Home DIY

I'd like to fill a (roughly) 5 inch diameter hole going completely through a solid external wall. Any idea of the best way.

Thanks. Outside is brick, so best with a bit of mortar and half brick just for appearance, then expanding foam for the rest?

@JesperXT I would be very careful about touching that radiator. You say building manager why are they asking you to do this and not themselves? You are right to worry that you may not be able to stop it leaking in future you do not have the option to take it off enough to replace any caulking that is on it.

I have one of those wooden bannisters that looks like this

a bit.

I'd like to take the paint off. is it easy/cheaper/just better all round to replace the bannister vs trying to strip old paint and then light stain?

This is what I got, would buy again.
Quality tools are always a good investment.

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I bought one of these:

Almost certainly not quite as good as the Bosch ^, but I've had no complaints.

Ladies / gents,
Can anyone recommend me a decent cordless drill round the £100 mark?

She saw them in London when MJK judo flipped a stage rusher, pinned him and rode him like a horse during an entire song.

Ha I was at that show - on the Aenima tour. Absolutely astonishing.

Push It... Brilliant. The chap was later spotted in the lavs, trying to wash Maynards blue paint off himself.
The Astoria RIP.
I first saw them at Reading '93.

I bought a Hitatchi driver/drill from Screwfix recently for 99 quid. It's pretty decent, a massive step up from the Titan I had before. Won't be much use for going into masonry though, if that's what you'e after.

Back on topic ...

Made a hat/coat shelf - used mitre saw and dremel to shape the wood, including round some cable ducting in the corner. Tung oil to bring out the grain. It is held to the wall by magic and magnets.

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I got one and it has been very good, wish I'd known about it earlier. Refurbished the windows at the back of the house this year, but still got the front ones to do. No doubt I'll keep finding more to do with it.
Thanks @Airhead for the tip

Have a voucher for screwfix, £10 when you spend £50. PM me if that's useful.

Thanks @c00ps and @withered_preacher - those both look like good options, I've got a Bosch third sheet sander and had a Titan drill I was quite happy with until the builders accidentally pinched it.

I might still go for the hire option as my bike cave is slowly filling with power tools and as it's for our shared hall I should really invoice the neighbour for half and if I buy something for me it gets complicated. Plus I'm pretty much broke due to aforementioned building work :/

If @7ven doesn't take it I'll take that please - I need some stuff from Screwfix anyway and that would take that Titan sander down to £30!

Ohhhhhh, thanks. Will pm you now!

I have another for 15% off orders over £25 - PM me

I've got the same vouchers (£10 off £50, £15 off £25 and 10% off £20 too), if anyone wants them. Drop me a PM and I'll shove them in the post, gratis.

Edit: non-transferable. Sorry :(

Spare worktop as chopping board.
Yes/no.
What do I treat it with first?
Cuprinol/?
Olive oil?

Tung oil

Tung oil is foodsafe. 4-5 thin coats. 24 hours between coats. Wipe away excess before new coat. Comes out very well.

Muchos muchos.

That's in a different league to the little handheld sanders posted downthread.

The little sanders will take you aaaages. The Bona edger is fine however you have to be careful not to leave scallop-shaped marks when using it.

Don't put it on the floor and then turn it on, turn it on then lower it to the floor and be prepared for it to want to twist when it makes contact.

Just get one of these.
Light, washable, hangable still easy on the blade.

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Can anyone recommend / is qualified to do an electric oven install in West Hampstead.
I just bought a new oven which doesn't come with any kind of sodding cable, so it's illegal for me to do the install myself, thanks to our stupid Part P regulations.
It's 13 amp so can just go into a plug (which I thought it was going to be fitted with)