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How to drill a small hole in a porcelain tube?
I have just come across some porcelain tubes that Ithink would sound great as a wind chime.. Problem is I have never drilled them before. Does anyone have any suggestions before I give it a go? I do have access to my works workshop but drill wise is what I am thinking. I dont want to stop the "chime" by having too tight a…
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Christmas tree using recycled materials
I have wanted to do a different type of christmas tree for the past few years, this year I tried to make something along these lines for work but it failed (resources were not handy, thin metal ring being the main issue) However the stuff I had lying around at home was perfect for the idea! I only had to buy the can small…
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Saw horses (Upcycled Telstra installation stands)
Since saw horses have been discussed I thought I would throw these out there. Ex Telstra instalation stands that I now use as saw horses, incredibly useful for a multitude of heights and uses. I have used them as table stands for that extra table needed at parties, just set them standing on end and twist slightly diagonal.…
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Front entrance door renovation
You know when you start fixing up one thing and it keeps leeding you to other jobs that now need to be done.. Yep this is one of those jobs. I am replacing my handrail for the front patio, This led to the front door and door frame that had flaky paint straight down to the timber and needed to be fixed. The Screen door is a…
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Fixing water ingress issues in garage
After Retrofitting the garage to be a Libary I had water entering the room, as in a LOT of water when it poured rain. This is the story of how I fixed the water issue. There were a few places water was entering the room: - First was the window channels were blocked on the forward facing window, Fixed by opening up the weap…
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Garage lining for stud walls stage 1
This was the second step to retrofitting my garage to become a Libary. Surprisingly removing the garage door and the fixed shelving was easy. Was just work backwards step by step for dismantling the slatted garage door. Fitting stud walls to the insets between the brick pillars was interesting as I was caught out by the…
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Gabion retaining wall and steps
I actually started prep work for this poject ages ago, several years in fact but it had a bunch of things that had to be done before I could start. I wanted to have a flat area for the spa or whatever in case the spa idea dosnt work out, just below the pool deck area. The area once just had two half tall gates that had a…
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Besser block painting makeover
I have wanted to update the colouring of the besser block wall next to the pool since I moved in. I also knew it was going to be a pain to remove the old paint that was peeling off in sections. The project was easy enough just incredibly messy. Materials Light grey Nutech Pavecoat Paint (leftover from patio painting)…
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Upcycled light shade
I was lucky enough to see on one of the local Facbook pages someone giving away some old school glass tube styled chandeliers. There was no way I could hang the lights in a standard ceiling height as the length without the hanging chain was around 700mm but I had ideas! So as usual the ideas hang out for ages and then it…
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Front door and entrance foyer update
I have wanted to update the front foyer for years and intended to rip out the old cabinetry and replce with a gloss kaboodle full height cupboards (narrow doors) with a picture opposite them. The problem is that the foyer has always felt so welcoming when you step into the house so I was umming and ahhing. The solution…
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Bookcase retrofit
My DVD's had been stacking up amongst a few seperate shelves and the 4 smaller shelves I had bought to have them tidy were full, I was lucky enough that I laid my hands on two old workplace grey styled book shelves that were slated for the tip. The question I had "Is there ever too many bookshelves in a house?" Upgrading…
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Patio renovation using paving paint
The old patio had three plus layers of various paint over it. Bringing it back to something nicer started from renovating the front door and has flowed on from there. The handrail is still yet to be redone (saving dollars for it) Materials Craftright 5 Piece Wire Brush Set (Consumable) Paint roller Paint tray Nutech Pave…
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Patio refresh with new paint
After redoing the front door and the flyscreen the patio itself was looking pretty tired. I was going to post this last year but thought I would wait until I have done the handrail... The handrail that you can see in thephoto is still the one in place 🙂 Allso the paint has held up nicely with no lifting or wearing. Loads…
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Levelling a timber floor
When I had bought the house I found a dip in the loungeroom floor, over time it had became even more noticable and within the last 6 months it had become a point of "better do something" about the issue. This project was done by Moana my carpenter mate and myself. I trully did not expect it to succede but Moana said "Yep"…
