- 0
The Complete Guide to Garden Hose Fittings
This guide shows you what fittings you need to connect up your garden hose to an indoor or garden tap and also how to attach it to spray nozzles, sprinklers, pressure washers and coiled hoses.
- 4
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!
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Electrical Safety in the Home and Garden - Expert Tips to Prevent Shock
An RCD or GFCI 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.
- 14
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
- 31
How to Calculate the Sides and Angles of Triangles
The triangle is the simplest polygon This article covers types of triangles, Pythagoras's theorem, cosine rule, sine rule, various ways of calculating the area of a triangle and basic trigonometry
- 6
How to Work Out Odds, Permutations and Combinations and Calculate the Probability of an Event
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.
- 6
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!
- 15
How to Repair a TV Remote Control or Alarm Keypad With Kitchen Foil
Alarm keypads and remote controls can eventually become unresponsive after years of use. You can use aluminum foil, conductive silver ink or replacement rubber pads to give them a new lease of life
- 1
Why Won't My Lawn Mower Start? 10 Top Troubleshooting Tips
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.
- 7
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.
- 4
3 Easy Steps to Killing Moss in Lawns
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
- 8
How to Grow Willow From Cuttings
Willow is wonderful and extremely easy to grow from cuttings. This guide shows you how to propagate this useful plant
- 8
A Complete Guide to Using Plumbing Fittings for Joining PVC, PEX, and Copper Pipe
A basic guide to pipe types, plumbing fittings, thread sizes and how to use fittings to connect copper, PVC and PEX water pipe
- 1
5 Useful Gadgets From DealeXtreme - For Less than $8 !
USB, heating, magnets, visual aids and cellphone screwdrivers. These 5 gadgets from DX.com come in really useful around the home!
- 0
How Do Wheels Work? The Mechanics of Axles and Wheels
Wheels are to 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?
- 4
PVC, Polypropylene and Polyethylene - How Plastics Are Used in the Home
Plastics are ubiquitous and there are 7 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
- 16
Cold Water Tank Overflowing — How to Replace a Ballcock Washer
A step by step guide showing how to repair a leaking ball cock 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
- 48
6 Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden
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 Use SketchUp Make for 3D Design
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
- 1
Solving 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
- 24
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 doing basic DIY and making stuff around the home.
- 60
How Do I Fix My Burglar Alarm? — Top 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
- 1
Sharpening a Spade 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
- 170
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 Great Tips for Improving Photos Taken With a Smartphone or SLR
Good quality photos enhance an article, blog or other web page. Composition, exposure, focusing, depth of field and perspective are just some issues which should be considered when taking photos
- 1
9 Easy Steps to Wiring a Plug Correctly and Safely
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
- 28
Gardening for Beginners: 10 Easy Steps to Sowing Seeds
You can buy "ready made" plants in a store, but it can be much more fun to grow them yourself from seed. The magical phenomenon of seed germination is entertaining for both adults and children alike. This step by step...
- 5
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
- 2
Using Google Analytics Real Time to Check Visitors to Your Website
The "Real Time" feature of Google Analytics provides instant traffic data about visitors to your site: Their country and region, search terms, network, referral source and the content they are reading
- 1
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
- 15
Gardening for Beginners: 7 Easy Steps to Taking Plant Cuttings
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.
- 4
Spicy Tomato, Carrot, Celery, and Apple Soup
This easily prepared soup is tasty, nutritious, and only takes about 30 minutes to make (but a bit longer to do the washing up!).
- 2
Gardening for Beginners: 8 Easy Steps to Planting a Shrub or Tree
There's more to planting a tree or shrub than digging a hole and plonking it into the ground. Proper preparation of the ground and growing medium will ensure that the tree gets a good start in life.
- 0
How to Keep a Window Always on Top on Your Desktop
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 backwards and forwards between applications.
- 28
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.
- 17
How to Use a String Trimmer Properly, 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...........
- 19
What Is the Ground (Earth) Wire For?
Hot and neutral supply power to an appliance, so why the need for a "ground" wire? Well basically it's included for safety reasons. This article explains how it all works....
- 2
How to Change Oil in a Lawn Mower
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.
- 10
What Is Eczema and How Do I Treat It?
Eczema 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 Lawns and Flower Beds With a Dinner Knife
If you have flower beds or borders in a lawn, you know how the grass at the edges can become ragged and unsightly over time. This guide shows you step by step how to edge beds in a way which allows easy maintenance in...
- 5
What Causes Damp in Houses? How to Get Rid of Mould and Condensation
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.
- 12
How to Choose Lighting for Your Home: Incandescent, Fluorescent, CFL, LED, Sodium, and Metal Halide
Did you know that a "normal" incandescent light bulb only converts about 5% of the electricity used into useful light? There are lots of other lighting options which are much more energy efficient
- 4
Best Tips for Recycling and Reusing Stuff in the Home and Garden
Useful cleaning, plumbing, painting, and electrical tips for around the home and garden - updated as I think of more! Also 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 Irish Ancestors Online: A Guide to Free 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...
- 6
Force, Mass, Acceleration and How to Understand Newton's Laws of Motion
Mechanics is a branch of physics which deals with forces, mass and motion with applications in engineering construction, the design of machines, ballistics and space travel.
- 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...
- 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!)...
- 14
A Guide to Tying Knots in Rope (Reef, Bowline, Figure-of-Eight and Sheet Bend)
Knowing what knot to tie is a useful skill in the home or garden, or when fishing or camping. How to tie reef(square), bowline, sheet bend and figure-of-eight knots.
