Use this thread to ask questions you think don't require a thread of their own.

The old thread no longer bumps and is now on page six: >>2908233
If you didn't get a response in the old thread, feel free to ask again here.

>>2678737
> Some friendly suggestions for posting:
> - First ask Google, then ask /diy/. Your question will probably be better received if you do so.
> - List available resources (tools, materials, budget, time, etc.)
> - Try to use pictures and explain the goal, if possible
> - Be patient, this is a slow board; your thread will be around for days.
> - Share your results! /diy/ loves to see problems solved and projects completed!

>>2913095 (OP)
>The old thread no longer bumps
ctrl+f qtddtot
>>2910020

?

>>2913095 (OP)
how do i make my bike pedal easier?

>>2913366
60+ psi in the tire

>>2913404
can i order that on amazon? is it like a grease or somethong

>>2913409
No. It’s having tires that you can inflate a lof. They will be rock hard and you can feel every bump, but very little rolling resistance compared to basic 35-50psi tires. No clue what that is in kPa or whatever yuro unit which I’m guessing you are if you ride a bicycle.

Is pedal power using a bicycle effective for charging a battery for additional power, or would I be better off just relying on solar?

>>2913716
If you are a Tour de France cyclist you can generate up to 400 watts.
A 'Joe Average' person can do a few hundred watts in bursts or ~ 60 watts for an extended period.

https://youtu.be/ccJhpM2lJ0o

I got an old desk from the 50s that came without keys for the drawer locks.
Is there any chance getting replacement keys or finding compatible locks?

The locks are Yale brand. I assume they aren't very complicated. Any point in contacting a local locksmith?

>>2914286

How to DIY a sonic weapon to fight loud tenants? (open air)

replacing the cualk around my tub, and I have some that goes DEEP underneath the wall, maybe the previous installer gunked underneath there too much almost feels wrong to scrap out. Any advice? Do I just caulk over it after scraping away enough? Every video I see has caulk sliding off the wall with the tool nice and smooth but I am unga scraping it off at this point

>>2914317
>How to DIY a sonic weapon
What? Like an egg shaped robot powered by captive animals? You'll need a 3d printer at the very least

I've some wood that's too long to fit in my car (old cupboard broke apart). It's all extremely dense, either solid or HDF, I've only some jr hacksaws so that's literally not gonna cut it.

Any suggested way of breaking them in half without injuring myself of spending hours doing it? Was considering Leaning if on a raised patio and jumping on it but I've visions of broken ankles or the wood whacking me on the head.

What's a good non-plastic way to protect fruits I'm growing in my backyard? I don't like plastic. It doesn't seem organic to me.

>>2914433
Use lead

my ford truck has all metric bolts, yet in all the youtube videos they seem to insist on trying to use imperial sockets and wrenches on everything, wtf is going on?

>>2914376
If it’s MDF, you could hit them with a hose a couple times and pile it all into contractor bags a day or two later. Score up whatever crappy veneer coating first to go faster

If it’s real wood, jump on it with the grain lined up on your deck or whatever.

>>2915632
What year is it? Modern US cars will be metric too. Although my Ferd still feels best with 1/2” on the oil drain plug instead of 12/13mm.

>>2915632
>Having one standard
Must be nice.
t. Drive a chevy

anyone ever make a telescope mount from shit around the house? I found a cheap powerseeker that's not worth buying a tripod for and I was thinking of making something out of cardboard for it so I don't have to keep holding it to check out the moon. there's no mounts, it's designed to be held by rings around the scope I guess

>>2913095 (OP)
what is anon working on this weekend

>>2913095 (OP)

Did you make any of this yourself?

Focus areas:
>Long range cameras
>Hidden cameras
>Hidden microphones
>Parabolic microphones
>Vehicle trackers
>Thermal cameras
>Small UAS

Remember: Right to Be, Right to See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU0dR-xQ5Ao

I'm planning to fix an electric fan with a damaged/spent capacitor.
The cables which attach to the capacitor still have solder on them after I removed the capacitor. When I solder in the new capacitor, do I have to remove this old solder or can I leave it in and mix it with the new solder?
I've never done anything like this before.

