Home DIY

I'll bet it's full of angel dust.

My infrequent use could be the issue. Better start planning a project soon!😁

I've been told to make this old bit of wood into a shelf. Pictured would be the underside, the other side is neater. It would need to be straight cut to appx red rectangle as pictured.

I have a available a universal saw 8tpi, a very old cheap b&q jigsaw, and a bow saw.

I don't think I can do a reasonable job of it with the available tools.

I'm told if it's not done by me the teller will do it themselves with a handsaw.

Shall I let them proceed, or is there anything I can do to save the situation?

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Do you have a couple of clamps and a long enough straight edge (long spirit level/piece of timber/metre rule etc) to make a guide for one of the sawing implements? With a guide and maybe a new blade for the jigsaw it could be done pretty neatly.

You'll be most likely to be successful with the handsaw. As a bow saw would be too rough and a jigsaw blade will be prone to wandering caused by blade deflection in knotty wood like that.

Mark the line and keep blowing away the saw dust so that you can see it. You want to focus on keeping the saw blade, your wrist, elbow and shoulder in line at all times as this produces the best cutting stroke. Remember to let the blade do the work - don't force it and you'll be fine.

Even if it goes wrong make it clear that you think it's a bad idea before starting and you always have the trusty I TOLD YOU SO to fall back on.

Yes, have some clamps and a level & other plank, hadn't considered that. Will see what can be done tomorrow, ta.

Another shelf related question. We have 2 shelves that I fitted in an alcove & I was asked to add another above. This is normally within my range, provided nothing out of the ordinary crops up.

It needs to be on a specific line to match the spacing between the other shelves but the pilot drill holes have all gone through to mortar very crumbly not brick. Could the mortar be strong enough to hold a reasonable weight with heavy duty Wallplugs? E.g. 10mm hole size not 7mm jobbies?

In use likely to hold a line of books or cd's, 190cm wide shelf.

Ah, thanks. Useful to know. Clamp & straight edge guide still useful I guess?

Even if it goes wrong make it clear that you think it's a bad idea before starting and you always have the trusty I TOLD YOU SO to fall back on.

Good call. I think a muted told you so, from behind a closed door, in a different building, in another city, in a far away land, might be safest if it goes wrong despite prior warnings.

IKEA utility room day 3.
No day 2 as I was depressed/furious at how long it took my FIL to mansplain fitting a temporary worktop/sink/etc - an unwanted task and one I repeatedly pointed out I knew full well how to do, having fitted a kitchen sink a month ago. I do not know how Mrs Hammer hasn’t pushed him down some stairs already.

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I've not used them but people have praised Rawlplug Wet n Fix - could help stabilise the fixings so they don't wobble and work loose over time. If it's just a normal shelf with no real force pulling out of/away from the wall, it'll likely be fine. e.g. I wouldn't mount a TV into mortar, where there's a huge weight on a long lever pulling away from the wall.

It's like some giant bejewelled boob

Cool, ta once more.

Have you started yet? Would a circular saw help?

It might? Let me have a go with what's here and shout if need a rescue...

While we're on dimming.... I want the dimz!

I will need to buy a dimmer switch module and four bulbs

I've been thinking about this recently and came to the conclusion that there is no point buying dimmer switches/modules.

If you have a normal light switch, just buy smart bulbs. It's the future but also avoids the risk of flickering LED bulbs (when even recommended LED dimmers seem to suffer from this sometimes).

I'll put the batteries on charge just in case

How about when you have multiple bulbs on a fixture? Seems a bit overkill (and expensive).

I have this problem at the moment - 5 bulbs, G9 too, I have found one brand/type of smart G9 bulb, otherwise there aren't any, possibly for a good reason...

Decent dimmer switches and modules are pricey too to be fair.

I wonder how well something like Shelly Dimmer 2 dims? Seems quite good otherwise.

https://shelly.cloud/products/shelly-dimmer-2-smart-home-light-controller/

FIL to mansplain

I feel your hatred.

Today marked the installation of the final puzzle piece. Sawed, planed and sanded a piece of 8mm oak to cover the little concrete step I made to neaten the floor level difference between the hallway and this room.

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I knew I’d find a use for the fire extinguisher I bought two years ago and never hung up.

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Time for a beer!

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Mmm that new room smell

Keep expecting Tom Petty to show.