Continuing Thread: What Are You Fix-It'ing Today?

[Baz]

This little covered deck I built is cool! We got a bunch of rain yesterday and the roof worked great! I got to thinking what a great place it would be to get in some reading......

[LEAKYSEALS951]

After knocking out the fire sprinklers at the local parking deck, I picked up my wife's car and dumped it in my garage. Backup skills=ninja level!
edit- best news is that the uhaul attendant said I returned the cleanest rental he'd ever seen. Glad nobody videotaped my 'mishap'. Got my full deposit back!

[billybek]

Put the temp shed up today.
Could have done it when it wasn't snowing but noooo, I had to wait for today.

[varmint]

I am tired. Really tired.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

edit- best news is that the uhaul attendant said I returned the cleanest rental he'd ever seen.

An exterior outlet, 50ft of 10gauge extension cord, exterior spigot, 50ft hose extension, plus an electric power washer stored in the basement will be your best outdoor cleaning kit. Grab it and go.

[john70t]

Fixed a 2nd story screen (non-removable) using a folding extension ladder which bounced around like a diving board and thought it would snap in the middle at any second. Did not like that situation at all. "I'm too old for that" as the saying goes. Will use a proper ladder next time or hire out.

Cleaned the electronic furnace filter screens, but still have to replace the UV bulbs in the return. They are only good for a few years anyways.

The water heater is probably due for a flush as well.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by john70t

Fixed a 2nd story screen (non-removable) using a folding extension ladder which bounced around like a diving board and thought it would snap in the middle at any second. Did not like that situation at all. "I'm too old for that" as the saying goes. Will use a proper ladder next time or hire out.

I'll see if I can find that table from an old trauma textbook I had. Something about fatality risk for those falling off a ladder. The take home message was that anyone over about the age of 30 should never ever get on a ladder more than about 5 or 6 feet.

[oldE]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'll see if I can find that table from an old trauma textbook I had. Something about fatality risk for those falling off a ladder. The take home message was that anyone over about the age of 30 should never ever get on a ladder more than about 5 or 6 feet.

Maybe that's why I tend to set up staging if I am doing anything more than cleaning the chimney.

My project this morning was cutting the windshield out of the Golf Cabriolet. The rust kind of stood out against the white paint. I hate body work.

Best
Les

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'll see if I can find that table from an old trauma textbook I had. Something about fatality risk for those falling off a ladder. The take home message was that anyone over about the age of 30 should never ever get on a ladder more than about 5 or 6 feet.

I'm 67 and am semi-retired but still taking care of a handful of properties by myself as well as my Mom's and my own. Part of this work entails palm tree pruning - once a year for these Cabbage Palms. They send out messy flower/fruiting stalks once a year so we time the pruning to coincide with when the stalks come out fully and just before the blooming. Along with the flower/fruiting stalks, we also do a fairly tight frond trim.

One of my accounts I have always hired out because the 7 Cabbage Palms there are just too tall for me. Another one I have always done myself. Over the years the palms have grown, of course, and it's at the point now where I am considering bringing someone in to just do the two tallest ones, one of which is shown in the photos below. For these taller ones, it's a good idea to use a ratchet strap (or two) to secure the ladder to the tree. Once that is done it's just a matter of managing one's fear of heights...lol...

I use a Milwaukee Hackzall so I also have one hand to hold one with while the other hand operates the saw.

These palms have a bunch of old frond bases that helps hold the top of the ladder too, so that's important to get that nice and secure.

[Baz]

Well, I decided to go ahead with another deck just like the 8'x10' one I built in back. This one is in front just to the left of the front entrance. I'm up on a dune ridge so none of this is visible from the street. I'm short a couple of deck boards but have most of it done. Will be a nice sitting area for reading or just chillin'......

Used the last of the 3"x12" alum. flat roof pans as well so they're all gone now....but put to good use!

[gerald]

I finished to write my course work. It was a bit hard but long writing work. I wrote it by myself + used help of some friends. Next time I will use at first time opportunity to buy research paper , because I want to try to test that stuff too.

[porsche tech]

Cold and rainy here today 🙁. Working on putting new liners in my 40 or 50 year old Mac tool box. Did the wrench drawer today…whoopty-doo! That old box served me well for many years of wrenching.

[Bill Douglas]

I like that roofing stuff Baz, the way it forms it's own rigidity and doesn't need extra joists.

[pksystems]

House builder decided to use nothing but drywall anchors for the wire closet shelving. Since all of them are starting to pull out, I'm putting the much stonger clips into every stud.

[Rusty Heap]

Exploded a CV joint on a Side x Side bouncing through some boulder sized rocks.

[john70t]

The bulb in the Honeywell UV-Aire stopped working years ago. (Yeah yeah I know it should be changed every year).
This one was $130 at Menards. The furnace company quoted $1200 for their installation of a specialty brand.

The new ones are a double 9". The old 18" single bulbs are NLA from the Honeywell. There are aftermarket ones made in the USA available for ~$25 (vs $50 for the new style at the box store) but reviews indicate many not working, and I'm not sure about the output quality. I've got to do further research.



According to instructions, the new style is rated for return side before the air cleaner, or (as shown) the hot supply side which keeps mold off the A/C coils. That is my limited knowledge. Considering the 1" of insulation this reduces the penetration to 8" and might not illuminate everything. The hole was slightly oblong so I created a circle with five layers of metal tape which should be strong enough for the felt seal. There were vent openings in back of the unit needing the 1/16" air gap, so a ring of silicone was out of the question and I didn't have a hole saw for adding a plate.

The box was lacking data on bulb wattage and cord length (but thankfully it was also 5').
It did not mention needing a metal hole saw or longer phillips bit.

That big handle looks like it was meant to be cranked on. It's not. I added my own marks.

I don't know if the old unit ballast is burnt out or not, but I will try some aftermarkets and stick that into the return for double bulb coverage.

[Brando]

Just installed an Optima Red Top in my truck. New alternator is "in the mail" and should be here by the 15th. Oh boy.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I like that roofing stuff Baz, the way it forms it's own rigidity and doesn't need extra joists.

Thanks, Bill. Gotta say so far it's been the easier roof panel to work with. You wouldn't believe how light they are. Of course they are not meant to be walked on but for a simple canopy they worked great.

Yesterday I finished the addition to the deck in front adding another 8' x 10'.

I had some 6' standing seam roof panels so used those to give a partial canopy. I have a palm in the middle so couldn't go any longer. It's a Dypsis pembana - see below for mature example. Right now all my palms have fronds overhanging into the decks a bit but in time the canopies will be above it.

I am using this part of the deck to hang some of my bicycles. It will also be a great area to do bike maintenance and upkeep. I also plan to put a small grill out there and a small flat screen hooked up to an OTA antenna. I already put some solar lights and will add more later today.













Internet pic of a mature Dysis pembana:

[A930Rocket]

Getting the new to me M3 ready to sell. Took off the CAI and installed the factory air box, removed the wheel studs and reinstalled the lug bolts, reinstalled the street brake pads.

I’ll clean it up tomorrow, take some pictures and post it for sale.

Then it’s back to the 330ci to get it ready for the track.

[Baz]

Brought a small flat screen out into my new front deck to try out.........