QTDDTOT

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How lethal is working with Lead really?
I want to cast a cube of molten solder and use it to electroplate self-etched pcbs.
It's alloy is Sn60 Pb40 and i've really got a 4-5 rolls of rather thick wire, so i decided to use that, i've casted it already but i want to get the flux rest off of it.
Sanding it doesn't sound like a very good idea to me since people are so conceirned about lead, or have i fallen for a meme? I'll be fine in a rather controlled environment, right?

>>1035896
wat?

you use tin plating solution if you want that 'silvered' protected look for self made pcbs

or you just drag the hot iron across everything

or i guess you could use one of those lead pots and dip the pcb in that

>>1035907
My Actual question is if the sanding anything with lead is a bad idea because of health conceirns.
I guess your ideas seem more time efficient.

>>1035896
People used lead for thousands of years and tin/lead solder for centuries without any particular worries. It was assumed to be pretty harmless, unless you ate it. In other words, most of lead's health effects leading to bans were non-obvious and rather difficult to detect. It is very unlikely that short-term exposure to small amount of metallic lead causes anything you can notice.
This does not mean that it is harmless or that there's no point in trying to avoid exposure.

Tin/lead electroplating is possible, but your main problem is the electrolyte solution, which needs to be able to keep both tin and lead in solution. Also, the toxicity of such solution is much higher than metallic leads.

Use tin salt or tin manually, like the other anon said.

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>>1035936
>>1035907
Alright Thanks, i guess i'll just use a heat gun instead.

>>1035896
If you tried scraping it might work; keep the pieces in chunks instead of "dust." It's soft enough you could use a chisel, in fact, like wood.

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Virtually no experience with carpentry, but I've been thinking making a bowed lyre would be a pretty fun and not too demanding project.

Anyone have an idea what kind of wood I should use, and approximately how thick the box should be for acoustic reasons?

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I tried staining this guitar body, it's my first time trying to stain anything, and I may have fucked up. I sanded down to wood, then sanded with 120, then 400 paper, then applied pre-stain according to the directions. Afterward, I attempted one thin coat of black, which ended up a little uneven, but alright nonetheless. Then I did two coats of red. Should I give up, sand down, and spray paint this bitch red, or should I keep going? It doesn't seem to be taking any more stain.

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>>1036077

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>>1036080

>>1036077
>>1036080
>>1036081

I've never used a "pre stain" before and never fucked up before. What exactly did you use?

>>1036094
Minwax wood conditioner, then minwax stains

is there any way to use expired cement to make a wall?

>>1036077

You made some missteps in your project.

The front of the guit isn't sanded enough...you see above and below pu hole? Use a random orbit sander, 120grit then 150...thats it...

>>1036080

scratches under the finish...change the paper more often...150 max...

>>1036081

Lotsa light spots...grab an old piece of that sandpaper...sand the light spots...reapply the stain liberally, and then wipe up...is it still too light? Do it again... Is it the same shade?...move on to lacquering...

>>1036104
what's expired cement?

if its a bag of cement that hardened because it was stored in a moist place, smash it and use it as aggregate in fresh cement

>>1036111
Well, I'll try what you said then, are you saying 400 isn't necessary? I need to buy more sandpaper

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How can I know if my question deserve it's own thread?

>>1036147

I don't know what that guy was talking about but when I did fine woodworking I went as far as 1200 grit paper for a glass like shine.

What kind of wood is the guitar made of?

How fucked am I?

I just went out in my garage where I keep my motorcycle, well earlier today I noticed the liquid in my lead acid battery was getting low, so I added distilled water to the battery. well someone in the house closed the garage door, and my bike was sitting on the charger bubbling like it always does. I just went out there to check on the charger, and you can smell the clear signs of sulfuric acid in the air, well I had to walk into it to unplug the battery and open the garage door, now I have a slight tingle on my tongue...

did I just fuck my throat/lungs up a little guise?

I use to clean pools with my dad before they mainly started going to salt water filtering. and remember being close to the chlorine bottles. and having the same feeling. you suppose it will go away in a few hours?

>>1036165
It's basswood

>>1036187
You're fine, really.

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Does anyone know where to acquire a free or cheap laptop charger?

I need one for a project and I would prefer not to shell out money on it. the

>>1036206
go to like any thrift store or like goodwill, they always have a big box stuffed in a corner somewhere with just fuck all cables, and power ports, and all sorts of lose shit. don't let them jew ya out of ur monies tho. don't pay more then 2 dollars for one..

>>1036206
Thrift stores will have a wall full of them. Voltage has to match, current can be equal or greater than. You may have to solder on a different connector. If it's a barrel jack that fits be safe and check the polarity before use.

I've got an older laptop (2011 Asus U41JF) that has its stock 1366x768 screen in. I've been debating on rebuilding the whole case and while at it i figured I might replace the screen with a 1080p one if possible. How viable is this? Given I find a 14" HD laptop screen, will it fit or is it a special snowflake kind of deal with screens?

>>1036216
unless you are REALLY into computers and laptops are your specialty, the likely chance of finding a screen from another modeled laptop that will fit inside yours, is mighty slim.

Why would somebody do this?

Why would somebody do this to one degree or another to every outlet in the rental?

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>>1036223
Forgot pic.

>>1036224
>hire cheap labor
>also treat them like an ass hat
>cheap labor is so pissed at you they would rather piss you off than get more work from you

>>1035922
It is a bad idea for both you and anyone who enters that fucking area before all the lead is scrapped or vacuumed out. It's not the immediate exposure to lead that guns you over its being near lead repeatedly or over long periods of time. But, once the requirements of lead poisoning are met;"good luck."

Is there someway that I can make my laptop fan better? It always dies in the middle of a csgo comp match, so I'm consistently getting week-long bans

>>1035991
>Not too demanding

>No idea what I'm doing

>>1036187
>and my bike was sitting on the charger bubbling like it always does.
There's your problem. You're overcharging it (boiling the water out)

>>1036242
>all the lead is scrapped or vacuumed out
because lead filings are so prone to floating around in the air...
fucking with it is more dangerous than leaving it alone

>>1036189

Well basswood is a fine grain hardwood so if you want a nice smooth surface with a natural luster I'd personally go super fine with sandpaper. The wood is soft and takes well to staining so I think the pretreatment is unnecessary.

But definitely go higher grit than the 400 you have for a nice finished product.

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>>1035892
I posted in the last thread and didn't get an answer, so I'll try again. I picked up some antique all purpose farm pumps. I think they are worth $100-150 each, and would like a second opinion. Thank you.

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>>1036357

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>>1036359

>>1036357
Who knows dude? What are they selling for in your area. It can vary widely.

>>1036315
Find a maintenance manual to see how to get to it. Clean it out. Remove the heatsink and replace the thermal paste while you're at it.

>>1036373
I'm not finding shit on ebay and I haven't seen any at local flea markets, swap meets, antique stores etc. There is a antique farm and implement show coming up, I was hoping to sell them there.
I just thought somebody on here may know a little more about them.
I also toyed with the idea of hooking one to a small windmill to power a garden fountain considering they both still work. Honestly I have enough irons in the fire right now though.

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Hi /diy/
I am wiring by bass guitar, the lugs on the potentiometers I have aren't large enough to be soldered on to the back,
will connecting it with a wire have the same effect?

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>>1036382
yes

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>>1036392
thanks birdfriend

Dumb question incoming. The studs in this basement were put up in the early 70s, but they aren't pine. It's an orange-ish softwood. What wood is it

>>1036399
My house which was built sometime around 1900 has native poplar in it. It has an orangeish color.
Is the lumber harder than normal? Difficult to drive a nail in?

>>1036407
Ah I think i figured it out. Seems like it's Doug fir studs. There's no knotting and grain is fairly straight and consistent

>>1036344
>over charging it

I have to look at my little charger to see what it is. But.. The battery isn't sealed and has a vent tube. And the charger itself is meant for like "storage of batterys" like marine batterys and shit. So they don't die while you arent using them. It only has like a 2amp charging rate. Idk how it would over charge. And the shit starts like 30 minutes into bubbling.

Btw I feel fine today, but my throat is a bit sore.

>>1036434
Nvm. My charger is only out put of 0.8amps and 12v. So it can't be over charge?

