Questions tagged [hardware]
Hacks related to ironmongery, tools, machinery etc. Not for technological hardware.
65
questions
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What Allan key do I use to loosen this 12.9 HDW nut?
This is a photo of the nut, it's a hexagonal nut and I have an Allan key set but don't know which one to use to loosen this.
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
528
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How can I clean under a treadmill belt?
I've owned a NordicTrack Exp 1000X treadmill for about 20 years and have never done the recommended maintenance, including belt lubrication. Now it's starting to squeal, so I'm hoping that better-late-...
- 151
1
vote
3
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334
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How stop my drill bits from rusting?
My large collection of drill bits were found beneath an unfortunate leak in the garage. Some of them are beginning to rust along with my collection of screws and nails. Effective rust removal / ...
1
vote
1
answer
114
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Is it safe to keep a plasma lighter in my bag? [closed]
So I have a bag where I store my laptop, headphones, swiss army knife and cables on the go, or just hang it around my door handle if I’m home and need something. I recently got a plasma lighter stick ...
- 19
1
vote
1
answer
258
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How can I pick an old Dexter brass privacy door handle with a sliding latch?
The lock is a couple of tabs that protrude from the door handle ring(part behind knob that is flush against door). You slide the tabs parallel to the floor to lock and unlock.
On the knob on the other ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
252
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How to conceal a mop outdoors to make it look aesthetically more pleasing?
I want to place a mop outside, but I don't want it to look like an eyesore.
How can one conceal a mop outdoors to make it look aesthetically more pleasing?
I would like the mop to take up as little ...
- 1,716
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Prevent Riding-Mower deck v-belt from slipping in tall or wet grass
My Yardman MTD riding mower has a deck with a belt that's engaged only when I want to start cutting grass. The deck belt loops around a number of pulleys, and sometimes slips when I go too quickly in ...
- 181
5
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2
answers
329
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Could I remove the back-light from an LCD screen and let sunlight illuminate it from behind?
I like to use my laptop outdoors, but it's often so bright outside that I can barely see my screen - even with the brightness turned all the way up. I've often wondered: What if opened a LCD screen ...
- 181
2
votes
4
answers
347
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What can I use to attach bulky things to my keyring?
I want to attach a flat little multitool, a little earplug canister, and a little LED light to my keyring, but their bulk means the keyring won't lie relatively flattish.
So I put these bulkier items ...
- 137
2
votes
3
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2k
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E-clip (temporary) alternative?
Does anyone know a trick to replace an e-clip while waiting for the shipment of a replacement?
An e-clip is a kind of circlip
An E-Clip is a kind of shaft mounted retaining ring, which provides a ...
- 177
3
votes
3
answers
909
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How to remove the the lip on pull top cans
I save food cans to be used to store things like screws, nails and other small parts on racks that I have built in my garage.
When using cans that have a conventional top that is opened with a can ...
- 375
4
votes
6
answers
260
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Shared tools always getting lost
I'm part of a small team of datacenter worker drones, and we're constantly wasting time hunting for tools because we can't find what we need.
In the case of some tools, I've just taken to buying ...
- 51
1
vote
3
answers
140
views
Cutting a screw while minimizing the damaging effect of vibration
I need to cut some screws (from M3 to M4) coming out of a LCD screen. What technique would you use to avoid damaging the device with vibration?
I was thinking of using a Dremel cutting wheel. Sawing ...
- 177
1
vote
2
answers
135
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Is there way to convert straight horizontal bar into angled one?
There are straight horizontal chin-up bars and ones with angled ends. Could we use something to convert conventional horizontal bar into 2nd type? May be attach something to the ends.
- 153
4
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3
answers
401
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Remove string from vintage caster wheels
Bits of thread - some longish - have gotten wound around the axles on my vintage roller chair wheels in my sewing room.
Now there is a wad of string on each side of each wheel axle and it can't be ...
- 41
2
votes
5
answers
484
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How to secure the drill bit to the tool body?
I have two pieces set of precision hand drill. One of them had the drill bit became loose and detached, which makes it no longer usable.
Product information (copy of text in English found on the ...
user27887
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Demagnetize a tool
I am trying to demagnetize this vise grips.
