DIY help...

On the suggestion of Just_jimmy who had the great idea of a thread for DIY help, so here we go...

Personally I'm a pretty big DIY'er with something always going on.

Currently fitting out a media room with acoustics and removing an oven (from a campervan) to replace it with a custom made cupboard. The latter is proving to be a huge pain in the ass although I am waiting for a 35mm jig to arrive today to help the drilling of the hinge bits 😃

I've also got a garden business so hopefully I can help with any garden questions 💪

When I fit my bathroom, she was adamant that she wanted this wooden bath panel. So now it’s, unsurprisingly, got a few wee cracks in it. The wood isn’t swollen yet, but I’m not sure the best way to attack it?

It's nothing I've done before but I would have assumed that the manufacturer would have used marine ply or treated it with something water resistant. Maybe best just to replace it?

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Originally Posted by Wembley67

On the suggestion of Just_jimmy who had the great idea of a thread for DIY help, so here we go...

Personally I'm a pretty big DIY'er with something always going on.

Currently fitting out a media room with acoustics and removing an oven (from a campervan) to replace it with a custom made cupboard. The latter is proving to be a huge pain in the ass although I am waiting for a 35mm jig to arrive today to help the drilling of the hinge bits 😃

I've also got a garden business so hopefully I can help with any garden questions 💪

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:thumbsup: beat me to it mate.

I'm excited for grass season, love my lawncare stuff.

Got big plans for the year, will be back for advice when I inevitably make a cock up!

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Originally Posted by Wembley67

It's nothing I've done before but I would have assumed that the manufacturer would have used marine ply or treated it with something water resistant. Maybe best just to replace it?

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The easiest fix of the actual bath panel is definitely changing it out, but to do that I have to unplumb the sink and move that unit out the way too, which is a hassle.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

:thumbsup: beat me to it mate.

I'm excited for grass season, love my lawncare stuff.

Got big plans for the year, will be back for advice when I inevitably make a cock up!

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Someone on here a few years ago had an ambition to lay a new lawn to bowling green standards.

If you're still here, how did you get on?


I've reached a time of life where its now just wee maintenance jobs rather than projects.

I've got a problem at the moment with the extractor fan in the bathroom. It's making a bit more noise than it should. I took the cover off yesterday and gave it a good clean, a wee spray of WD40, but couldn't get much further into the workings of it. It's still rattling a bit.

Can I take it further apart or is this a replacement job?

Any thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Jones28

:thumbsup: beat me to it mate.

I'm excited for grass season, love my lawncare stuff.

Got big plans for the year, will be back for advice when I inevitably make a cock up!

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Love a bit lawn p0rn. My TikTok feed is full of seasonal lawn care.
Invested quite a bit of time & money last year with a few bulk bags of enriched top soil to dress the lawn along with a shed load of horticultural sand to help with drainage.
The garden I've inherited is quite heavy/clay so I've also had to invest in decent grass seed suitable for wet areas such as red fescue & ryegrass.
I'll be starting again in about 4 weeks, taking plugs out the ground with a hollow tine aerator to allow oxygen in to the roots. Then it'll be a scalping(temperature dependant), a scarify & rake followed by a good seed & feed for the new season.
I've clearly got too much time on my hands but there's nothing better than a healthy lawn that needs cut twice a week in the summer followed by a well deserved cold beer as you sit back and admire your work!

Don't be caught out with the 'fake' spring Speedy. So many folk as me to come out and start lawn repair in March and every single time I'll turn it down.

Generally we have a warm weekend and we think yeah here we go!!! Then inevitably a heavy frost comes or even worse snow that can cause serious damage to your lawn especially if it's been scarified or aearated!

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Originally Posted by Wembley67

Don't be caught out with the 'fake' spring Speedy. So many folk as me to come out and start lawn repair in March and every single time I'll turn it down.

Generally we have a warm weekend and we think yeah here we go!!! Then inevitably a heavy frost comes or even worse snow that can cause serious damage to your lawn especially if it's been scarified or aearated!

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It's only my 4th year at this house and its taken me the past 3 years to bring the lawn back to something half decent, and I've learned loads on the way (I even tweeted Hibs new groundsman for tips).
To be fair, I usually don't scalp and scarify until April. I certainly couldn't last year as the ground was absolutely sodden and my scarifier would have turned the lawn in to something akin to a tattie field!
I'll still aim to take plugs out the ground and fill with sand. Hard graft but worth it.

As an ex joiner, I am pretty handy and can turn my hand to most jobs. My biggest problem is my addiction to buying new tools. 😀
I always like to buy quality rather than cheap so it’s an expensive hobby. Even as an apprentice many years ago I always saved to by the best there was on the market. Admittedly when I see joiners working now, if it hasn’t got a battery they don’t use it but I love my traditional hand tools.