>>2913888
Oh that’s so cool. Not OP, but how would I set something like that up?

>>2914433
Could you tie cotton around them that has a high tread count with not a lot of holes? I’m not sure.

Need help.

Moved into first apartment. Been making lists of repairs to make. Most is shit I know I can do but have never done.
>kitchen sink water pressure (fixed)
Aerator wouldn’t come off because so old damn near welded in place from sitting for 20 years. Finally got off, cleaned out, no massive change. Got new one, replaced, fixed. Easy enough.
>tub/shower
Seems diverter is rusted out. Tub and shower tub at same time. This one scares me. I know the water shouldn’t run if it’s not turned on but I read in some situations depending on how old it is that can happen and to prevent massive flooding you gotta work fast. Me having never done it idk that I could work fast enough. Need advice.
>outlets
Some outlets seem to randomly lose power or produce way less power. My computer will randomly shut off and intent turn back on until I plug into new outlet, phone will lose charge while plugged in for example. What are the chances this is just the outlet not something deeper in the wiring?

>main question laundry
Communal laundry, and it’s fucked. 1 washer 1 drier for everyone. Room is tiny I barely even fit in it. It’s a crap set up. One of these turbo retards broke the washer by overloading it. I’ve used it twice since I moved in here, have mostly gone to parents to do laundry over weekends. This morning it flooded while using it and was covered in dirty socks baseball sized lint wads and rat shit. Wasn’t like that the one other time I used it 2 months ago. I refuse to ever use it again and I’m waiting to find out if I’ll be blamed for it. I washed like 3 clothing items so I know damn well I didn’t break it. What I want to know is does anyone have suggestions for in unit washing? I can’t get a traditional washer/drier in my unit but I’m wondering about those portable ones that can store in a closet. Has anyone ever used one?

I fucking knew better but I thought once should be fine. Roommate had a bottle of drain cleaner, I figured I would just use it once to un-gunk the pipes from the previous tenants, and not only did it not do shit, but now the porcelain sink isn't beading water like it used to. It's not visibly damaged, but if you splash water over the area it wets to the area that the drain cleaner splashed, and beads off the rest of the sink. It just etched the surface and I can polish this back up, right? Any preferred products for something like this?
>>2914286
>>2914308
A locksmith should be able to make a new key, yeah. Since you can get the locks just bring those to one. If you have multiple locksmiths in the area, go to the oldest one. It's the type of profession that lends well to that old dude with years of esoteric knowledge type.
>>2914317
A big subwoofer against the wall/floor/ceiling is the most straight forward.

>>2916187
And part 2 of my post because fuck the automated spam filter:
>>2914376
https://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-japanese-style-double-edge-saw-67058.html
Won't even take a minute to cut it in half.
>>2916072
Electricity goes into motor, spinning comes out. Spinning goes into motor, electricity comes out. Hook up the bike to a motor and slap on a capacitor and a cheap circuit to step the voltage up/down to whatever you need for your battery charger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb3iN4m9Bik
>>2915791
5 minute project if you have a buddy with a 3d printer. How big around is it? Could take a piece of wood, cut a hole with a hole saw, cut the wood in half across the hole, and bolt the two sides together around the telescope.
>>2915941
You'll probably want to wipe some off so it's not a pain to work with, but old solder being on it won't cause a problem. At least not if you're using leaded with leaded, or lead-free with lead-free. I don't know if that matters. If it's old, it's leaded, if it's new enough it has RoHS compliant labeling, it's lead-free.

>>2916155
Oh yeah and I have roaches. Been putting combat bait out but idk if it’s working or I’m just feeding them because I still keep seeing them and the bait just sits there and then suddenly overnight will be gone all at once (5 inch line and I check it daily). I really hope that means it’s just a couple really hungry roaches and not 100.

>>2913807
Excellent! Made me laugh, thanks.

>>2913860
Look at a bunch of Ikea type stuff and steal a design you like to work from.

@ folding shovel guy- Easier to make one with a removable handle or get a mil surplus folding entrenching tool.

>>2913095 (OP)
Sulfur smell. Need to eliminate.

