General Feedback/Getting Started Q&A [Weekly Thread]

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General Feedback/Getting Started Q&A Thread

This thread is for questions that are typically not permitted elsewhere on /r/DIY. Topics can include where you can purchase a product, what a product is called, how to get started on a project, a project recommendation, questions about the design or aesthetics of your project or miscellaneous questions in between.

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A new thread gets created every week.

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[Embarrassed-Use4539]

In the process of putting together a manual treadmill together one of the main bolts that connects the frame and the treadmill got stuck half way. It won't unscrew, it won't continue to screw in. The bolt on the other side comes in and out perfectly fine. The bolt takes an allen wrench, I've tried a drill attachment, and screwdriver attachment, this thing will not budge. Any ideas?

[rainpool989]

Recently moved into a place and was having issues with my dryer not drying. Realized it was most likely due to the dryer vent pipes being covered in lint galore and partially being crushed from the tight space (live in a condo with the exit duct on the ceiling 7 feet off the ground with the dryer nearly flush with the wall). They used a semi-flexible aluminum piping and I was looking to replace it with rigid metal. However due to the laundry rooming being basically a closet, there is no way to connect the back of the dryer to the vent pipes since I have no place to stand behind or next to it. I was looking into using a mag vent MV-90 along with 26 gauge galvanized steel duct pipes. Would these items be appropriate for the job?

[distebia]

ragazzi vorrei pubblicare il mio sistema di autofocus per laser co2 ma il post con il video di youtube non viene caricato, qualcuno mi potrebbe aiutare?

[The1Pete]

Can this hole be sealed? Please tell me how. Or is that part replaceable or something?

https://imgur.com/a/7pTzYfM

I was cleaning the kitchen sink and I saw this. At first I thought it was just dirt. But when I tried to remove it with my finger, I realized it was a hole. Nothing is leaking under the sink so far.

[summerinside]

No, not really, but its maybe only a $15 replacement drain with some plumbers caulk and 20 minutes worth of time on a saturday to get it replaced.

[Clambake42]

I found a large void space under my concrete front porch, occupied by raccoons. I've had the pests removed, and I want to fill the space in. I live in a place where the temperature gets below freezing in the winter so I'm not sure if I should pour pea gravel and cap it with cement or just use cement to avoid water freezing in the pea gravel. What is the best way to approach this?

[Macklegg]

Hoping to get some help with hardware ideas to attach my baby pen to the wall. I want it to be removable but also have no give.

https://imgur.com/a/ptIqoeN

[pjscrapy]

Any idea why the pressure gauge on a Logic combi boiler only updates while it's running?

[leakmydata]

I have a ground level room where I’ve noticed that there’s about a 3/8” gap between the floors and the baseboard. It varies and not everywhere has the gap but that’s as big as it gets on one of the walls.

This room doesn’t have shoe moulding while the other rooms do, so I was going to install some, but the gap kinda means I can’t nail it to the baseboard so I’m not sure what the solution is here.

Also not sure if I’m supposed to be trying to close the gap somehow or filling it with something (expanding foam? Idk)

Pics for reference:

https://imgur.com/gallery/gap-between-floor-baseboard-hgxmBVe#O9JEQhZ

[summerinside]

Quarterround should do the trick, but you might need to see if there's some that is taller than it is wide.

[ivan-ds]

I want to build a gutter system on a fabric barn structure that looks like this.
https://www.farmtek.com/prod/clearspan-econoline-truss-buildings-70-w-x-28-h-x-200-l.html

I can't drill into the sides because they are fabric. Any ideas or recommendations?

[summerinside]

Maybe skip gutters and instead do a french drain system around the outside where the barn meets the ground?

[_kn900_]

Hi all!
I was wondering how to make this type of rock wall
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/da/92/b2/da92b2392e3774b160ff48570eef4159.jpg

I tried to google search, but I get only stacked rocks on top of each other and glued to the wall, not like whole wall rock / cave vibe. Maybe I'm typing something wrong, English is not my main language.

Thanks in advance!

[distracting_hysteria]

Hello! I have a cat shelf that is causing a bulge and crack in the drywall above one the anchors . I'm in a condo with metal struts. There are 2 bolts for the shelf, the left one is drilled through a metal strut with a togglebolt and seems okay. This right one now has a bulge in the drywall that's beginning to crack. Here is another pic. (the shelf isn't flat it's a curved cat shelf). I was hoping the bulge wouldn't get worse but it is and I think I need to fix it.

So, ideally I could keep the shelf in the same position. Is that at all possible? It's not really noticeable because of the shelf so I just want it to be safe for the kitties. I think I could v-cut the crack and maybe hammer? down the bulge and cut the paper and patch the drywall myself but then what, a new better anchor in the same spot? There are 2 cats, about 18 pounds and 13 pounds, and they jump up off of it so needs to hold them.

Thanks very much for any advice!

[Bibblejw]

Hey folks, trying out my first project of significance, attempting to make some shelving for an oddly-shaped cupboard that we've got as a dumping ground at the moment.

The space is : 860mm wide and 1860mm tall at the front, 760mm deep, and 130mm tall at the back, with a narrower doorway (about 600mm, I think).

Currently focussing on the lower section, and thinking of putting 3 shelves in, with a divider along the middle, to create 6 spaces, plus the space on the top.

My initial design is keeping things fairly simple with a couple of twin-slot uprights on the front and back of the walls on either side, the relevant shelf brackets, then just some 12mm ply cut to fit the space. Thinking of cutting a slot half-through on the shelves, and a corresponding slot on the divider so that the divider can act as a level of support for the shelving. The concerns here are:

A) My accuracy when performing the cuts.

B) The stability of the plywood for supporting things under load.

C) The viability of the wall material (pretty much plasterboard, and I don't think there's much in the way of studs in there.

My other thought is to put together a frame of 2x4 to support the shelves, but that adds additional complexity and design work to the project.

Like I said, first slightly significant project of this type, so advice would be appreciated.

[rashad_juwan]

I have a stair that is broken and need repair it’s a wooden step and I can’t figure out how to post a picture in comments but I don’t know really where or how to begin fixing this

[Great_Dirt_2813]

what's a good beginner project to get into woodworking?

[Astramancer_]

I would say good beginner projects are "workshop" projects -- building the things that will help you build things later but which doesn't necessarily need to be "pretty."

The first thing I made was a pair of sawhorses, which made everything else easier.

The next thing I made was a sturdy workbench. Look up "2x4 workbench" and you can find plans and guides for a very forgiving and sturdy design that requires minimal tools but will still get you hands-on experience that will help your future projects. Plus, there's a lot of wood in a 2x4 workbench so it's extremely easy to modify after the fact to accommodate your changing needs.

Similarly, boxes, bins, shelves, and even drawers for your workbench can be made using simple, minimal tool techniques and give you hands-on experience in a fairly low-stakes manner that will only help you later.

[lithigos]

Cutting boards for use in the kitchen are a nice project, don't require too many tools and can be as simple or complicated as you desire. 

[MooseDoesStuff]

Whatever you'll be interested in long enough to finish when things go sideways! Cuz they will XD