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diy:start

Table of Contents

DIY tips

see also:

Introduction

  • this is a collection of handy tips aimed at those who have not been trained in tradie stuff

Don't get injured!

Carpentry

Measuring up

Which drill to use?

circular saws

reciprocating saw

  • blade goes in and out
  • all blade accessories are now standardised across brands
  • very versatile saw invented in 1951 by Milwaukee
  • designed to cut wood in tight places, great for demolition work
  • great for sawing plastic pipes, pruning trees,
  • can cut metal if you use a metal saw blade
  • can get “demolition” blades that will cut both wood and metal so if doing demolition work on timber it will also go through nails
  • can cut ceramic tiles with a carbide blade
  • can use a wire brush accessory
  • can use a diamond tipped grout removal tool (eg. from Spyder)
  • can use a scraper accessory tool
  • tips:
    • remove battery (or disconnect AC cord) before changing the blade (or at least ensure the trigger is in lock position)
    • blade can be inserted upside down if need be
    • remove blade when finished using it
    • smaller battery ones measure 16“ so you can get between studs on a stud wall
    • blades are removed by lifting up a lever then pulling the blade out (reverse this to insert a blade)
    • most have an adjustable shoe:
      • the main use of the shoe is to steady the tool on whatever you are cutting
      • by extending it out, you can use a different section of the blade so you don't just wear out the part closest to the machine
      • can be used as a fulcrum for a plunge cut to make a cut in the middle of a surface
      • can use it as a blade depth limiter
    • some have a switch for different speeds
    • some have a hook to hang it temporarily
    • blades will normally marked for what they should be used for and how many teeth per inch (TPI)

the power oscillating multi-tool

  • see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ePCaiS7Mfo Dewalt multi-tool
  • can be used for:
    • diamond blade:
      • wall tile grout removal
      • ribbed diamond blade - floor tile grout removal
    • long scraper insulation cutter blade for cutting 100mm thick insulation
    • wood/metal BIM universal blade can cut:
      • copper pipe
      • 4mm thick aluminium plate
      • 4mm thick lead sheet / flashing
      • nails
    • wood/plastic blade:
      • square hole in plasterboard or a dry wall
      • square hole plunge cut in timber eg floor boards
      • 9mm hardwood plywood
      • acrylic splashback
      • removing the bottom of timber door trim to allow new flooring to fit
      • vinyl flooring
    • circular wood/plastic blade:
      • can cut a 6” circular hole (with practice)
    • carton /carpet blade:
      • carpet or laminate underlay
      • carpet
      • insulation pipe
    • sanding attachment (usually triangular):
      • detail sanding
      • paint removal
      • edge sanding
    • scraper attachment
      • remove dried filler, dried glue, silicone sealant, old tile adhesive
      • cut plastic pipe

Plumbing

  • hand plumbing tools
  • using tape to seal join leaks
  • blocked toilet
    • get a bucket of hot water with detergent and pour it into the toilet bowl - the combination of the weight of the water, heat and detergent usually fixes most blockages
    • if not you may need a plumber with extra gear to unblock it
  • blocked sink drain
    • place a bucket under the S bend under the sink and undo the S bend pipes and clean them out
  • sewage smell in the house
    • this usually means one of the S bends under a drain no longer has enough residual water to block gases coming up from the stormwater pipes
      • usually occurs in warmer weather when the pipe has not been used for a prolonged period
    • add water down any drain holes
diy/start.txt · Last modified: 2024/09/19 13:13 by gary1
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