Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with doityourself

How can I turn a mattress into a couch?

arnicae — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:27:21 -0800

I'm trying to create a convincing sofa/chaise out of a twin mattress, particularly one that resembles DWR's Vegas couch. I'm pretty lacking in crafting talent, but am willing to try anything. I really like Design Within Reach's Vegas couch for our office. The problem is, we already have a bed for me to sleep on - a twin tempur-pedic that I love. But I'd really like my office to look professional during the day. Any suggestions of how to turn a twin mattress into this?

Washing Machine: Boom!

greekphilosophy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:34:30 -0800

Was that a helicopter in my kitchen? No. It was the washing machine. Um. Help? I was just sitting here reading MetaFilter and drinking some coffee when I heard a terrible noise downstairs. The washing machine was on its final spin cycle, but was bucking around the kitchen. I turned it off immediately, and looked inside to find the basket just sitting there - no longer centered - and hanging in a sad sort of not-right kind of way.

1. I'd like to know what's going on and how to proceed.
2. I need to know if this is something I can fix myself. And if not, what do I need to tell my repairman so that she can bring the right tools/parts to make it go again?

Information:

It wasn't overloaded. I was doing a light load. But there was a rug in there, which I am willing to bet was a little lopsided.

The washer model is a Whirlpool Heavy Duty Thin Twin. (Stacked washer/dryer combo.)

Can I convert a boxcar into a house?

junipero — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:26:58 -0800

Can I convert a boxcar into a house? I have recently become very interested in the concept of living in a tiny house. I currently live in Houston, but have always enjoyed being on my own, in the middle of nowhere, and being self-sufficient.

I have looked into building a tiny house with a flatbed foundation that I can pull behind my car if I want to move, but I think I want something a little more innovative.

While I fancy myself a tad bit of a loner, it is still rather important for me to be near my family. My parents have just finished building a house in Santa Fe, NM, and will be spending about half of their time there, so I have been considering buying some land in rural New Mexico and putting a small house out there.

I recently saw a photograph of a boxcar converted into a house (I don't remember where I saw this picture). The boxcar had been cut at the seams and fashioned with motors that "unfolded" the boxcar into a six segment foundation. Furniture was fastened to the sides of the train car, and all fit together when it folded back up.

I have found a few boxcars for sale, ranging anywhere from $4500 to $25,000. I don't mind buying on the cheaper end, because I really can't imagine what features a $25,000 boxcar would have that would be to my advantage in this venture.

My question is this: as a VERY amateur do-it-yourselfer (who is also dedicated to her projects and loves to learn, work with her hands, and get dirty), is this something I could manage? I am a teacher during the day, so I have summers and holidays to put in the time. Money is not a major concern...I can spread this out into a long project, and I have a lot of support from my family. I don't need to fit the boxcar with motors to roll up the walls...a simple pulley system would suffice. I would prefer to do most of the work myself rather than contracting out because I really do want that sense of "I DID IT!"

A bonus, but certainly not required because I can't imagine a situation in which I would need this convenience, would be that the boxcar could still fold up and be transported in the same manner that any old boxcar woudl be transported...by train, ship, semi, etc...

Any other crazy small house ideas are more than welcome! I'm not terribly worried about plumbing or electricity...I could probably just get a generator and use some of my surface area for that, but ideally would like a solar panel system; and I could figure out the plumbing thing later...I would want to go ahead and install a bathroom, but I suppose this would have to work the same way as an RV tank system.

I guess I am mainly asking if this is feasible or if it is crazy/ridiculous/stupid. If the former, I would love further suggestions.

Sewing a dust-cover. No sewing experience. Looking for "good enough".

jjjjjjjijjjjjjj — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:04:01 -0800

I need to make a dust-cover for a plotter (dimensions: 36" x 11" x 10"). I would like it to be: cheap, easy, functional. I have no sewing experience, but can follow directions. I am also open to other suggestions. More detailed information and questions follow. I have no access to a sewing machine; and while I hold those who possess sewing skills in high regard, I would like to learn the absolute minimum it takes to complete this dust-cover in a satisfactory manner. It doesn't have to be beautiful, and it doesn't have to be particularly durable, it will be gently and infrequently used.

