97- 2
How to Fix a Button on Jeans
Which is better: discarding, or recycling and repair? This guide shows you how to fix the waistband and reattach the stud button that's become detached from jeans—using waste clothing.
- 4
Where Does Dust Come From? 12 Sources of Household Grime
This article is an exploration of household dust and the multitude of sources that make up its constituents.
- 0
How to Build a Nest Box for Robins From Scrap Timber
I've built lots of birdhouses over the years and most of the time they're happily inhabited by small nesting birds. This construction guide shows you how to make a nesting box, specifically suitable for European robins.
- 3
How to Use the Settings on Cameras: Shutter Speed, F-Numbers and Exposure
This short guide covers the basics of how an image is formed in a camera and an explanation of the various controls on smartphones and SLR cameras that control proper exposure of an image.
- 0
20 Essential Bicycle Tools to Bring on Your Ride
A puncture repair kit is practically essential when cycling, but in this guide we cover some of the additional useful tools to bring on a recreational ride for making temporary repairs in the event of a breakdown.
- 2
How to Fix a Zipper: 3 Things You Can Try (With Pictures)
Zips are ubiquitous and a wonderful invention dating from the late 19th century. However, they can be frustrating devices, jamming, coming loose and refusing to close up. This guide suggests some tips you can try to get them working again.
- 0
How to Upload CDs to YouTube Music and Put Your Music Collection Online
How many CDs have you got? Ten? One hundred? One thousand? This guide shows you how to rip the tracks onto your computer and get them onto the Cloud so you can play them on your mobile device.
- 0
How to Build a Drywell With Cinder Blocks
This article will provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to build a drywell and recycle leftover waste construction materials.
- 3
Laying Concrete Kerbs Along a Driveway
If you have basic DIY skills, you can lay edging kerbs. Minimal tools are required, just a shovel, level, spade, string and hammer. Concrete can even be mixed by hand for bedding the stones.
- 0
How to Mix Concrete With a Cement Mixer: Steps and Tips
Although small amounts of concrete can be mixed by hand, a cement mixer speeds things up and is practically essential if you need to lay good-quality concrete floors and pavements.
- 0
How to Build a Solid Concrete Gate Pillar
This article is a pictorial account of how I widened my driveway and built a solid concrete gate pillar
- 0
How to Fix a Quartz Clock That Won't Work
Dust and other grime can clog up the workings of a clock. This guide shows you how to clean the most important working parts.
- 1
Learn How to Solder: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Soft soldering is a technique used to join wires, fix electronic components onto circuit boards and bond copper pipes together. This tutorial shows you how to solder step by step.
- 2
Resistors in Series and Parallel Formula Derivation
A tutorial which shows the derivation of formulas for resistors connected in series and parallel.
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RC Circuit Formula Derivation Using Calculus
The simple RC circuit is a basic system in electronics. This tutorial examines the transient analysis of the circuit as it charges and discharges in response to a step voltage input, explaining the voltage and current waveforms and deriving the solution of the differential equations for the system.
- 0
How to Build a Low-Maintenance Garden Storage Shed From Steel Cladding
A diary detailing the various stages of construction of my new garden shed over a two-year period from 2015 to 2017. Covering construction of the frame, sheeting the walls and roof, making the door and adding facias.
- 0
Archimedes' Principle Experiments and Buoyant Force
How to understand the principle of Archimedes, buoyancy and how it affects ships, divers, buoys, submarines, hot air balloons and other submerged and floating bodies.
- 0
Terminal Velocity of a Human, Free Fall and Drag Force
Yes, it's a film title, but terminal velocity is also the maximum velocity reached by an object as it falls through a fluid. This article explains how it works.
- 2
Parabola Equations and Graphs, Directrix and Focus and How to Find Roots of Quadratic Equations
Equation of a parabola, meaning of locus, directrix, focus, quadratic equation, maxima and minima etc.
- 13
A Guide to Names of Weeds (With Pictures)
A weed is an undesired plant in the wrong place. This guide helps you identify 24 of the most common weeds you'll encounter in your garden, so you can love them or kill them!
- 2
How to Remove Stuck Screws From a Door Hinge
Removing old seized screws from door hinges.