>>1036219
Are you talking about physically fit inside or actually compatible with my current laptop? Because the latter is what matters

Never spray painted something before.
Do I need to bother sanding a brand new plastic item that has no scratches? Or if I do (I guess so the paint can adhere right?), Do I need primer? What grit rating do I use?

Would using 12 gauge wire rather than 14 gauge wire for some led light bulbs be worth it?

I know 12 gauge has less resistances so with a 100 watt bulb that would save you about 5 watts worth of electricity, but I don't know if that's proportional. Would a 10 watt led bulb only save .5 watts?

>>1036489
>brand new plastic item
no sanding needed but it needs cleaning
>>1036489
>Do I need primer?
there is a 'primer' for plastic - it's actually a mild solvent in a rattle can that cleans and preps the plastic to accept the paint

>>1036503
>12 gauge has less resistances so with a 100 watt bulb that would save you about 5 watts worth of electricity
Wow! How does that work?

>>1036623
Thicker wires have less resistance.

I want to cast metal versions of green army men. How can I do this? My clay molds were shitty. Is there anywhere that would sell a mold that can hold molten aluminum? I built that mini metal foundry thing a while back and I'm trying to find a use for it. Oh and where can I get a decent crucible because I've had 2 steel fire extinguishers fail and waste a lot of aluminum.

Is buying land and using the timber on it to build myself a house do able?

>>1036627
No. Not a modern house anyway. You could make a cabin.

>>1036630
Could I turn it into a modern home? If so, how?

>>1036625
>decent crucible because I've had 2 steel fire extinguishers fail and waste a lot of aluminum
wtf are you doing? i used a small coleman propane tank ~10x as a crucible and it melted/poured fine

>>1036624
UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..... you should google voltage drops for mains wiring. there's a calculator for ya to use and dick around with, that will tell you your theory is bullshit.

>we should have RF shielding on our mains wires too, to prevent dirty energy.

What's up with the whole crabmeat thing? Is there a screencap?

>>1036648
googling is what told me thicker wires have less resistance.

>>1036624
Then why stop at 12/2?
Use 0000 welding cable and 'save' even more watts.

>>1036680
cost, also mechanical ability to fit into things

>>1035892
What's out there in the way of thingos I can plug in the wall to output adjustable DC?
What do they call them/what keywords should I search for on ebay?

>>1036703
power supply
lab power supply
regulated power supply

search ebay for those and you'll find other names dumb sellers use

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I'm looking for a router and drill press I'll be using on anodized aluminum.

Mostly I just want to make sure I get something quality that will be precise.

Any recommendations?

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I want to install a dimmer switch for lights on a ceiling fan in a bedroom. Only 1 switch on the wall

I know that you cannot use a dimmer on the ceiling fan itself, it has to have a special fan controller that differs from dimmers.

The ceiling fan does NOT react to the light switch. It turns on and off solely with the pull string.

Does this mean that the ceiling fan circuit is independent of the light switch?
And if its independent from the lightswitch, does that mean its safe to install a regular dimmer for the lights where the switch is?

>>1036943
No

>>1036943
Turn the light switch off. Does the fan still turn on when you pull the cord?

>>1036943
>The ceiling fan does NOT react to the light switch.
>>1036943
>Does this mean that the ceiling fan circuit is independent of the light switch?
Yes
>>1036943
>its safe to install a regular dimmer for the lights where the switch is?
Yes, but you have to use 'dimmable' lamps.
Most fluorescent and many led lamps are not.

Where's the best place to start if I'm looking to build speakers myself?

>>1036957
>Does the fan still turn on when you pull the cord?

Yes, doesnt react.

>>1037003
Ok thanks, I may try to put it in later today

>>1037379
>Yes, doesnt react.

Im not very clear.
Yes it turns with the cord while the lightswitch is off

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Just moved, computers battery backup says there is a "ground fault" detected with my plug.
The room in question reads

Hot to Neutral is 120v
Hot to Ground is 80v
Neutral to Ground is 1v

The kitchen and living room both read 120v between Hot and Ground, and plugging in the backup there does not throw the "ground fault" light.

People are saying it could be a lot of things like a bad ground.
Is there anything I can easily fix without calling an electrician?

>>1037064
>>1037064
Audiokarma, and PartsExpress

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I'm redoing a ceiling by taking off some old gross ceiling tiles. Tiles were stapled to 1x4 strips nailed to the original lath & plaster ceiling leaving a 3/4' gap behind them. The electrical is all surface mount wiremolding.

I was going to install 1/4 sheetrock to the existing 1x4s and reinstall the wiremolding on top but could I run romex in the space created by the wood strips since the ceiling is torn open anyways?

My concern is heat since there isn't a lot of space in there. The only thing the wires would be attached to would be the overhead light and associated switches though there are a couple other lights on that same circuit in a different room.

>>1036625
What is this metal foundry you speak of?

>>1036625
Why not use white metal and RTV silicone?

>>1037387
>Hot to Neutral is 120v
>Hot to Ground is 80v
>Neutral to Ground is 1v
Yea, bad ground connection somewhere.
I'd start with replacing the outlet.(or measuring Hot to Ground at the actual wires - should be same as hot to neutral)
2nd thing I'd look for is a bad connection at a ground wire nut at a junction box
I guess it could be a bad connection at the breaker box but it's the least likely IMO.

>>1036780
Variable power supply
Adjustable power supply
>http://www.ebay.com/bhp/variable-power-supply

>>1036625
ill sell you a tungsten crucible

>>1036503
> I know 12 gauge has less resistances so with a 100 watt bulb that would save you about 5 watts worth of electricity,
Assuming this is correct,...
>but I don't know if that's proportional. Would a 10 watt led bulb only save .5 watts?
-Reducing the power by a factor of 10 reduces the current by a factor of 10
-Reducing the current by a factor of 10 reduces the wire voltage drop by a factor of 10
Power = Voltage * Current
With both Voltage and current reduced by a factor of 10, the wire losses are reduced by a factor of 100; so the loss would be about 5Watts/100 = .05 Watts

>>1037418
>My concern is heat
>>1037418
>The only thing the wires would be attached to would be the overhead light and associated switches

A couple of lights won't cause #14 or larger wire to heat.
The lights themselves will generate heat in the fixture.
You can minimize the fixture heat by using LED or florescent lamps

>>1037483
Ok good. I just wanted to check since the space the wire would be running in is so much smaller than a normal wall cavity. Not worried about the light fixture burning the house down.

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How practical would it be to give a OSB board a clear coat?

Was wondering the best way to make my small backyard not look shit. Pulled a shitton of weeds from the soil today. I'm pretty bad at growing anything so I was thinking of putting pebbles down so the only maintenance I would have to do if pull the occasional weed. To be honest I have no idea what I'm doing.

>>1037624
you can put lipstick on a pig

why though ?

>>1037703
Well, you can loosen the ground by making small slashes in the ground with the shovel, this will make grass grow if thats your problem, it will also help on absorbing the rain water, mulch can help with absorption and nurturing the soil, if you have a tree dont throw out thr leaves, use them as mulch by spreading them over the soil, free compost

If you want to grow something make sure your soil has enough nutrients, im no expert but i know that black soil is very rich in contrast of sand like earth which isnt, red soil is rich in iron vut many plants will need more nitrogen which is what makes soil black, if your aoil is ahit just add some vegetable left overs and mulch leafs, this will nurture your soil, dont forget to losen the ground or esle it wont be absorbed

Also ask a botanist what plants can you grow in your area, not all plants can grow in any weather, light timw and sun intensity plays a huge factor on how plants develop

Im no botabist but me babushka taught me all of this, her garden is very lush and green to the point it became a pain in the ass, grass frows up to 50cm every month and all her flowers bloomed even tho she lived in a very cold and dry rainy region

So, i have a whole year in my hands and i want to make some lamps and pots with a minimalist A E S T H E T I C to sell, i know these will sell like hot bread, i want to use wood and metal as basic materials, maybe add some fabric as i have an intermediate knowledge on tailoring and clothes production (i can answer questions related to that) and helped my grandpa on building a metal door but he used power tools and thick metal, i want to use stainless steel or aluminum, as for wood i was thinking on using composites for the structures and then covering it qith veneers to make it look nice. I have a very basic grasp of electronics, i dont need computer circuit tier knowledge, just how to make a switchable lamp circuit with leds

What tools do i need? What should i research? Right now the only tools i have is some screwdrivers, i think a drill and a small saw, i was thinking on buying a soldering iron for the circuits and cor joining the metal, i have like three rolls of sodering wire and i guess a can of flux

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>>1037624

I made my desk out of OSB with the express intent of seeing if it was possible to make it look good.

