tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91634115299113702852024-03-13T13:02:11.947-05:00D'Bug's LifeDIY quick tips, howto's, home improvement, electronics, residential manufacturing, CNC, tools and product reviews, all just part of D'Bug's life.D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-86538628137507048652021-09-20T20:01:00.002-05:002021-09-20T20:01:47.825-05:00Attic Ventilation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ga0RYweMO30/WuDOljULqrI/AAAAAAABJt8/QwY3uB6KfpYzKbbnll_lM3NoT0a8vXKvACEwYBhgL/s1600/AirFlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ga0RYweMO30/WuDOljULqrI/AAAAAAABJt8/QwY3uB6KfpYzKbbnll_lM3NoT0a8vXKvACEwYBhgL/s320/AirFlow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When I talk about ventilating an attic to most people they ask me "Why would I want to do that? I don't go in my attic much so I don't care if it's cool". The fact of the matter is, like depicted in the picture above, heat from a hot attic radiates through the ceiling of your home and causes your air conditioner to work much harder to cool the house. Most people don't realize that in an under-ventilated attic the heat gets trapped and can be forty degrees (or more) hotter than it is outside. Do you think an attic that is 130F might warm up your living room? You better bet it does. We need to get that heat out of the attic in the most efficient way possible. Most houses have overhangs from the roof called soffits, most houses have vents in those soffits and we are going to make sure we have enough, my house didn't.<br />
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Most houses use standard 6" x 9" soffit vents and the formula for the necessary number of soffit vents is based on the size of the attic. My house is just over 2700sft with about 500sft added for the garage so we will calculate off of the total of 3200sft attic space. The quick and dirty is one soffit vent for every 100sft of attic space so I should have at the very minimum 32 soffit vents...I had 12. It's time to add a LOT of soffit vents.<br />
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The first step for me was to create a template for the holes I would be cutting. I used a scrap piece of 1/4" veneer I had laying around but could have easily just used a piece of stiff cardboard. After removing one of my existing soffit vents I measured the distance from the wall so the hole in my template would space out the same and my new vents wouldn't be out of line with the old ones. Make sure to measure the center point of the hole as this will help in placement. The template is shown in action a few steps below.<br />
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<b>NOTE:</b> When measuring for the hole size to cut for your vent, measure the perforated portion of your vent, not the size of the whole vent. There has to be something for those screws to screw into. <br />
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The next step was to remove the rest of the soffit vents. Only remove the soffit vents from one area of your house at a time and make sure to always put the vents in before packing up for the day or your attic may get some new inhabitants while you are sleeping.<br />
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Once the old vents are removed, take some measurements between existing vent holes. <br />
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Using a clip to hold the tape measure can be quite helpful if you don't have an assistant.<br />
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Do some math to figure the distance between center points of the new vents. I am placing three vents between each of the old vents so I mark the center points as 1/4, 2/4 and 3/4 of the total distance between vents.<br />
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Time to use that template! Just slide the template on to the soffit, line up your center point of the template with the spacing mark on the soffit and mark the outline of the hole in the template.<br />
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Use a nice dark marker so you can see where to cut later. Don't worry about aesthetics so much as the marks will be covered by the edge of the vent once it is installed.<br />
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Using a paddle bit or small hole saw, cut a hole in two of the corners to allow use of your saw.<br />
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If you hit a stud like I did in the picture above, just move your hole hole inside a bit and make a smaller hole for your vent. The vent will cover the stud but the stud will block some of the air flow....this is why you add more vents than you need. Whatever you do DO NOT CUT AWAY THE STUD. Studs are an important part of the house, all we want to remove is the thin wood that covers the soffit.<br />
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After the holes are cut in the corners just connect the dots with a jigsaw or reciprocating saw to make the hole for the vent. It is OK to skip a spot like I did to avoid things like utility hookups. Always be alert for what is on the other side of the soffit.<br />
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After you get those holes cut it is very important to get any insulation out of the way so that air that comes in the vent will be able to make it into the attic. Frequently the guy that puts in the insulation will spray it well into the soffit. I personally love using a leaf blower to make sure the soffit is clear.<br />
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...and really work that blower in the hole to make absolutely sure that air flow is not restricted.<br />