- 2
What Is Calculus? Integration Rules and Examples
Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies rates of change. This second part of a two part tutorial covers integral calculus and applications of integration.
- 4
What Is Calculus? A Beginner's Guide to Limits and Differentiation
Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies rates of change. This first part of a two part tutorial with examples covers the concept of limits, differentiating by first principles, rules of differentiation and applications of differential calculus.
- 0
Rules of Logarithms and Exponents: A Guide for Students
Covering bases and exponents, laws of exponents. log to the base 10, natural logs, rules of logs, working out logs on a calculator, graphs of log functions, log scales and using logs to perform multiplication.
- 2
Top 100 Cool Science Facts for Kids!
World of wonder fun science facts that every child should know! Covering space, nature, technology, engineering, elementary math, chemistry, physics and biology.
- 0
Simple Machines: How Does a Lever Work?
Levers can be found everywhere and have been used since ancient times. But why do we use them and what is the science behind how they work?
- 10
How to Convert Decimal to Binary and Binary to Decimal
The binary or base 2 numbering system is the keystone of computer systems and digital electronics. This guide shows you how to convert from decimal to binary and binary to decimal
- 5
How to Remove a Tree Stump Easily
Tree stumps up to 9 inches diameter can be removed with minimal tools and a little patience. This guide shows you what tools you need and the steps involved
- 8
A Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe With Whole Milk
Here's a 15-minute quick-and-easy recipe for making Irish brown soda bread with whole milk.
- 8
How to Convert Hex to Binary and Binary to Hexadecimal
The base 16, hexadecimal numbering system is regularly used in computer coding for conveniently representing a byte or word of data. This guide shows you how to convert from hex to binary and binary to hexadecimal.
- 1
How to Calculate Bolt Circle Diameter (BCD) for Chainrings and Bash Guards
This guide shows you the math behind working out a bolt circle diameter (BCD) or pitch circle diameter (PCD) and gives tables you can use in your calculations.
- 14
How to Calculate Arc Length of a Circle, Segment and Sector Area
This guide explains everything you need to know about circles, including calculation of area, segment area, sector area, length of an arc, radians, sine and cosine.
- 58
The Complete Guide to Garden Hose Fittings
Follow this handy guide to learn how to set up your garden hose to an indoor or garden tap, as well as how to attach it to spray nozzles, sprinklers, pressure washers, and coiled hoses.
- 5
Over 10 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption in Your Home
This guide gives basic common sense tips you can try in order to cut your energy use in the home, reduce CO2 emissions, save money and do your bit to save the planet!
- 1
Prevent Electric Shock in Your Home and Garden (RCDs, GFCIs)
A GFCI or RCD is a safety device designed to shut off power in the event of an electrical "leak." These devices can save your life and should be fitted to all extension leads.
- 17
Help! I Can't Scroll With My Mouse!
When you can't scroll properly with your mouse, the cause can often be due to dust and fluff which has made its way into the wheel. This is really easy to clean with little effort
- 93
How to Calculate the Sides and Angles of Triangles
Solving triangles using Pythagoras's theorem, the cosine rule, the sine rule and various ways of calculating the area of a triangle.
- 11
How to Find the Probability of an Event and Calculate Odds, Permutations and Combinations
Working out the odds of an event occurring allows us to estimate the number of times that event will take place in future trials. Permutations/combinations are also an important part of the analysis.
- 10
How to Cut Logs by Hand With a Bow Saw (and Get Great Exercise!)
Do you want to get some upper body exercise? Well forget the chain saw and cut logs for your wood burning stove with a bow saw. Much safer than a machine and a great aerobic workout!
- 29
How to Repair a TV Remote Control or Alarm Keypad With Kitchen Foil
Learn how to use aluminum foil, conductive silver ink, or replacement rubber pads to give your remote control and/or keypad a new lease of life.
- 11
My Lawn Mower Won't Start? Basic Troubleshooting Tips for Small Engines
A quick 10 tip checklist to follow if you can't get your stubborn lawn mower, snow blower or tiller to start. Learn how to start an engine properly and check the oil level.
