Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
14
votes
8 answers

Does an electric plug exist which would prevent accidental removal from the socket?

I own a commercial AC which according to the technician should never be unplugged while running. At the moment the device is plugged into one of these sockets shown below. These are old swiss sockets but the successor model is only marginally better…
CuriousIndeed
  • 471
  • 3
  • 12
14
votes
7 answers

How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?

I've been researching for some time how to cover a curved stair riser that had been previously tiled. I wasn't pleased with the look of the tile, so I removed it and sanded back the mastic before veneering. However, the veneer was too thin and it…
CcS
  • 281
  • 2
  • 10
14
votes
12 answers

What is the right tool to cut a clothesline made of coated steel?

I have a clothesline that is made of 5-6 braided tiny steel wires that is coated with flexible plastic. I need to cut it to smaller segments, I tried using a cable cutter made of carbon steel but it barely worked and the wires kept fraying or…
Yahia El-Masry
  • 141
  • 1
  • 3
14
votes
1 answer

What could be causing changes to a smart bulb to affect a regular bulb on the same circuit?

We have a Lutron Caseta dimmer switch which controls a set of four downlights. I tried replacing the bulbs with Hue downlights (knowing full well that these wouldn't play well with the dimmer, except perhaps at maximum brightness), and observed the…
jogloran
  • 343
  • 2
  • 7
14
votes
6 answers

Bend wooden bedframe back into shape?

I have a wooden bed frame, for which one of the sides is very slightly bent out (as shown in the picture). I would like to get it straightened because the slight bending out means that the slats that support the mattress on that side aren't held in…
LondonPhantom
  • 243
  • 2
  • 6
14
votes
5 answers

How to get rid of mosquitos in swimming pool standing water

We have an above ground pool with about 6 inches of water that does not drain. The drain is located above the bottom, to keep water in it and weigh down the pool during the off season. However, the still warm water is the perfect breeding ground for…
P2000
  • 15,985
  • 30
  • 51
14
votes
11 answers

How can I drill through small thin hardened steel wrenches?

I have a couple wrenches that came with my mini air powered die grinder. I want to put a hole into the top so that I can attach a wire or string so I don't lose them. I used a punch to put a dimple into the wrench. I am trying to drill a pretty…
Fresh Codemonger
  • 14,177
  • 1
  • 21
  • 52
14
votes
1 answer

What type of connector is this, and how do I remove it?

Home DIYer here. What type of connector is this, and how do I remove it?
Diyer
  • 141
  • 3
14
votes
4 answers

Strange suction in toilet and sink, like a vacuum in the sewer pulling the water out

This is hard to explain.. But I was sitting in my bedroom when all of a sudden my toilet started draining, then the sinks in the bathroom started pulling air in, then when the water from the toilet drained, it started suctioning air down the toilet…
Matt
  • 391
  • 1
  • 7
  • 19
14
votes
3 answers

Can I use old bowling alley lanes as counter tops?

There's a guy in Brooklyn who has a huge stash of old maple bowling alley lanes that he says a person can make counter tops out of. The wood is actually pretty beautiful and some of it has inlaid pin markings. I'm seriously considering doing it.…
Amanda
  • 1,120
  • 7
  • 22
  • 36
14
votes
6 answers

Is an extra 1 W that significant with LED bulbs?

I recently replaced a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan with two light sockets that have a maximum rating of 9 W for LED bulbs. The bulbs in the original fixture are 10 W LED and dimmable. The bulbs that came with the fan are non-dimmable. …
linux2647
  • 151
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
14
votes
6 answers

How can I prevent spillage from my bathtub?

Let's set the scene: The horizontal surfaces of the bathtub in my apartment are flat. We have a double shower curtain (with the waterproof bit that hangs on the inside of the tub and the fabric bit that hangs on the outside of the tub) and are…
hairboat
  • 294
  • 1
  • 4
  • 11
14
votes
1 answer

How do I build shelves on non-square (>90 degrees) walls?

I want to build shelves into an alcove, but the corners are not square. What is the best approach to this?
Mild Fuzz
  • 385
  • 1
  • 5
  • 12
14
votes
9 answers

How can I mount a TV tight to the wall with steel studs?

I have a 55" TV that weighs about 37 lbs and I want to hang it on the wall. But I discovered that instead of wood studs, I have metal studs and can't drill into them. Is it safe to mount the TV to the drywall alone, using 1/4" toggle bolts…
KingsInnerSoul
  • 362
  • 2
  • 5
  • 16
14
votes
5 answers

Is it safe to swap a 30A "Dryer Socket" with a 40A "Range Socket" if the breaker is 40A?

Just bought a house built in 1979 and am working on renovations. Today we had a new range delivered and ran into an issue trying to install it. Essentially, the old range was connected to a 30A "dryer socket" in the kitchen while the new one…
5E4ME
  • 309
  • 3
  • 10
1 2 3
…
99 100