Question 1

How to dispose of large mirrors

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I am remodeling my bathrooms and have two large mirrors that I want to dispose of.  Any thoughts on the best way.  I'm going to call a couple of glass shops on Monday and see if they have any ideas or can recycle them. Wanted to get some ideas here as well.-----Darrell

Question 2

Suggestion on shrinking a small rubber belt?

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My vacuum cleaner has an attachment that has a small beater brush.  The brush is driven by the airflow from the vacuum itself, turning a wheel that pulls a small rubber drive belt, that turns the beater brush.The brush hasn't been turning lately, even after I disassembled the attachment and cleaned and lubed the friction points.When I started analyzing things, it turns out that the belt has stretched out to the point of uselessness.I'm sure that Sears would sell me a new attachment for $50.  I'm sure that with a lot of homework, I could find a replacement belt, but I'm not really in the mood to do that homework.So my quick and dirty cut at making this work is built around the hope that I can somehow shrink the belt.  It's maybe six inches in circumference and fairly thin.  Is there something I can soak it in, or heat it or cool it to reduce the size?  I'm thinking that a quarter to half-inch reduction in circumference will more than adequately do the trick.

Question 3

Homeowners insurance accuracy of initial application?

Accepted Answer

We're shopping around for homeowners insurance as it appears we can find policies these days a lot cheaper than the one we have (might have something to do with the real estate crash and insurance companies trying to boost their business).  When I received the binder in the mail from our broker, I had to correct some details that he wrote down incorrectly.  For example that the pool is in-ground (like I told him) and not above-ground (as in the app) etc.  I told him that we have two dogs (both gentle breeds) but he just noted one of the dogs on the binder application.  I haven't corrected the dog part yet and I'm not sure if I should bother to do so.My question is, to what extent should I nit-pick about this form to have all the details 100% correct?  I have the feeling that the broker is not as concerned about that as I am.  But he has 1,000 times more knowledge about the homeowners insurance industry than I do.  I am just concerned that if there is an incorrect detail if we have a...

Question 4

Behr Paint - any good?

Accepted Answer

OK, I know, Depot brand. I know how they cut deals with vendors, etc.But, that's doesn't necessarily make it bad :-) How does it actually compare? Opinions? Any independent lab test ofpaint qualities (application, cover, durability?)Thanks,

Question 5

Cleaning swamp cooler

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I've started cleaning my cooler for the summer. First thing, clean out the  calcium in the water pan. I scraped off the soft stuff but there's a 1/4"  layer of hard calcium in part of the water reservoir (sp?). A putty knife  isn't doing much good in some places. I poured some Lime Away on a portion  of it to see if it helps; so far it doesn't. I have some "The Works" toilet  bowl cleaner. I think it's weak hydrochloric acid. I've always used a "Fresh Air' white block in the cooler water that's  supposed to neutralize the calcium in my well water. I also use that mesh  bag of something that's supposed to do the same. Past years these have  worked but not last year for some reason. Harder well water? Any suggestions?  TIA

Question 6

low power drilling

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I've got myself into a situation -I need to drill through 6 2X8 joists which are accessible only fromthe one side. They are spaced 2 feet on centers. (need to pull cableacross to the center of the floor). The joists are sitting directly onconcrete, and the decking is 1 1/2" (you read that right) plywood.What is the lowest power-requiring type of drill to use/ since itneeds to be run on a 12 foot long extension-----.I tried a speed-bore type spade bit, but it has a bad habit of"catching" just as it breaks through - putting a severe strain on theconnection between the bit and the extension.Would a forstner type work better? Or an auger?Still looking for a viable bit extender setup as well - thinking Imight need to go to 1/2" steel waterpipe with a 7/16 or 1/2" hex shaftwelded into the one end for the chuck to grab. In 3 or 4 foot lengthwith couplers it should be handleable?

Question 7

what is a lint free cloth?

Accepted Answer

I cannot get any definite answer as to what kind of cloth is lint free. I want to properly clean my flat screen TV, as well as my desktop computer screen. I would like to do this before 12/16/2012.  HELP!!!

Question 8

Ultrasonic cleaners - recommendations?

Accepted Answer

I've been tempted for a long time but haven't taken the plunge, so a few questions to those who have: what do you use yours for? Are the cheaper ones any good? Any recommendations?

Question 9

Moving appliances

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I need to move some heavy appliances - washing machine, fridge freezer etc -by a few dozen metres (hard surface), including over a door sill.Can anyone recommend what's the best way to do this without getting someoneelse to assist?  Obviously I don't want to damage them.I once had a washing machine delivered and the sole delivery guy managed tomanhandle it out of the tail-lift van and into the kitchen using just a'sack barrow' kind of thing.  Would something like that be worth using (whatsort should I get?), or are there any better ways?ThanksTheo

Question 10

Power washer uses and misuses?

Accepted Answer

Sorry to interrupt the (political) flow, but being the new owner of a fairly cheap pressure washer (Simpson 3300 2.4gpm, $300 on sale) I am curious about possible interesting uses that creative people may have come up with -- and also any warnings about what bad ideas are out there? I have one potentially bad idea -- I was thinking it might be good for cleaning A/C condenser units if careful to maintain distance? I have noticed that the stream really blows a tremendous amount of air, and if you remain more than a foot away (or more) from the target it seems to be just air and harmless mist. Also I was wondering how it might work as a trenching/honeysuckle removal tool (although mud goggles/swimsuit would be needed)? Also have tried it on vinyl siding (trying to aim somewhat downward) and have not created any holes yet.

Question 11

Whole home heating with air/air heat pumps

Accepted Answer

Every time I look into conventional ASHP for domestic heating I?m put offby the enormous complexity of the systems, the disruption of installationand the requirement to lose one?s gas boiler to get the grants.  It looks like like using air/air heat pumps would be less disruptive toinstall, and cheap enough to do without the aid of grants.  I could alsokeep my gas boiler to ?top up? the heat output if required.I?d also have the added benefit of air conditioning in hot weather.We tend to find that we only need to heat a couple of rooms downstairs andsufficient heat normally percolates upstairs to keep it adequately warm soI think just a couple of adequately sized units could meet 90% of ourheating needs.Is this a crazy idea? Tim

Question 12

Copper pipe metric/imperial compatibility

Accepted Answer

I am about to undertake some changes to the hydraulic steering (notpower assisted, so relatively low pressure) on my boat.  It's quite anold boat and the existing system is a Hynautic one, they're a UScompany and all the information I can find out about their systemssuggests they're all imperial sizes for the pipework.However I measured the pipes with vernier calipers when I was lastaboard the boat and the sizes I got were just over 10mm (i.e. 10.1 to10.3mm) and just over 6mm (mostly 6.1mm).  These don't seem to me tobe 3/8" and 1/4" as I would expect as 3.8" is just over 9.5mm and 1/4"is 6.35mm.The boat was built in the Netherlands so it's possible that thepipework is metric, with metric to imperial fittings where it goesinto the BSP type threaded fittings on the pumps and so on.What *actual* sizes are these sizes of copper pipe?  Can any of thembe interchanged - e.g. would 3/8" pipe work in 10mm compressionfittings?  Or, could one put 3/8" olives and pipe into 10mm...

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