- 12
Choosing 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
- 4
8 Steps to Mixing Concrete by Hand Without a Cement Mixer
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 to mixing concrete by hand, with or without a mixer
- 1
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. So how do you know which to use? This guide covers lithium...
- 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...
- 3
The Many Uses For Vinegar, A Wholly Natural Substance
Vinegar is a natural substance containing acetic acid. It has a wide range of uses including cleaning around the home, dietary, personal health and hygiene and as a garden pesticide and herbicide.
- 2
How to Be Happy in 10 Easy Steps!
10 Tips on how to enjoy life, be happy and have a positive mental attitude!
- 12
Top 10 Flowers for Garden Color!
This guide gives you some ideas about colorful and easy to grow perennial and annual flowers for the garden. None of the plants are particularly fussy and many can be grown easily from seed
- 2
Using a Chipper Shredder to Recycle Garden Waste
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
Switching From Glasses to Contact Lenses - 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
A Complete Guide to Power Tools for Beginners (Drills, Sanders, Grinders, Multitools, Dremels & Saws)
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
- 2
How Much Do Electrical Appliances Cost to Run?
With the cost of electricity rising all the time, it's good to know how much it costs to power the various appliances in our homes. This article lists over 20 common appliances with running costs and also shows you how...
- 6
Circuit Breaker Panel Keeps Tripping - Sorting Electrical Faults
What causes electrical faults in the home? Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB), Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI), Residual Current Devices (RCD), electrical panels and resetting breakers when they trip.
- 8
10 Stunningly Beautiful Places to Visit in Ireland on Google Street View
If you're considering vacationing in the Emerald Isle, why not take a virtual preview tour on Street View and be back by dinner?
- 1
Checking Power Consumption of Appliances With an Energy Monitoring Adapter
With the cost of electricity on the increase, an energy monitoring adapter is a useful device which can measure and track the energy consumption of a home appliance. Costing about $15, the adapter can be plugged into a...
- 22
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,...
- 0
3 Easy Steps to Setting Up Skype on a Computer
Skype is a computer communications program that enables free voice/video calls between two computers with an Internet connection. You can also make international calls at the cost of a local call.
- 4
What to Look for When Buying a Lawn Mower—Electric, Gas, 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
Which Circular Saw Should I Buy? My Review of the Hitachi C7SB2
The Hitachi C7SB2 is a well built saw and with a power rating of 1700 watt, it makes light work of cutting through lumber! Ideal for the pro or serious DIY
- 0
Essential Gardening Tools for Beginners and How to Pick Them
Spring will be upon us shortly, so even though it's still cold, now is the time to get prepared for the growing season. Here are some ideas on choosing tools for maintaining your garden.
- 1
Causes of Fire in Homes and How to Prevent It
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.
- 6
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 we are normally familiar with
- 2
How to Fix a Bike Puncture — 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...
- 7
How to Make Compost at Home and Recycle Your Household and Garden Waste!
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!
- 80
Watts, Amps and Volts, Kilowatt Hours (kWh) and Electrical Appliances - Basic Electricity Explained
This guide explains all about watts, amps, volts, kilowatt hours (kWh), Ohm's Law and how to work out the cost of running appliances. Also covering an explanation of AC and DC, resistivity, three phase and the...
- 51
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.
- 17
Using 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 stay safe.
- 0
How to Use a Ladder Safely and Walk 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 Make Money Online Selling Your Photographs on Microstock Websites
You can earn money on the Internet by selling your photos to royalty free image stock agencies. This hub outlines which are the best sites to upload to and gives advice on what to upload.
- 3
Getting Ready for the Snow: Don't Let Your Home Freeze Up!
Learn how to keep your home snug and warm in the winter, and protect your home and yard from cold, wind, rain, and snow.
- 2
The Passion for Lightning
Lightning is ultra-spectacular. This is a hub about a lightningophile.
- 5
Migraine Headaches: Symptoms, Treatment, and Medication
Intense throbbing head pain, nausea, aversion to bright light, sounds, and other stimuli—these are classical symptoms of a migraine. Consider prophylactic treatment for these symptoms.
- 1
How to Hang Stuff on Walls — A Complete Guide to Wall Fixings
How do you put up shelves, cupboards 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 13 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 Essential Tools You Need for DIY in Your Home
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.
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My passion is gardening, the outdoors, mountain biking, photography and all things mechanical and electrical being an engineer at heart!
I write on a variety of topics here including gardening, power tools (I'm a confessed addict), DIY, electronics, programming and other miscellaneous and unrelated stuff. So scroll down and see if there is anything that takes your fancy!
I'm a qualified engineer with a BSc(Eng) degree in electronics/electrical/control and instrumentation engineering and FETAC certified in industrial automation (mechatronics and pneumatics)
I have 30 years DIY experience using all sorts of power and hand tools and love providing advice on this topic.
My blog, "Eugene's DIY Den", is a miscellany including postings about gardening, tools, troubleshooting information, a list of support pages from where you can download instruction manuals for appliances and tools, and lots more. You can visit it at http://alltooltips.blogspot.com
My Facebook group "Talking Tools" is a platform for pros and newbies to talk about tools, share reviews and tips. Novices can ask questions and get help from more experienced members. This is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/203863340138801
I also have a blog about the Arduino open source microcontroller. That blog is at http://eugbugino.blogspot.ie/
My Twitter account is at https://twitter.com/EugenesDIYDen