A couple of questions:
* What, in your opinion, is the best fabric to use?
* What materials do I need?
* Is there a cheap, pre-made alternative to sewing it myself (or something that can be converted to this purpose)?
* What are some design features that I not addressing or overlooking that will only become apparent to me after the product is made?

The physical dimensions are 36" x 11" x 10", and a photograph of the object in question can be found here. Will provide any additional information should anyone need it. Thanks a ton.

But HOW do I do it myself?

dersins — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:22:38 -0800

What's the best home-repair / fixit manual for someone with little-to-no experience in such matters? Also, web sites and / or blogs in the same vein? So I'm buying a house. It's an old house. I anticipate many things in it needing repair over the coming years-- some small, some large. I'm perfectly happy hiring a knowledgeable contractor to make major repairs, but if a doorknob falls off or a window pane cracks, I'd prefer to be able to make the repair myself.

The problem is, I've always been a renter. My version of do-it-yourself has involved calling the landlord or super and telling them something's come unstuck, or stuck, or fallen off, or busted, or whatever.

A brief perusal of the home repair section at Powell's has revealed to me that there are hundreds of books available for the novice home-fixit-person.

Some of these books probably suck. Others are probably OK. But some of them must be great, right? You might even say that some of them are indispensable? Which ones? How can I tell?

Also, any good / great / indispensable home-repair web sites or blogs you can suggest will be very useful to me as well.

Thanks in advance.

Electric car window won't stay up, how to fix?

jmitchell — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:27:09 -0800

Permanent, elegant solution for keeping an electric car window up? The cost to fix this at the dealer is prohibitive.

The car is a 2003 Buick Century. One of the back windows has stopped working, meaning we can no longer raise or lower the window via the switch. Worse yet, the glass pane of the window isn't stuck in up position, so it just keeps coming down.

I pulled the door cover off, to see if there was some was of propping the glass pane up, but it appears to be encase in the door frame itself, requiring heavy duty and expensive tools to get at.

We could stick plastic over it or do something similar but that is ugly and unsafe. Is there some way or method to simply pull the glass pane up manually and glue/seal it shut?

Frost forming in a frost free refrigerator.

kingjoeshmoe — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:41:56 -0800

Anyone know much about refrigerator repair? Frost is forming right around the ice tray on a frost free refrigerator. Easy fix, or do I call in the repairman? I have one of those side by side refrigerator freezers with an ice maker and water dispenser built in. Just about underneath, and to the front of the ice tray, frost has started forming. If left alone, it keeps growing and getting more solid. My freezer is supposed to be frost free, and until recently that was true. Frost also doesn't seem to be appearing anywhere else in the freezer.

The only thing that has changed recently with the freezer is I changed the water filter several months ago. I think there was at least a month gap between that and this frost growth though (I'm not the most perceptive person, so that could be wrong). I've already tried removing the ice tray and letting it melt. Frost comes back when I replace the ice tray. Also, though I'm not sure, frost may be forming even when it's not there. It's hard to tell because it happens slowly. Oh, and the area around this doesn't seem super packed in or anything.

So, can you help me?

DIY for the Non-Hardware-Elite

middleclasstool — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:42:43 -0800

DIY blogs that don't require you to be a goddamn logic board-soldering wizard? I could have sworn I saw a question about this a long time ago, but I searched the archives and even asked one of the mods, who had no memory of it. So I'll ask it:

I'm looking for DIY-project blogs and websites that don't require the electrical engineering proficiency of a site/publication like MAKE: and its related blog. I'm a programmer, so code projects are cool, but I'm crap at soldering and know squat about electronics and hardware hacks.

Particularly I'm looking for sites that have fun small-to-medium-sized projects (meaning cool bookcases are great, but not backyard sheds). Again, programming project ideas would be great, but I'm really looking for stuff I can build with my hands and my now not-unrespectable collection of power tools.

I know about instructables and finkbuilt and that's pretty much it. Ideas?