Back story: Furnace died. Heat exchanger cracked and leaked some nasty condensate (pic related). Smelled rotten eggs and shut the furnace and gas supply down. New furnace is on the way and I haven't been running the old one for over a week. But the house still smells a bit like rotten eggs. What do? Rip out all the carpeting? Wash everything? Just wait for it to subside?

Also (related?): some of that goop dripped down into ducts. What's the best thing to clean it off? The deposits on the furnace heat exchanger are pretty hard.

>>2916295
Might be lime deposits

Sulfurous water in your region?

Llimeaway is/was a lime cleaning product.

Hard water?

>>2916298
>Sulfurous water in your region?
Deposits are from the natural gas. Condensate is a product of the combustion and reacts with the trace junk in that gas.

>>2916302
https://waterfilterguru.com/how-to-treat-well-water-smells/

might be helpful

>>2916187
>It just etched the surface and I can polish this back up, right?
it is not beading because you etched the glaze off the ceramic. unglazed ceramic is porous. congratulations on your new mold factory.

>>2916295
>its in the ducting
ouch. theres yer problem

>>2916388
Well shit. How thin is the glaze? This was only for a few minutes on an otherwise great condition sink, is it really an all-or-nothing thing, or is there a point where it's starting to etch but hasn't eaten through completely? I'm debating if I should try polishing it up with super fine Micro-Mesh or if that's just going to make it worse. In the meantime I just threw some AliExpress automotive ceramic coat on it (worked great), but I'm sure skincare stuff is going to eat through that in a couple months.

Thoughts on having a loose gravel floor in an attached garage? I'm in southern Michigan and while it's not the arctic, frost heave is an issue here. My house doesn't have a garage and we're looking into adding one. Due to the narrowness of the lot and the house being setback far from the road, adding a garage to the front of the house seems like the best choice. Most garages with a concrete floor are cracked to hell as no one puts a basement under them and I guess no one wants to bother with pilings either. If it's going to be cracked, why not just use gravel?
I've never seen a gravel floor in an attached garage, only in freestanding ones. Is there something in the international residential code against it or some other issue I'm missing? The only thing I can think of is tracking gravel into the house but it would connect into the mud room.

>>2916389
>its in the ducting
>ouch. theres yer problem
Figured as much. So I need to fond a suitable solvent to clean the outflow duct (the one under the furnace). Fortunately, the furnace has been pulled and the only affected section of duct is easily accessible. I suspect that this stuff is acidic, so I don't want to add water or it mibht eat the sheet metal. Looking for the name of some neutralizing cleaner.

>>2913095 (OP)
My homeowner insurance dropped me because my siding is bad. I know the siding needs replaced but wtf do I do in the intermediate time from getting the siding fixed?

Bump

My dishwasher is tiled in pretty damn well at this house I just bought. It's not even just a fraction of an inch. They put down like a half inch of some other kinda floor and the tiled over that. What's my best option here?
>Try and take the countertop off. Tbh I could try and get it off in one piece. If that fails, replace it
>Tear out all the tile now, replace with LVP
>Something else?
Believe me that this sucker ain't coming out. I kind of wanna do the cheapest option because one day I would like to replace all these cabinets and shit...But I gotta stash some cash for that and I don't wanna waste the cash.

Was thinking I could try and cut the tile out right here and then put it back and just seal the gap but idk.

>>2916820
Seriously look at this shit. Fucking dumbasses.

>>2916820
>But I gotta stash some cash for that and I don't wanna waste the cash.

1) Repair it in place.(you didn't identify the problem)

2) Do without a dishwasher until you have the funds to make the changes you want.

>>2916790
Well, I'd recommend against burning your house down.

>>2914433
Protect from what? Sun rats cold ? You can use burlap or cotton sheets, or small fabric bags

I have a light socket in my house that eats lights. Maybe every 2-3 months it’s burned out. I’ve checked the voltage and it’s 120. What could be causing this, and what can I do about it? These are incandescent lights , but I think I’ve used cfls and led before too.

Are fingernails and hair technically /diy/

Am I supposed to use oil or grease for a fan spindle? How am I supposed to get it down into where it actually sits?