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Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

As an ex joiner, I am pretty handy and can turn my hand to most jobs. My biggest problem is my addiction to buying new tools. ��
I always like to buy quality rather than cheap so it’s an expensive hobby. Even as an apprentice many years ago I always saved to by the best there was on the market. Admittedly when I see joiners working now, if it hasn’t got a battery they don’t use it but I love my traditional hand tools.

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I will be leaning heavily on you for advice then :)

I totally get the tool thing. I thought my tools were pretty decent then I inherited a whole bunch of Festool stuff from my late father and WOW, this stuff is good. Table saw, chop saw, mitre you name it I now have them in my possession. I honestly do not thing I'll have to buy another power tool again in my life!

If anyone wants anything made out of wood let me now, it may look crap but it's fun doing it :na na:

It got me thinking about classic handtools and I also inherited a yankee screwdriver, I remember my old boy always keeping it way out of reach for little hands and now I know why. That thing is bloody lethal!!

When you buy grass seed on the box or bag it should stipulate what is contained in the mixture - it will almost always be a mixture.

Don’t buy grass seed that contains “lolium westerwoldicum” or “lolium multiflorum”, these are short term species that will die off after a year or two.

I know the likes of BM bargains etc buy this from wholesalers as it’s very cheap, but you’ll need to do it all again in a year or two!

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Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales

Love a bit lawn p0rn. My TikTok feed is full of seasonal lawn care.
Invested quite a bit of time & money last year with a few bulk bags of enriched top soil to dress the lawn along with a shed load of horticultural sand to help with drainage.
The garden I've inherited is quite heavy/clay so I've also had to invest in decent grass seed suitable for wet areas such as red fescue & ryegrass.
I'll be starting again in about 4 weeks, taking plugs out the ground with a hollow tine aerator to allow oxygen in to the roots. Then it'll be a scalping(temperature dependant), a scarify & rake followed by a good seed & feed for the new season.
I've clearly got too much time on my hands but there's nothing better than a healthy lawn that needs cut twice a week in the summer followed by a well deserved cold beer as you sit back and admire your work!

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Nothing better eh? Especially on a Friday night in the summer.

My lawn is looking pretty sorry for itself but I’m optimistic for the year. I got a cylinder lawn mower last year that has a scarifying cartridge, can wait to break that out.

Anyone know anything about servicing petrol mowers? Are parts pretty generic?

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Originally Posted by Wembley67

It's nothing I've done before but I would have assumed that the manufacturer would have used marine ply or treated it with something water resistant. Maybe best just to replace it?

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Unfortunately not, most are made from MDF with a plastic veneer on them. MDF & water don't go.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Anyone know anything about servicing petrol mowers? Are parts pretty generic?

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I'm no mechanic, but I only use premium petrol (97 ron) as the new E10 (standard unleaded) has a habit of absorbing water (because of the ethanol) which rots the fuel lines, a problem with mowers and chainsaw when they sit idle for a few months of the year.
Even then, I drain fuel and oil and always clean the spark plug from any carbonisation at the end of every gardening "season".

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Originally Posted by Itsnoteasy

Unfortunately not, most are made from MDF with a plastic veneer on them. MDF & water don't go.

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Absolutely

I can put a thin coat of silicone over the wee cracks but it’s just coming off after a week or so.

There must be a water proof varnish or something that will adhere and can be painted on.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Anyone know anything about servicing petrol mowers? Are parts pretty generic?

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Fixed a few petrol mowers in my time, as already stated it’s usually a gummed up carburettor that’s the problem, they are fairly simple things to clean and also cheap to replace. You’ll pick up a generic Chinese copy for £10-£15 off eBay.

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Originally Posted by Wembley67

On the suggestion of Just_jimmy who had the great idea of a thread for DIY help, so here we go...

Personally I'm a pretty big DIY'er with something always going on.

Currently fitting out a media room with acoustics and removing an oven (from a campervan) to replace it with a custom made cupboard. The latter is proving to be a huge pain in the ass although I am waiting for a 35mm jig to arrive today to help the drilling of the hinge bits 😃

I've also got a garden business so hopefully I can help with any garden questions 💪

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Hope you've got a tracker in your camper. A friend had they're conversion that they had built stolen not that long ago. Gutting for them considering the hours they'd put in converting it

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Originally Posted by Fuzzywuzzy

Hope you've got a tracker in your camper. A friend had they're conversion that they had built stolen not that long ago. Gutting for them considering the hours they'd put in converting it

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It was one of the first things I fitted. It's a crying shame that anything you work hard for can disappear in a blink of an eye :boo hoo:

Anyone ever refurbed a pool table?

