a 1x4 I'm cutting with a jigsaw?

# ¿ Nov 28, 2020 00:26

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Motronic posted:

The default answer is "clamp the end you aren't cutting to your work surface". Or just hold it there with your off hand.

But I'm not sure why you're cutting framing lumber with a jigsaw so maybe your question might be different.

Cause I want to!

Serious edit: I'm replacing some of the balusters on my porch railing. My basement work bench seems to be home-made (came with the house) and is too thick (~12") to affix the clamps I have to; as long as I'm spending money I'm wondering if I just need a bigger clamp or if a carpentry vise or something is the way to go.

Toebone fucked around with this message at 01:15 on Nov 28, 2020

# ¿ Nov 28, 2020 00:48

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Chin-up bar for toddlers

# ¿ Nov 29, 2020 00:09

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

FateFree posted:

I assumed that would be even worse for some reason. Is that the correct way I should be storing these? I'm gonna need a ton of space since I have fairly large stacks of these things.

Baking sheet?

# ¿ Nov 30, 2020 20:31

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

My shower didn't seem as warm as usual this morning, and when I went down to look at the water heater (circa 2006, gas) the floor was wet from a slow drip out the relief valve. What do?

Toebone fucked around with this message at 12:29 on Dec 21, 2020

# ¿ Dec 21, 2020 12:04

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

It's still dripping, about once every 3-4 seconds.

# ¿ Dec 21, 2020 18:09

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I tapped the valve with the handle of a screwdriver a couple times and the leaking stopped. If it acts up against I'll try replacing the valve.

# ¿ Dec 22, 2020 04:44

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I want to buy some pegboards for my tools, any brands you guys like? The steel Wall Control ones on Amazon seem popular.

# ¿ Dec 24, 2020 21:33

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

corgski posted:

For unfinished spaces I’d recommend something like these, or the much more expensive but more reliable Feit or Cree products in the same vein.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerc...83141/206028970

Five of these light my entire 25x30 basement, for reference.

I can't speak for relative quality but I got these cheap LED lights on amazon and I've got zero complaints. Basement is much more pleasant than it was with a few old incandescents scattered about.

# ¿ Dec 30, 2020 03:14

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I bought the 8 pack of Barrina 4-ft LED lights on Amazon for $50, they worked great for lighting up my basement and laundry room. The hardware is barebones but I don't think you'll find a better deal anywhere.

# ¿ Jan 25, 2021 15:20

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

My house has a couple crappy windows a previous owner put in that are freezing in the winter; the plastic shrink wrap stuff does wonders. Definitely seal up any air leaks first though.

# ¿ Jan 31, 2021 00:14

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

melon cat posted:

Century homes, yo. One of my neighbours opened up a wall for some renovations and found it to be insulated with... pants. Lots and lots of pants.

The perimeter of my attic is insulated with hundreds of tightly-packed 1830s newspapers.

# ¿ Feb 19, 2021 17:15

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

melon cat posted:

What's the best way to seamlessly join two pieces of flexible metal ducting? Obviously I can't crimp them the way I can with rigid ducting.

I did buy the pictured duct connector but I don't like how it goes on the INSIDE of each adjoining piece of ducting then is clamped down from the outside. Or is less-than-airtight connectors just one of the trade-offs of not using rigid ducting and something I'll have to live with?

Also- what's the verdict on tension clamps versus worm clamps when working flexible metal ducting?

Thanks for all of your help with my attic ducting questions by the way. Really hoping to get this all done before it warms up significantly otherwise I'll be baking to death working in the knee wall

I'd use that connector, wrap the joint with foil tape, then tighten the clamps.

# ¿ Mar 5, 2021 18:05

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Specifically a box for "old work", it has little arms that fold out to hold it onto the drywall instead of being nailed into a stud.

A small set of fish rods is probably the easiest way to feed the wire through the wall, I just ran ethernet from my ground floor up to the attic and dropped back down to the second floor with a 10' set and a fair amount of patience.