They became magnetized because of repeated times that small magnets on my work bench stuck to the vise grips.
I tried the method where you hit it with a ...
- 549
0
votes
2
answers
152
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Balance bench grinder weight distribution
This is my bench grinder on a piece of foam cushion that blocks around 70% of the vibration reaching the carpet.
Because of the weight difference between a grinding wheel and the brush wheel, it ...
- 549
0
votes
4
answers
277
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3rd and 4th hands
I looked at several craft stores, but found nothing suitable.
I do a lot of work that requires my using my 2 hands whilst needing an object to stay stationary.
I have these items along with plenty ...
- 549
4
votes
3
answers
2k
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How can I make a motor with a belt change directions?
*Note: I've included question and answer since this is a lifehack I stumbled across and thought it was worth sharing. :)
I work in agriculture. One of the things that we frequently do is moving ...
- 221
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3
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845
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DIY Grabber Pole
I am working on a Grabber Pole. I need a way to close the clamp from the other end of the pole.
The jaws stay locked when closed until released.
I thought of using a bike brake cable and maybe a ...
- 549
1
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4
answers
3k
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How to clean & prevent stickiness on hard plastic of mouse, in spite of no rubber coating
How to clean & prevent stickiness on hard plastic of mouse, in spite of no rubber coating
Product (originally available in white, now in blue only):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IX4GFMG/...
- 340
3
votes
2
answers
193
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How to clean a computer motherboard?
I was wondering how to clean a computer motherboard knowing that using conventional cleaning products is obviously prohibited.
What is the most effective and least dangerous way to remove dust?
- 565
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1
answer
823
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How to prevent an electric screwdriver from slipping when tightening/loosening a screw with a slotted drive?
I know that to use an electric screwdriver it's better to use a screw with a Philips or Torx drive, but sometimes you need to use or find yourself in situations where you need to work with a slotted ...
- 664
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3
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2k
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How can I mount my surge protector using these holes
I've had this surge protector since I was in high school. I looked at the bottom of the surge protector and noticed some holes which I assume are used to mount the surge protector to something.
There ...
- 113
2
votes
4
answers
148
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How to repair/mask/get rid of a sparkle on a floor tile
Recently a pile of plates fell on my kitchen floor. It chipped away a small piece of one of the kitchen floor tiles. That creates a small white sparkle while the tiles are gray. I would like to get ...
- 123
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3
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3k
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How can I mend the worn screws in my laptop?
I have a fairly recent laptop. It works really well, except that the screws in it keep dropping out. This must be because I have taken it apart to mend or upgrade it that many times, that the teeth ...
3
votes
2
answers
13k
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How to clean old sticky pc mouse with rubber coating?
I have an old Logitech MX510 mouse which is very sticky on the sides. How can I get rid of this stickiness?
- 181
0
votes
2
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348
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Cleaning the back of LCD screen
I was asked to repaire LCD screen and after doing so, I wanted to polish the screen so I used ACETONE to clean it, but when I tried the same on the back of the LCD, acetone dried and don't know how to ...
- 103
5
votes
3
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506
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Unscrewing a screw which have loose teeth
I am not sure whether it is the correct term. Let me explain.
I have a laptop that looks like this.
The bolt inside looks like this.
During repair, I tried to manually remove the screw using the ...
- 260
2
votes
5
answers
2k
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How can I grip a soldering iron close to the tip without burning my hand?
I would like to be a able to grip my soldering iron closer to the tip to have better control of what I'm soldering.
As asked, here is a picture of the soldering iron, it's an chinese TS100:
On ...
- 121
5
votes
8
answers
18k
views
How to remove the broken part of the tip inside of the stylus of Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1?
I have a Sony's Digital Paper DPT-RP1 and it's great. Unfortunately, Its stylus tip seems to be prone to breaking in halves, as documented in multiple forum posts, as well as the multiple answers to ...
- 197
2
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5
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3k
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Getting Tar Glue Off Tools and Pants
I had to use roof tar for some maintenance around the chimney area of my grandparents house last week.
I wasn't able to get the tar roof goo stuff off this hand trowel and it has a wooden handle with ...
