Question 1

Best way to store a brush with poly between coats- aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran wrap

Accepted Answer

What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s original softness.

Question 2

Lubrication properties - Jet A1 versus white diesel

Accepted Answer

Is anyone able to compare the lubrication properties, please, of Jet A1 fuel, versus normal, white, road diesel?I'm using the Jet A1, in a diesel heater, as a cheaper alternative. The suggestion is, that it needs to have oil added to the Jet A1, to make up for the lack of lubricity, for the dosing pump.

Question 3

stainless steel bolts

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How can I tell if these bolts are stainless steel or not? I know is they're heavy feeling - and magnetic. But how do I know if they're stainless short of purposefully rusting themby dipping them in acid?

Question 4

Humidistat question

Accepted Answer

Can anyone recommend a cheap humidistat that can be wired into a simpleextractor fan (that already has an over-run timer)?We have an axial fan that we’d like to have controlled just by humidity,not one that comes on every time the light is turned on.I thought it would be simple and cheap but a quick search just turns up aManrose stat at over £40 (plus postage) which means that it would probablybe cheaper (but not easier) to fit a fan with built in stat.Tim

Question 5

Doorbell Installation

Accepted Answer

Now I have a new external door on the front porch (it was open before) I find I need a new doorbell on the outside of the porch (the old one is on what's now the inner door) I want a permanent installation, no batteries to faff with and I don't need cameras or apps and it's an old house so I am thinking a traditional mains wired electric dome buzzer /bell which can sound just inside the front door.I am no electrician but from the look of it I need a bell, which will maybe be 8v DC and very low power: requires a transformer  like this one: a nice push button of my choosing: connect it all up with 'bell cable'and bob's your uncle. What could go wrong?I take it the power required is so small I can spur of any convenient wire or circuit, lighting, sockets or anything. Have I missed anything? Is that all there is to it?Tim W

Question 6

elecrical cable guage / dia / area

Accepted Answer

When people refer to 1.5 mm cable I take it that's the area of the cross section, sometimes seen as 1.5 mm2 ??So if the copper appears to be slightly wider in dia than 1mm it's probably 1mm wire? and 1.5mm wire actually is about 1.5mm dia. Is that how it works?How do you tell them apart? Is it just experience? By feel.TW

Question 7

Adhesive tape on Travertine

Accepted Answer

My bathroom has travertine covered walls.The YIGII stainless steel hand towel holder came with a self-adhesivepad on the back. This seemed to be fine when first carefully appliedbut after several months the holder fell off. Theoretically the side facing the wall could be cleaned and reappliedbut it didn't last.Eventually I bought some clear double-sided adhesive tape.That lasted for a few months. It was however, narrower than the rail. Iwas tempted to buy some more, this time 2.3cm wide but before doing so, Ithought I would ask here if anyone had found the perfect adhesive tapefor travertine.TIA

Question 8

Sharpening scissors - easiest way?

Accepted Answer

We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,or throwing away.I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge tomake the cutting edge sharper.  Then, maybe, removing any burrs.I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a(pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain sawchain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I*can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am nottotally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on achisel.... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

Question 9

light dimmer leading/trailing edge

Accepted Answer

I've just installed a new light fitting with dimmable LED bulbs and it's connected to an existing light dimming switch.The bulbs don't dim at all, just stay at full brightness.Is this the expected behaviour of a bulb that requires trailing edge dimming but is connected to a leading edge dimmer switch or should I expect some form of step dimming or flickering?Previously the dimmer worked with the LED bulb fitted in the old light fitting but this new one only takes the smaller E14 bulbs where there seems less choice for the dimmable versions.The easiest option for me would be to possibly fit a trailing edge dimmer switch rather than try and find a working bulb to work with the existing switch.

Question 10

To PTFE or Not?

Accepted Answer

I've just inserted a Shock Arrester in the system.  See required a Tee such asIt cites:  "One commonly used thread sealant that meets these requirements isPTFE tape, which is a thin, white tape made frompolytetrafluoroethylene. PTFE tape is safe for use with drinking waterand is compatible with brass and stainless steelfittings. It is also easy to apply and can help to create a tight,leak-free seal.When using PTFE tape or any other thread sealant, it is important tofollow the manufacturer's instructions and applythe sealant properly. This can help to ensure a secure and reliableconnection that adheres to WRAS regulations andprovides safe and reliable operation of the Mini Expansion VesselShock Arrestor - 1/2" BSP."And the joint drips, only slowly, but nonetheless, drips.Before I take it all to bits again is there a right and wrong way touse PTFE tape?  I've followed a YouTube video which says to twist thetape so it fits like a thin string between the threads and then wrap acouple of...

Question 11

Mains voltage logger

Accepted Answer

From time to time (once or twice a day on average?) I see the lights flicker.It has been more pronounced today, but high winds may be making the supply a bit more glitchy (although we aren't using any overhead wires as far as I know).This made me wonder if I could monitor and log the mains voltage over a day.I assume the sampling rate would have to be high to catch momentary glitches, or a trigger which logs when the voltage strays outside a set range.Internet search has so far not helped much.Has anyone done something like this?CheersDave R

Question 12

Why do kitchen sink wastes have traps?

Accepted Answer

I've been doing some work in the galley on my little boat and thenwondered about why the kitchen and utility room sinks at home havetraps.  On the boat the 'grey water' simply goes straight out of ahole in the side with no trap.All the domestic sink wastes I've ever come across simply have anopen ended pipe that discharges into a grid, usually shared with thegutters. So why do they have traps? They're not connected directlyinto the sewers.

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