Although we know that the professionally installed ducting in our houses, like the heating ducts, are all made out of formed sheet metal, when we install ducts ourselves we tend to use the convenient flex ducting. A straight sheet metal duct and a straight flex duct of the same size will not mov...
Professional sheet metal workers can make long straight bends in sheet metal by the use of a machine called a 'break'. One part of the machine clamps down on the sheet while the second lifts the rest of the sheet up to some angle. A home made break can be as simple as a 2x4 clamped down over th...
Dan from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland has seen us place magnets around the hole where we were drilling to trap the metal shavings. He suggests using speaker magnets because they are round doughnut shaped.Great idea Dan, except that all the new speakers we had didn't have those magnets any more, and...
We all know copper piping, both rigid and flexible. We have talked in this database about the very reliable quality PEX (Cross Linked Polyethylene) piping that is now being used for both hot and cold water installations, as well as for in-floor radiant heating. So what is Pex-Al-Pex piping?This...
Many years ago when I was active in my cabinet shop I had a place where I could purchase Stainless Steel Wool. This was the best stuff for finishing off oak between coats of finish because if little pieces got caught in the pores of the wood and I failed to get them out, they would not eventuall...
Viewers have asked me to list the pros and cons of acrylic and metal bathtubs, so here goes.The big old cast iron tubs are probably the most durable tubs you can buy. However, if you don't want it as a stand alone tub, that rolled rim on the top makes it very difficult to frame into a bathroom a...
We get a lot of tips from our TV viewers and web visitors. Here are a couple for cleaning metal around the house.Ketchup cleans Copper. Really. There is acid in the tomatoes that just shines up that copper.Limes cleans Brass. Actually Ketchup and Lime both work because of the natural acids.To...
Jim from London, Ontario writes: "I have a 30 year old home and the metal gutters have never been replaced. Certain sections seem to have rusted through and have developed pin to dime size holes that leak. I have tried to patch them but nothing seems to stop these small holes from re-occurring....
In this TV segment we followed a sound proofing specialist through a home, testing it for problems, and indicating some solutions. Elsewhere in this database you will find more through discussions on soundproofing various parts of your house.The photo shows the use of Z-bars or resilient bars on...
Drilling into metal requires a few little working tricks.First you need to punch a starting point if you don't want the drill to wander all over your work. On the right you will see the slightly pointed centre punch, made specifically for denting into metal. On the left is a "pin punch" made...
