The Home Improvement Thread

[CroFlames]

Hey guys I’m looking to take my shop to the next level and want to get a thickness Planer.

I obviously don’t want one of those industrial $4000 beasts, (well I mean I do) but I also don’t want to be stuck with garbage.

Busy Bee tools has a Craftex CX series Planer for about $570. Wonder how it holds up vs the dewalt Planer for $750.

[surferguy]

I’ve bought my DW735 (I think is the model) used for 500. I’ve had it for 7 years now and it’s been great for me. I find I can get at least 3 sharpens out the blades before you have to go new.

[sa226]

I looked for a planer for a looong time. Mainly because I was looking for used. But if someone is selling one it goes fast. I ended up stacking some discounts and got the porter cable one from Lowes for 350$

Depending on what you're doing a lunchbox planer isn't really a precision tool. There's always going to be sanding afterwards. The problem is snipe. I don't know much about the craftex one but you can kind of get an idea just by looking at the design of the tool and compare it to others to get an idea what you're dealing with. For example my Porter Cable is an almost carbon copy of the old Delta planer. The blades are interchangeable too. Now the new Craftsman one that Lowes is selling bares a striking resemblance to the PC and the Delta before it.

Anyway if thats your budget. You can't go wrong with the Dewalt 735, its popular for a reason. When I was shopping, for price to value I zeroed in on the Dewalt 734.

The funny thing is, even down to the Mastercraft one from crappy tire, they all accomplish the same thing. It comes down to 3 things. Snipe, replacement blades and dust collection.

If you're a hobbyist, go cheaper. If you're planing hundreds of board feet per week, go for the DW 735.

TL;Dr I recommend the DW734 for a good price to value .

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

[surferguy]

I mostly use mine for cutting boards so I built a small sled out of melamine that runs over the deck. It make the in feed and out feed longer “reducing snipe”. It still exists but for my applications I end up just sanding it out anyway

[sa226]

I had a quick look at the craftex planer. Just looking at the picture, it looks very similar to my Porter Cable with some better dust collection.

I know I pulled the classic internet ruse of recommending something you didn't ask for, but if you didn't consider it, I would definitely go for the Dewalt 734 over the craftex.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

[Torture]

Anybody have a guess as to what this is for?

Https://imgur.com/a/YSePFKI

In my side yard right by the house and in the middle of the walkway, doesn't seem to daylight anywhere that I can find. I stuck a garden hose down it and turned it on and have no idea where it went. It seems to head beside and away from the house but I don't know where to House was constructed in 2006.

My guess is that the downspout that is nearby at one time went into it and the previous home owner moved it....to the top of the basement stairs which is well, inconvenient. Can I stick my downspout into it without flooding my house? Presumably they had some reason to stop using it though, maybe it's clogged? Can I cut and seal it off? How would I go about finding out where it goes and what it does?

[Wormius]

You need to fix the image.

[Wormius]

That looks like what my neighbours have. They run all the way to the back where the drainage channel is. Maybe check where it ends up or if it’s in the blueprints.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That looks like what my neighbours have. They run all the way to the back where the drainage channel is. Maybe check where it ends up or if it’s in the blueprints.

Not really sure how to check where it goes aside from digging (although blueprints aren't a bad idea). Digging is going to be required anyways since the grade on the side is sloping towards the house so that will likely eventually solve the mystery.

Neighbour has a similar drain from their downspout that goes along the property line and daylights and the front of the house. Mine goes towards the back somewhere but I'd be hesitant to stick a downspout down it before figuring out where it leads as obviously somebody changed it at some point and maybe they had a reason for that...?

[Wormius]

You could try shoving a garden hose into it and see if it eventually pops out somewhere or gets stuck. If it’s close to the surface you could prod it with A bbq skewer or something not too sharp to see if you can follow its path.

Few reasons why somebody would not longer use it or neglect to put the downspout back in it - maybe the gutters were replaced or they got a rain barrel and didn’t bother to put the downspout back in after. Or it’s clogged with pebbles / leaves.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sa226

I had a quick look at the craftex planer. Just looking at the picture, it looks very similar to my Porter Cable with some better dust collection.

I know I pulled the classic internet ruse of recommending something you didn't ask for, but if you didn't consider it, I would definitely go for the Dewalt 734 over the craftex.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

I may have convinced the missus to allow me to get the 735 instead of 734.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Shopping for a corner vanity, got into a deep hole looking online. Bunch of particleboard China imports...