- 9
How to Replace a Spigot Washer - Dripping Outside Tap (Bibcock)
A spigot (also known as a hose bib, bibcock or garden tap) leaks when the rubber washer inside wears away over time. Anyone with basic DIY skills can replace this. Only 2 tools are required.
- 13
How to Kill Moss in Lawns in 3 Easy Steps
Moss in a lawn competes with grass, looks unsightly and can make mowing more difficult. Fortunately it is easy to get rid of, and measures can be taken to prevent it
- 16
How to Grow Willow From Cuttings
Willow is a wonderful tree that's extremely easy to grow from cuttings. This guide shows you how to propagate this useful plant.
- 17
A Complete Guide to Using Plumbing Fittings for Joining PEX Pipe, PVC and Copper
A basic guide to pipe types, plumbing fittings, and thread sizes, and instructions for how to use fittings to connect copper, PVC, and PEX water pipes.
- 0
Simple Machines — How Do Wheels and Axles Work?
Wheels can be found everywhere and have been used since ancient times. But why do we use them and what is the science behind how they work?
- 18
Types of Plastics Used in the Home: How to Identify PVC, PET, Polythene and Others.
Plastics are ubiquitous and there are 3 types which are normally recyclable and identifiable by an imprinted code. There are at least 10 more plastics used in the home which you may not be aware of.
- 33
Cold Water Header Tank Overflowing: How to Replace a Ballcock Washer
A step-by-step guide showing how to repair a leaking ballcock valve in the header tank in your loft. This guide also explains the layout of hot and cold pipes and valves used in home plumbing systems.
- 49
How to Kill Weeds: 6 Ways to Get Rid of Them
Weeds are unsightly and spoil a neatly tended garden or yard. Fortunately there are lots of ways to deal with them, either with chemicals or in a natural, environmentally friendly way
- 3
How to Draw 3D Shapes Using Google SketchUp for Free
Google SketchUp Make is a simple to use, free, intuitive software application for creating basic 3D models. This 5 minute tutorial shows you how to create a simple 3D object
- 7
How to Solve Projectile Motion Problems: Applying Newton's Equations of Motion to Ballistics
Ballistics is a branch of mechanics which deals with the motion of projectiles launched into the air or space. Solving these type of problems involves using Newton's equations of motion
- 27
How to Cut Wood at an Angle With a Hand Saw or Miter Saw
Accurate square and mitered cuts in wood are essential for construction work. However, properly cut timber looks better even if you are just doing basic DIY and making stuff around the home.
- 144
How Do I Fix My Home Security Alarm? (Top Repair Tips)
How a burglar alarm system works. Control panels and wiring. Troubleshooting issues with false alarms, faulty contacts, PIR sensors, backup batteries, bells and sounders and keypads
- 2
How to Sharpen a Spade, Hoe or Axe With an Angle Grinder
Sharp tools make life easier because less effort is required to work with them. This guide shows you the correct way to sharpen a garden spade, hoe and other garden tools with an angle grinder
- 291
String Trimmer (Strimmer) Won't Work: 2-Stroke Engine and Carburetor Troubleshooting
String trimmers, also known as line trimmers, weed eaters, weed whackers, and strimmers, can be troublesome garden tools. Difficulty in starting is often due to an issue with the carburetor.
- 42
10 Tips for Taking Better Photos for Your Website
Good quality photos enhance an article, blog, or other web page. Composition, exposure, focusing, depth of field, and perspective are just some issues that should be considered when taking photos.
- 3
How to Wire a Plug Correctly and Safely in 9 Easy Steps
This guide shows you how to wire a UK-style, standard 3-pin plug and select the correct fuse. These basic principles can be applied to wiring plugs from other countries, only the colours are different
- 48
How to Sow Seeds in 10 Easy Steps (With Pictures)
This-step-by step guide shows you how, where, and when to sow seeds and grow them on into mature plants. You can buy "ready made" plants, but it can be much more fun and less expensive to grow them yourself from seed. The magic of seed germination is entertaining for both adults and children alike.
- 6
How to Use Air Tools and an Air Compressor in Your Workshop
Air tools compliment mains or battery powered tools and have several advantages over the latter. An air compressor and air tools are a useful addition to a home or commercial workshop
- 8
What's the Difference Between Analog and Digital?
