The Do-it-Yourself Thread: A Home for Handymen and Artisans - General

I'm working on a small hovercraft. Here's a video of the very first test to see if it would even work. (potato cam go) [vid]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43645231/photos/electro/2015-02-20_14.webm[/vid] Here's it a bit later and with how the layout will most likely be: [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43645231/photos/electro/2015-02-20 15.02.31.jpg[/t] EDIT: 8 hours later, it's done! (for now) [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43645231/photos/electro/2015-02-20 23.16.46.jpg[/t] it does seem the batteries can't really deal with two fans though. I'll have to get a LiPo, using one will have multiple benefits in this situation.

Do you have one big hole in the bottom of the hovercraft? I always thought hovercrafts work better when many tiny holes than one big one. It should be moving far longer than it does.

Made an archery target out of scrap pieces of wood that's been sitting in my backyard. Bought a tarp and filler to make it safe to use on crossbows and bb guns. And since I used the wood in my yard, it means I finally cleaned up the yard. Been there since the previous owners.

I spent the evening patching and painting my bedroom. Got to use some of that spackle that goes on pink and dries white, very handy and nice to use. I recommend trying it next time you need spackle.

Milk crates are awesome for storing [u] a few records[/u], but when you get a lot of records, then add on that you have laserdiscs you begin to realize that milk crates aren't really designed for stacking like shelves on their sides. They flex and warp and lose their square shape and that was beginning to happen to me to the point I was concerned about my discs being damaged. I took the shelving apart and each column of crates was screwed to a wooden plank. These pieces were then screwed to eachother to make a much more durable single piece shelving unit. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/IMG_8376.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/IMG_8379.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/IMG_8382.jpg[/IMG]

Does anybody have experience fixing up office chairs? I bought one off Craigslist for $25 and it leans to the back and right just enough to annoy me. It also seems that there are pieces of bearings that have broken off in the cylinder. Not sure where to begin.

This is my weekend project. [IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/strange2222_zpsnfowtsxj.jpg[/IMG] It looks like a squid.

I don't know where else to post this but I Finished a 180sx model I got a while ago today. Could've been better but not bad for my first model ever. I am terrible at waterslide decals though, most came off that I put on. [t]http://i.imgbox.com/2RxNr46M.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgbox.com/6sn7cSGw.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgbox.com/FFHj0858.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=jazxsora;47272587]I don't know where else to post this but I Finished a 180sx model I got a while ago today. Could've been better but not bad for my first model ever. I am terrible at waterslide decals though, most came off that I put on. [t]http://i.imgbox.com/2RxNr46M.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgbox.com/6sn7cSGw.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgbox.com/FFHj0858.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] nice, im building one of those just 24x larger

[QUOTE=Stiveno;47272611]nice, im building one of those just 24x larger[/QUOTE] Man, I wish I was too. This'll have to do for now though.

Oh wow, didn't realize this was still active. It must have dropped off my read threads page at some point.

It pretty much got lost when they re-shuffled the forums around.

Would you folks like a thread title change? Given that the DIY section doesn't exist anymore, this could serve as the new megathread for all things DIY.

So the other week to get my mind off other problems I bought a bunch of OLD, old modems. Needless to say I have the world's worst luck and well.... [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8503.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8504.jpg[/IMG] So I ended up playing a game of Jigsaw Puzzle and glued the front back together using whatever pieces I found in the box. Unfortunately I was still missing some 10% of the plastics when I was done, plus the button plate. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8523.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8524.jpg[/IMG] Replacing it is impossible. It will have to be rebuilt. The fix came in the form of a cracker box and Bondo. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8549.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8550.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8552.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8553.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8555.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/Computer%20related/IMG_8556.jpg[/IMG] There's a few pinholes that still need to be filled and some of the reglued breaks need to be sanded smooth but it's pretty much ready to be primed and resprayed with a plastic bonding paint.

Today was a damn good day. I created a mockup test bed for my 'lens' table out of OSB and some 1/4" Ply, and I steamed and bent the ply to test the response to the curves. I'm super stoked. I'm going to forgo a concrete top now in favor of a 3/4" 20x60 steel plate, which will cost a ton but be very cool. Tomorrow I'm going to the lumber store to buy the Sassafras wood that I'll be using on the final. The clamps are obviously only temporary as they are required for bending, but once set they will be removed, and holes drilled to mount to the steel frame with bolts. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/1_zps5cyakqqp.jpg[/img] [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/2_zps9qdqyal8.jpg[/img] [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/3_zpsfwngcvq0.jpg[/img] [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/4_zpsno6lf9wj.jpg[/img] And just for kicks here's a panoramic of my studio. [t]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/pans_zpsdms7k0p7.jpg~original[/t]

Easy there with those curves, Ajacks. I can't tell if you're drawing more from Saarinen, Eames, or Westnofa. It's looking great, though.

Really crappy and utilitarian but it serves its purpose; I built this about a year ago for my racing sims. [img]http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i170/garrittpwl/15afb059-4f55-4dcc-a922-f8c85ae852c0_zpscd77cabf.jpg[/img] [img]http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i170/garrittpwl/photobucket-1397-1400560271151_zps771c8020.jpg[/img] [img]http://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10275915_10154107155830167_2317059241652973817_n.jpg?oh=c3e68cbc57dd5ab5e70b69614e032aef&oe=55B836DC[/img] Never finished painting it; wanted to get it in and race in it before I did that; also seat is crappy but I work at a body shop and it was a leftover one that we bought for the airbag control unit. So it was free and I was like "might as well use it"

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;47295578]Would you folks like a thread title change? Given that the DIY section doesn't exist anymore, this could serve as the new megathread for all things DIY.[/QUOTE] Bit late to the party, but are build threads in GD ok if this is becoming a megathread? I just [url=http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1459929&p=47487851]made one[/url].