Turns out you can't. I mean, yeah, it's not like it somehow doesn't benefit from the protection of a clear coat, but, aesthetically...

>>1037728
Grab a roll of cheap vinyl wrap and use it to cover that ugliness.

>>1035896
Wear gloves and don't eat it you'll be fine

>>1037703
Look up local university's extension service of you're in the US. They'll have tips on what plants work in your climate, what your soil may need in terms of nutrients etc. Give them a call and talk over specifics of your yard or just look through their website

>>1035896
Pb is most readily absorbed through lungs. Wash hands in cold water after use and don't breathe fumes or dust

>>1037728
it also bends fyi, OSB is the premium shit material in existence

Due to the fact that my room is a dust terrorhouse, and that the carpet responsible for this is integral to the structural intergrity of the floor, I'm making a dust collector, basically a computer fan connected to a vacuum cleaner sack, now i know nothin about electronics, so how would i hook this up to electricity, it's a 12 volt 3 pin molex kk connector, one pin is tachometer, so not needed. pls help

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>>1037879
>>1037894

should I forget it and get a normal lock like pic?

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Do you like my mini terrarium? It's a closed system that should live for years.

The support is a welding rod, which is why its all marred up. (its a pain removing the flux from the rods).

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>>1038209

>>1038210
Hot glue/10

>>1038212
I had to make sure it was completely sealed. If there is a leak the water will evaporate out and the mini ecosystem will collapse. The wood is even sealed on the one end with wax to prevent it from absorbing the water.

>>1038209
>>1038210
What did you put inside of it?

>>1038218
Several kinds of moss, and some low growing plants. The base is gravel, then a layer of sand, then some soil.

>>1036156
(assuming you're not trolling) usually if it can somehow spark more discussion (generalizable)--if it's just about your specific case or a single quick question, it goes here.

I got myself a 220L/55Gallon oil barrel, what shall I do with it?
I was thinking about either making a terrarium or a bbq or gowing plants in it (with lights) (tomato plants)

>>1038263
Don't bother with growing vegetables in it unless it's standing up, tomatoes need a decent amount of room to root and if you cut the barrel lengthways it'd only be useful for herbs and shallow rooting plants.

I'd do the BBQ for sure, or a smoker/BBQ type deal; heaps of tutorials online for that kind of stuff.

One more good use for barrels is to make charcoal in them, some great for running a forge if you're into metal working.

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i'm thinking of buying this pump (second hand), it's a DAB jet 251 T as u can see on the pump, whereas the "T" stands for three phase (there is a jet 251 M for single phase)
the picture is from the ad, but it only has neutral, phase and earth cable.
how can a three phased motor function with monophase cable ?
also the specs of the pump say that it runs from 240V to 400V

>>1038306
correcting mistake, it reads 230 V3 to 400 V3

>>1038306
Well either the power cable goes into the left hand grommet and that cable is for a remote control like a float switch or someone has been naughty when wiring it up and not used the right flex. 3 phase, 3 wires what's the problem as long as the case is earthed elsewhere.
If you aren't sure maybe you should just ask the seller?
The voltage will only affect the torque so if you aren't pumping anything to viscous or too high then you could probably run it at a lower voltage okish. Unless it means phase -phase voltage vs phase-neutral voltage.

>>1038310
the owner says he doesn't know as he didnt do the wiring himself :( this ad sure is fishy, and a bit risky for 300$

I've got the dumb today, looking for remote switching device, basically a 5 pin relay, except you don't need to keep constant power on it to switch to NO. What do you call them?

>>1035892
Is there a quick way to find out whether a piece of wood still has a thin, invisible layer of varnish on it or not? And is there a quick-ish way to remove it other than sanding?

>>1038359

you mean a magnetic latching relay?

Will eva foam work to form kydex?

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Can anyone help me getting this RGB led strip to work ?
Ive tried everything but maybe im just too dumb since i cant into arduino code yet most of what i do is copy and paste the code from guides and change the led number
the strip is this one
http://www.ebay.de/itm/351369437993?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=620483033821&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
and some arduino clone from china

>>1038420
i should probably mention that i have the 5m long version so a total of 300 leds

>>1038359
>you don't need to keep constant power on it to switch to NO
MOST relays are NO with no power.
>5 pin
What do the pins connect to?
Did you mean 5 pole?

>>1038359
Five pin is generally single pole double throw.
If you want to switch between two things, that's what you want. You'll need a latching relay if you want it to stay in either state without power.
If you just want to switch one thing on and off, just get a normally open single pole single throw relay

>>1037703
Look up xeriscaping. That's what they use in the desert, it's basically pebbles with some cactus and stuff that doesn't require much water or other maintenance.

I've got an old computer case that I'm repurposing to fit modern hardware, I've got just about everything how I want it using tin snips and patience, but there are 2 more things I need to do;
>Cut a hole in the bottom of the case to mount a fan
>Paint the chassis

The case is aluminium, so my questions are as follows; 1. What is the best method for me to cut a ~120mm hole in the bottom of the case? Should I just buy any old hole-saw attachment thats about the right size and have at it? I'm not concerned about this ruining the attachment as I only intend to use it to cut this single hole.
2. What is the proper process for me to paint the chassis? It seems as if there is a clear coat of something on the metal.
Oh and I guess 2b what sort of time should I leave between coats of paint, and from the last coat roughly how long should I wait before installing the hardware?


I don't really do any diy stuff so sorry if these questions are complete deadshit-tier.

>>1038488
>Should I just buy any old hole-saw attachment thats about the right size and have at it?

If you think this is the only time you'll ever use it, yes.
It's aluminum so a cheap one will cut it - eventually...
If you think you'll ever cut more this size or need to cut steel, buy a nice bi-metal hole saw and arbor.

How do you guys create / build your own plastic cases? I started building my own PCBs half a year ago, design them with Eagle and order them at OSHPark for 10 bucks for 3 boards. I need cases for them.

What kind of software do I need? Blender? Where do I order them for cheap? Some 3D printing service? Or am I totally wrong?

>>1038488
Do you have a drill press? 120mm is pretty radical to hand drill in metal.

A jig saw or coping saw or dremel would all be easier.

>>1038508

Yeah, i only intend to ever use it for this, it's definitely aluminium.

>>1038510
I don't have a drill press no, just access to hand-held drills of various strengths, the aluminum would be no thicker than 2mm I'd wager, i don't have access to it right this moment. I've got clamps and stuff to hold the case in place.

I considered a dremel but like I mentioned I'm not really a handyman so I'm worried about fucking it up and suddenly I've got an octagon instead of a circle.. Yeah, it wont really be seen but I'd still like it to be a quality job.

>>1038310
had the owner on the phone, he said he tested the pump with his mechanic at his shop, who connected each wire to a phase, and he said it worked.
can triphase work with only the phases connected and not the neutral ?

>>1038488
have you considered just drilling a buncha holes to make a ghetto grille?

I have this old cedar chest i'm working on converting to a gun chest. Whats the best way to secure a piece of wood going across the inside of it? Can't put screws in it, or dowels. Should I just cut it the length of the inside of the chest and try and get as tight a fit as possible? How would I go about gluing something like that?

has anyone made their own air compressor with their own motors and cylinder units? i want a nice high cfm one but obviously dont want to pay 500+ bucks for one.

>>1038730
also where the fuck do i find some 30-60 gallon air tanks for not a fuckton?

>>1038363
blacklight?

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What's wrong with my Fluke 177?

The display stay like this and beeps "randomly". Before this I tried to measure it's own battery voltage in VDC mode, maybe that was a stupid thing to do.

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I have this small vacuum gauge, its home point at sea level is just over .2bar, i would presume it should be at 0, any insight?

>>1038785
yeah, its fucked. any combo of the spring, gears, bourdon tube are messed up. plus it doesn't have a zeroing screw

>>1038785
isn't it obvious. you live in a slight vacuum

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>>1036094
>>1036111
>>1036165
>>1036348
I wanted to update with my progress on fixing this staining issue. I went back and sanded down with 60, and basically all of the stain came right off, so it didn't really take well.

