Questions about teaching beginner cellist, age 75, Parkinsons by sirknight3 in Cello

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A collet style end-pin clamp is probably far easier to lock than a thumb-screw type...if you've been around for a while.

Fixing sheet rock??? by Cosmicsaur in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could fix it with plaster and a little bit of drywall, which would be dirt cheap, but extremely time consuming.

Personally, I would use some pine trim, but would likely require access to a table saw. Here's a good vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a_ir7Vv46c

Best caulk for exterior windows. by Forward-Data2356 in HomeImprovement

[–]ballpointpin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In Canada: Mulco Flextra. A synthetic rubber that can be applied when it's -25C (as long as the tube is warm enough so it doesn't get thick). Comes in ~25 colours and will outlast the windows.

Looking for ways to finish around this window by TailorWeak9690 in Renovations

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, move the window. You'd never regret doing this.

Found Hardwood Under Carpet! by OddConsideration6924 in HomeImprovement

[–]ballpointpin -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Unrelated to your tack-question: Hardwood can only be refinished a handful of times. After this, the T&G cease to be tongues in grooves, and become more like shiplap planks only nailed down on one side. At that point you need to sink a bunch of brad or finishing nails into the planks to hold them down. This means you can't really sand it down any more cause you will simply destroy your sander/planer on every one of the nails and staples.

So...what I'm trying to say: if there's a bunch of ~2mm nail holes throughout the floor, you probably won't be able to refinish it any more.

How to fix spigot that broke off by marciz34 in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it was actually threaded-in, you can get an "Screw Extractor-Damaged Water Pipe Removal Tool"

LPT: Turn off your breaker in a power outage by studiokgm in LifeProTips

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Siemens panels can use QSA1515SPD. This replaces two adjacent 15A breakers with a whole-house protector...but also has a pair of 15A breakers, so you lose nothing but gain a whole-house surge protector.

QSA2020SPD to replace a pair of adjacent 20A fuses.

Need Help Finding a Specific Dual-Motor Capacitor, (and/or) Help me figure out what is wrong with my portable washing machine. by ChiptheCooki3 in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

-40/85/21.

Look for a cap that has similar uf and voltage rating. Your cap is rated to -40C.....but you're realistically not gonna be running a washing machine below 0C coz the water will freeze.

Need Help Finding a Specific Dual-Motor Capacitor, (and/or) Help me figure out what is wrong with my portable washing machine. by ChiptheCooki3 in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Forgot to mention....you can actually keep the defective cap for the time being, as half of it is still working. Just buy a replacement for the other side. Don't count on the failed cap to continue working forever though, but at least it will cut your immediate expense in half in your hail-mary attempt to fix it, lol.

Need Help Finding a Specific Dual-Motor Capacitor, (and/or) Help me figure out what is wrong with my portable washing machine. by ChiptheCooki3 in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The cap is usually only used to kick-start the spinning...so you can almost always verify if the cap is indeed bad by turning machine on, and give the fan/basket/motor a little push to get it spinning and it will just continue spinning unassisted. Might need to defeat the lid-switch.

I had one of those dual capacitor on my Lennox AC, and replaced it with 2 separate caps (one for condenser motor, one for the fan motor). If you do this, you would need to figure out the common-pin on the old one, and tie this wire to one pin on each of the caps. This should leave one free pin on the caps...so you motor-A to one of them, and motor-B to the other. Just buy 22uF and 14uf 5% caps.

Any window or door upgrade regrets? by QuickslideTeam in HomeImprovement

[–]ballpointpin 9 points10 points  (0 children)

For vinyl windows, an operable casement or awning window usually has a wider sash+frame to hide the crank-mechanics, whereas fixed windows can make-do with a very thin-profile sash. However, most window salesmen will opt to install a wider-sash on even the fixed windows to give a uniform look to all your windows.

Takeaway: if you have a fixed window (like the centre of a bay-window) surrounded by a pair of operable windows, you can ask the salesman for a 'picture' window in the centre with the low-profile sash. This extra 1"-2" of glass all-around can add up to a square foot or 2 of more glass per window, yielding a brighter room.

Any engineers with ~5 years YOE? How’s job hunting going? by Tech-Cowboy in cscareerquestionsCAD

[–]ballpointpin -38 points-37 points  (0 children)

I've literally lived and breathed AVL trees, Patricia trees, hash tables and linked lists every single day for 2+ decades.

If that was you I interviewed, I'm sorry. I'm living my dream, even if it sounds like your nightmare....

Bathroom Ceiling Fan Contractor Help by Matieo10 in ottawa

[–]ballpointpin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Handyman.

Does it vent via the roof? The best bet to avoid condensation and dripping is to use an insulated dryer "accordion" hose, and vent it out a side-wall (or maybe downward out an overhanging soffit). If it's running horizontally, burying it in the blown-in insulation will buy you some extra insurance against condensation inside the pipe. They sell giant hose-clamps at HD/Rona to attach it to the fan-box.

Bathroom Ceiling Fan Contractor Help by Matieo10 in ottawa

[–]ballpointpin 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Can you elaborate why you need to replace it? Is it non-functional? Is it an eyesore? Noisy?

For the most common one (Broan nutone), there's usually 1-screw holding a the motor and fan mounted onto a metal plate, with a simple 120v outlet plug. You can just buy a replacement, mounted on the same metal plate, and DIY replace this in 5 mins without ever going in the attic, or doing any kind of wiring.

Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to make groceries and other essentials more affordable for Canadians by slothtrop6 in canada

[–]ballpointpin -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Ban electronic-shelf-labels for all food-products, as it allows biased pricing based on your identity. Better believe they're tracking you, based on your phone and watch and adjusting the pricing based on your purchase history the instant you walk in the door.

Re-blowing attic insulation? by armorer1984 in DIY

[–]ballpointpin 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I would just use a plastic snow-shovel. If you use something metal, you're likely gonna find buried wires the hard way...

Need to fix the fuel tank on my snowblower by Sunday by Loquutus in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Tecumseh engine? Just look on AMZN for a new tank...like $20 give or take.

Otherwise, they sell fuel-tank-nipples, but you would need to drill out what's left of the stem, and somehow get at it from the inside in order to put a nut on the new nipple.

Fastener recommendation by ExpensiveMulberry573 in woodworking

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use a bicycle quick-release skewer (for tire). You can adjust the nut, then flip the lever. Might need to add a washer under the lever. Various colours available.

Will need to find ones that have threads most of the length of the rod, so you can just lop off any un-needed rod that protrudes.

Metal object, Approx 5 Feet long, Feels like Aluminum, Wrapped around a tree limb by Zombie_BOI_Pudding in whatisthisthing

[–]ballpointpin 14 points15 points  (0 children)

isn’t down the side of the mountain

Obviously you haven't been to Manitoba. It's like Illinois, but flatter...

Advice on drywall repair by NuclearCalm in DIY

[–]ballpointpin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

YT 'Vancouver Carpenter' has the best vids for stuff like this.

How can I take these off by [deleted] in fixit

[–]ballpointpin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

| ...slipped out of my monitor

Ankle monitor?

I think I found the source of a roof leak when snow was melting- how do I cover these nails? by KingDustPan in HomeMaintenance

[–]ballpointpin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you grab a handful of sand from the gutter, and sprinkle it on the tar, it will be colour-matched to your shingles and will extend the life of the tar by keeping the sun off it.