I took a leisurely meander down to Hull yesterday to pick up a 7ft by 4ft table that has spent a long time outside.

There’s a lot of wet wood, any thoughts on how long this will take to dry out?

The slate is a single piece and has a crack which can be repaired.

Planning to do everything ourselves, woodworking to re-felting.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Anyone ever refurbed a pool table?

I took a leisurely meander down to Hull yesterday to pick up a 7ft by 4ft table that has spent a long time outside.

There’s a lot of wet wood, any thoughts on how long this will take to dry out?

The slate is a single piece and has a crack which can be repaired.

Planning to do everything ourselves, woodworking to re-felting.

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Scouse Hibee may be able to give some advice

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Anyone ever refurbed a pool table?

I took a leisurely meander down to Hull yesterday to pick up a 7ft by 4ft table that has spent a long time outside.

There’s a lot of wet wood, any thoughts on how long this will take to dry out?

The slate is a single piece and has a crack which can be repaired.

Planning to do everything ourselves, woodworking to re-felting.

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Just read this. Will happily offer any advice I can. I was a billiard table fitter for several years and also worked on many different types of pool tables in that time. What type of pool table is it, a coin operated type with internal ball runs or a table with net pockets and ball rails? Also interested to hear how badly the slate is cracked? Are the rubbers on the cushions perished, and just how wet did it get?

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Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

Just read this. Will happily offer any advice I can. I was a billiard table fitter for several years and also worked on many different types of pool tables in that time. What type of pool table is it, a coin operated type with internal ball runs or a table with net pockets and ball rails? Also interested to hear how badly the slate is cracked? Are the rubbers on the cushions perished, and just how wet did it get?

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Ah Scouse, just the guy I need! Thanks for getting back to me.

Table is pockets with ball rails.

No manufacturer information on the table, I think it's been modified a few times in it's life. We stripped the felt off last night, the crack in the slate is the full width of the table - the slate is a large single piece so it was heavy. It looks like it has previously been repaired at a corner. The crack will need patched - what would you advise?

The rubbers are ok - very responsive when you play a ball off them.

It has been left outside for I would estimate at least a year, probably longer if the build up of green crap on the felt is anything to go by - it's for my garage so didn't want to spend heaps of money on it to buy.

Last night we took all the felt off the table and plan to strip the felt off the cushions in the next week or so.

Then we're going to leave the wood exposed to help it dry out and replace any pieces that are beyond repair. The actual wood on the important bits of the table looks fine, it's still got varnish on it so it has had some protection.

We're planning to re-cover everything ourselves and have a table we can play on - not looking for particularly high standards!

I can send you some pictures on Whatsapp or something if that would be helpful?

Cheers.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Ah Scouse, just the guy I need! Thanks for getting back to me.

Table is pockets with ball rails.

No manufacturer information on the table, I think it's been modified a few times in it's life. We stripped the felt off last night, the crack in the slate is the full width of the table - the slate is a large single piece so it was heavy. It looks like it has previously been repaired at a corner. The crack will need patched - what would you advise?

The rubbers are ok - very responsive when you play a ball off them.

It has been left outside for I would estimate at least a year, probably longer if the build up of green crap on the felt is anything to go by - it's for my garage so didn't want to spend heaps of money on it to buy.

Last night we took all the felt off the table and plan to strip the felt off the cushions in the next week or so.

Then we're going to leave the wood exposed to help it dry out and replace any pieces that are beyond repair. The actual wood on the important bits of the table looks fine, it's still got varnish on it so it has had some protection.

We're planning to re-cover everything ourselves and have a table we can play on - not looking for particularly high standards!

I can send you some pictures on Whatsapp or something if that would be helpful?

Cheers.

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Have sent you a PM to WhatsApp me.

How do I get a sticky glue solvent of a window.

That’s my worry :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by silverhibee

how do i get a sticky glue solvent of a window.

That’s my worry :thumbsup:

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wd 40

Massive shout for Scouse - has offered me excellent advice and offered his input throughout - top man :aok:

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Massive shout for Scouse - has offered me excellent advice and offered his input throughout - top man :aok:

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Reading the post above, I was worried you'd send loads of photos and details and just get a reply of "wd 40"

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Originally Posted by silverhibee

How do I get a sticky glue solvent of a window.

That’s my worry :thumbsup:

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Get a Wife 🫣

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Originally Posted by silverhibee

How do I get a sticky glue solvent of a window.

That’s my worry [emoji106]

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WD40.

Or try a little bit of cooking oil on a bit kitchen roll - this is a brilliant method to get sticky labels off your new golf clubs.
Tell your wives to let you buy new clubs to test it [emoji6]

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