We often hear about analog and digital in the context of communications, sound recording, and consumer electronic devices. But what exactly is the difference? This article explains the mystery.
- 4
The A to Z of the Body
............D is for diaphragm, sucking air in and out E is for ear, sometimes big lobed and pointed F is for feet, to the knees they are jointed..............
- 2
What Is a Microcontroller? — Programming an Arduino Board
Arduino is an open source hardware/software programming platform based around Atmel microcontrollers. Arduino boards with their analog and digital inputs are ideal for artists and electronic hobbyists
- 24
How to Take Cuttings From Plants
Did you know that plants can be cloned? You can make new plants for your garden using the technique of taking cuttings. For many plants, this process is simple and only takes minutes to do.
- 7
Spicy Tomato, Carrot, Celery, and Apple Soup Recipe
This easily prepared soup is tasty, nutritious, and only takes about an hour to make (but a bit longer to do the washing up!).
- 3
How to Plant a Tree (or Shrub) in 8 Easy Steps
Planting a tree or shrub involves both proper preparation and care. This article guides you through 8 easy steps to help your plant flourish.
- 2
How to Keep a Window Always on Top in Windows 10
When working on a document, it's useful to be able to keep another window always on top of the active window. This saves having to constantly switch back and forth between applications.
- 40
Over 20 Expert Ways to Drive More Traffic to Your Blog or Web Page
There are many ways of increasing traffic and promoting your blog or webpage. It all boils down to writing good quality content and getting the word out to all those potential billions of readers.
- 39
How to Use a String Trimmer Without Breaking the Line!
Does your trimmer line get tangled, snap off and wind you up? Read on for tips on how to wind the spool properly and use a trimmer like a pro.
- 21
What Is the Ground (Earth) Wire For?
"Hot" and "neutral" supply power to an appliance, so why the need for a "ground" wire? Basically, it's included for safety reasons. This article explains how it all works....
- 2
How to Change Lawn Mower Oil: No Fancy Tools Needed!
Changing the oil in your mower helps to reduce wear and prolongs the life of the engine. Anyone with a small amount of technical aptitude can learn to do this, and few tools are required.
- 11
What Is Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis? Irritated Skin, Triggers and Treatment
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a distressing condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It afflicts children and adults alike.
- 14
How to Edge a Flower Bed and Produce Clean Curves
Is your grass getting out of hand, causing your flower beds or lawn borders to look unkept and messy? This guide will help you edge your lawn with a knife for a clean, sharp finish.
- 5
What Causes Condensation and Damp in Houses?
Damp can be a serious problem in homes leading to mildew on walls, ceilings, curtains, and clothing. It has several causes but can often be remedied or reduced in severity.
- 15
A Guide to Choosing Lighting for Your Home: LED, Metal Halide, CFL, Sodium and Incandescent
A guide to different lighting types in the home and their pros and cons. Covering incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, CFL, sodium, metal halide and LED.
- 4
Best Tips for Recycling and Reusing Stuff in the Home and Garden
This article includes useful cleaning, plumbing, painting, and electrical tips for around the home and garden and is updated as I think of more! Also included are ways in which you can recycle stuff by re-using it for a different function.
- 0
10 Best Novelty Websites
We all know about YouTube, Social Networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook and Article sites like this one. This is a list of novelty and fun websites I have come across over the years.
- 2
Tracing Your Family History in Ireland: A Guide to Resources
This guide shows you how to use the numerous historical records that are now available free online, including the 1901 and 1911 censuses, church and civil records, gravestone inscriptions, ship passenger records, and large-scale townland maps.
- 28
Force, Mass, Acceleration and How to Understand Newton's Laws of Motion
The basics of mechanics, covering forces, mass, acceleration, motion, friction, torque, weight, vectors and laws of motion.
- 6
Flashlights for Dummies and Idiots
Yes I'm addicted to flashlights! As if being addicted to power tools wasn't bad enough, I can't pass a display in a store now without drooling over the display of torches and thinking "Hmm, that would be a nice addition to my collection!"