- 221
5
votes
9
answers
60k
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How to repair silicone rubber?
I have a pump which parts are made up of silicone rubber, one of its part has been torned a bit, and I want to seal that crack. None of the adhesive work on it, they don't stick at all.
Can anyone ...
- 151
4
votes
5
answers
190k
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How to control phone while inside VR device without an action button [closed]
I bought a VR device that can hold your phone to give a VR experience, however I only discovered after I got home that I have no way of controlling anything while my phone is inside the VR device.
I ...
- 167
6
votes
7
answers
81k
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Remove oil build-up on the touchpad
Any good ways to remove oil build-up on the touchpad of the laptop?
It's always getting oily ( not sure it's oil or not ). Is there any way to avoid or remove it?
- 307
3
votes
3
answers
170
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Repainting measurement increments on tools
I have an old pair of calipers I've been trying to look new.
The measurement scales have all their grooves but it's difficult to see them.
Other than taking a pin and painting each line individually ...
- 31
3
votes
3
answers
543
views
achieving a stable video-call experience with an infant or toddler
My wife and I make one important exception to the no-screen-time rule for our baby boy: video calls with Grandma (or with us, when we're forced to be apart). The problem is that a baby or toddler ...
- 617
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votes
4
answers
5k
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Make monitor higher on desk [closed]
I used to have textbooks beneath my computer monitor, but I sold them to get some money back. Now my monitor's several inches too low. Instead of paying $40 for a new stand, is there a way I can make ...
- 1,401
6
votes
4
answers
8k
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How to create lock on notebook?
I keep a personal journal, and I would like to lock it.
There are several personal journals with locks on the market, but they are too expensive.
How can I lock a 5-subject ring notebook?
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1
answer
54
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How to hang painting frames? [closed]
I know there are many styles of painting frames out there, is there a "best" one? And what are the various usage techniques of them?
- 109
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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Cable lock with lost key
It appears the key to my bike lock broke off my key chain, thus rendering my lock (and to some extent the bike) useless. Is there anything that a cable lock with no key can be useful for? It’s ...
- 1,401
0
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0
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126
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Extending the Life of Pens [duplicate]
Pens these days frankly, suck. I can't use one for more than a day without it starting to bleed or just completely stop working, and I do not want to go and buy another pack of pens (although they are ...
0
votes
4
answers
2k
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Help achieving real-time auto-tune effect
A while back I played a video game with a character who spoke entirely in auto-tune (Warning: link is NNSFW: Not necessarily safe for work). I thought it was a really fun idea and have been trying to ...
- 119
12
votes
3
answers
20k
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How to tell if surface is level
I'm renting a room and the floor is not very even. I plan on wedging some cardboard/cloth/felt sticky pads beneath some surfaces (such as my chair and bed).
The first step is to test in which ...
- 1,401
6
votes
3
answers
13k
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Compensating for uneven flooring in a house
I moved into a house where the floors are uneven. The whole house is a bit slanted. Without convincing the property management company to hire a repairman, what can be done about this? I have a friend ...
- 1,401
0
votes
2
answers
1k
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Practical method to form/shape nalgene bottle
About a year ago, I lost my Eddie Bauer water bottle, similar to this one:
I've been trying to find a replacement, but it seems they've discontinued the model.
With that in mind, I'm planning on ...
- 133
10
votes
2
answers
7k
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Make a hacksaw blade suitable for use with food
I have some frozen meat that I would like to be able to cut while frozen so that some can be used now and the rest frozen for later use. It's to hard to cut through with a knife, so a saw would be ...
- 1,749
11
votes
1
answer
2k
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How to get home after losing lugnuts?
Say I'm changing a flat tire on the side of the road and I lose the lugnuts to a wild bear. (Okay, it doesn't have to be a bear. Just say they fall into the storm sewer.)
Short 4 lugnuts, how do I ...
- 11.5k
0
votes
7
answers
21k
views
Putting lawn mower into car trunk
My grammy needs me to go mow her yard before the meanies at the HOA fine her for having disorderly yard. I need to help my grammy ASAP! There is a problem though, I'm unable to lift lawn mower by ...
- 2,028