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>>1038983
After all of the stain was off, I went over the entire body with 100, 220, then 400. To clean away the dust, I used a compressor, followed by a microfiber towel

>>1038782

Very well done Amigo.

If you got a second Multimeter you may open it and try to measure the resistors and stuff. Also check other Components.


Tried to look inside your manual? Maybe there is a Error-Code for your beeps.

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>>1038986
Like the first time, I went for a single coat of black first to get the grain to pop, and wiped away excess with a microfiber towel after about 10-15 minutes.

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>>1038988
My girlfriend did all the staining this time around, and though it looks a bit darker than I was going for, it looks way better than my attempts. She was a little more liberal with the stain than I was.

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>>1038990
I still have to do my coats of red, but it's looking infinitely better so far. Will update when the red is finished, fingers crossed

Whats the name of this tool? I've seen it before but when I search for it nothing comes up.
Its literally a screwdriver with a square 1/4" ratchet attachement on the end, but all Im finding is ratchets or those power screwdrivers with 1/4" female hex opening

>>1037728
those three shit tier monitors doesn't deserve even that shitty desk, lad

hell, throw the whole bunch, including your hemorrhoid-o-matic 2000 chair on a pile and burn it.

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>>1038209
>>1038210
did the same but opened, so i have to water it from time to time
totally steal the idea from the internets, tho

The shit inside is some kind of moss-like thing that looks like small palm trees. I have no idea what it is, but it's not exactly moss. Took it from a sandy place near my villa

>>1039001
Try
>socket driver
or
>socket driver handle

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLUE-POINT-TOOLS-1-4-Drive-Socket-Driver-Handle-Part-BLPCGHD146-NEW-/191896612521?hash=item2cadedeea9:g:eP0AAOSwNuxXYEAV

>>1039032
thats it, thank you

Is it possible to move a breaker box from place?

>>1039032
socket or drive handle, 1/4" nut driver, a few others. Its stupid there isnt a standard name for it

>>1038530
3 phase works fine without a neutral. Neutral is there for powering other stuff like lights or single phase components in a machine (neutral plus one phase).

I build rc planes, and use a solid yard stick as a main wing spar in my straight wing designs.

I would like to use a 1 piece yardstick spar in a plane that will have dihedral in the wing.

How can I apply a nice little bend to a yardstick?

>>1039339
woodworking method is to use a steam box to soften the timber or make up a laminated spar with c clamps in a jig.

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I'm stuck with a car that has a broken aux input
(2007 dodge caliber, 210,000 miles,)

The piece on the right fits over the bottom piece, and a plastic cover(fake button with a hole) goes over the whole assembly

Could I just re-wire the Sirus-XM or CD changer inputs into a new aux input if this one is broken?

Alternatively, could I just solder in a new AUX jack(?) since I have access to the PCB?

Thank you for your time.

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>>1039494
Here's the PCB and exposed input

>>1039494
>>1039497
if you actually managed to get a full exposed PCB, then yes and yes.

hell i think i used to even see that jack at radio shacks.

>>1038733
use an empty propane/butane tank.

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>>1039497

well, i've never seen a jack that looks like that in many years of taking shit apart. first approach i'd try is adding one of these jacks that are held in place by a screw, soldering 3 wires between it and the PCB. if that approach was problematic, i'd just dangle a female extension a few inches out the front of the unit.

>>1039559
Yeah getting the radio apart is a fucking bitch but it's totally doable.

can you give me the name of the component I need or link me to a place where I can buy a new input to solder in?

I believe there are 4 solder joints connecting it to the PCB


I have soldering experience but not with PCB's, just recapping vintage speakers

Thank you

Has anyone ever replaced the foam on a speaker?

Can I just use any foam that matches the size of the speaker or should I use a kit that is meant for the specific speaker?

>>1039570
your going to want a 3.5mm stereo vertical jack

G and H on this datasheet are similar. you will need to figure out the exact footprint though.
www.mouser.com/catalog/645/usd/1346.pdf

if you can take it off and give me a layout to look at i can get you a better guess.

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>>1039572
car stereo guy here^
I refoamed My 1978 Marantz hd660 speakers

definitely try to get a kit but if you really cant find anything then you can settle for generic

make sure you align the woofer correctly or else the coil will rub and blow the speakers out. you may have to cut the dust cap in the middle out and stabilize it with plastic shims included in the kit. I didn't use shims but thats just because my speakers had enough leeway to get away with it. I just glued them down and played a low noise in the background as it dried and adjusted them accordingly.


good luck friend

>>1039576
>>1039566
taking it apart now, will provide pictures

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>>1039583

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>>1039583
I wrapped it in a rubber band to hold it together. I got it to play audio if I held the aux cord a certain way but it isn't a fix.

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>>1039583

This is where the aux input is soldered in, also held in by plastic clips.

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>>1039583

>>1039594
ive found a few possibility, but they either face the wrong way and have the right pin layout, or face the right way and have the wrong layout.

that particular layout is going to be very difficult to find an exact match,and like >>1039566
said, you may just have to rig it.

my matches for reference
http://www.switchcraft.com/productsummary.aspx?Parent=425
you might be able to mount and modify your cover to fit it, it will face down though so could be impossible if your radio is normally flush.

http://www.connect-tech-products.com/pdfbook/CTP-35003-XX.pdf
has the right orientation, but pin layout looks sketchy. the -04 and -05 are your best bets there.

alternatively you could look on ebay or whatnot for any broken ones someone is selling for dirt

good luck

I have a 1909 walking beam well rig. I just want to get it to crank over one very big problem im having is its got a magneto and i'm clueless when it comes to this mostly cause up until last Wednesday i didn't know they existed. Can anyone tell me anything about them. If you guys want i can take a couple pictures and make a thread tomorrow.

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Is there a good way to strip the backing from playwood? It's great for a project I'm doing, but stripping it is fairly labor intensive, and it's a crap shoot if it'll come intact.

Alternatively, is there a way to buy the backing separately, or a similar couple millimeter thick 'ribbon' of wood I can use as a replacement?

>>1039667
>a way to buy the backing separately
veneer

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>>1039606

If I was just going to rig it, do I have to find a 3.5mm female that has 5 pins? or will the one in
>>1039566 work just fine? how do I tell which pins I need to solder in to which contacts? sorry for my ignorance, this stuff is pretty foreign to me

I'm going to try going to a brick and mortar store and finding one of them.

Thanks for your help, I thought I was screwed before I came here

>pic unrelated

>>1039713
>that has 5 pins
three pins are minimum for stereo - Left-Right-Common
the two extra are probably for switching
whether they are absolutely necessary or not depends on the circuit

>>1039713
dat homemade opl2 sound blaster clone though.
have you seen the sound blaster prototype "killer card" sold on ebay recently?

>>1039725
I went to a radioshack on the way home from errands (I thought they went out of business?)

and I bought this for 2 dollars. It's so cheap I figured I might as well give it a shot.

I also have a soldering iron, a solder sucker, and some extra speaker wire.

Where do I start with something like this?

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>>1039757

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Anyone have any idea what size of fitting the silver one is, the brass one is 1/4BSP for comparison. it measures 11.7mm

>>1039839
1/8BSP would be the next step down from 1/4BSP. I'd start there.

How do I get my career in welding started?

>>1039646
magnetos magnets lose their magnetism over time and have to be remagnetised. I guess you could stick a neodymium magnet on each side. Sometimes if you put the magnet in an oven to dry out for a short time it will bring it back to life.
Are you trying to drill wells or restore it? If you want to drill wells then throw a 4 cylinder diesel on there like a perkins 203 or a ford d400 380.
Those old engines weren't very good, no throttle just a needle to screw in, hard started and didn't have an engine oil pump, more like a lawnmower engine.

>>1039875
typo i meant put the magneto in the oven, but not so long and so high of a temp as to melt it.

>>1039863
Well, can you weld?

>>1039879
Fairly well

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Got an issue

Just found out how shitty my battery charger is, want to get a new one, but have no idea what to get?

My requirements are

1) Must have double AA and AAA
2) Must be able to do one battery at a time
3) Must have at least 2 battery slots
4) Must not need to be babysat as in if I put the batteries in forget that they were charging and come back after i go to sleep, I'm not in for a bad time.

Beyond that things I would like are able to charge various AA sized batteries, such as 18650 and others would be nice.

