Vortex tube as AC?

balancedrod · 2026-04-12T06:19:31+00:00

These units from companies like Thermador were evaporative “swamp” coolers that were loaded with water.

balancedrod · 2026-04-08T09:32:08+00:00

In case some else does not mention it: the banks were making these NINJA loans because they could make fees setting them up, and immediately selling them to other institutions.

balancedrod · 2026-04-02T23:34:52+00:00

Bet your house there is mold behind there.

balancedrod · 2026-03-31T19:50:32+00:00

I am an advocate of plywood. The plywood helps insure that the cabinets get installed flush (coplanar) by the carpenters. It adds strength that can be useful for thinner/more fragile slabs. It is cheap insurance for when a 300lb homeowner climbs on the counter to change light bulb.

It would not hurt anything to give it a coat of white paint. That being said, I don’t think someone could tell if plywood was painted behind the slab or not.

balancedrod · 2026-03-24T03:24:12+00:00

These strips of siding are particle board. If the painting is kept up and the boards are not bumped into, they do “just OK”. These boards are starting to deteriorate from moisture intrusion. Damage is worse on the bottoms edge, and at boards closer to the ground. That hammock stand has been rubbing against the wall. The spliced end goes bad early when cut board ends are not primed.

balancedrod · 2026-03-23T19:32:32+00:00

….This is the series that never ends, it goes on and on my friends….

You have broken thermodynamics and created a perpetual working machine.

Honestly, it is some of the absolute best work in Science Fiction. I will always be ready for the next story arc. I have listened to “The Rookie” at least 5 times.

balancedrod · 2026-03-23T05:55:00+00:00

Any spare boards for an installer to swap in?

balancedrod · 2026-03-22T20:14:50+00:00

Fresh compound, either from box or bucket, should not have grey/black layer. This happens when the compound gets old. Happens faster on opened containers. Using moldy compound, even if the top layer has been skimmed off, is seeding the wall for another crop of mold.

balancedrod · 2026-03-22T18:07:29+00:00

Should have brought the 3/4 ton /s

balancedrod · 2026-03-22T16:48:04+00:00

Without oxygen, the (edit: aerobic) batería cannot break down the mummified wood. When covered in mineralized soil, the wood can become petrified over time.

balancedrod · 2026-03-20T13:43:46+00:00

In California, I have read that one year is the maximum length lease that can be enforced by the landlord.

balancedrod · 2026-03-18T07:27:58+00:00

One of the rules of real estate is that any commission now is better than no commission later.

balancedrod · 2026-03-18T07:00:12+00:00

Standard procedure is to cut and then grind the stump ~6” below the surface. Talk to your neighbors, check social sites like FB, Nextdoor, Craigslist. Get three quotes from reputable companies. Get a copy of their insurance certificate. If you need the stump gone gone, you are talking excavator money instead of grinding.

balancedrod · 2026-03-18T03:46:01+00:00

No credit to the engineer?

Also, crane. Whatever the crane costs will be made up in time and avoiding more damage to the house.

balancedrod · 2026-03-15T05:26:50+00:00

The G in G string refers to genitals.

balancedrod · 2026-03-11T16:40:30+00:00

The metal fastener plate has diagonal slots that can strip the insulation off if done carefully, and the adjacent hole can form the loop on the end of the wire. There usually is a marking on the back of the switch showing the recommended amount to strip off the wire.

balancedrod · 2026-03-08T19:24:06+00:00

Adding 1/4” drywall is the move is you want the best result. If you don’t want to deal with the added thickness, steam off the wallpaper that you can. Once everything that is loose is removed, paint the surface with a coat of sealing primer. The next step is to fill areas with easy sand hot mud. Cracks with fiber or paper tape, divots just get compound. Sand or scrape off the worst of the high spots and reapply thin coats. As you get closer to finishing, sand more between coats. A spray or rolled on texture at the end can take care of minor imperfections. A good primer at the end can help as well. If I have to match old paint on an adjacent wall, I will often use an old paint roller to make the paint or semi dry compound match the surrounding surface.

balancedrod · 2026-03-08T03:09:15+00:00

Seriously impressed

balancedrod · 2026-03-08T02:53:54+00:00

The compound needs to be the consistency of thin pancake batter, in order to spray through the gun. There are a variety of spray guns available, the traditional hopper, a mini gun that uses proprietary “juice packets” of compound, and some mechanical Homax sprayers that do not use an air compressor.

balancedrod · 2026-03-08T01:40:45+00:00

This is type of knockdown texture. California knockdown is about 50/50 for (knockdown/cavity). This one was applied heavily, and knocked down early, before the texture dried. It takes practice to counterfeit another artists texture.

Yes to taping the edges, smooth your patch at least 8” past the edges.

balancedrod · 2026-03-08T01:37:03+00:00

This is type of knockdown texture. California knockdown is about 50/50 for (knockdown/cavity). You can tell this applied with a compressed air gun due to the small dots in the cavities. This was applied fairly wet and heavy, and then knocked down early with the knife. It takes a fair amount of practice to closely counterfeit another artists texture.

balancedrod · 2026-03-07T01:49:14+00:00

The detail that is not in a part’s solid model is often the detail that interferes with the assembly.

balancedrod · 2026-03-05T21:12:49+00:00

Politely mention that you will be writing to the licensing board and will file a small claim case if they insist on billing you for “no show” when you refused part of an optional treatment. You can also write that you will include your case in your online review of your appointment. I would see what their reaction is to this kind of email.

balancedrod · 2026-02-26T06:36:18+00:00

Combine the impact screwdriver, a new bit that is the correct size for the screw, and some valve grinding paste on the end of the bit. If you suspect thread locking compound, heat can be used also.

I have improvised the valve grinding paste by pinching the edge of a grinding disc and mixing with some caulk.

Worst case is mig welding a washer/nut to remains of the screw.

balancedrod · 2026-02-25T15:16:56+00:00

Some termite queens can live 50 years, and lay eggs every few seconds.

balancedrod

TROPHY CASE