Comment by Matthew Bourque on Can I safely deal with an open ground...
I think that I can check whether the boxes are grounded by using a multimeter to look for a potential between receptacle hot and the box. Is that right?
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Why don't bookshelves come with wall mounting...
@J... Your point about cost is a good one which I should have mentioned. I suppose there are many coniderations invisible to the consumer which would factor in to Ikea's decision to include mounting...
View ArticleAnswer by Matthew Bourque for Is there a way to rejuvenate an old bottle of...
You are out of luck. Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane glue. Like most modern glues, it cures chemically rather than drying out or setting by cooling. Unfortunately, yours has cured in the bottle.Other...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Preparing a wallpapered room for paint
@AdamO Especially if you have had a negative test for lead, you might want to choose some alternative to TSP. I imagine there are lots of detergents that would work well. I would suggest covering the...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Why can I not use this primer under glossy paint?
There's not really a question here. It reads more like a complaint, which I get. It is frustrating to buy a product and then realize it won't work for your application. However, I think you should...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Adding a pull chain switch to existing circuit
Work carefully! Especially where it would have been heated by the ceiling fixture, that old insulation can be quite fragile. I've learned by experience on my own old wiring.
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on What is the name of this electric circuit?
I keep staring at the diagram, and it really looks to me like this won't function as I would expect for a three way switch. It looks the light is on when the switch on the left is in the down position...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on How to visualize air circulation between rooms?
I once discovered another more minor danger of dry ice. If you use it in a cooler with vegetables, like say for snacks for a long car trip, you can end up carbonating the water in the veggies. They...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on What should I do if I overheated my drill motor...
@Ecnerwal I hope that you mean "Nope, you didn't cause serious harm" but I fear you mean "Nope, there's nothing you can do."
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Is 3/4" limestone without fines sufficiently...
@dandavis Thanks! How do I "over-handle" the gravel? I expect it will get dropped at one spot on my property and I'll have to wheelbarrow it over to the patio site. Could that be done in an...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on How can I remove 16GA finish nails from...
End nippers work great for this. If you have some that are a bit dull, even better.
View ArticleAnswer by Matthew Bourque for Should I rewire my house?
If the conduit is all installed correctly and in good shape, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it serving as the ground path. This kind of installation is in fact required in Chicago and...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on How can I secure under counter sink studs to an...
I wonder if there might be an "XY problem" here. I think you are asking about how to clamp wooden blocks to the granite, but unless you are very sure that that is the way to go, maybe you should ask...
View Article--- Article Not Found! ---
*** *** *** RSSing Note: Article is missing! We don't know where we put it!!. *** ***
View Article--- Article Not Found! ---
*** *** *** RSSing Note: Article is missing! We don't know where we put it!!. *** ***
View ArticleAnswer by Matthew Bourque for How can make diagonal cuts across boards with...
Making cuts like this with a handsaw is a skill, but not a super-hard one. I'd try searching for some online videos of "How to cut along a line with a handsaw" or similar to get an idea of the...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on How can I cut 1/8 inch hardboard without power...
This may be a US/UK thing. "Panel saw" in this answer means a handsaw with no backing spine. I (and other US folks?) usually think of a panel saw as a big frame holding a circular saw, used for...
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Building a pergola against a garage - can I...
Thanks, all. Those are helpful comments. @Mazura: my answer is "neither" which fear is the most shameful answer from a Chicago perspective. I'm a transplant and have never developed local fanhood.
View ArticleComment by Matthew Bourque on Melted electrical outlet
I notice you don't mention ever turning the main breaker back on. Probably you did that and didn't mention it, but just in case: if you turn off the breaker for the circuit with this receptacle as the...
View Article