Able to tell me how much of a charge a battery has in mAh would be amazing.

Beyond that I have no idea what other features would be nice, if anyone has experience and can point me toward a good/nice one it would be much appreciated.

>>1039757
>Where do I start with something like this?
Use a continuity tester on the new and the old to find which are corresponding pins.
Make notes and wire it up.
Two pairs of pin MAY show continuity with no plug in the connector.
They MAY show open with the plug inserted.
(could be reverse of this)
Check continuity from the solder connection on a bare plug with the plug inserted to locate which are actual L-R-C pins
(the center pin behind the nut is likely Common)

i'm trying to increase my voltage in my 555 timer project. my input is 9v, and my output is roughly 2.3V. Would a wire around a magnet and a subsequent second winding around the same magnet increase the voltage? Thus far I have tried to create that coming off of pin 3, to ground, just as a blinking light that is present on the circuit to show that it's operating, but every time i plug it in, both the light won't blink, and using a multimeter i've found that there is no current traveling out of the transformer, or really any time i hook up a self made coil to the circuit. My presumption is that I just 'don't have enough juice' to make it through these coil turnings? But, even if I just hook it to ground, there is no output AC on the inbetween so I'm rather confused.

>>1039875
Just restore like i said i just want it to crank over.

>>1039932
Probably not, because if the timer output doesn't have much current the transformer won't excite and you won't have any secondary (higher voltage) current.

>>1038782
You're display shows the wrong mode after you took it apart?
Did you line up the selector knob correctly when you put it back together? Take the cover off, turn the knob on the cover all the way to the left, then turn the little socket that it goes to in the body of the meter all the way to the left until it turnsoff and see if that fixes it.
>broken more than my fair share of flukes

what's a good epoxy that will bond well with metal but (if possible) not plastic?

>>1040284
JB weld will stick to everything, but if you put some removable caulking down on the plastic you can peel it up.

>>1036077
400 grit is waaay too smooth. The wood needs to be a bit rough/porous so it can absorb much more stain. The poly coat is where you smooth everything out but the staining coat needs to be rougher. Sand with 120 to remove the stain, then sand with 220 to smooth it out just a hair. After doing 220 you can apply the stain.

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Can my sonicator like pic related sonicate just fine without the metal basket it comes with? I want to put my beaker in it

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I just now put a thin layer of dark wood varnish on the handle of a shaving brush that I've been sanding down, and in its wet state it looks awful - dark spots completely cover some of the wood patterns etc..

Is it too late to do something about it? Should I wait for it to dry, then sand it down again? Will it look better when dry? I don't have much experience with varnish, and this was meant to be a gift to someone. Help me, /diy/!

>>1040294
>like pic related sonicate just fine without the metal basket it comes with? I want to put my beaker in it

i don't think i'd want direct contact with the ultrasonic emitter. plus you want the waves in the water to hit the object, not have it touching the container.

>>1040376

Help me, /diy/, I don't want this present ruined :(

>>1040376
>>1040389
/diy/ is a slow board. Someone with woodworking skill will eventually see your post, Anon.

I think this question is more /diy/ than /g/, so I'll post it here: I've bought one of those USB video grabber things, and I'd like to know if they do the deinterlacing themselves, or if I'll need to deinterlace it later (I use VLC to record the input coming from the USB, so I just have to toggle deinterlacing on or off).

I use them with VHS tapes, in case it's not clear.

>>1040294
It might break the glass. We use one at work to get dirt and shit off copper parts and if we run them in without the cage it makes a horrendous noise and scratches the crap out of the body of the sonicator. Might work if you suspended it from the outside with a coat hanger or something.

What are those little washer like things called that hold screws in when you unscrew them?

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Why present-day HDD have spindles built in it, instead of spindles screwed on it? This way, I can't remove them intact!

Can someone help me with adjusting this metal shelf? It looks like you just lift, but i cant get it to budge. http://m.imgur.com/sqGVi5L,ZFREmnm

>>1038782
Low battery charge? Try replacing the one inside it.

>>1039885
It's not very complicated. You already pointed the needed features. Just don't forget to check if the charger charges the battery types you need (NiCd? NiMH? LitIon?)

>>1040507
Hit it with a hammer from the bottom, maybe a rubber mallet if you have one.

>>1040510
Got it ty!

I work on a farm fixing machines, working in brush, electrical stuff, plumbing, irrigation, general grounds management, and whatever else breaks or needs maintenance. I'm always have my headphones in listening to music and taking calls with the inline mic. My problem is that I'm going through a pair of headphones every month or so. The cord gets caught on shit as I'm working and moving around. The cord never breaks, but I'm guessing the wires at either end where the jack is and where they connect to the headphones fuck up. I've tried everything from Walmart, RadioShack, and even best buy but nothing lasts long wnought. I've gotten the insurance policy on headphones but it's annoying having to take them back and get a new pair every couple of weeks. Wireless headphones never last the ~12hrs a day I work and they drain my phone.

>tl;dr
What are the toughest headphones that eat shit and keep going? Any price range is fine as long as I can have a pair that lasts. I'm getting tired of dealing with this.

>>1040538
/g/'s headphone general is the place to be if you're looking for headphones >>/g/56124464

>>1040487
I'm not sure if you're looking for a retainer nut or an internal tooth lock washer, but those are some search terms to try.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a TOOTSIE POP?

>>1040538
Do you wear the cord inside your work clothes?

Maybe run the cord up your back, make some little loops in your top for the cord to run through to keep it in place.

>>1040538
Try adding strain relief with something like sugru?

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>>1040538
ATH-M50x headphones have removable cable, so it's enough to change the cable if it gets fucked up. They cost $150 though, and the cable costs $15, but my point is to either get a headphone with replaceable cables, or DIY one.

How do I become an inventor? I think a lot because I read a lot of philosophy, but I'd like to put my mind to invent something. It just seems like that everything that is invented now is some kind of crazy mechanical engineering thing or something stupid and sold on TV.

>>1040777
a little less than half it takes to get to the other side

Hi!
So, lets say i want to drill something or mark holes or shapes perfectly. What's the best or easiest program to make a grid and make a printable template?

If it HAS to be done on something like Illustrator, then how do i look for tutorials on how to do exactly that? what's it name? i can't find it as in "template"

>>1040744
Internal tooth lock washer, perfect thanks!

Now the trick is gonna be finding some with 1/16" bolt size.

>>1041114
MS paint with the circle tool?

>>1041114
Geogebra is useful for geometrical shit, maybe you should look into it. You can hide the axes and you can show the grid btw.

>>1041146
1/16"? That's fucking microscopic. Look for #0 hardware.

>>1041114
>>1041166
But yeah maybe you should elaborate on what you want to do exactly.

>>1041114
paint.net
Been a while since I used it, so I don't remember the details, but I managed to get things printed precisly with it.
You could probably do it in paint with a bit of math and the DPI setting.

You could also
-print a couple dots
-measure the distance between them
-calculate scale (whatTheDistanceIsSupposedToBe / measuredDistance)
-use that scale to scale printing in the printer setup

There's probably better/easier ways, but these have worked for me in the past.

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I'm not sure if this is the right board for this, but does the concept in pic related actually work? I mean that a tank with high pressure in it is enclosed in a second "tank" with about half the pressure in it. This way, the Pressure that would normally press against the tanks walls would now be split up between the two walls, right? If so, why have I never seen this technique be used to enclose a high pressure area?

>>1041209
>If so, why have I never seen this technique be used to enclose a high pressure area?

In most tanks the pressure changes - sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly.

In your example means would have to be made to change pressure in both vessels at the same time by the same ratio.

How is the inner vessel supported and how does the port exit the outer container without influencing it's structural integrity?

Seem simpler and more practical to just construct a single tank capable of withstanding the expected pressure.

>>1040509
It seems easy, but that's in a world where china does not exist. I can go name brand and pay 50-100$, or I can try and find oems/third parties and go from 20-70 with some of the chinese ones seeming great, but suck.

Anyone with some experience able to point something out for me?

>>1041209

It works, but it's inferior to just making a single, thicker wall. Reason being, nested pressure vessels scale linearly with total wall thickness, but increasing the thickness of a single wall increases its strength exponentially. And you save a little bit of material.

