Author Topic: What you Buy or DIY show off thread  (Read 1786330 times)

Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6400 on: May 10, 2019, 03:19:44 pm »
That's the confusing bit. I should hear either a contact close (unless it's a mercury switch), or air release. I can't hear either. That's why I think it's failed. Well that, and the heat just cranks out of it.

I think you're right Mark. I've been poking around, And I think it likely is pneumatic. Dang.

I'd have to replace it with something like Johnson Controls WT-4000 if I want to control it properly. And they're pricey.

This is all guess work on my part

They may have turned the compressor off for the air for the summer , not sure when building switch off their boilers in Hell, oooops I mean Winnipeg 😄
Your heating cost must be part of your common area cost, I would check with the building manager to see if they take of the complete heating system

Offline KD

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6401 on: May 10, 2019, 04:14:11 pm »
Not as nice as vmans bathroom...but, re-did our main entrance.

Nice work BWII.  :thumbup: 


Looks great man!!
Well done!

Thanks.  I'm no pro, but I get a little pleasure out of doing things myself. Finally bought myself some new sawblades too, and one with more than 20 teeth - ripper blades are good, but wow, 40 or 60 whatever it was...ok, now THAT'S how you cut trim/MDF and nice wood!  We ended up painting the stairs with that concrete stuff, Granite Grip, it looks good, hope it's as tough as it feels.  No more slipping on wet steps.  Might get stuck though and fall face first now.

Next up my wife wants to put these on the ceiling... :P ::)  Something like this https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ceilume-cambridge-2-ft-x-2-ft-lay-in-or-glue-in-white-ceiling-tile/1000718940
Problem is our house is about as square as Ontario.  Can be out over an inch at 12-14'.  No fixing that.

I'd look at getting a slicker outlet to fit in better with all the wood trim. I have the Legrand Adorne and Hubarton Forge in my house: https://www.legrand.ca/adorne.aspx

Has that stuff ever gotten pricey over the years.  :o We bought some fixtures from them for our bath reno a few years ago and I couldn't believe how much it went up in price since our last order from them.  LAst time our money was almost at par with the US so it was much cheaper then.  Nice stuff though.  If we ever move to another place that Hubbardton stuff is coming with us...lol.

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6402 on: May 10, 2019, 04:39:25 pm »
That's the confusing bit. I should hear either a contact close (unless it's a mercury switch), or air release. I can't hear either. That's why I think it's failed. Well that, and the heat just cranks out of it.

I think you're right Mark. I've been poking around, And I think it likely is pneumatic. Dang.

I'd have to replace it with something like Johnson Controls WT-4000 if I want to control it properly. And they're pricey.

This is all guess work on my part

They may have turned the compressor off for the air for the summer , not sure when building switch off their boilers in Hell, oooops I mean Winnipeg 😄
Your heating cost must be part of your common area cost, I would check with the building manager to see if they take of the complete heating system

Yeah, heat is included in the condo fee. Winters being what they are here, it's a pretty good deal.
I'll have to get in touch with management, I guess. 
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

H. L. Mencken

Offline rrocket

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6403 on: May 10, 2019, 06:50:55 pm »


Since we have a very small yard....



Perfect candidate for robo mower.
How fast is my 911?  Supras sh*t on on me all the time...in reverse..with blown turbos  :( ...

Offline Great_Big_Abyss

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6404 on: May 10, 2019, 09:57:58 pm »
The stepsons video card in his computer died yesterday.  No surprise, it was a relatively ancient HD7950 that had been used for cryptocurrency mining early in its life.

Anyway, I bought (well he paid for it using money he had saved) a new MSI RX570 that was on sale for $159.99 at Memory Express.  I went and picked it up today and installed it.  It's not the most powerful new video card, but it was in his budget, and it is still a significant upgrade (both in performance and efficiency) over his old card.

Offline Great_Big_Abyss

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6405 on: May 11, 2019, 07:59:38 pm »
So today's project was a DIY bike/canoe rack for the trailer.  Total cost was zero $$$.  I already had the bike trays, and the lumber was reject lumber from work.  And old exterior paint I had laying around.  I do need to buy two more bike trays, so I'm going to keep my eye out on Kijiji for a deal. 

Bikes on the outside, canoe in the middle.


