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1500 questions
18
votes
6 answers
How do I remove these Ikea screws? (studs inside holes)
I bought and assembled an Ikea sofa bed (asssembly instructions here). I'm moving soon and want to take apart the couch to make it easier to lift.
Some of the screws needed for the assembly come in 2 parts: the head and the threads. You screw the…
J. Yee
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18
votes
5 answers
How do I adjust a door so it doesn't swing on its own?
I have a normal door, and left to its own devices it will simply rest about 20-30 degrees. It won't swing shut on its own, nor stay open on its own. It hangs a bit in the middle. Convenient enough to catch you elbow when you're not looking.
I'd like…
Will Hartung
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18
votes
3 answers
One circuit on two 20 amp breakers
Can I put one circuit on two 20-amp breakers? I'm drawing too much power on just one breaker and I'm not able to run a whole new circuit right now.
Thomas Sedwick
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18
votes
5 answers
How do I choose between ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms?
I need to change my smoke detectors but I don't know how to choose between ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms. I guess that there are pros and cons to choose one or the other. Should I buy a combination detector that uses both methods?
Alexandre Jobin
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18
votes
6 answers
Wind from kitchen sink drainage pipe
We live on a windy coast of North Sea. High wind is a norm here. One of the problems I face with the wind: it comes out from kitchen sink drainage pipe. If it is blowy outside, you can feel a draft coming from the drainage pipe.
I think the problem…
trailmax
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18
votes
11 answers
How to cut drywall over stud?
Let's say I have a hole like this (not my actual hole just one that I found for my situation)
As you can see the existing drywall is flush with the 2x4. What I want to do is cleanly cut away enough of the existing drywall (about an inch) on both…
Dean MacGregor
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18
votes
7 answers
How to cut a rectangle out of a STEEL ruler?
Does anyone know how to cut a hollow rectangle out of a steel ruler? By that I mean cutting a small part out of the standard steel ruler while having the outside part still in tact. So a band saw is out the ballpark. Its for a home project and any…
Joe
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18
votes
2 answers
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside?
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside? I've heard different things about this. We have a home built in the 40's on a cinder-block foundation. One side of the house is inaccessible without removing our driveway.
Kyle
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18
votes
4 answers
When drywalling, do the pros cover electrical boxes, or work around them?
This may be a bit of a subjective question, but I was just thinking about it. I've seen many electrical boxes that are full of drywall compound, often to the point of having to dig the wires out of it so you can use it.
To prevent this, should the…
gregmac
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18
votes
2 answers
Why won't a LED bulb work in a standard light fixture?
I have a wall fixture in my Brooklyn apartment's bathroom that is my only source of light. A sticker on the fixture says that it is Max 75W. The other day, the 14W / 60W equivalent CFL that was in it since I moved in burned out and I had to replace…
Colin
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18
votes
3 answers
What are the differences between these two receptacles?
Residential duplex outlets come in a variety of styles.
The two most common seem to be:
and
Does it matter? Is the difference purely aesthetics, or is there any technical difference?
abelenky
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18
votes
10 answers
Why would a GFCI trip on refrigerator circuit?
My refrigerator is tripping the GFCI on the socket into which it is plugged. Searching about this topic seems to indicate that this is a reasonably common complaint. However, I can't find any concrete information about general causes or potential…
hoc_age
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18
votes
8 answers
How to tell if your locks are bump proof?
I was reading about lock "bumping" where burglars buy 'bump' keys and can open locks very quickly. I was also reading that some locks are bump proof (double chamber perhaps?). My question is: how can I tell, by looking at the locks currently on my…
themerlinproject
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18
votes
13 answers
How do I prepare my home for a power outage?
With several storms in the Northeast United States and more storms predicted this week, there have been lots of extended power outages. What are things to do to prepare your house for a power outage especially in the winter.
What are things you…
SchwartzE
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18
votes
1 answer
What is this velcro-like product?
Does anyone have an idea what this product might be?
It was found it on some hired equipment, used as a cable tie / cable tidy. It is reversible and each side will stick to itself, unlike velcro.
Maybe cable tie was not its intended use?
It looks…
Josh Barnes
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