>>2916873
Incandescents can be killed by vibration. CFLs and especially LEDs can be killed by heat.

All can be killed by high voltage spikes. Motor on the circuit being turned off (or loose connection).

>>2916820
Looks like you have at least half an inch under the counter to jack the dishwasher up. But how the hell do you get underneath that thing to access the leveling feet? I've never seen a d.w. without a lower access panel to maintain pumps and stuff.

Is this a free standing unit that someone built the cabinets around?

>>2916828
>>2916928
I managed to get it out yesterday. Lot of kicking and screaming and dragging. I'm not sure I can get the new one in. I think I can jack it up and slide it in.

The old one is just kinda disgusting, old, gnarly seals, soap dispenser wasn't working. I decided I would rather just upgrade to a stainless steel tub model than repair a plastic tub one.

To get it out, I had to kinda really push the top part down to slide it out. I had enough access to the legs that I could saw them and that was my next thought, but I managed to get it out and now I have a lot more flexibility in what I do here so that's nice.

Yeah, it seems somebody had to have built the tile around it. Or something else happened. The tile seems older and so are the cabinets and countertop so I'm not sure. I didn't realize what a common problem this was but apparently it happens all the fricken time.

>>2916898
Zoom Spout MO-98 oil for electronic motors and bearings thank me later.
>lubed up a cassette player with the oil and now it runs way better than it did before.

>>2916962 fuck me forgetting to crop the image

Going to be installing a pergola soon near a retaining wall which has gravel backing it. The description says this is good for most soil types, but doesn't mention gravel. Think I'd be safe to stand up 6x6x10 treated posts using these? I really don't want to dig anything out and place concrete.

>>2916952
>I managed to get it out yesterday.
Good for you.
Back when I did property maintenance, I ALWAYS pulled the dishwasher out before installing new vinyl, tile, or any other floor work in the kitchen.
Part of the reason I did it was because I knew I'd be the one working on it.
The other part was for whoever came after me.
Too bad your's wasn't that way.

>>2916966
The auger is 24"
Is the gravel 24" deep?
If not the auger will go into whatever is under the gravel.

just finished a renovating a kitchen. finished the plumbing tonight. fairly nig pain in the ass, 3/4hp disposal, ro system, and dishwasher all plumbed into a 33" cabinet with a sink that was too fucking big for it.

Just ran a stress test on the drains, filled the sink and dumped it. all good. except once the water stops running the main drain line is just loudly glug glug glug gulping air. And it keeps glugging until I run more water.

I have no idea what the issue could be.

>>2916435
sinks are notorious for being made with thin finishes (they want you buying a new one every 10 years) I am unaware of a foodsafe way to reglaze a sink in place. if the glaze is actually etched off then polishing the ceramic wont do much. but... you could always coat it with counter epoxy.

>>2917101
>I have no idea what the issue could be.
clogged vent stack

>>2916927
Is there any way to monitor and report voltage spikes, so I can see if that is theroblem?

What do you guys think of millwright as a career? Worth getting into?

>>2914349
>Like an egg shaped robot powered by captive animals?

This was too good not to acknowledge.

>>2914317
Look into parabolic speakers, although note you will be starting a war. Be prepared for retaliation.

>>2916578
Imagine, if you will, what might happen when you walk though some gravel before entering your house? Might something stick to your shoe and come inside with you?

Am I a complete retard for leaving this white oak up?

im looking for some easy mechanism for a spud gun trigger. it should behave like the compliant mechanism in picrel (linear and bistable, but where i can add a small return spring to reset it).
ive tried using a 3d printed one just like said picrel, but after a few dozen cycle, it breaks. ive machined one out of POM-C, but it is bulky and difficult to interface.

is there a simple mechanism i can build which would resist until a break point, then cleanly break and self reset (the easy part i guess)
this is to toogle between the two position of a pneumatic hand slide valve
it doesnt have to be a bistable mechanism, maybe something simpler ?
sorry if it is badly worded, i guess i could find the solution myself if i could put it into word better

will post some pic of the valve

>>2917242
if it can fall on your house after rotting, yes
if no, no
dead wood is pretty and good for shrooms and insects