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Garage converted into home library
New doors and windows fitted to a garage and converted into a library with large bookcases later installed. The project I wanted to retrofit my garage to become a usable room, in particular a library. I really have never used a garage for a car. I usually use a garage to store stuff that is never used again. At the start…
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Large gabion retaining wall
A large gabion wall made with recycled mesh and rock. The project I had bought secondhand 50mm by 50mm galvanised mesh and had these stockpiled for this project of building a gabion wall. I think the mesh is 4mm thick. Working out how many baskets I could make from the mesh I had. I used a grinder to chop up the sections.…
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Annual timber and decking maintenance
Its that time of year when we all start to want to hang out on our decking only to frown at the state it is in... Well yeah I did 🙂 So I have rolled through most of my timber projects (still yet to re-oil two of them) but the majority have been done, so far 3 and a half 4L tins of oil I have gone through... worth it 🙂…
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Hardwood deck restoration
My pool deck had had no love shown to it for 9 years I would say, I had oiled it twice? Maybe three times around 6 months after I built it in 2011 but that was the level of care I had given it... yeah not great I must admit 🙂 The timber was Jarrah for the privacy screen and Yellow gum (cant really remember) for the floor.…
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Laundry makeover with timber benchtop
A mixture of new and recycled products used to renovate a laundry, including a large timber benchtop. The project I wanted to "retrofit" my laundry and reuse products as much as I could without purchasing any new materials unless needed. I really like the idea of being able to dry clothes inside, especially during winter,…
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Gabion wall for front pathway
Gabion walls built with recycled steel mesh and filled with a mix of mortar and concrete. The project As the front yard has a reasonable slope on it from the back gate and front step area, I needed to either backfill a large area and then install a retaining wall, or support the path. I decided to make a lower flat area…
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Mistakes with tools that we have done?
I have just been wondering what is a mistake you have done with a tool. There have been a few new members concerned, maybe about using a tool or maybe breaking it. I for one can remember being extremely concerned when I first picked up a powered drill and then a whopping 300mm grinder! Practice, logic and taking it easy…
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What is the difference between Ozito Battery circular saws?
Afternoon All I have been wondering for the last two years about the difference between these two sizes of ozito saws. 184mm blade runs at max spped of 7000rpm $199 165mm blade runs at max spped of 9500rpm $99 As far as I can make out the effective difference is 19mm extra blad cut for an extra $100 The better size at $199…
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How to build a set of Gabion steps?
Howdy All I have been trying to nut my way through building some steps with gabion wall bases and timber tops. I almost have it but there is a difference in heigh between steps of 10-20mm. The rules states the height should be consistant with the depth and the height. For my example the height is 170mm and the depth is…
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D.I.Y. snooker and pool table
I have wanted a snooker table for years and have always run up against the "space" for it to live in issue. Also the weight of a proper table and getting it home was part of the too hard basket. I had a dining room table that wasnt being used. Standard 1805mm by 905mm and 755mm tall, so set myself a list of rules to follow…
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Gabion wall bench seats
Recycled timber used as bench seats on top of garden gabion baskets. The project I put in some low gabion cages when I re-landscaped my front yard. My intention was to put timber on the top to form some bench seats and also to delineate the path and the garden area. I had been playing over in my head how to "hide" the…
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Stormwater rectification stage 2
This is the second part of my stormwater rectification. Now that the side of the house had been done and I could access it again I needed to redo the stormwater pipe to the front of my boundary. I had calculated that the trench would follow the red line up the block but made a call to follow the old pipe as then I would…
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Can you retrofit sarking to ceiling space?
I have had this question for a number of years but after the last few weeks of constant rain its popped into my head again. Has anyone retrofitted Sarking to the underside of their roofs? Is it possible? and is it worth an attempt? I have no sarking There is left over insulation from someone before. The tiles seem to be…
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Outdoor picnic table using recycled timber
Recycled Merbau timber used to build an outdoor table with bench seats. The project For the past three or four years I have wanted an outside table next to the driveway. I had collected timber planks from work years ago and have used them for ramps over the years, knowing one day they would become a table. I had also…