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Best to use a powered screw driver or a drill with a driver bit to put on the vents as there are six screws per vent and your forearms will look like Popeye's by the time you're done with a screw driver. Make sure to use galvanized wood screws to attach the vent.<br />
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Having addressed the first half of the equation (intake) we need to calculate exhaust. I personally prefer using whirlybirds or ridge vents for exhausting an attic since there is no electric bill and no motor to burn out like in a powered vent. For this house ridge vents were out since the house has a tiny top ridge. To calculate for how many whirlybirds you need there are complicated formulas but the simplified one I used was one whirlybird per 1000sft of attic space. In our calculations at the first I had 3200sft of attic space so I need about 3.2 whirlybirds...I have two effective ones placed high on the roof and one much less effective one on a lower ridge of the roof. I'll count the lower whirlybird as my ".2" and just add another whirlybird high up by the other two more effective ones. Unless you are a roofing professional i would very much say go hire a roofing professional to install your whirlybird. Not only is it a health risk falling off of a house but cutting a hole in your roof is a good way to ruin it if you don't know what you are doing. Here's the before pic of the two good whirlybirds.<br />
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...and the after with the third whirlybird in the middle. The less effective whirlybird is just out of camera shot to the right on that much lower ridge.<br />
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Now when the sun heats the attic, the hot air rises out of the whirlybird and actually creates a suction to pull cool air through the soffit vents. With the added soffit vents and additional whirlybird we now have a much more effective ventilation system for the attic. This was a relatively simple project and last summer since I completed this project, the energy savings have already paid for the materials (including the roofer's installation of the whirlybird).<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-47593144947913497542020-10-23T15:56:00.008-05:002020-10-23T16:21:18.251-05:00Screensaver Power Strip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have always been interested in saving electricity in my home especially in these hot summer months. While the air conditioner is by far the greatest consumer of electricity in my house, especially in the summer, the most constant user is my computer or I should say my computer setup.<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp2380057.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3Dapc%2Bbf250%26_sacat%3D0&campid=5337465663&toolid=10001&customid=APCBF250" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="480" height="232" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCXCoaZz4-w/X5M8LKj4t7I/AAAAAAABibU/-Q-HMmiu32cFo-K_4pqN8WKjIurjJpyEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w398-h232/UPS.png" width="398"></a></div></div>
<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2020/08/ScreenSaverPowerStrip.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-5138110670269501052016-09-23T16:50:00.001-05:002016-09-23T16:50:15.748-05:00FLIR TG130/TG165 Spot Thermal Camera<br>
I have been seriously interested in the value of Infrared photography
ever since I had my home inspection almost ten years ago and the
inspector went around taking pictures with his ten-thousand dollar
thermal camera. A DIY'er can know the value of insulating and caulking
like a pro but to actually visually quantify and identify issues in your
own home is amazing. So why didn't I just run out and buy an infrared
camera ten years ago? Expense. Ten years ago infrared cameras were so
price prohibitive that a home owner would never see the return on
investment from energy savings. <br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2016/09/flir-tg130tg165-spot-thermal-camera.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-22732592815937387592016-04-27T13:06:00.000-05:002016-04-27T13:06:01.161-05:00Automatic Power Saving Power Strip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The fear of summer electric bills is upon me and I am dead set to do anything I can to minimize them. In my <a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/search/label/Green%20Tech" target="_blank">quest for lower utility bills</a> I found the easiest and cheapest green home upgrade....in a power strip? Yep. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-we4KryEqJDc/Vxky-tHJceI/AAAAAAAAQi0/1dM3ntsBaD8Ay7rct4RoXux3j6DiGM3dgCK4B/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-we4KryEqJDc/Vxky-tHJceI/AAAAAAAAQi0/1dM3ntsBaD8Ay7rct4RoXux3j6DiGM3dgCK4B/s320/1.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2016/04/attic-duct-upgrade.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-66416200683069610462015-04-21T20:08:00.004-05:002015-04-21T20:08:30.029-05:00DIY Lancape Rock Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZROsYIX2HAg/VTWzdZ6ioUI/AAAAAAAANwk/Bp5S7agDN98/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZROsYIX2HAg/VTWzdZ6ioUI/AAAAAAAANwk/Bp5S7agDN98/s1600/6.jpg" height="187" width="320"></a></div>
