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1500 questions
66
votes
11 answers
If metal expands when heated, how does heating a bolt loosen it?
If you're having trouble removing a stuck bolt, common advice is to heat the bolt up. But if metal expands when heated, wouldn't heating up the bolt just make it harder to remove? How does heating the bolt get it unstuck?
Tester101
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64
votes
7 answers
Can Romex (NM-B) cable be run through conduit?
A few days ago I asked an electrician if I could run cable through conduit - he gave me a funny look and said "No, Romex is not allowed in conduit."
When I searched online, there seems to be a wide belief that Romex cannot be run through conduit,…
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
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64
votes
14 answers
Should I set fence posts in dirt, gravel, crushed rock, or concrete?
I have received conflicting advice about how to set wooden fence posts.
Many web sites suggest setting them in a concrete cylinder.
Someone at the local hardware store had seen posts set in concrete rot and break because water seeps in along the…
Vebjorn Ljosa
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62
votes
11 answers
Is there a trick to applying caulk using a caulk-gun?
Perhaps it is just me, but no matter how careful I try to be, any attempt to apply caulk or cement or anything with a caulking gun into a crack results in total mess.
The main problems that seem to be causing this are:
1: The caulk doesn't "stick…
JohnFx
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61
votes
11 answers
When I turn down the dimmer switch on my lights, do I actually use less electricity?
My wife and I have several lights on dimmer switches throughout our home. We generally prefer the ambient lighting provided by dimmed lights. I am curious, though, if we are saving any electricity by dimming the lights. I feel like I read somewhere…
ahsteele
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59
votes
14 answers
How to avoid stripping screw heads?
In at least two different contexts now (installing shower handrails, installing gate on fence) I've found myself stripping the head of the screw beyond all use. I must be doing something wrong, so what is it?
The screws I'm driving are two or three…
Paul Price
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55
votes
77 answers
What are the tools that every Do-it-Yourselfer must own?
What are the tools that every DIY'er should have? This is a community wiki as there is no one right answer.
Instructions:
One item per answer (so they can be voted on - answers with multiple items will be voted down)
Clear formatting like…
Mike Sherov
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55
votes
2 answers
What is the purpose of this Y shaped bit?
I have bought a bits set and there is this bit:
It is a Y shaped bit, and there is a groove on the inside of the branches. The angle is approximatively 90˚ (a little more).
alecail
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55
votes
1 answer
Half my power out, but firing up an appliance turns it back on
Hoping for some much needed help.
The other day my lights flickered and half the power and outlets went out in my home. They have gone and off periodically since then, spontaneously shutting off at times with nothing “triggering” it. My electrician…
Jimmy Vincent
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54
votes
5 answers
When pre-drilling for screws, how do you determine the correct bit diameter?
Suppose I want to pre-drill for, say, a 5/16 screw. How do I determine the correct drill bit diameter?
ageektrapped
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54
votes
5 answers
How can I fix electrical outlets that don't "hold" plugs that are plugged in to them?
In short, most of the outlets in my house have one working receptacle and one that any cord plugged in will immediately slip out of. Some of my outlets don't have any working receptacles (I hope I'm using the right terminology here).
Is there any…
Chris Sobolewski
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53
votes
10 answers
Which way is up? (electric outlet)
My house has electric outlets in both orientations. Which one is correct? Should the ground hole be at the bottom or the top?
OR
Jeremy Stein
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53
votes
8 answers
When would one use an impact driver versus a regular drill?
Or vice-versa. As best as I can tell, the impact driver is very good for most any type of screw going through wood. When would you use a drill (with screw bit) instead?
Matt
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51
votes
12 answers
What are insulated screwdrivers for if you’re not supposed to work on a live circuit?
It’s not just that I’ve been told by some people to never work on a live circuit as an amateur (I know that electricians often do work on live circuits)... but the package itself containing the insulated screwdrivers says to never work on a live…
Josh Withee
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50
votes
12 answers
How can I remove a lemon from a toilet drain?
My little boy flushed a whole lemon down the toilet. It is stuck. What can I use to remove the lemon?
Kristin Westrup
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