The "Official" Fusebox Thread

[FN Phat]

In an effort to keep all things DIY, home improvement, gardening, mechanics, etc. in one place, I propose this to be the one stop shop for it all. We have a valuable assortment of people and experience at CUF (kccoug, drunk tank, Surfah, Space Ghost, Katy Lied, creekster, Pellegringo, Brian, HFN and many more) that we can rely on. With today's economy, buying a new home may not be the answer. It is time to remodel, build additions, or simply improve.

I will also be posting links to other threads that have been started.

Crack in Foundation: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=17192

Strike plate: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=17319

Power tools: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=17201

Stair treads: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=16880

In wall ironing board: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=16129

Garage Project: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=16037

Home improvement project ideas: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=15227

Island and built-ins (My personal favorite): http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...ht=brian+built

Generators and how-to feed power to home: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...ight=generator

Please add links to threads that may be missed.

[TripletDaddy]

Even though I am the last person that should be doing this, I would ask for the mods to reconsider adding a new forum for this topic. It seems that the market has shown an interest and there are enough users to justify its existence.

We have a lot of people that have a talent for home improvement and it has been a recurring topic of discussion. Why not give it a try?

Think of it as an amendment to the Constitution...not commonplace, but certainly not prohibited.

[LiveCoug]

Dang... I was too late.

[TripletDaddy]

There is a gardening thread out there, which I would think definitely qualifies as DIY/Home Improvement.

Also, I think I made a post announcing that I purchased a shop vac. Can we please link that post here too?

[FN Phat]

I remember a gardening thread by Robin and wuap. Please provide any and all links.

[FN Phat]

Here are a few pics of my fireplace surround and mantle that my FIL and I completed right before Christmas. My wife made me promise her that she would have a mantle to hang the stockings from and she got it a week before X-Mas!

Before:
FP before.jpg

LR before.jpg

After:
FP after.jpg

LR after.jpg

[FN Phat]

Even though I am the last person that should be doing this, I would ask for the mods to reconsider adding a new forum for this topic. It seems that the market has shown an interest and there are enough users to justify its existence.
We have a lot of people that have a talent for home improvement and it has been a recurring topic of discussion. Why not give it a try?

Think of it as an amendment to the Constitution...not commonplace, but certainly not prohibited.

I am hoping that this thread might show a true need for such a forum.

[TripletDaddy]

I was wrong...it was an entire THREAD!

Yeah, baby! TripletDaddy, hanging out in The Fusebox!

Shop Vacs: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=7525

[wuapinmon]

So, let's say you have a property in a former swamp area, and the back edge of your property goes from the tail end of a slope of about 4,000 feet (about a 3% grade) to flat where your house sits (raised construction). And, let's say in about 1965 the former owners dug a ditch at the point where the slope ends, and ran it out to the city storm sewer, so that your back yard drains all of the water coming off the slope properly.

Now, let's say that no one has done any maintenance on this ditch in about 30 years, and water now pools in it, badly, after a torrential downpour.

What process would a fellow have to go through in order to dig the ditch anew with a proper plumb so that it drained correctly?

Basically, what I'm asking is:

1. Do I need to get an engineer or surveyor out here to look at it?
2. If I dig it myself, how do I know that I'm keeping the slope true to drain?
3. If I have a pallet of bricks that I got for free, would lining it with landscaping cover with bricks on top be a good move?
4. Is this the kind of thing that's easier to do with machinery?
5. Should I let a professional do this if I have zero experience?
6. Should I line it with anything? Grass grows in it, and I have to line trim it constantly.

[FMCoug]

So, let's say you have a property in a former swamp area, and the back edge of your property goes from the tail end of a slope of about 4,000 feet (about a 3% grade) to flat where your house sits (raised construction). And, let's say in about 1965 the former owners dug a ditch at the point where the slope ends, and ran it out to the city storm sewer, so that your back yard drains all of the water coming off the slope properly.

Now, let's say that no one has done any maintenance on this ditch in about 30 years, and water now pools in it, badly, after a torrential downpour.

What process would a fellow have to go through in order to dig the ditch anew with a proper plumb so that it drained correctly?

Basically, what I'm asking is:

1. Do I need to get an engineer or surveyor out here to look at it?
2. If I dig it myself, how do I know that I'm keeping the slope true to drain?
3. If I have a pallet of bricks that I got for free, would lining it with landscaping cover with bricks on top be a good move?
4. Is this the kind of thing that's easier to do with machinery?
5. Should I let a professional do this if I have zero experience?
6. Should I line it with anything? Grass grows in it, and I have to line trim it constantly.