How to fix a paneled ceiling

schroedinger — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:50:39 -0800

How to fix acoustic ceiling panels and their light fixtures. Our low basement ceiling (maybe 6' high) is a frequent casualty of college parties and the drunken men that attend them. Panels are knocked out and two fixtures have fallen. What to do? As said, we have a very low ceiling in our basement. Lighting is provided by flourescent lights installed in large boxes the same size as the ceiling panels. Over the course of our residence in our rowhouse two of these fixtures have fallen (and possibly broken), the struts between the panels have become bent, and some of the ceiling panels themselves are destroyed. We'd like to fix this before moving out but aren't sure how. Has anyone had any experience? Is this a job for a professional repair man or electrician?

How can I find people who have designed their own homes?

It ain't over yet — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:23:57 -0800

How can I find people who have designed their own homes? I'm a magazine writer and I was recently assigned a piece on how to design your own house. I need to talk to people who have actually done this -- particularly if their house is in some way notable -- but am not sure how to go about finding them. Anyone know any good architecture/design forums where I could post a query? Or have other suggestions on how to track down DIY house designer types?

Foundations of DIY-culture.

Sreiny — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 07:42:21 -0800

Books that laid the groundwork for DIY-culture. What books, essays, articles laid the groundwork for the DIY ethos. Not just in the punk-rock DIY respect but in the current trend of DIY-arts and crafts, photography and projects. The Make magazines of the world.

Also I'm looking for earlier movements that inspired people to get out there and make things happen, in a broader sense.

Is there a canon of do it yourself?

Cell phone customization

ObscureReferenceMan — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 12:58:42 -0800

Useful sites (or your own hints/tips/tricks) for fiddling with my new cell phone? I just upgraded my LG cell phone from a VX6000 to a VX8100. The only thing the Verizon folks transfered over were my contacts. I'd like to transfer everything else (calendar, ringtones, photos, etc.) myself - as well as load my own mp3's from computer to phone. I've done some homework and found bitpim, a source for data cables, and some seemingly useful forums. But can you point me in the direction of other useful sites? Or throw in your own $.02?
(I searched AskMe, but didn't find much. I also googled, but there's a ton of stuff out there. And you all are so smart, and helpful, and good looking...)

What website has best home painting how-to?

Dennis Murphy — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 22:26:59 -0800

General home painting. Best website for how-to? I have a lot of repainting to do inside my house. Some over already painted walls, some over drywall, etc. I really could use a site that helped with brush choice, techniques, brush cleaning, choosing the right paint, etc. I've found a couple of sites, but they're either too technical or not detailed enough.

Bonus points if the site is a general 'fix it' site. Not showing how to put up a new roof, but how to fix a roof, not replace a sink, but how to fix a sink, that kind of thing.

Seeking Vendetta Mask DIY Suggestions

vanoakenfold — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 02:04:58 -0800

Any DIY guide links for making a wearable V for Vendetta Mask? I thought about getting some green floral foam and carving out the shape myself, layering some clear wrap over it to seal it and making a plaster-of-paris mold of the shape, smoothing it down, painting and clear-coating.. but surely there must be an easier way perhaps?

Are there any corny-plastic (no auctions plz) Vendetta masks current for sale online that I can use as a mold instead of carving it out myself?

I need help making my own glass coffee table!

autojack — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:08:58 -0800

I need some construction suggestions for making a glass-topped coffee table. I recently bought some speakers from a friend which turned out to be white van speakers. They sound pretty bad, but I didn't figure this out until I got them home. My friend is moving out of the country and basically needs to be rid of these, so I was trying to think of what else I could do with them (we renegotiated the price to 1/3 of what I paid him, so that's good). I realized that they would make a cool looking base for a coffee table. I'm really into music, and this would actually mesh with the rock-art theme of my apartment.

The cabinets are 27" tall and 15" wide. They have 12" woofers and smaller mids and tweeters, as well as gain knobs for high and low frequencies. They look pretty fancy... too bad they sound like crap. My idea is to lay them on their backs, with the drivers facing up, and then put a piece of glass over them. The cabinets have holes in them at their corners where the covers snap in, so I'm thinking that I will cut some dowels to fit into those holes and hold the glass a few inches above the speakers themselves. I don't plan to have the speakers hooked up at all.