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Ever see those <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_357225-93591-00869_4294795207__?productId=4480651&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1%26page%3D4&facetInfo=" target="_blank">neat landscaping lights that light up your tree at night but stay hidden in the day acting like rocks</a>? Ever notice how the store bought ones look fake? Plastic rocks are hard to make look like real rocks, and even if you find one that looks like a real rock, does it look like the other rocks in your garden? Probably not, and you just paid $20 to $50 to have a plastic rock in your garden. We can do far better for far cheaper.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/diy-lancape-rock-light.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-51038194927383781312015-04-20T20:38:00.000-05:002016-05-03T11:08:09.878-05:00Simple Desktop Power Supply Hack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575081794&toolid=10001&campid=5337465663&customid=&icep_item=321389880306&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg" target="_blank"><img alt="Power Supply" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfeo-qTwq94/VTVffQ1GhXI/AAAAAAAANvY/GW5kTd3ACQY/s1600/tatmachine.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
If you do small electronics projects and you're just beginning you probably do what I did for years to power your projects while working them which is to cut the business end off the the cord on a wall wart power adapter with the appropriate voltage. This works but keeping around a pile of plug-less adapters for project possibilities is kind of a pain. There's the ever common 9 volt and 12 volt adapters, but who has a 3 volt adapter to test battery driven projects or god forbid; a drawer full of spare batteries to blow through while working out your latest design? If you've reached the breaking point and started looking at desktop power supplies you have probably noticed the stupid high price on most desktop supplies designed for the job or maybe you've stumbled across <a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-make-a-bench-power-supply-from-an-old-atx-psu/" target="_blank">the PC power supply DIY option</a>. I've seen both and I neither wanted to spend a Benjamin on a supply nor wanted a monstrous PC power supply sitting on my desk all the time. I came up with a quick hack that makes for a nice, small, inexpensive desktop power supply.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/simple-desktop-power-supply-hack.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-67311978892896439172015-04-18T14:02:00.002-05:002015-04-18T14:03:00.682-05:00Cutting the Cord: PART 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTxK9Dvx_hs/VS8E76J0mlI/AAAAAAAANr4/OS8YYXKozbw/s1600/1Product.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTxK9Dvx_hs/VS8E76J0mlI/AAAAAAAANr4/OS8YYXKozbw/s1600/1Product.jpg" height="186" width="320"></a></div>
I'll probably die years from now still irked at the cable company for raising my rates 49% overnight. <a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/cutting-cord-part-3.html" target="_blank">I've had some success in my quest to eliminate cable TV from my life</a>. With my DVR needs fulfilled with an over-the-air solution that has network access to it's content it's time to get that content on my TV. Let's give Roku a whirl.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/cutting-cord-part-4.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-4329716429429803872015-04-14T19:29:00.000-05:002015-04-14T19:29:40.927-05:00Cutting the Cord: PART 3<br>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-foSEVdTODZY/VS0IQ3i7izI/AAAAAAAANqc/hsN7kBuUJiw/s1600/1tablodvr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-foSEVdTODZY/VS0IQ3i7izI/AAAAAAAANqc/hsN7kBuUJiw/s1600/1tablodvr.png" height="113" width="320"></a></div>
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Still at it. The TV overlords have raised my rates to nosebleed heights and I am bound and determined to find alternatives to the price gouging ridiculousness of cable TV. One of the biggest things I would miss from the land of cable? A DVR. A time-shifting, show-recording, never miss an episode DVR. Once you've had a DVR its hard to live life without one. At times while in the car, I miss something that was said on the radio and find myself looking for a rewind button that doesn't exist. Yep, a DVR is a must. The trick; DVR without cable.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/cutting-cord-part-3.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-11468737517438603452015-04-13T20:08:00.000-05:002015-04-13T20:12:45.156-05:00Cutting the Cord: PART 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5575081794&toolid=10001&campid=5337677193&customid=&icep_uq=chromecast&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=293&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg" target="_blank"><img alt="Chromecast" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hykubNlSX5Q/VSw1zvOsCmI/AAAAAAAANpw/pi28fYkAkEI/s1600/1product2.jpg"></a></div>
Still peeved at the cable company for a 49% rate hike but dissatisfied with <a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/02/cutting-cord-part-1.html" target="_blank">my previous effort</a> I took a shot at another product; <a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5575081794&toolid=10001&campid=5337677193&customid=&icep_uq=chromecast&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=293&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg" target="_blank">Google's Chromecast</a>.<br>
<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/04/cutting-cord-part-2.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-9164641408320181882015-02-05T14:27:00.002-06:002015-02-05T14:27:47.943-06:00Cutting the Cord: PART 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08xy2KGEDiw/VNPIupFXX7I/AAAAAAAAMx4/ouiWpqNO9TI/s1600/EZ-Cast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08xy2KGEDiw/VNPIupFXX7I/AAAAAAAAMx4/ouiWpqNO9TI/s1600/EZ-Cast.JPG" height="201" width="320"></a></div>
