Do It Yourself

Since I retired from the industry, I gradually bought several pieces of bench tools to help me working in the garage and also for my hobby of fixing things. After a few years, I found that I sort of run out of my space in the garage. A long bench table accommodates Ryobi Band Saw, Table Saw, Miter Saw and other tools like Ryobi Bench Grinder, Circular Saw, ... etc. Most of them are very useful. However, I found that most of the time I use Miter Saw for handy job and Table Saw for heavy duty project. Every once in a while, I used Band Saw. Band Saw is handy and light, but it is hard to keep the cut line straight. Lately I just found some work ideally for Band Saw.

Vacuum Cleaner is found in almost every household, especially if you have some carpet or rug to clean. Some Vacuum Cleaner is a heavy-duty type and heavy to handle for women. Since several years ago, I started using ORECK, and Chris likes it. It is light and easy. However, every once in a while we need to change or replace the dust bag. The first ORECK I used has a different design than the one I use now even though the bags are almost the same. What is the difference? It is the extra two holes on the bag for the new one. Now the new ORECK can't hole the old bag as the bag can't be snapped on the back of the cleaner. I think it is a stupid design Oreck did in the modification. I still have several old bags that I need to work on to fit it on the new cleaner. As a matter of fact, I did also order some new bags (white color) several years ago and forgot about it. I did take a quick look but not in detail to sense it will work on the new cleaner. So I went on to use the current bag and dumped out all the dust, a very tedious and filthy procedure. Anyway, Chris can't wait and used another cleaner to do the job. Meanwhile I spent half hour to punch holes and measured them in details. I finished two bags and they work and I figure at least it is going to do the job for a few months at least. Later on that day, I reviewed the whole thing while I lay on my bed. Usually this is the best time in retrospect and almost the best time to come up with some new or creative idea. I decided to use my Bend Saw I bought long time ago and now sits on the bench in my garage. One day later, after I finishing up my tennis exercise, I came back to water the lawn and put my thought on the work. It took me only 15 minutes to mark and cut the shape I like on the bags. Now there are about eight bags, finished and look clean and nice, ready for the work. I am very happy that I accomplished something very meaningful and useful in daily life. 

This was a Saturday morning, I sat on my cozy beach chair in the backyard, looked at the sky and meditated and suddenly found a spot on the yard which was wet. I immediately noticed that it was the spot of the sprinkler head which I capped long time ago. I was very sure that the same spot got some problem. I dug it out and saw the little leak with water that I could feel with my fingers. This should not be a big task, I use plier to open the cap and use Teflon tape to fix it. I tried twice and turned on the faucet. Alas, it still leaked as that before. I changed the part and used a new adapter and still got the same without success. Suddenly I remember the good old Tite-Seal, Gasket & Joint Sealing Compound. It is a good old tin-can I used sometime for the backup.  I fetched it and tried it as usual. Viola, it was perfect when I turned on the faucet and timer. It is so nice to see it work without the leak. The Tite-Seal works perfectly without any extra tightening process. I am amazed and would like to use it from now on as the first choice, not a backup agent. As to the Teflon tapes, I forget them from now on.

Sometime ago, I found some of my speakers lost their crisp and clean performance. I opened the lid, took a look and found the speaker cone simply detached from the box and hang freely on the air without good support. I went to Amazon website to find new idea. I did get some --- Speaker 8, 10, 12 and 15 inch cone repair kit for the new mount support. It is a foam edge repair replacement kit I found in Amazon. If you are a hi-fi audiophile, you tend to buy some 10 to 15 inch speaker to stress on the bass effect. However, when time goes by, you have played Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and turned on big volume on the speaker. To your surprise, you find that the cone got off the frame and your hi-fi is gone. I got rid of two sets of 15" speakers this way more than 10 years ago. However, after I found this foam repair kit, I bought and tried them a few time and I restored my speakers to their top form within no time. I am so happy that not only I save money, but also feel a lot of accomplishment in the process of doing it.

I used to visit hardware store very often while I worked in the industry. Since about five years ago, I seldom visit Home Depot and Orchard Supply as I get most of the tools and parts I need already in my garage. I have to mention Amazon here as sometime I just locate the exact part and order them directly.  The part is delivered directly to my front door.