DIY for knuckleheads

[Fatty Facesitter]

Me and Mrs Facesitter are looking to move shortly, I expect it'll be time to get our DIY hats on then should it materialise. She's a book hoarder so the first thing we'll probably need to sort/build are at least two or three book shelves. I once suggested she get a Kindle and she almost decapitated me. 

On a similar note to Harmonic Generator's giant Hogwarts set in the Talk Me Out Of Buying This thread, I've been seriously thinking about buying a train set and building a layout, which in itself requires a lot of DIY including making baseboards, 'lectrics, backboards, scenery (got to have scenery!), etc. Which in itself will cost me an arm and a leg before I've even got trains to run on the sodding thing, which these days cost a small fortune. I like the idea though of working on a DIY-type project that you can constantly keep adding bits to later on. 

[The British Bushwacker]

I tend to fuck up most projects i attempt,  i did however take an old wall unit, hack the top off and give it a paint and new handles for my spare room which came out alright

 

[Carbomb]

That's not a half-bad job, Chambuz. Nice change of feel from old-fashioned to modern.

[Bus Surfer]

That's pretty damn impressive, Wacker. Looks nothing like the original piece. 

 

Had a go at 'up cycling' an old TV unit last year. Used some of that chalk paint stuff. It came out absolutely crap. It's in our bedroom now and laughs at me everyday. 

Edited August 1, 2018 by Silky Kisser

[wordsfromlee]

For those wanting to see the guitars, best to check out https://www.instagram.com/pjeggleguitars/ rather than me posting a bunch of pictures as I don't think it counts as DIY as I'm one of four people who helps make them, rather than doing it all myself.

[Sergio Mendacious]

Bringing this one back, for some reassurance. We've been adding a shitload of storage space to our apartment, and in general it's gone well – put up some shelves in the closet with rawl plugs (don't expect too much weight on those ones, mainly stuff like lightbulbs, spare filters for stuff), and some above the TV for either display or storage (might mask it off with a wall hanging or something) — used a mixture of rawl plugs and toggle bolts on that one:

The main question, though, is about the Elfa top track shelving I've just put up, so we can graduate from the IKEA Billy bookcase that's leaning like something out of a Tim Burton movie. I knew I was installing it on a brick wall, and here's the stages I had to go through:

— There are ten holes in the top track, I used a cheap hammer drill I bought to drill into the brick, but managed to fuck that up somehow — got a good anchor in the middle, so I was able to use that to level it, but made the mistake of using the hammer drill to drive the masonry screws into the next two holes, totally stripping the screws and leaving them spinning in the holes.

— The next three holes I drilled into didn't even seem to have any brick behind them — went straight through the plasterboard and into empty space. Thankfully, I've done a lot of these projects, so I've got a good amount of anchors. Was able to put toggle bolts in two of the knackered masonry screw holes, and one of the other plasterboard holes, and some heavy-duty rawl plugs in the last two holes. I think I hit a bit of good luck with two of the toggle bolts, they seemed to actually hit some brick as I expanded and tightened them, I'm thinking it might be thin fireplace bricks.

— To the left of the good anchor, I'd learned my lesson, and hammer drilled into the brick, but screwdriver tightened the masonry screws, and then gave them a good tighten with my regular drill.

So, the question I have, is with the below layout of the top track, do anyone think I'll have any problems with the following load? I've guesstimated it at around 110lbs, give or take, with the heaviest books supported with the masonry screws. Seems very secure, seriously don't want it showering books on my unsuspecting family.

[Surf Digby]

On 8/1/2018 at 6:55 PM, wordsfromlee said:

For those wanting to see the guitars, best to check out https://www.instagram.com/pjeggleguitars/ rather than me posting a bunch of pictures as I don't think it counts as DIY as I'm one of four people who helps make them, rather than doing it all myself.

I lusted over a walnut bodied Berlin in my local music shop for years. Easily one of the best guitars I've ever played.

[wordsfromlee]

7 minutes ago, Nostalgia Nonce said:

I lusted over a walnut bodied Berlin in my local music shop for years. Easily one of the best guitars I've ever played.

