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1500 questions
16
votes
9 answers
By manually impacting and cooling drill bit in water may one slowly drill concrete and bricks without impact function?
In theory, drilling a hole through concrete, bricks, and ceramic tiles needs a large power impact drill with concrete or ceramic tile bit. I googled, impact prevents drill bits head from wearing out due to high temperature. Since the problem is…
Superuser
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16
votes
10 answers
How do I drywall when the studs are not flush?
I have a problem with my bathroom. I recently had someone come and switch the door from the kitchen side to the other side while redoing my kitchen. He did a great job and the kitchen looks great. That being said he used new studs to re-frame the…
Ryan Brokaw
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16
votes
6 answers
What is this kind of security bolt head called, and how can I remove it?
A previous owner fitted the light fitting pictured above, and has not left me a tool to remove the bolt. The bulb has blown so I need to get in to the unit. The head diameter is about 12mm and the gap between the two notches is about 6mm. I would…
Dickon Reed
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16
votes
3 answers
House already wired for ethernet; how to engage?
A previous owner of my home (I don't know when) wired every room in the house with an ethernet port. I have not been using the ethernet at all, but recent needs for working at home have made me curious about what I could accomplish with somewhat…
gregmacfarlane
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16
votes
4 answers
How can I install a cable jack without a box?
I recently had our drywall replaced due to flooding. Our coax cables are now just hanging out of the new wall and I need to install cable jacks.
Is there a way I can mount the coax wall plates to the drywall without an electric box in the wall? I'd…
ShawnCBerg
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16
votes
4 answers
What is this attaching my toilet seat and how can I unscrew it?
I’m trying to unscrew my toilet seat but it seems to have been fitted with this plastic mechanism, which doesn't seem to want to be unscrewed.
Do I need a special tool to remove it?
Urbycoz
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16
votes
6 answers
Should I run 240v for any supported appliances?
I am having my main circuit breaker panel replaced (by a licensed electrician) and he told me I can run new circuits for him to hook up to the new panel. Is there any benefit to running 240v circuits for computers, network equipment, other devices…
yakatz
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16
votes
5 answers
How do electric hot water heaters explode and what can be done to prevent that from happening?
My neighbor and good friend is a union steamfitter, and general handyman. He had to replace his electric hot water heater last year and he did it himself.
My wife and I have to replace ours now, and he says its a super simple job and he has offered…
hotmeatballsoup
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16
votes
3 answers
How do I protect myself from bad contracting jobs?
I've came cross couple recent bad jobs 1 2 and am dealing with a bad electrical job myself.
Before putting down money and letting the people leave, what resources are available to a consumer to protect themselves (before the fact and after the…
Nelson
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16
votes
4 answers
Moisture leaking out of chip in floor tile
I dropped something heavy and mildly pointed onto the bathroom floor.
The Bathroom is tiled with ~30cm square black "slate like" tiles, but where I dropped this thing, the surface has been badly (2-3 cm radius, ?1-2mm deep?) chipped, and underneath…
Brondahl
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16
votes
2 answers
What kind of nut is this
what is the name of this nut, I need to find a way to loosen it .
From the top
Charm_quark
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16
votes
5 answers
Contractor cut joist hangers to make them fit
(edited with additional info re. header)
We are removing a couple of load bearing walls as part of renos in our home. The engineer specified a W8x21steel beam to replace the load bearing wall. The floor joists are 2x10.
It appears the contractor…
user105375
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16
votes
4 answers
GFI outlets tripped after power outage
I live in a rural area that has frequent power outages (Several per month. Less than a minute in duration). When the power is restored, several GFI outlets always trip. I am trying to track down the cause of these trips, as one of the outlets…
cyclops
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16
votes
5 answers
I hit a pipe with a mower and now it won't turn
I was mowing the other day and there was a pipe sticking out of the ground. The pipe wasn't carrying any services, just a piece of metal sticking out of the ground (I've now removed it).
The pipe was covered by the longish grass and I hit it with my…
tyelford
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16
votes
1 answer
Orange material in grout lines - need help to identify
Having recently moved into a new (resale) house, I looked closely at the grout lines on one of the tiled shower floors and noticed many small gaps in the grout lines with an unidentified orange material in the gaps. I've attached a…
mattbg
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