- 4
How to Make Burgers With High Fibre Oatmeal and Parsley
Beef patties are delicious at any time, especially when they are sandwiched between layers of cheese, sliced onion and iceberg lettuce to form a burger. This recipe for patties (which I plagiarized from my mother!) includes rolled oats as one of the ingredients. Oatmeal is high in dietary fiber and...
- 15
How to Tie Knots: Bowline, Reef Knot, Sheet Bend and Figure-of-Eight
This guide shows you how to tie the four most useful knots for joining and making loops in ropes. Knot tying is a useful skill in the home or garden, when fishing or camping.We cover the reef(square), bowline, sheet bend and figure-of-eight knots.
- 13
How to Choose the Right Drill Bit for Metal, Wood, Tiles, Glass or Masonry
When drilling any type of material, it's vital to use the correct bit to ease drilling and also to prevent bit damage. Drill bits are available for metal, masonry, tiles, plastics, glass and wood.
- 3
8 Steps to Mixing Concrete by Hand
Concrete is really easy to make and all you need is a shovel and some buckets. This is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide with pictures showing you how to make concrete by hand, with or without a mixer
- 14
Which Battery Is Best? Choosing Between Alkaline, Zinc, Lithium-Ion and Lead-Acid
There are various types of batteries on the market today: different sizes, different technology, different voltages, rechargeable and single-use disposables. How do you know which to use? This guide covers lithium ion, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cadmium (NiCd), zinc carbon and alkaline.
- 4
The Age of Steam - Newcomen and Watt
The first practical steam engine was developed by Thomas Newcomen in the early eighteenth century. Steam was one of the driving forces behind the industrial revolution, allowing mills and other factories to be located away from rivers.
- 3
Vinegar & Baking Soda for Cleaning, Gardening, Baking, and More
Vinegar has a wide range of uses: including cleaning around the home, personal health and hygiene and as a garden pesticide and herbicide.
- 2
How to Be Happy: 10 Easy Steps to Live a Happier Life!
10 Tips on how to enjoy life, be happy and have a positive mental attitude!
- 13
20 Easy-to-Grow Flowers for Garden Colour
This guide gives ideas for colourful, easy-to-grow perennial and annual flowers for planters and flower beds in your garden. None of the plants are particularly fussy and many can be grown easily from seed.
- 2
Using a Garden Wood Chipper for Disposing of Branches
Most gardeners will be aware of the benefits of using a compost bin for disposing of garden and kitchen waste. Branches can also be recycled into useful material using a small electric chipper.
- 3
Wearing Contact Lenses for the First Time: A Personal Story
Contacts lenses provide better quality of vision than glasses, and they also provide more freedom for physical activities. Here is my experience of contact lenses—the joys and the pitfalls!
- 12
What Power Tools for Home Improvement? A Guide for Beginners
Thinking of buying a power tool as a gift? Or maybe it's for yourself to make DIY easier. This guide for the absolute beginner outlines the various tools available, their capabilities and what to buy
- 4
High Electricity Bills? These Appliances Are the Most Expensive to Run
Which appliances use the most electricity? This article lists over 20 common appliances with running costs and shows you how to calculate kilowatt hour usage of any device.
- 6
What Causes Electrical Faults: Understanding MCBs, GFIs and RCDs
This article discusses types of circuit breaker and faults that can trip them.
- 8
Beauty of Ireland: 10 Must-See Locations on Google Street View
If you're considering a vacation in the Emerald Isle, why not take a virtual preview tour on Street View and be back by dinner? In this guide we visit the Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny medieval city, Killarney National Park and more.
- 1
Checking Power Consumption of Appliances With an Energy Monitoring Adapter
How to use a power adapter to check energy consumption, voltage, amps and watts used by appliances.
- 36
How to Use a Multimeter to Measure Voltage, Current and Resistance
A comprehensive guide showing how to use a multimeter or DMM. A multimeter is a useful instrument in a home toolkit for measuring voltage, current and resistance and also for tracing breaks in wires, testing diodes, capacitors and fuses.
- 4
How to Use Skype on a Windows 10 Computer
Skype is a computer communications program that lets you make free voice and video calls between computers and other computers or cell phones. You can also send text messages and make international calls at the cost of a local call.
- 4
Buying a Lawn Mower: Which Is Best? Electric, Gas, or Battery?