I've never actually played a Berlin or any of the original 90's Eggles even though we have two knocking around the workshop including the first ever one made.

[quote the raven]

Heads up for tool buying, Aldi have deals on most months on stuff, never had an issue with any of it. 

 

In a few weeks im going to install a drop ceiling box, for putting speakers and im thinking Hue light strips around the edge.  I will stick some pics up when i start. 

Edited September 3, 2018 by quote the raven

[Kaz Hayashi]

I love a bit cutting and building. I haven’t done very much this year apart from stripping, cutting and sanding timber for shelving and the storage really. 

I made my wife a dresser at the end of last year and another planter/bed for the front of the house.

Loads of ideas, never get around to them though. Hoping to get a few bits finished before winter though.

 

[Kaz Hayashi]

On 8/1/2018 at 6:55 PM, wordsfromlee said:

For those wanting to see the guitars, best to check out https://www.instagram.com/pjeggleguitars/ 

I’ve been wanting to train as a luthier for years. Would love to give it some proper thought.

[Tommy!]

I have a question and I'm sure someone on here can help. 

I have a single skin garage I'm looking to repoint and get some new doors & windows in next year. What's best to finish the inside without loosing too much space and preventing any damp issues? Is there a board with damp course that can be put straight up or do I need to build a frame and insulate a cavity? 

[Kaz Hayashi]

1 hour ago, Tommy! said:

I have a question and I'm sure someone on here can help. 

I have a single skin garage I'm looking to repoint and get some new doors & windows in next year. What's best to finish the inside without loosing too much space and preventing any damp issues? Is there a board with damp course that can be put straight up or do I need to build a frame and insulate a cavity? 

Right, I’m going through exactly the same thing at present. Wanting to turn the garage space in to a much better garage space, but also want to put a false ceiling in and pack it with insulation as the extrension room above it is a bloody ice box.

Anyway mate, depending on what you want to do with the space, determines how much you do really. We used this on a downstairs bedroom in our last house. It’s really durable, so might do the trick. So we ripped off the damp plaster, aired out the room, attached the membrane to the ‘dry’ brickwork then plastered over the top. 

At a guess with the membrane, plaster board and plaste, you’re probs going to lose around 3” of space. That’s without any padded insulation.

Here’s the link to the pic of instructions / pdf.

https://www.twistfix.co.uk/images/pictures/datasheets/basement-waterproofing-membrane-8.pdf

Edited December 19, 2018 by Kaz Hayashi

[hallicks]

Not sure how much this is actually DIY rather than general home stuff, but we've got a bit of mould on a couple of ceilings. We've started wiping the condensation away each morning and opening the windows in these rooms, even though it makes the girls room fucking freezing at night. Are there any other preventative steps we can take to stop it happening, other than a dehumidifier? Also anyone have any tips on removing it? 

[Kaz Hayashi]

24 minutes ago, hallicks said:

Not sure how much this is actually DIY rather than general home stuff, but we've got a bit of mould on a couple of ceilings. We've started wiping the condensation away each morning and opening the windows in these rooms, even though it makes the girls room fucking freezing at night. Are there any other preventative steps we can take to stop it happening, other than a dehumidifier? Also anyone have any tips on removing it? 

How big is the patch & where abouts is it exactly, flat section or in join with wall?

I’d personally suggest the following methods if it’s a repeat offender.

1) Scrub it off with water and a bit of bleach, or with a strong mold & mildew remover. It’s a grim stench and fucking awful & toxic to breath in, but it’s tough.

2) (optional) If you can, depending on size of area, and access, drill several small holes and inject PVA glue in to the cavity, so it lies on the other side of the desired area. It hardens and can act as a protective layer.

3) If step 2 is too much, jump from the mold & mildew remover to this. Re-paint using a think water proof bathroom paint, let it dry then paint over that with standard.

This isn’t 100% a fail proof way of dealing with it, but it’s worked for us several times, but a couple of times it hasn’t. It depends how bad the mold is and the conditions for why it’s targetting that area.

 

Edited December 19, 2018 by Kaz Hayashi