Edit: what that guy said ^^^

# ¿ Mar 24, 2021 18:12

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

For step one, I'd try a little can of spray lock lube. Spray a bunch inside the lock and give it some good twists back and forth, it might get things moving again.

# ¿ Apr 2, 2021 22:27

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

FogHelmut posted:

Is 8 month old gas still usable? I have about 2 gallons. Is it going to wreck my car if I mix it in with a full fresh tank?

Is it worth ~$6 to find out?

# ¿ May 13, 2021 21:42

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I want to replace our crappy old storm door; when measuring the existing door, do I include the hinge/latch rails, or just the door itself?

# ¿ May 14, 2021 00:40

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Worth noting that if you live near one of McMasters handful of distribution centers, you can order stuff and pick it up in person. Their NJ center is on my way home from work, saved me a couple bucks and shipping time on more than a few occasions.

# ¿ May 19, 2021 17:47

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

couldcareless posted:

Couldn't you just use the tire leak method of a spray bottle of water and a little dish soap?

I was going to suggest that but I figured spraying soapy water on something you wanted to tape up after would be counter productive.

# ¿ May 26, 2021 11:08

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

My dad's got one, I haven't used it but he seems happy with it. He does like spending lots of money on gimmicky junk fwiw

# ¿ Jul 17, 2021 19:42

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I'm an environmental remediation contractor in New Jersey - Alpha Analytics and TestAmerica both have labs in Albany; I've used both companies extensively and they do good work.

Do you have any wells on the property? They should be tested, especially if they're used for drinking water.

# ¿ Oct 25, 2021 14:27

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Gaj posted:

The entire road up and down the mountain uses wells. There is yearly DEP water testing via their own/state park wells, but I dont know how their testing schedule has been what with covid.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076DRBCBX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is what Im having sent over right now until I can find ways to get tests from both labs you mentioned.

That covers most of the analyses you'd do for landfill leachate, so it'll at least give you a sense of what you're dealing with. Definitely get the NYDEC involved, a leaky landfill is going to need a pretty extensive investigation.

# ¿ Oct 25, 2021 15:59

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

One of the tap handles on my basement utility sink broke, anyone recognize it / know where to find a replacement?

# ¿ Jan 13, 2022 20:22

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

mutata posted:

Victorian England mansion?

It�s Greek revival :colbert:

Edit: to clarify, I just want another handle that�s the same style/fitting, I know I won�t find an exact replacement

Toebone fucked around with this message at 00:40 on Jan 14, 2022

# ¿ Jan 13, 2022 22:35

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

I�ve got a crumbling patch of plaster wall, about 2� by 2�, that seems mostly held together by inertia and several decades of paint. Is replastering a area that size doable by a semi-competent layman, or should I get a pro? (Read: fill the cracks with compound and ignore it another year)

Toebone fucked around with this message at 15:31 on Jan 15, 2022

# ¿ Jan 15, 2022 15:24

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Get a new bumper sticker you like better and slap it on top

# ¿ Apr 15, 2022 14:03

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

Hyperlynx posted:

I also just had a chat with my mum, who loves putting IKEA furniture together, who suggested that maybe the tops and bottoms are swapped, or are 180 degrees the other way around.

I put together a Kallax a couple years ago and I�m pretty sure I had the same problem, rotating the top 180 fixed it

# ¿ Jul 14, 2022 12:29

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# ¿ May 14, 2024 16:15

Toebone: Jul 1, 2002; Start remembering what you hear.

DaveSauce posted:

Deglazing is my immediate first thought. Add some water and heat it up and scrape with a wooden spatula or something.

I would guess vinegar would work? But personally if deglazing doesn't work my next step is usually Barkeeper's Friend, a scrub pad, and elbow grease. If it's just plain stainless, and not coated or anything, then that shouldn't damage it.

Seconding barkeepers friend, that's rescued a couple scorched pots for me.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2022 15:04

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Hobbies, Crafts, & Houses > Fix It Fast: Start here for DIY help! (You'll know when it's a problem by smell.)