Useful DIY VIDEOs thread.....

[Bazza]

Update on the generator. It arrived this morning just after 7am so the driver did a good job getting it here early (probably wanted it off his truck since it was so heavy (~100 lbs.) ). I went to work on it right away unboxing and assembling the legs, wheels, and handle. All went well and next was prep for operations. Added engine oil, gas, and attached battery cables (they have a disconnect so real easy to just plug the connectors into each other).

Well she fired up right away - zero hesitation. Make sure you use the choke though.

I tested the output with a box fan I had sitting right there and she ran perfectly.

Have not attached the propane yet but will over the weekend.

This baby is supposed to have a potential running time of 29 hours total with a full tank (4 gal.) of gas and full tank (20 lbs.) of propane. 29 hours, while I think may be a bit optimistic, is still fantastic, even if it ends up being a little under.

The best part though.....not NEARLY as noisy as any open cage generators I have been around. I was very impressed. In fact, now I don't feel the need to construct any kind of noise defusing box for it.

I have more hurricane preparation work to do but for now just wanted to provide some input on this generator. I think I made a really good purchasing decision here!

 

[B1GTide]

That is far superior efficiency than mine. Maybe I should look into a newer model. I get about 12 hours from a 3 gallon tank.

 

[Bazza]

That is far superior efficiency than mine. Maybe I should look into a newer model. I get about 12 hours from a 3 gallon tank.

What you are getting isn't really all that that bad, but could be improved, if you really thought it was worth the upfront investment of a new unit.

What I like the most, so far about this unit is it's not super loud, like my old one, or others I'm familiar with. I was actually not expecting that. Throw in the capability to use propane and the price and for me it was a no brainer. Also free shipping with Amazon prime. I mean it came two days after I ordered it.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

What you are getting isn't really all that that bad, but could be improved, if you really thought it was worth the upfront investment of a new unit.

What I like the most, so far about this unit is it's not super loud, like my old one, or others I'm familiar with. I was actually not expecting that. Throw in the capability to use propane and the price and for me it was a no brainer. Also free shipping with Amazon prime. I mean it came two days after I ordered it.

I replaced a Coleman 4KW gasoline with a Westinghouse (just a name plate now) 55KW back about five years, after going several days without power from tornado damage to the main trunk towers. Bifuel generators were not yet popular, so I converted it to propane. I was also impressed with how much quieter it was than the old Coleman. And propane is always ready...

 

[Bazza]

Had to replace yet another brake line today on my '02 Silverado.

GM used steel for their brake lines for a certain number of years, including mine, and they end up rusting and of course then they need replacing. When they finally realized their mistake, they converted to a plastic coated steel line.

Aftermarket replacement versions are available in stainless steel and NiCop. I bought a complete replacement kit of the SS two years ago - they are all pre-formed, cut to length, and with fittings on both ends. I ended up using the NiCop previously though to replace the two lines that feed the ABS box from the MC. Today it was the line that feeds the rear brakes from the ABS and I ended up using one of the SS from my kit because it was pretty mush a straight shot.

Lifted up the bed to get at it. There's only 8 bolts holding the bed on and you only have to loosen the 4 on the other side you're lifting. Not really that hard. My Ryobi cordless impact wrench is real handy with this part! I even used my new Ryobi cordless ratchet for two of the bolts the wrench couldn't get.

Here's one of the holes and the old brake line after removal.

Nice to have a firm brake pedal again.

I still have a few more lines to replace but will wait until cooler weather.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Good move. I do a lot of replacing with SS. With an older Weber grill, now deceased, I had replaced the innards once already and was on the phone with CS in Michigan ordering new pars in stainless, when the girl said "Mr. Self, if you don't mind my asking, what sort of climate do you live in that you need all stainless?" I replied that we averaged 75 days per year in fog, on a mountaintop. Same thing happened with a really nice aluminum log cart I ordered from an Amish workshop in PA. It's made of 30mm square extrusion. I asked if SS hardware were available. It wasn't, and the guy taking the order made the comment that they had never had a problem with rusting. I just said "Yes, you wouldn't have." I replaced the hardware and even bought a SS dowel for a new axle. I basically wanted it totally rainproof and fog proof...

 

[Bazza]

Good move. I do a lot of replacing with SS. With an older Weber grill, now deceased, I had replaced the innards once already and was on the phone with CS in Michigan ordering new pars in stainless, when the girl said "Mr. Self, if you don't mind my asking, what sort of climate do you live in that you need all stainless?" I replied that we averaged 75 days per year in fog, on a mountaintop. Same thing happened with a really nice aluminum log cart I ordered from an Amish workshop in PA. It's made of 30mm square extrusion. I asked if SS hardware were available. It wasn't, and the guy taking the order made the comment that they had never had a problem with rusting. I just said "Yes, you wouldn't have." I replaced the hardware and even bought a SS dowel for a new axle. I basically wanted it totally rainproof and fog proof...