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>>1039578
I ended up finding foam that was specifically meant for the speakers that I have. I did not remove the dust cap. I decided that I would connect the woofers to my amp, and I'd use a low tone (around 30 hz) to make sure that it was centered, similar to how you did yours, except I didn't leave them on for longer than a minute, just to make sure everything was centered. I then glued on the gasket, pressed it down a bit until it adhered all around. Then I flipped them face down onto some parchment paper to let them dry.

Here is the before picture.

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>>1041229
>>1039578
And here are the woofers after. The inverse design of the foam sort of looks funny, but the speakers work great now.

Thanks for the advice. It was easier than I expected, but the job was sort of messy because of all the old crumbling goam

>>1041234

looks great, opie

>>1040620
I'll lurk there
>>1040816
Always under the shirt. The gap from the shirt to my pocket is the snag zone. Threading it under my belt helps a lot but isn't fool proof.
>>1040819
I'll give it a try, I hadn't thought of that. >>1040892
Over-ear headphones would get in the way too much but I like the idea of just replacing an aux cord.

Now that my /diy/ juices are flowing, I'm thinking of some kind of breakaway section of cord. Some kind of clip that would give and disconnect under just enough tension.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll post results if I figure something out.

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so, recently i've tried building an oscilloscope out of a portable TV set, a roadstar tv 400n specifically (pic related), i've wired everything in place like it should be :
>cut off the speaker
>cut off horizontal coil, connected it to the vertical coil wire

>connected horizontal coil to audio cable (runs into the microphone jack on a mixer and outputs onto a radio)

problem is, i've got a steady line horizontal line displayed on the screen but it doesn't react to the audio input, i've tried messing with some pots and rewiring it so the vertical coil is displayed but nothing seems to make it work, could it be that the TV signal recieving circuits are overriding the input or something, i identified a circuit labelled as TUMUB3EC-991 on the board and i guess it's the TV tuner, should i desolder it?

>>1041485
>>1041483

are you cheating?

>>1041179
paint.net redirects me to a company's paint business
i'm hoping i don't have to do that in paint, but i'll resort to that if needed
>>1041168
For example, let's say i want to drill 7mm diameter holes, 10mm apart from each other, in a perfect square, in a surface, in a slipery surface i really don't want to grid myself with a ruler. so, instead, i would make it on the program, print it, glue it on top of the surface and start drilling straight away

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>>1041498
Yeah I guess geogebra would be good for that

Where i can find info about how resistant locks are?

So far looking at bosniabill i learned that American lock and ABUS make good locks and that i shouldn't even think of buying Master locks.

But what about Fanal and Dexter?
Is the American Lock A5200D the same than 5200?
What ABUS Nano Protect is supposed to be?

>>1035892
I need an air compressor for cleaning (mostly my computers) and for an air brush, what should i get?

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>>1041498
>in a slippery surface

Either way you should be center punching the holes so your bit doesn't wander.

Also, a straight edge and compass would do you pretty good, my boy, mark up paint not even necessary.

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There's this minimal DIY style bed for sale by a company called FLOYD. They charge $240 for a set of 8 brackets, and 2 tightening belts with ratchet latches.

Am I out of left field saying thats really fucking expensive for what they are providing?

Would I be able to go to a local metal worker and get them to make the parts for me cheaper? Then I'd go to like a mountaineering store or something and get the straps.

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>>1041676

>>1041676
>>1041678
does it need to be really modular like that? You could easily have a metal frame welded together and have boards fastened on top. Would give you the same look it would just be more of a pain to move around.

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>>1041687
The 'pain to move around' thing is key. I'm interested in this design because it seems really easy to move. Also you can have the boards be any size you'd like for any mattress (twin, queen, etc) based on how much room space you have available.

I'd also experiment with the surface. If the particle wood is cheap enough you could just throw that out when you move. Or you could change the arrangement to be horizontal surface boards instead of vertical ones if its easier to move or throw in a car or something etc.

Idunno, I just like the idea of having such a simple and portable bed. $240 seems nuts though, so I wanted to ask if that was reasonable.

>>1041678
get three panels the size you want
four hinges attached to panels (inside brackets)
two lengths of wood the height you want the platform and slightly less that the distance across the three panels

stand boards on edge
lay hinged panels across boards
one screw through outside panels into boards (four screws)
You now have a platform bed

to move - remove four screws
fold panels at hinges
bundle board and panels for transport

four hinges ~$8
four screws ~$1
two boards - ~$10
$220 less than Floyd brackets

The panels you were going to supply anyway so not counted

>>1041696
draw picture pls

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>>1041700
for simplicity i left the 'hinges' as is
for ease of transport on pair should be on top and one pair on underside
this allows folding as a Z
alternate i hinges between panel edges with one pair of pins on top side and other pair of pins on underside
same folding effect but with hidden hinges

>>1041224
Hi again. I already bought a shitty chinese battery recharger. It was really shitty, but due to not having the said system to turn off or alert when the charging finished. Otherwise, for me there is nothing else that I really need.

>>1041712
This makes sense, thanks anon

Is it dangerous to hold plugs in with adhesive putty? The receptacle I'm trying to plug things into is loose and won't hold them.

>>1041772
Yes. It's loose because the contacts aren't gripping the blades securely.
Poor connection can have resistance causing heating or arcing inside the receptacle.
Best to replace the receptacle.

>>1041787
Oh, shit. Thanks.
Looks like I'll be taking a trip to the hardware store tomorrow.

I need aluminum for a project, it doesn't appear that home depot or fastenal have enough variety for my needs

Where could I get 1"x2" or 1/2"x1" aluminum bar?

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I bought a roll of these without a power supply, so I tested them with a 12v 750mA power supply I had lying around. They don't seem bright enough with it. The LED strip says 6A max for them, and for the length I plan on cutting them to, I think I need to use somewhere around a 3A power supply.

If I use a 3A power supply, will it make the LEDs brighter than they were with the 750mA power supply I used?

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anyone knows the quality of this brand?
this tool is Powerfix, they usually sell it at LIDL. It seems good for the price, but I don't know if it is overpriced chinese crap or decent tools.
any advice please?

>>1041807
yes

>>1041889
that set looks like a lot of useless garbage.

buy individiual.

vice grips>>>>some shitty wrench

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>>1041922
>>1041889

I forgot the link on the first post
http://www.lidl.de/de/powerfix/b1746

>buy individual.

I have an objection here, I also think "buy good tools and you wont have to buy them anymore", but good tools are expensive, and first yo have to think what you''ll do with them. sure, the screwdriver in that pic isn't good, for someone who works with screwdrivers the whole day, but what if you just need them a few times in months? why should I spend money on a tool or a set of tools that I'll will barely use?

that's why I can't tell if the picture is just bullshit or not. for a profesional? for everyday use? sure they are bad. for once in a while, are they also bad?

btw, I also don't like that kind of wrenches, I prefer these

>>1041889
>It seems good for the price, but I don't know if it is overpriced chinese crap or decent tools.

>doesn't give the price

It's a $19.95 set - for that price it's an OK starter set.
Any more is too much.

>>1041803
Idk. I would just try casting it. Hair drier, 10lb lump charcoal. And a hole in the ground. Hardest part would be finding a suitable crucible.

>>1041942
As I said here >>1041939
I forgot the link, you can see by yourself the tools this brand has

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Do wireless charging pads for phones emit much heat? Back before I had a desktop and primarily used a laptop, I toyed around with the idea of putting a few laptop batteries worth of LiPos in my backpack so I wouldn't run out of battery when not at home. I'd also thought about putting a phone charger in the bag, but I've since thought of attaching a wireless charging pad to the inside of a jeans or jacket pocket so the phone would automatically start charging when put in a pocket. How feasible is this, and would it run into any problems with being uncomfortably warm?

>>1040538
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD25-C-II's - bought in 2007 and used every day since. So far I've replaced the earpads/cushiony bits twice, everything else is fine. If anything does break you can get replacement parts for everything on them.

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Why is the two stroke engine favored over the Wankel engine? The Wankel is compacter and both their designs are relatively simple but still I have never seen a Wankel used, even when a more compact engine would be useful.

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>>1042030
A two stroke, for comparison.

>>1042030
>Why is the two stroke engine favored over the Wankel engine?

A two stroke is about the most simple internal combustion engine you can build, a blind man with one arm can service them, and they'll run on anything from moonshine to heavy oil.