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Let's face it, cable sucks! At least the price does. I have (had) something over 400 channels available to me through my cable provider, of which I maybe watched ten to fifteen of them on any regular basis. The option to watch so many different things isn't bad, except when you have to pay for all of them when you watch only a few. Doubling up on this conundrum the few channels I watch are only included in the higher packages, forcing me to pay full toll. I tolerated this until last December when my "offers" expired and my bill sky-rocketed from $115 to $172, a gain of 49%!!! When I was told new offers would not be available until the first part of the year I cut my services down to the basics with DVR and cough up something like $85 a month for local channels, or actually less than half my local channels since cable doesn't include the extended HD channels available in my area, just major networks. The first part of the year is here and the offers are lousy. Why pay so much for so little??? The fix for my dilemma, I hope, is to cut cable all together. <br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2015/02/cutting-cord-part-1.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-13060327698748856832014-12-17T17:03:00.006-06:002016-05-03T11:20:47.473-05:00Installing Security CamerasSadly today not everyone can be trusted and security is a must. I have started on the venture of increasing security at my home in several ways, first off cameras. Luckily it is rather easy to install security cameras but there are a few things to keep in mind. I give this a difficulty factor of 2 on a 5 point scale. if you can work a drill and a screwdriver, you can do this.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/12/installing-security-cameras.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-45401009519776441072014-09-08T09:21:00.003-05:002014-09-08T10:00:13.719-05:00How To Make a Wooden Tap HammerIf you work with wood you know that from time to time things must be lovingly "tapped" into place, sometimes a place a bit smaller than the thing you are tapping. Luckily wood is a flexible material and can be coerced but tapping with a metal hammer can mar or dent the surface because of the higher density of metal. A wooden hammer doesn't mar or at least not as much and luckily making a hammer out of wood is simple and quick.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-make-wooden-tap-hammer.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-29702466636882552352014-08-13T21:57:00.001-05:002014-12-12T15:30:43.665-06:00Sound Damping PanelsSound is an issue with any workshop, power tools are cool but make lots of noise. My workshop has the added benefits of being in a garage, close to neighbors and harboring a CNC table. My primary concerns are the air compressor, shop vacuum and the CNC router table since it will run patterns that could easily run 30 minutes, an hour or more. Luckily, I am designing a cabinet to hold the vacuum, compressor and most importantly the CNC table for both dust and sound control. The empty pockets created in my 2x4 frame design will create great places for sound damping panels.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/08/sound-dampening-panels.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-18574582922112617842014-07-05T11:10:00.001-05:002014-07-05T11:10:36.569-05:00Solar Powered Auto FanThe good old <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Y43KVW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006Y43KVW&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=27Q63FQLPU7FRVEC" target="_blank">Solar Powered Auto Fan</a> sold by the people of "As Seen on TV". I've eye-balled these for years and the stiffling sun and humidity this year finally pushed hard enough to get one. As describided on Amazon "Solar powered ventilation system
Auto fan blows hot air out of parked car
Maintains comfortable temperature level for your return
Fresh air is drawn in as hot, stale air vents out
Auto Cool even helps to eliminate pet and tobacco odors
Solar powered, no need battery
Fits any car window".<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Y43KVW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006Y43KVW&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=27Q63FQLPU7FRVEC" target="_blank"><img alt="Solar Car Fan" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0omIkVG__Tw/U7gbN0ADcGI/AAAAAAAAGmA/h00TYTiXmz4/s1600/41LWHEytZbL._SY450_.jpg" height="320" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/07/solar-powered-auto-fan.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-72728724366371056332014-07-03T16:14:00.000-05:002014-07-03T16:14:01.017-05:00Kansas City Maker's Faire 3D Printers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">The weekend was a blast at the Kansas City Maker's Faire</span> (<a href="http://www.makerfairekc.com/">http://www.makerfairekc.com/</a>).</span> There were presentations and fun from many groups and as expected 3D printers were everywhere. While 3D printing is nothing new, it is still a fledgling market for the DIY home crowd and there is a constant stream of new ideas.</div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/07/kansas-city-makers-faire-3d-printers.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-61444883314861594482014-06-18T10:30:00.001-05:002014-06-18T10:32:41.674-05:00Central Pneumatic Air CompressorEvery good workshop needs a good air compressor, mine suddenly upped and died after years of abuse and no matter my efforts it refused to work. Drain valve stuck open, replaced it, power switch stopped working, fixed it, coupler jammed, cleaned it, engine seal blew and leaked oil everywhere....I'm so tired.....time to trash it. I won't bad mouth the old soldier, it was long in the tooth, mistreated, over-used, ridden hard and put up wet. I got my money's worth out of the old compressor but it was dead beyond my willingness to invest time, money and effort to keep it alive. Time to replace it with what will hopefully be as good of a workhorse if not better. After shopping features and cross indexing prices, I came up with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZBDI3O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006ZBDI3O&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=WYKESL4ENYKQNBXS%22%3ECentral%20Pneumatic%202%20HP,%208%20Gallon,%20125%20PSI%20Portable%20Air%20Compressor%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dbuli-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006ZBDI3O" target="_blank">Central Pneumatic</a>.