Have you ever used cold galv/zinc spray - from a rattle can?

Rustoleum makes a good version and there are a few other companies that do as well.

And there are several different types.

It's been very helpful in my location to mitigate corrosion issues on all kinds of things around the house. For example, I sprayed over all the metal frame parts of the last wheelbarrow I bought and over a year later it's still rust free.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I have and it works. I simply have too much to spray, however...

 

[Bazza]

This one will only pertain to a small group, but nonetheless here we go......

For the past week or so the AC has been acting up a bit in my '02 Silverado. I hadn't had the time to do any investigating until today. I started checking some of the obvious stuff and noticed the compressor only ran when I applied some force to hold the pressure switch plug in. So I went to YT to see if this was something others looked at and found this vid - so I figured this might be it. Looked up the part and they had it in stock at the local AutoZone - only $20!

Got home and after a quick R&R she's back working again just fine. Worth mentioning is the refrigerant does NOT leak out when you unscrew the switch - so have at it!

Today it hit 90 degrees so having the AC working again really feels good!!!

Here's the part and the vid:

 

[Elefantman]

 

[Bazza]

^^ Loved it - thanks @Elefantman ! At about the 5:12 mark he mentions his Secret #1. I found that out a long time ago and to this day employ it when I do any cutting of appreciable measure.

I wonder why he's not wearing ear muffs to protect his hearing, especially given he does so much chainsaw work.

Mostly what I was thinking while watching was that lumber he cuts has to be heavy as heck!

 

[Bazza]

Thought this one was pretty good and appropriate for this week.......

 

[Elefantman]

In case you need to break out of prison.

 

[AUDub]

Been a fun couple of days. My wife and I took advantage of the extended weekend and finally got started on a much needed home improvement project. Carpet in out girls' rooms upstairs is original and badly in need of replacement. Roughly 30 years old. We purchased about 900ft² of tongue and groove vinyl plank and decided to give it a go ourselves. Got Ava's room done and it was the worst.

Up comes the carpet.

http://imgur.com/p7WCqkG

http://imgur.com/jJamlsE

http://imgur.com/fEQ0U7T

 

[AUDub]

We made a fun family project out of it. Sadie followed behind me as I pull the carpet and tac board, pulling up staples I missed or hammering them level as needed. Catherine operated the shop vac. Ava painted trim.

http://imgur.com/6q9pohJ

http://imgur.com/O2S5Bqp

http://imgur.com/CZlQrRU

Cecilia got to contribute by looking stinking cute.

http://imgur.com/m3GEIIS

 

[AUDub]

Didn't much care for the power tools though.

http://imgur.com/GDVrOsk

By evening it was just me and Sadie. Child can practically do the job herself. I'm impressed.

http://imgur.com/VU27uvU

http://imgur.com/wg8nChA

 

[AUDub]

This is as far as we got that evening.

http://imgur.com/pVkK4bU

http://imgur.com/nWNTbF2

But we managed to wrap up the room before the next day was out. End result:

http://imgur.com/bOW9LXg

http://imgur.com/HCwu3z8

One room down, one more and the landing to go. Sadie's will be easier. Bigger but with fewer corners.

Tools were a cheap jig saw for cornering and rip cuts, an oscillating multi tool for adjusting trim height in spots, a flooring shear for the planks, utility knife, kit for flooring that included a block and pull bar, various pliers, mallets, hammers, small trim pry bar for the tac boards, full on crow bar at one point, shop vac and tons of elbow grease.

The kit came with spacers for flooring expansion but the wedge ones didn't work so well, so we returned to home depot for ¼ block spacers.

Materials were underlayment, duct tape, 400ish feet of vinyl planks. I'm going to throw down quarter-round shortly.

 

[Bazza]

Nice job, @AUDub ! Best part is your kids will have a nice memory and also were able to experience a sense of self-reliance first had.

My home is Mexican tile throughout. I do have some area carpets I use but take them outside and pressure wash them once a year or so - or just get new ones.

Now my Mom had her carpet replaced with wood flooring like yours. End result was I couldn't bring my dogs over any more because it was too slippery for them and I didn't want to risk a joint injury. It did help though with Mom's allergies.

 

[Padreruf]

My Samsung dryer is squeaking terribly...seems to be something called drum rollers...has anyone replaced these? There's a youtube video...basically requires one to take the dryer completely apart. Not sure I can get it all back together...Question; Should I call a repair person or buy a new dryer?

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Were the planks T&G?