>>2917247
so here is the valve
the "open" position is "armed" and the "closed" the "fire" position
it already moves in the same direction as a trigger pull would
if it can be 3d printed that is a real bonus
im thinking right now that maybe a sear with the trip caused by the plastic deformation due to the force applied ?

anyway, if there is a known mechanism for that, or something simple id like to hear it

>>2917247

It is leaning away from the house, though the Apple lens warps it, and the only "hollow" feel part is in that section. Looks like recovering tissue on the left and right sides anyhow. I'll just watch it and repost it for feedback in a couple weeks kek

>>2913366
Lube the bearings. Grease, not oil.

>>2917252
What about something like a double action air brush?

Anyone have moving company recs? I'll be renting a penske but need some help with loading furniture, lots of fragile and awkward family heirloom stuff.

>>2917287
nah, i dont think it will work.
the version i currently have use some springs to pull it in the closed position and a string that i pull to get to the open position. issue is, there is no clean switch between the two, but the system requires the quickest opening possible.
i guess its more akin to a straight pull trigger, but the mechanism i need is the internal

>>2917312
Spiro the Ugly Mug!

They’re all like local outfits anyway. Good luck.

I want to string lights between my palm trees. Will staples or screws holding the support wire kill the tree?

SQ: what board would be the most appropriate to ask for apartment layout redesign to by anons if I provide the layout file, information and objectives?

Posted about getting fired for discussing wage in a SQTDDTOT about a year ago, y’all told me to file with the NLRB, and now the NLRB awarded me $40k for my employer’s wrongful termination. Thanks fellas
Fuck scum shit employers.

>>2917477
>awarded me $40k

/diy/ finally offered good advice

>>2917465
A staple is fine since it'll just hit bark, a nail driven too much will make an opening for it to get tree aids

>>2917242
You're retarded and wood borers have been making a feast out of this tree and probably your house too. Those holes are from carpenter ants or beetles making a home out of it. It'll snap in half eventually and probably on your roof.

>>2916155
If it's not a faulty breaker, you have a wire shorted out in your walls
Clean out the drain plugs of the communal washer, people wash pet covered shit constantly and clog them up, causing flooding

I acquired a bunch of surface mount dome lights meant for marine installation. They run on 12v, and they each have two wires. I connected the wires to 12v power and am getting nothing out of them. How are these things supposed to be installed in boats? Can I power a bunch of them off of a 12v power supply? I intend to put them in a storage shed.

>>2917537
Did you wire them up the correct way? LEDs don’t like reverse polarity.

And sure, they should work off a 12V power supply. I bought some cheap 12V LEDs from Northern Tool meant to bolt on the back of a work truck or whatever, found an old 12V 3A power supply from a cable box, and built a little work light out of those.

Anyone use the harbor freight red brand sliding 10 inch chop saw? Can it cut a 4x4 and 2x12 all the way through?

>>2917587
You could just look at the specifications on the website instead of asking someone to do it for you.
This is "Do It Yourself" not "Do It For Me"
>>2678737
> Some friendly suggestions for posting:
> - First ask Google, then ask /diy/. Your question will probably be better received if you do so.

>>2917597
>You could just look at the specifications on the website instead of asking someone to do it for you.
>This is "Do It Yourself" not "Do It For Me"
>trusting the harbor freight website
I already checked it. I didn't believe it. I'm in the store right now and the 12 1/2 capacity is definitely an exaggeration. Trying to get them to let me throw a blade on the floor model. It'll do a 4x4 but I doubt it could actually do 5" crown molding. Unless you flip it. Bottom of the saw head is only 4 1/4" above the deck.

>>2917602
>It'll do a 4x4
You can put a 5-1/2' item under the blade but it only cuts 3-1/2' deep. (the arbor gets in the way)
On a 1x12 it would cut all the way. On a 2x12 it would leave an uncut 1/2 'tab' in on the outside bottom.
It cut 3-1/2" deep

>>2917597
>This is "Do It Yourself" not "Do It For Me"
And this is the stupid questions general, ya faggot. He fits right in. You go back.

>>2917477
how did they know it was you?

>>2917470
this one