Whereas a Wankel has three chambers that have to be sealed from each other, which is never perfect and thus reduces the engine efficiency and engine life.

>>1042030
>Why is the two stroke engine favored over the Wankel engine?
because a 2-stroke piston engine is very easy to build well, and a Wankel rotary is not
Go read up on the history of the Wankel at Mazda. they spent a long time and a lot of money (including warranty repairs) to get it working as well as it does today

>>1042044
So, the isolation of the reuleaux triangle is the only thing making the Wankel practically never used? How is isolating it's edges so complicated compared to isolating the two strokes piston?

>>1042048
>to get it working as well as it does today
and they still couldnt get it working that well and its being abandoned

>>1041889
I don't think too much of them really.
the boxes tend not to be built real well. it is better to just buy a cheap little plastic toolbox that does not have living hinges (the living hinge eventually stops living...).

as far as getting "stubby" tools: girls tend towards these things because (I suppose) they think the stubby tools look cute... but a girl usually has a lot less physical strength than a typical guy does. A female would be better off getting regular-length tools

for US peeples I'd say you'd want a ratchet and two socket sets, imperial and metric, since you run into both

also about those interchangeable-tip screwdrivers: seems like a good idea but a lot of times the shaft is too fat to fit down a hole, where the screw is that you want to tighten or loosen.
so you really want to have at least a couple regular-length screwdrivers in flat and Phillips-styles,,,, and there's nowhere to store them in that custom-set-box

>>1042049
>How is isolating it's edges so complicated compared to isolating the two strokes piston?
Sealing a circle is immensely easier than sealing a square.
Rorary engines also have the problem of uneven heating of the block since one side is always intake and the other is always exhaust, causing uneven expansion which is harder for seals to actually seal.

>>1041948
nah

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I have a tablet with 1 micro-USB port.
Can a USB splitter power a device such as wireless dongle, while using the other port to power the tablet?

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My amplifier buzzes a lot, but stops temporarily when I punch it. This has been going on for a while, so I thought I'd open it up and see. I guess I'm looking for a loose connection, but it's not much to go on. Ideas?

>>1042131
punch the insides

>>1042131
describe the buzz, is it in the audio or just a general buzz

>>1042090
Modern USB ports SHOULD draw as much as they need. I've found some older hubs that need an external power supply to work and won't use the USB's power line for it, but modern computers should supply as much power as devices demand.

I dunno if a splitter like that works for data-using USB stuff though.

>>1042131
Whenever audio equipment starts acting up i have a usual checkup list
1 Check connections and cables
2 Clean contacts with contact spray
3 Open it up and check for loose connectors, maybe check the PCS solder joints (mostly connectors)
4 Check capacitors
5 Check transformer
6 Cry and pace around the room

How retarded is it to use soldering instead of welding? I mean the kind of soldering plumbers do to keep pipes together. I recently fished some really thick solder wire from the scrap bin and was completely confused what this could possibly be used for. After some research I found out that plumbers use is to join pipes and thought this could probably be extended to most metals and possibly be used instead of welding. I understand it's impossible to get the structural strength of a weld from a soldered join but was wondering about using it for joins that had no or very little load on them because I can't weld for shit and don't eve have access to a welder most of the time. If this is even possible, how much could I trust such a soldered join?

>>1042179
plumbing solder is pretty much the same strength as electronic solder

old plumbing solder was 50r/50 lead to tin or up to 60/40 just like electrical solder
it almost never has a flux core since paste flux is applied after thoroughly cleaning the pipe joining surfaces

one difference is 'hard solder' which is actually a form of brazing
this is used for high pressure joints as in hvac equipment
hard solder is usually sold in rods but i have some very high silver content hard solder that is in a roll

>>1042197
>old plumbing solder was 50r/50 lead to tin or up to 60/40 just like electrical solder

lost my train of thought there - i intended to say newer plumbing is lead free but still is just solder and worthless for 'welding' or holding anything requiring strength in a joing.

>>1042179
>>1042197
>>1042198

the major difference between soldering and welding

Welding: the Surfaces and the 'rod' are all the same metal. the rod just fills in the gaps and it ends with one continuous piece of homogeneous metal. flux is only there to remove surface oxide to assist in the join.

Soldering: to different metals are joined by another different 'rod'. in most soldering applications the metals being joined DO NOT MELT. the solder rod forms an alloy with both surfaces being joined which finally forms a finished product of 'Metal/Alloy/Solder/Alloy/Metal'. solder in most cases is a mix of tin and other metals. solders melting temperature must be a good bit lower than the surfaces being joined, or your just welding. flux is once again just used to remove the surface oxide to allow the bond.

>TLDR
Welding is all the same metal, Soldering is an alloy.

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My ceiling fan became very slow all of a sudden to the point where it's not worth using. Is it worth trying to fix it myself or should I just get a new one?

>>1042280
Have you tried WD-40?

>>1042145
In the audio. Loud when I turn the volume up, less loud when I turn it down. When I hit the thing the buzz sometimes disappears immediately, and sometimes jumps up or down in volume, and sometimes it's unaffected. In the latter two cases I hit it again.

>>1042164
Will look into this, thanks.

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(Amp again.)
Is it possible to ID this from the picture alone? I could turn the whole thing on and check the voltage, but if possible I'd prefer to avoid it while it's all disassembled.

>>1041676
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcAJm92HhRc

>>1042179
Soldering is fine when you don't need much strength, but even then you should note that ordinary tin or tin/lead solder does not adhere well to many metals. It seems to stick to steel (particularly when you use proper flux), but the joints are weak even by soldering standards. And you can't solder aluminum or stainless steel with ordinary solder wire.
Copper, brass and bronze are easy to solder with tin/lead solder and the joints are about as strong as you can expect.

>>1041889
I've got several Powerfix tools and they range from "Meh! to middling", they're okay for the price but no good if you are a pro, they're aimed squarely at the weekend worrier end of the market, I'm not trying to make them sound bad here because I certainly have had good use out of the ones I bought but I'm also aware that they are budget tools first a foremost.

>>1042370
Reminds me of a sexy girl wearing a dress (the wires are the legs).

>>1042280
it depends on how nice it is. how easy a fix it is. and how you value $60 for a new one vs half a saturday.

try spraying wd40 in the ball bearings, you might have to remove the lower case. you could remove and repack the ball bearings if you are really on a budget and it's really broken.

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Should an aspie learn a trade or study STEM at university?

Just bought a brand new house from a community development in one of the last prime real estate neighborhoods. Best school districts and resale value, etc.

My question is, with ROI in mind, what are some enjoyable diy's I can do with it? My HOA is restrictive and I wouldn't want to devalue the home anyway. Nor do I want to waste money on something I won't have in five years and won't make a profit from.

Anything quick, fun, and easy to build? I have done house renovation before, but nothing deeper than tile work,paint, and making a door.

>>1042432
you'll never pay off the debt anon, never.

>>1042434
outdoor projects like patios and shit are usually good on ROI.

>>1042436
Yeah, I was planning on making a simple patio. Either that or a deck. Maybe a stone patio? No idea. My house is stone veneer.

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>>1042435
I plan to work had in either. I would pay off the debt.
However, the trade lifestyle seems a lot more accustomed to work rather than gossip and nonsensical bullshit.

>>1042280
If it's turned off and is difficult to spin by hand it's probably the bearings.
If it turns freely by hand when turned off but barely turns when under power, it's likely the capacitor inside the housing holding the switches.

>>1042387
>>1042233

So, the better the solder material (mine is 97% tin and 3% copper) alloys with the metals I want to join, the more the join will hold?
As far as I know tin bonds well with copper surfaces. What chemical property of the solder and the metals am I looking for here? As far as I know electron negativity is the important factor in forming chemical bonds but I'm not sure if that applies here because with metals the nobility comes in and confuses everything.

>>1042370
>s it possible to ID this from the picture alone?
It's a Stanley incandescent lamp of the type most frequently used for 'pilot' light in electronic devices.

>>1042464
I'm not a metallurgist, but I do know that it's not that simple. Even if solder wets the base metal well, the resulting alloy (and joint) can be weak. Tin/lead solder on gold is a well-known example of that.

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>>1042158
What makes me unsure is that in my case it would mean that there is a current going through the USB port in one direction(charger) and another current going the opposite direction(whatever USB device is connected to the splitter). I don't know if USB ports are designed to manage that.