<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZBDI3O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006ZBDI3O&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=WYKESL4ENYKQNBXS%22%3ECentral%20Pneumatic%202%20HP,%208%20Gallon,%20125%20PSI%20Portable%20Air%20Compressor%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dbuli-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006ZBDI3O" target="_blank"><img alt=" Central Pneumatic Air Compressor" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVqRyPDff48/U6Cg-EX5UxI/AAAAAAAAFrk/JfZ5pnq8d-8/s320/image_20969%5B1%5D.jpg"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/06/central-pneumatic-air-compressor.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-31702213482398939072014-06-17T14:55:00.001-05:002014-06-18T10:33:45.518-05:00Kill A Watt Power MonitorIt's that time of year again, the time when electricity costs are higher than the mortgage. It's hot outside and the air conditioner is running a good chunk of the day. You can't very well turn off the air conditioner, but it's not your only item using electricity. You can go around the house and turn off everything when not in use, put power switches on ~everything~ and...well...wear yourself plum out. Some things are worth turning off, some not as much, some not at all, but how can you tell? Enter <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009MDBU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00009MDBU&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=52YFDXT6W7GEBB5B" target="_blank">Kill-A-Watt</a>.<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009MDBU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00009MDBU&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20&linkId=52YFDXT6W7GEBB5B"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00009MDBU&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=dbuli-20"></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dbuli-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00009MDBU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1">
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/06/kill-a-watt-power-monitor.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-49172854042354461432014-05-24T13:21:00.005-05:002014-05-24T13:21:48.849-05:00Securing Your Garage DoorI was shocked when I saw how insanely easy it is to break into anyone's garage with just a coat hanger. I've spent quite a bit of time, sweat and money getting my garage workshop the way I want it and the last thing I need is to have someone break in and have their way with it. Luckily it's easy to prevent.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/05/securing-your-garage-door.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-68356932502914175682014-05-15T15:23:00.001-05:002014-05-15T15:25:22.793-05:00Bottomless Stone Garden PlanterThrough a friend of a friend I came upon the blessing of some free stone. It seems Tom had just completed work on his beautiful home and had quite a bit of scrap stone left. Most of the stone was small and irregular, but it was also free. I collected as much as possible in the time I had available but what to do with it? I love stone, it is attractive, incredibly low maintenance and wherever you put it in the garden you never have to weed again...but I can't just pile a bunch of stone in my garden....or can I? After unloading and staring at the stone for some time I came up with the concept; let's build some nice bottomless planters for the garden. Lots of visual impact, lots of stone and it will make some decent dents in the places I need to weed in the future. If you don't have a friend of a friend who just built a house look towards friends in the construction trades. Frequently when houses are built scrap stone is simply discarded often buried at the build site itself. Being friendly to crews when they are finishing up may just score the scrap stone you need to make this project.<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ez_r7n8uBv8/U3UfdGtsJjI/AAAAAAAAFnM/622kRMGw8mg/s1600/planter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ez_r7n8uBv8/U3UfdGtsJjI/AAAAAAAAFnM/622kRMGw8mg/s1600/planter.jpg" height="238" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/05/bottomless-stone-garden-planter.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-62262242915818855842014-05-03T14:46:00.001-05:002015-04-27T16:23:19.647-05:00World's Cheapest Noise Canceling HeadphonesWhen I'm in the shop I usually like jamming to my music but the tunes don't sound good over the buzz of saws, routers and vacuums. I do what I can to keep the noise down for my neighbors so <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305922756/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=6305922756&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank">turning the volume up to eleven</a> is out of the question. Besides being rude to the neighbors, extreme decibel levels can be quite damaging to your ears.<br>
