Home DIY

at 5 points around our living room we have these wires poking out the wall for wall lamps. The earth cables have been cut short (!) but are there.

I'd like to wire 3 of the 5 up to wall lamps and leave 2 blank (as they're behing bookcases). The ones I don't wire up to wall lamps, can I connect the wires using connector blocks, put them in a choc box, and leave them tucked behing the bookcases? If so, can I just go red->red, black->black and earth->earth?

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Yes but the connectors should be in some kind of box. Live connector block hanging from the wall isn't all that safe. I like Wago blocks and boxes 'cause I can't be bothered with screws but you can probably find something smaller.

This is the motor behind the cooker hood. Can I disconnect it and replace with something quieter and remote controlled?

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You could remote control that with something like a Shelly 1.

Quieter might be more tricky.

dno if this is the right thread, where can i get quality well priced storage trunks/boxes that come in a range of sizes, are stackable, closeable.

i need to get a stackable storage system on the go in the garage so i can start working on/in there

My bath has, unbeknownst to me, been spilling its kecks all over the floorboards every time it's drained. Which having a two year old is, everyday. The plug is all fucked anyway and so is the tap so I'm looking for some bath and tap recommendations. This is not 40k bog-room territory.

@chrisbmx116 you must have a long list of potentials with your recent latrine makeover!

I’d recommend EC1 bathrooms, they stock loads of brands of all ranges plus they discount heavily on everything.
Cross water taps are decent and I went with a Bette bath.

Nice wan, thanks.

Wire it in to the existing fan you mean?

That's what I was thinking, yes. Although speed control might be more tricky assuming it does that.

I’ve got a few ‘really useful’ boxes for records, think I got them from Ryman on Old Kent Road - definitely stackable if they’re the same footprint.

Ikea Samla?

these look solid yep

I've got some cracks in recently plasterboarded walls and ceilings that need to be filled. What tool do I need to widen them out so they can be filled?

The house was completely renovated about 10 years ago but the building has settled a bit since then. In the last 3-4 years they haven't got any worse, so i think it's about time i sorted them out.

Bristan taps are decent and UK company too.

I’ve got a recco if you’re still looking ?

Delroy Durant - 07496149853

Plant bed liner and then some Stones/rocks/smashed tiles etc

Muji
Auer

Here's a local (to me) example:
These are a bit more but will last you.
https://www.globalindustrial.ca/c/storage/bins-totes-containers/shipping-security

Another vote for Really Useful storage boxes. I have so many in my house I suspect they're now load-bearing.

How big are said cracks? If hairline - 1 or 2mm I would just carve out a V groove with a stanley knife, brush/hoover out the dust, fill, sand, refill, resand, prime and paint. My living room was covered in hairline/crazing cracks due to the age of the plaster and changing atmospheric conditions (worst around the radiator). I did the above all over and you'd hardly know about it.

For bigger/deeper cracks, you'd want to first fill with bonding then some finishing filler over the top.

You wouldn't have seen most of these unless you were right up against the wall, but once I started, I got a bit carried away. Most were no deeper than the paint. Plaster itself is solid.

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Is there a forum approved rotary tool aka knock off dremel?

My sister has lost my Aldi one but the chuck was shit anyway.

Tool Station one looks decent and they’ll always replace if there’s a fault within a year. (My record is four SDS drills.)

https://www.toolstation.com/draper-135w-rotary-multi-tool-kit/p56097?store=T3&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI15CY2bS07wIVYoBQBh0T7gMpEAQYAyABEgI_ZvD_BwE

Is it possible to paint wood once it's got to this stage?

This belongs to my neighbour Angie, it was her dad's (who passed away a few years ago) but it got blown over in the wind last year and the sails broke. I've fixed the sails and I'm replacing all the washers so hopefully it'll soon nicely.

She asked if it's possible to paint it but it's been outside for years and years - however the wood is quite dry at the moment as it's been inside since it was broken.

Structurally it's fine, it's not rotting away, but I don't want to paint it and it fall apart!

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This shows the condition of the wood a lot better

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