Offline Great_Big_Abyss

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6406 on: May 12, 2019, 06:35:05 pm »
So, after building my homemade rack, I was checking on Kijiji for another couple of bike trays, and lo-and-behold somebody had just posted a SportRack meant for pop-ups.  It's like it was meant to be.  So, now I have the real thing!!!




Offline KD

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6407 on: May 12, 2019, 06:41:08 pm »
Good ole serendipity.  :fiver:

Offline Solstice2006

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6408 on: May 13, 2019, 08:55:03 pm »
Not wanting or willing to step up to the elite world of Yeti and other coolers, found this one which sits above basic and below elite but at a reasonable price. Will be taking it for a test run for a week of camping very soon. Also have to love Amazon Prime shipping, less than 24 hours from when I ordered it.

Igloo BMX 52



Where you going camping?

About 25 of us heading to Pinery soon. 

Offline quadzilla

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6409 on: May 14, 2019, 02:18:21 pm »
Where you going camping?

About 25 of us heading to Pinery soon.

Just got off the phone cancelling my Pinery reservation.  :rofl2:

Either Acadia NP or near Lake Placid. I need to decide today so I can book something. Weather just isn't working out like I was hoping.

Have fun at the Pinery, great park.

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6410 on: May 15, 2019, 08:45:21 am »
I've got the HVAC contractor that's familiar with the building to come by later today to replace the thermostat.

Speaking with the management company, the pneumatic system can be a bit finicky and that was what they'd prefer.

No springing for a programmable pneumatic one though, $800+. WTF?

Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6411 on: May 15, 2019, 09:03:32 am »
I've got the HVAC contractor that's familiar with the building to come by later today to replace the thermostat.

Speaking with the management company, the pneumatic system can be a bit finicky and that was what they'd prefer.

No springing for a programmable pneumatic one though, $800+. WTF?

The cost to change the system to electronic controls would be pricey
Installing New control valves, with wiring for the building would raise your condo fee by a lot
A lot of buildings got burnt with the first couple of generation of electronic controls
Now they are really good

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6412 on: May 15, 2019, 10:31:33 am »
The building seems pretty well run. Condo fees are very reasonable and the building is kept up.

It's structured as a nonprofit coop, which helps. 

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6413 on: May 15, 2019, 09:53:00 pm »
$250 for a new analog thermostat, plus 1 hour call out. $350 plus tax for a thermostat.  :(

But at least the heat is off now.


Offline Great_Big_Abyss

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6414 on: May 15, 2019, 09:55:17 pm »
Pneumatic thermostat controls?  How do those work?

Is it because you have hot water heat?

Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6415 on: May 15, 2019, 09:59:15 pm »
$250 for a new analog thermostat, plus 1 hour call out. $350 plus tax for a thermostat.  :(

But at least the heat is off now.


I would have thought it was covered your condo cost

At least it was only $100 for a service call , lucky it wasn't more

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6416 on: May 15, 2019, 10:02:07 pm »
Pneumatic thermostat controls?  How do those work?

Is it because you have hot water heat?

Hot water baseboards and a central boiler. Zone heat is controlled by an air actuated valve. The thermostat allows air pressure to flow to a diaphram valve to open it and allow hot water to circulate. When the room is up to temperature, the air pressure is cut at the thermostat, and a spring in the hot water valve closes cutting off the circulation of hot water.

It's an old system prior to electric solenoid valves being really reliable.

Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6417 on: May 15, 2019, 10:02:40 pm »
Pneumatic thermostat controls?  How do those work?

Is it because you have hot water heat?
Also can work on air systems , usually with pneumatic VAV boxes , and pneumatic motorized dampers

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6418 on: May 15, 2019, 10:05:25 pm »
$250 for a new analog thermostat, plus 1 hour call out. $350 plus tax for a thermostat.  :(

But at least the heat is off now.


I would have thought it was covered your condo cost

At least it was only $100 for a service call , lucky it wasn't more

Fees don't include stuff inside the unit essentially, except for leaks and such.

Offline rrocket

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Re: What you Buy or DIY show off thread
« Reply #6419 on: May 15, 2019, 10:15:56 pm »
So when the shackles of your BDSM system pulls out of the walls you're on the hook?