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I've tried wearing ear buds or headphones in the shop but even though you can still hear the music, you can also hear the tools and the two don't mix. I looked at noise cancelling headphones but they can be insanely expensive. What I needed was inexpensive headphones mixed with great noise cancelling capabilities. I saw these inexpensive hearing protectors and when I ordered them they actually worked quite well, but still no music. I had some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KQZJS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002KQZJS&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank">inexpensive headphones</a> laying around and wish the two could be combined somehow. Once I started playing, it was amazingly simple.<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KQZJS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002KQZJS&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KQZJS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002KQZJS&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4q139b2z11g/U1l_QTvir6I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/O8SXk2PJ8Mw/s1600/headphones.jpg" height="200" width="200"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/05/worlds-cheapest-noise-canceling.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-60934977982236326312014-04-29T14:34:00.001-05:002014-04-29T14:36:44.329-05:00Removing Rust From Hand ToolsI was working on a project cutting quite a bit of plywood and I came to realize my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IXPNRG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003IXPNRG&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank">circular saw</a> had achieved the status of powered splinter maker, it was time for a new blade. My circular saw, like most, has a blade wrench tucked away in the shoe. When I went to remove the wrench, it offered quite a bit of resistance, more than was expected. I soon discovered my blade wrench had suffered a respectable case of oxidation, nothing that would ruin it, just enough to cause it to really stick in it's little holster. Well, I had been holding on to a chisel I had been using on the same project that had also rusted a bit, again, not unusable, just rusty. Time to clean. I could use the old wire brush and a lot of elbow grease, but did I tell you I was in the middle of another project? Let's do a soak.<br>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ5YVh51oH4/U1_5Q3d10GI/AAAAAAAAFk8/cqbN3TDDcBk/s1600/before.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ5YVh51oH4/U1_5Q3d10GI/AAAAAAAAFk8/cqbN3TDDcBk/s1600/before.png" height="306" width="320"></a></div>
<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/04/removing-rust-from-hand-tools.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-82755672135815944802014-04-27T10:46:00.003-05:002014-04-28T14:43:30.936-05:00Flexy Slinky-Action Extension CordI was curious when I saw this product on a web advertisement and when asked, the nice people at <a href="http://www.philatron.com/" target="_blank">Philatron</a> were kind enough to send me a sample. A springy "slinky" extension cord that coils up nice and neat when not in use....gimmicky? Let's check it out and see.<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089EEHN0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0089EEHN0&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.flexycord.com/" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUc4DX0W3J0/U1qv2crt5bI/AAAAAAAAFio/kGl0Bcn3iyM/s1600/flexy-compared-to-straight-extension-cords%5B1%5D.jpg" height="213" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/04/flexy-slinky-action-extension-cord.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-78927211322860388202014-04-23T17:44:00.001-05:002014-04-27T10:50:00.508-05:00Simple Sturdy Garage Storage ShelfThe first part of making your garage into a usable workshop is making space to work. An easy and affordable way to do this is by using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WN9WYK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WN9WYK&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank">store bought storage totes</a> for organization and building a heavy duty shelf to store those on. I purchased a bulk pack of totes so I would have a uniform look and matching totes would also help maximize my storage with a uniform size. You could always use mismatched totes, no big deal, just measure all the different totes and use the largest measurement in any dimension when sizing your shelves.<br>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WN9WYK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WN9WYK&linkCode=as2&tag=dbuli-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Rubbermaid" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HbT4z0y1DV4/U1hBMUJcXyI/AAAAAAAAFiA/S7g5HurP5A0/s1600/tote.jpg"></a></div>
<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/04/simple-sturdy-garage-storage-shelf.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163411529911370285.post-28944931882291773672014-04-10T10:01:00.000-05:002014-04-27T10:51:03.906-05:00Poor Man's Mach3 Pendant<br>
Now it's perfectly OK to use the keyboard and mouse to control and zero your X, Y and Z axis at the first of a job, but it's not always convenient. Most CNC setups I have seen have an easy to use hand-held controller called a pendant. Some DIY pendants use video game joysticks that don't look very professional, cost money if you don't have one laying around and take some extra effort to setup with lightly documented unsupported software packages. Buying a professional 3rd party pendant is definitely an option, there are some very nice options out there but I couldn't justify spending $100, $200 or even $500 for a premium pendant, not for my needs.<br>
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<a href="http://dbugslife.blogspot.com/2014/04/poor-mans-mach3-pendant.html#more"><em><b>Read more » » » »</b></em></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=dbuli-20&o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=primeent&banner=1EK51J321EHFB7HAFF02&f=ifr&linkID=NCYQ7DKJ7KTLMFNC" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>D'Bughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124053036260790265noreply@blogger.com3