This guide provides some tips on what to look out for when buying walk behind push lawn mowers. It covers topics such as lawnmower type, horsepower, width of cut and deck type
- 0
Best Circular Saw? My Review of the Hikoki (Hitachi) C7SB2
The Hikoki C7SB2 buzz-saw is the best circular saw I have ever used and with a power rating of 1700 watt, it makes light work of cutting through lumber! Ideal for the pro or serious DIY
- 1
5 Essential Tools When Beginning Gardening (Advanced Tools Also Covered)
This absolute beginner's guide covers all the tools you'll ever need to maintain your garden, ranging from rakes, spades and hoes to secateurs, lopping shears and powered hedge trimmers.
- 2
Fire Prevention in the Home: Common Sense Tips
A fire in the home can be a devastating event, damaging property and possibly causing death or personal injury. This guide outlines the most common causes of fires and how to prevent them.
- 7
Why Is Binary Used in Electronics and Computers?
The binary numbering system is the basis for storage, transfer and processing of data in computers and other electronic systems. It uses base 2 rather than base 10, which is what we are familiar with for counting in everyday life.
- 2
How to Fix a Punctured Bicycle Tube and Tire: 10 Steps With Pictures
Repairing a bicycle puncture is relatively simple, requiring few tools. It should be possible to perform a repair in about 30 to 40 minutes. This pictorial guide shows you how to remove a wheel and tyre, locate the hole in the tube, patch it and put everything back together.
- 5
I'm Old Enough to be a Grumpy Old Man!
Why do all cleaning products have to be perfumed? Why are cookie tin lids rectangular and not square?... and don't get me started on health and safety!
- 7
Gardening for Beginners: How to Compost Without a Bin
Learn how to create luxurious garden compost! This is a great way to recycle organic matter (such as kitchen waste), save money and have greater success in growing plants and vegetables!
- 65
How to Understand Electricity: Volts, Amps, Watts and Electrical Appliances
Electricity 101. A complete beginner's guide covering watts, amps, volts, ohms and kWh. Cost of running appliances. AC, DC and three-phase. Resistivity of materials. A description of electric and magnetic effects of current flow in a conductor.
- 71
How to Fix a Lawn Mower That Won't Start
Learn about starting a mower properly, solving fuel, oil and ignition system problems, carburetor fault finding and lots more troubleshooting tips.
- 22
How to Use an Angle Grinder Safely for Cutting and Grinding
An angle grinder is a useful power tool for cutting and grinding metal and other materials. Like any power tool, it can be dangerous if used incorrectly. This guide shows you how to reduce your risk of injury while using an angle grinder.
- 0
How to Use a Ladder Safely and Safety Tips for Walking on Roofs
Working at a height can be hazardous. This guide provides some tips on how to stay safe while working up a ladder, how to erect it, and safety tips for working on roofs.
- 28
How to Sell Your Photos Online on Stock Photo Websites
You can earn money on the internet by selling your photos to royalty-free image stock agencies. This article outlines which are the best sites to upload to and gives advice on what images are in demand.
- 3
Getting Ready for Winter in Your Home
Learn how to keep your home snug and warm in the winter, and protect your home, yard and plumbing from cold, wind, rain, and snow.
- 4
I Was Warned , Now I've Done It !!! (or How to Clean a Laptop Keyboard)
A humorous account of spilling coffee over a laptop. Details on how to clean it.
- 7
Migraine Symptoms, Treatment and Medication—It's Not "Just a Headache"
Intense throbbing head pain, nausea, aversion to bright light, sounds, and other stimuli—these are classical symptoms of a migraine. Prophylactic treatment may be a help.
- 1
How to Choose Fixings for Wall Mounting Shelves and Cabinets
How do you put up shelves, cupboards, brackets or coat hangers on a wall? This guide explains how to drill walls and outlines the tools, fixings and drill bits required.
- 5
How to Improve Home Security in 14 Easy Ways
Common sense, low and high tech tips on how to improve your home security and prevent burglars breaking into your home.
- 0
20 Must-Have Hand and Power Tools for DIY
DIY can save you money and gives you a great sense of achievement. This article outlines the essential hand and power tools a homeowner needs for basic and more advanced house maintenance.