Category Archives: Home Repair

Miscellaneous home repairs and improvements.

New handle for Wusthof Classic knife

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Jim

Many years ago, when we redid the kitchen largely in white, we got a couple of Wusthof White Classic knives.  They were perfect (including fitting in with the decor), and were used daily.  But one day the #4066 3.5″ paring … Continue reading →

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Humidifier hack

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Jim

I’ve had an Aprilaire 600 humidifier on my furnace for several years, but only recently paid enough attention to notice that it was on all the time.  It’s a dribble-water-down-an-aluminum-pad type, with whatever doesn’t get evaporated by the airflow being … Continue reading →

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Fixing B&D Cordless Broom

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Jim

I’ve used my 18V B&D cordless blower to clean grass clippings off the sidewalk after mowing for many years.  It’s great.  The 15 cell sub-C NiCd battery packs didn’t last for a whole cleanup – but I had two, rebuilt … Continue reading →

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Drill press squeak fixed!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Jim

I think since the day I got it several years ago, my drill press has squeaked.  It happened – every time – when I turned the chuck by hand a little to orient the hole for the chuck key to … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Repair | 8 Comments

Sump leak from new disharge line

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jim

The morning after the first rain after installing a new sump discharge line, I was greeted with a loud water flow kind of noise.  It was a big leak, but thankfully (if amazingly!) confined within the sump, with no water … Continue reading →

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Rain gauge repair

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Jim

The rain gauge hardware out on the garage roof feeding info to my home automation system is pretty old.  It’s been in service I dunno – six years?, and on a shelf waiting to be installed for maybe 10 years … Continue reading →

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Fridge coil cleaning and attendant yak shaving

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Jim

While looking at dirty filter pictures for a future project to put a larger air filter in my furnace, I stumbled across an article about cleaning the main condenser coil under a refrigerator.  The before picture of the coil with … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Repair | 2 Comments

Leaf vacuum repairs

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Jim

These are notes about a dear old Craftsman lawn vac, started in 2012.  More repairs and plans for the bag here.  I’ve scanned most of the manual here.  See end of life note near end of this post. —————————————————- It’s … Continue reading →

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Sweep first

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Jim

I’ve been drinking Instant Breakfast (for breakfast) for I dunno – 20 years? – and have always used a favorite old glass.  Today while I was washing it, it popped out of my hands, fell on the floor and broke. … Continue reading →

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Furnace repair

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Jim

The furnace failed to fire up the other day when I tried it for the first time this season.  I learned a fair amount about its components and how they work as I tried to figure out what was wrong … Continue reading →

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