Hey, I am buying two monitors soon and need to mount them on a wall. The wall is a drywall and it's not outer wall (not leading to other apartment or outside), it's a wall between two rooms. This wall length is around 100 inches and it only has 1 stud on each corner, and 1 in middle at 50 inches. I need to mount monitors approximetely between 50 inch stud and a right corner of the wall. I am bad at drawing but I tried making approximate picture: [url]http://i.imgur.com/OzjNw6M.png[/url] And this is what it should look like in the end: [url]http://i.imgur.com/Q76tb4B.jpg[/url] (Except the bottom monitor will be mounted too). Moving desk or whole monitor set to left to the stud is not an option unfortunately). Top monitor weights 5.2 kg and bottom center monitor weights 8 kg. What are my options of attaching wall mount bracket? if I just screw it in with 4 screws I assume it will just fall out or eventually snap wall and fall out?

You'll absolutely want to use toggle bolts for the wall mounts. They are made exactly for that situation, and have a 300lbs failure point in 1/2" drywall. So a few of them would be perfect. For toggle bolts you drill a larger hole, put the butterfly assembly through and it expands on the other side, then you tighten it down and it pulls the butterfly against the inside of the wall, spreading out the load force more evenly.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;47497134]You'll absolutely want to use toggle bolts for the wall mounts. They are made exactly for that situation, and have a 300lbs failure point in 1/2" drywall. So a few of them would be perfect. For toggle bolts you drill a larger hole, put the butterfly assembly through and it expands on the other side, then you tighten it down and it pulls the butterfly against the inside of the wall, spreading out the load force more evenly.[/QUOTE] Situation has changed, guys in reddit suggested to look for more studs as they are sure they are there. I took magnet, and found that studs are 16" apart. I don't know why screws in studs are so randomized (not in one line evenly) it looks like chaos, or maybe it's meant to be that way. here is picture I made: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/2Aj7lz6.jpg[/IMG] So I guess that could help? Btw I just remembered, in my old house, I once used plasterboard dowels (3 of them) to mount heavy 32" TV on wall and when I mounted it - I tried pulling it off the mount just for test and it felt like the whole plasterboard will come out rather than dowels. Would they be an option? [IMG]http://www.hafele.co.uk/shop/Images/400_300/05169000P1.JPEG[/IMG] Btw I didn't know of toggle bolts before, they look like a beast bolts, but I assume they need huge holes drilled to fit them in? if so that's not quite an option as I am renting apartment and there is difference between few small holes and a huge one.

Hole size varies, 1/4" is the average. I seriously advise using them, they are perfect for the situation. If you happen to have a stud right where you need that will help, but it'd still be smart to use toggles for the others.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;47497973]Hole size varies, 1/4" is the average. I seriously advise using them, they are perfect for the situation. If you happen to have a stud right where you need that will help, but it'd still be smart to use toggles for the others.[/QUOTE] Yeah I will go with toggle bolts. Would that not create imbalance though? I mean on each bracket, left side of it will be bolted into stud and right side into plaster.

Nope that wouldn't be an issue. What mounts are you buying?

[QUOTE=Ajacks;47498055]Nope that wouldn't be an issue. What mounts are you buying?[/QUOTE] I am not sure yet, I need one to be 75x75 (for Ultrawide LG) and one 100x100 for Asus. I don't have much experience with mounts. I have ~70 euro budget for two mounts (if that's even possible). I've seen few on amazon that were like 15 GBP.

In the US I always advise using Monoprice. All of my mounts, besides my Ergotron LX series arms, are from Monoprice and have not let me down once.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;47498355]In the US I always advise using Monoprice. All of my mounts, besides my Ergotron LX series arms, are from Monoprice and have not let me down once.[/QUOTE] I use amazon always for everything. A quick question - are those table mounts any good? I mean am I right to think they are just flimsy crap or are they decent? I wouldn't mind getting some table mount that has like a rail upward and two mounts on it, that would save hassle of drilling walls and then arguing with landlord.

[QUOTE=download;47487901]Bit late to the party, but are build threads in GD ok if this is becoming a megathread? I just [url=http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1459929&p=47487851]made one[/url].[/QUOTE] Sounds fine to me! Sorry for the late response to this thread, by the way. Went a long time without getting a response and forgot!

[T]http://horobox.co.uk/u/casool_1428726057.jpg[/T] Hey guys my dog likes to chew a stool I have but I want to try and 'repair' it a bit so it's not so ugly and dangerous. I was thinking I could just first sand it down and then apply some type of coat over it to make it smooth like the other untouched parts, but I'm not really someone who has done a lot of this diy stuff so I'm looking for advice on what to do.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;47500367]Sounds fine to me! Sorry for the late response to this thread, by the way. Went a long time without getting a response and forgot![/QUOTE] Sweet. Also, I'm building a Tesla Coil if people want to [url=http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1459929&p=47487851]check it out.[/url]