1. If you don't have a recent survery it would be a good idea if it's right at the property line or close.
2. This is the kind of thing an experienced excavation contractor could do very easily and I would spend forever getting right. I know you can usually rent surverying tools (i.e. a transit) so you could probably figure it out.
3. I would not do this myself.
4. Definitely.
5. Depends on your DIY ambition. I'd likely hire this done.
6. I'd leave grass.

[FMCoug]

Replacing a muffler

I have an old Chevy Blazer I picked up that has an aftermarket "cherry bomb" muffler on it. The noise drives me crazy and I'd like to replace it with stock. My thinking is that since it's already aftermarket, it's likely already bolted on vs. welded. I'm not an auto mechanic by any stretch so for those who are, is this a reasonable project to take on myself? I can pick up an OEM muffler for about $90 and I called around and muffler shops want like $300 for the job so it would seem to be worth a Saturday.

[RobinFinderson]

So, let's say you have a property in a former swamp area, and the back edge of your property goes from the tail end of a slope of about 4,000 feet (about a 3% grade) to flat where your house sits (raised construction). And, let's say in about 1965 the former owners dug a ditch at the point where the slope ends, and ran it out to the city storm sewer, so that your back yard drains all of the water coming off the slope properly.

Now, let's say that no one has done any maintenance on this ditch in about 30 years, and water now pools in it, badly, after a torrential downpour.

What process would a fellow have to go through in order to dig the ditch anew with a proper plumb so that it drained correctly?

Basically, what I'm asking is:

1. Do I need to get an engineer or surveyor out here to look at it?
2. If I dig it myself, how do I know that I'm keeping the slope true to drain?
3. If I have a pallet of bricks that I got for free, would lining it with landscaping cover with bricks on top be a good move?
4. Is this the kind of thing that's easier to do with machinery?
5. Should I let a professional do this if I have zero experience?
6. Should I line it with anything? Grass grows in it, and I have to line trim it constantly.

Wuap, you only need 2% grade to get water flowing. That is a drop of 2' in a 100' run. It doesn't have to be perfect, so if you think you can rough out a minimum 2% grade, you will get your drainage, and you can do this yourself.

The next step is to ensure that the drainage will continue to perform forever. For this you will need gravel, vegetation barrier, and drainage pipe, all sold at Home Depot and Lowes. Drainage pipe is 4" or 6" PVC with holes drilled on one side of it. Run a swath of vegi-barrier down down the ditch, and put a thin layer of gravel over the top to hold it down. Lay your pipe over the gravel, with the holes facing down. Now cover the pipe with more gravel and voila! you have a drainage ditch that will last the ages.

p.s.: You will need to cement the lengths of PVC together to get the right length, and you will need to cap the top side, so crap doesn't get into it.

[FN Phat]

Replacing a muffler

I have an old Chevy Blazer I picked up that has an aftermarket "cherry bomb" muffler on it. The noise drives me crazy and I'd like to replace it with stock. My thinking is that since it's already aftermarket, it's likely already bolted on vs. welded. I'm not an auto mechanic by any stretch so for those who are, is this a reasonable project to take on myself? I can pick up an OEM muffler for about $90 and I called around and muffler shops want like $300 for the job so it would seem to be worth a Saturday.

Most likely it is simply bolted on with a few "U" clamps. Very easy to take off and just as easy to bolt on a new one. If it is on an old clunker, don't pay to get it welded on. A few gaskets and clamps and you will be well on your way.

[FN Phat]

Wuap, you only need 2% grade to get water flowing. That is a drop of 2' in a 100' run. It doesn't have to be perfect, so if you think you can rough out a minimum 2% grade, you will get your drainage, and you can do this yourself.

The next step is to ensure that the drainage will continue to perform forever. For this you will need gravel, vegetation barrier, and drainage pipe, all sold at Home Depot and Lowes. Drainage pipe is 4" or 6" PVC with holes drilled on one side of it. Run a swath of vegi-barrier down down the ditch, and put a thin layer of gravel over the top to hold it down. Lay your pipe over the gravel, with the holes facing down. Now cover the pipe with more gravel and voila! you have a drainage ditch that will last the ages.

p.s.: You will need to cement the lengths of PVC together to get the right length, and you will need to cap the top side, so crap doesn't get into it.

Great suggestion. I would add that you would be well ahead of the game by renting a small peice of equipment to aid in the project. Depending on the size of the project it will speed the time of install and spare your back from unnecessary pain.

[Surfah]

Great suggestion. I would add that you would be well ahead of the game by renting a small peice of equipment to aid in the project. Depending on the size of the project it will speed the time of install and spare your back from unnecessary pain.

If I did this myself there is no way in hell I'd be working a shovel for that distance. I'd be visiting the equipment rental store for sure.