I guess I have three basic questions:

1. Where can I get glass for the tabletop? I'm in San Francisco, if you know of a local place. Are there special kinds of glass that I should use for this purpose? Maybe something stronger/thicker than window glass? Can I get the edges beveled in some way to add a decorative flourish?
2. How can I keep the glass from sliding around? Since I'm not envisioning having anything to hold the glass at its edges, it seems like I would want to anchor it to the dowels somehow. I've thought of putting a rubber non-skid pad on the tips of the dowels, gluing the dowels to the glass somehow, or even having very small holes drilled in the glass, and then using small nails sticking out of the dowels to hold it in place.
3. Anything else I should know about? I've never tried to build anything like this before, but I think it'll be pretty cool if I can pull it off!

Help me die from eating my own homemade dark chocolate

bjork24 — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 22:01:32 -0800

Dark chocolate: is making it a feasible hobby? My wife and I love dark chocolate, but the process of breaking cocoa beans into nibs, grinding them, separating the cocoa butter, baking, forming, and indulging seems like a massive task to undertake in one's sparetime (although we're already quite experience at the "indulging"). Are there any hobbyist chocolateers that might recommend a way for us to make chocolate in a limited amount of space... and time?

Buying dark chocolate in bulk and reforming it seems like a copout, but is that as extensive as we can hope to get?

DIY Car Amp

Mach5 — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 17:34:54 -0800

My car stereo was recently stolen. Since all I used it for was to route my mp3 player through the RCA in's, and since I've been kicking myself to start doing some DIY electronics projects, I'd like to make my own amp rather then buy a new stereo. What would I need to do this project myself? So far I found is this and it's a bit over my head. The system in my car is the typical 4 speakers, and my aftermarket stereo was rated 45Wx4 and drove them pretty damn good. In short, what do I need to know, and where do I go and learn it? Does anyone have a recommendation for a good kit? I can solder, use a multimeter, and am familiar with basic electronics (at least from a theoretical standpoint).

DIY Furniture

callmejay — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 12:17:07 -0800

I'd like to build some furniture without advanced (or possibly any) woodworking skills. Say I wanted to make a basic chaise (seems easy enough) or a Stokke Ekstrem knockoff (harder.) What are some easy ways to put together some just-for-me modern furniture? For example, you can put together some simple stuff with PVC tubing, but it isn't very attractive and isn't that versatile. Are there easier materials/techniques to work with?

I have a question on learning programming if you have no programming experience.

TeamBilly — Sun, 30 Jan 2005 08:38:10 -0800

Inspired by this thread on programming languages, I have a question on learning programming if you have no programming experience. (more) I didn't want to derail the other thread because the poster had a very specific question which was answered comprehensively...

If someone wanted to make a complete career shift and begin teaching themselves to code from the ground up, what would be the recommended strategy? For example, I know HTML fairly well, but I also know that HTML is not, in the pure sense, a programming language.

So, aside from the possible "How to Code for Dummies" idea, I'm curious if the more experienced could point someone who has never written a line of compiled code in his life in the right direction. Thank you.

The plastic thingie on the tip of your shoelace

omidius — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 10:46:38 -0800

What's the plastic wrapper thing on the end of a shoelace called? Usually the first thing to go and almost always requires buying new laces. Is there a company that provides JUST those things?

Homemade salt dehumidifier?

Shane — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 16:01:32 -0800

I'm looking for and learning about energy-saving/environmentally-friendly clothes dryer alternatives. My (basement) dryer is inefficient and requires a good 6' - 8' to vent (again, inefficiently) outdoors. I'm thinking of getting a Spin Dryer, but still just occasionally using the regular dryer to finish larger loads after the Spin. For the regular dryer I'm thinking of using an indoor dryer vent, but I'd like to limit the added humidity with a homemade salt dehumidifer. Anyone have experience making one? Can I just put the indoor dryer vent in a big plastic tub with some road salt to trap the moisture, maybe with some filtration media instead of the tub's lid to allow for some air escape? Or something somesuch? Does this plan sound okay so far?