>>1042131
Fucked capacitors. It's not the plague, but check these images and you will have an idea of what to look for: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague#Visible_symptoms

I'm currently painting mdf for an arcade controller. I'm using spray paint, primer, color, lacquer, all that jazz. Should I sand between paint layers, or should I only do that for the final lacquer layers?

>>1042055
>>1042389
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmpukchMhps
"we (PANGONG TOOLS) are the original manufacturer of LIDL Tools -Germany (POWERFIX Brand) ,also ALDI (WORKZONE brand)"

It seems like they are in fact chinese tools

>>1042493
Don't sand between primer and paint. Do sand between layers of paint, and definitely between paint and lacquer. Make sure to clean very throughly after sanding. Any leftover dust can fuck your life up.

>>1042432
Get into something where you can get paid for your internship/training. School is only good if you have some way of paying for it without being 100% in debt.

My recommendations are electrician, welder, plumber, lineman, or groundsman. Some pay better than others at first but if you stick with it, keep your shit together, and work hard, all have good upward mobility.

Career advice: always be that guy who volunteers for the shitty projects, be willing to ask around for new jobs, be willing to relocate or travel, and don't be scared to quit for a better opportunity.

Also, avoid unions.

>>1042049
To fix a compression issue on a two stroke, literally all you have to swap out is the piston ring. On a Dorito engine you need a new rotor. Also, the timing is easier to fuck up.

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>>1036359
>take off your hat to the MYERS

>>1042464
this>>1042483
solder is just a term for a metal or mix of metals used to join two metal surfaces with an intermettalic(alloy) bond instead of fusing the surfaces together. the type of solder you use depends on the type of metal the surfaces are made of.

tin alloys are good for copper and can actually work on aluminum/steel and a few others. tin does not work particularly well on gold.

fwi for 'tougher' metals you need stronger flux. again the flux is just for removing oxides so the atomic bonds can form. copper has weak oxide and uses weak flux. steel and aluminum(especially) have tough oxides that require much stronger fluxes.

the 'better solder material' is mostly irrelevant. soldering actively changes your surface metal into an alloy, this alloy is usually more brittle than the original surfaces, but in most cases is strong enough for a good portion of applications.

decide how much load you want the joint to handle, if its more than the resulting alloy can take (surface+major metal in solder) then you would be better off welding.

electronic work uses a combination of soldering and welding, but doesnt need much mechanical strength.

household pipework needs strength, but those pressures usually apply outward force, and compresses the joint instead of shearing it. so it works pretty well there.

im trying to keep all of this fairly simple, so let me know if im confusing you.

>>1035892
>compiling and putting code on an atmel chip
I trying to program an atmel chip, a meta32u4, via usb. I'm on linux and using avrdude and avrgcc.

I got avr-gcc to compile without errors using:
>avr-gcc -mmcu=atmega32u4 test.c -o test
I'm sure thats wrong for whatever reason, but I haven't got to the point where the output file works or not.

avrdude errors out with
>avrdude: Error: Could not find USBtiny device
, I'm using the command:
>sudo avrdude -P usb:0000:0000 -c usbtiny -p m32u4 -U /dir/test

with the 0000s being the usb id. I've tried with bus:device, and a few other variations but none of them have worked so far. /dev/*device* hasn't worked either.

>>1042593
Alright, thanks! My primer is quite thin, so I'm doing multiple thin layers with it. I already sanded after the first layer of primer, did I fuck up? I made sure to try and get the surface as clean of dust as I could, though.

>>1035892
Where to find like 5lb of lead for cheap locally guys? I live in centeral florida if that helps..

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>>1035892
Which tool would be best for cutting the tab-like things on this off?

>>1042732
dremel.

hacksaw and file if you are poor. just a big ol' bastard file if you are turbo poor.

>>1042731
in the ditches next to freeway exit ramps. pick up any wheel weights you find, screen out the ones that are hard to cut with a knife.

>>1042743
There cant be that many just laying in every exit ramp

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I'm planning on building a cigar humidor as a beginner, and a carpenter helper, I've been told to use nails and wood glue for structural points and screws to attach things to structures.

Pic related, the lower inner portion of the humidor. Am I doing this right? Currently designing the lower outer portion, its going to be Bolivian Rosewood for "hnnngggg" factor, not even going to stain it just going to use some pre-stain, then thin down some gloss poly and slap it on a few times.

>>1042771
I put (2) for A but meant to put (2) for B and (1) for C as well. Its essentially a hollow spanish cedar box for now.

Still choosing a hygrometer, wish I could find a decent external mount one.

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>>1042773
>>1042771
And the outer design, which is a scaled up version of the inner design made to act as a fit with wood glue, and to be slightly higher. The top of the humidor will be fashioned in such a way that a tight seal will be made upon closure.

>>1042736
Thanks

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I've decided to take up diy (especially electronics). I bought soldering station and thought that repairing my xbox controller myself will be doable. Does this cable have anything special in it or is it standard usb?

>>1042920
Also can i use this one from an old mouse? If so, how can i tell which black wire to connect?

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>>1042920
>>1042921

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>>1035892
I have two questions.

I decided to get into cooperage. There aren't any teachers in my area so i need to know what /diy/ approved books should i get to help me learn.
If it helps my options, my toolkit includes a table saw, a planer, a single spindle shaper, and a joiner.
Second, what are some resources or books that can get me into basic pottery (i found nothing on the sticky).

>>1042626

OK, so if metal and solder mix well into a strong alloy, the bond will hold really well. And the surface has to be as free of oxide as possible else they won't mix properly.
So, if I clean the metal properly and don't try to use metals and solders that don't mix well, I will be fine. Tin and copper seem to work really well together, so I'll just stick to those for the time being.
If I wanted to know which solders work good on steel and looked up what iron forms a strong bond with would that be directly applicable to steel? Or would the carbon in there mess things up?

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Got the wiring
Got the piping
Got the pump
Any reason why this wouldn't be bringing up water?
Any way for me to check if anything's actually happening or of it just takes a while to get water from 20 feet underground. It's just bubbling the water I put in for priming over and over.

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>>1035892
So, the stem in our shower is loose, I don't think there's any leaking, but cutting into the wall to get at the pipe would be tedious since the tile goes all the way up above the shower head. The stem just moves back and forward, no side to side play, so it seems that it just came off the stud in the wall.
How do get it to stay in place now? Don't really have the time to go retiling my shower nor the money to hire someone to do it.

>pic related
not my shower, but same issue.

>>1042981
>to get water from 20 feet underground
That takes a pretty good pump to get 20' with suction only.
Absolute maximum (theoretical) would be around 35'
You're trying to lift the weight of the column of water for that distance.

Better choice would be a submersible pump

>>1042963
Steel is a tricky one because its already an alloy, soldering works best with pure metals.

steel can be brazed(high temp soldering essentially) but your really better off just welding steel, as anything else will be a fair bit less robust.

as for the material, it looks like brazing is normally done with bronze, steel can be soldered with tin, but the joint would be craptacular.

>>1042920
That is a completely standard USB cable. It even has the official color codes on the wires. Red is VCC (power), black GND (ground), green Data negative and white data positive.
>>1042921
>>1042921
That cable should work. Check how the USB cable going into your controller is connected to that little white plug and try to replace the wires. You may not even need to solder anything.
Replace white with white, red with red and so on.

>>1043004
I said 20 just to exaggerate a bit, when I tested it only reached down to about 15 feet.
I was told that the pipe might not reach all the way down to where the water is, and even then, I was thinking myself that since the pipe is very old, at least 17 years since that's how long we've lived here, it may be corroded and rotten and have air leaks.

So I was thinking of just getting a 15ft long pvc pipe tomorrow and putting it down the metal pipe that reaches to the water. This should be fine right?

>>1043029
>This should be fine right?

Probably not 'fine'
More like may or may not work.

http://www.marispumps.com/blog/how-does-an-end-suction-pump-work/

>>1043032
im a soldering wizard and cant help you much with welding, at least the none electronic kind.

How can I stop cuts with hand saws from wandering? No matter what I try I can never make a straight cut with a hand saw. Wood, metal, doesn't matter. I e tried various saws of various qualities and I always end up needing to throw out some perfect good pieces of wood because I can't make a straight cut to save my life