Called around, for the same price I can pick my own nice sink and Moen tap, and have a local cabinet shop make one for me. I just have to do a bit more than click and enter my credit card number. Shop local!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Torture

Anybody have a guess as to what this is for?

Https://imgur.com/a/YSePFKI

In my side yard right by the house and in the middle of the walkway, doesn't seem to daylight anywhere that I can find. I stuck a garden hose down it and turned it on and have no idea where it went. It seems to head beside and away from the house but I don't know where to House was constructed in 2006.

My guess is that the downspout that is nearby at one time went into it and the previous home owner moved it....to the top of the basement stairs which is well, inconvenient. Can I stick my downspout into it without flooding my house? Presumably they had some reason to stop using it though, maybe it's clogged? Can I cut and seal it off? How would I go about finding out where it goes and what it does?

Any chance this is similar to DoubleF's situation, and conclusion was it's a vent line to the weeping tile at the footing?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Torture

Anybody have a guess as to what this is for?

Https://imgur.com/a/YSePFKI

In my side yard right by the house and in the middle of the walkway, doesn't seem to daylight anywhere that I can find. I stuck a garden hose down it and turned it on and have no idea where it went. It seems to head beside and away from the house but I don't know where to House was constructed in 2006.

My guess is that the downspout that is nearby at one time went into it and the previous home owner moved it....to the top of the basement stairs which is well, inconvenient. Can I stick my downspout into it without flooding my house? Presumably they had some reason to stop using it though, maybe it's clogged? Can I cut and seal it off? How would I go about finding out where it goes and what it does?

Whether it is an air vent or drainage is unsure without more context, but I'd guess it's one of the two.

I think one way I remember someone suggesting to find the end was to use sound. Play music or make a distinct sound play into the tube and try to find where the sound comes out on the other side.

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Any chance this is similar to DoubleF's situation, and conclusion was it's a vent line to the weeping tile at the footing?

I'm leaning towards vent as well, but if it's weeping tile, shouldn't it be closer to the house as opposed to what looks like a fence? If it's drainage, maybe it's closer to french drain as opposed to weeping tile if it's closer to a fence? But would it need a vent like that in that situation?

For my situation, yes, I think the most logical conclusion is that it was some sort of weeping tile ventilation, even if many aspects about it (size, design etc.) that doesn't make sense.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Shopping for a corner vanity, got into a deep hole looking online. Bunch of particleboard China imports...

Called around, for the same price I can pick my own nice sink and Moen tap, and have a local cabinet shop make one for me. I just have to do a bit more than click and enter my credit card number. Shop local!

I’m finding the same with my kitchen cabinets. My kitchen’s tiny anyway.
I’m doing beadboard cabinets in very light blue on the bottom, and linen Shaker on the top. A couple of the cabinets will be Merillat, and the rest will be matched to those by the cabinetmaker (have to use every inch possible in my kitchen). The pantry will be made by the cabinetmaker. Then Cambria countertops. I was deciding between that and Silestone Stellar Snow, but I kinda like the wave of color against the white in the Cambria.

I went with Moen fixtures in my bathroom as well, and will do so in the kitchen, too.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

I’m finding the same with my kitchen cabinets. My kitchen’s tiny anyway.
I’m doing beadboard cabinets in very light blue on the bottom, and linen Shaker on the top. A couple of the cabinets will be Merillat, and the rest will be matched to those by the cabinetmaker (have to use every inch possible in my kitchen). The pantry will be made by the cabinetmaker. Then Cambria countertops. I was deciding between that and Silestone Stellar Snow, but I kinda like the wave of color against the white in the Cambria.

I went with Moen fixtures in my bathroom as well, and will do so in the kitchen, too.

Big fan of Silestone but Quartz is definitely the best countertop material you can get. Stellar Snow is a little intense once installed... good call.
(Installed stone and corian countertops for 2 years).

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Big fan of Silestone but Quartz is definitely the best countertop material you can get. Stellar Snow is a little intense once installed... good call.
(Installed stone and corian countertops for 2 years).

Ya it seemed like something I’d get tired of after awhile. Plus the lines in the Cambria remind of the beach- the waterlines and dunes.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Whether it is an air vent or drainage is unsure without more context, but I'd guess it's one of the two.

I think one way I remember someone suggesting to find the end was to use sound. Play music or make a distinct sound play into the tube and try to find where the sound comes out on the other side.



I'm leaning towards vent as well, but if it's weeping tile, shouldn't it be closer to the house as opposed to what looks like a fence? If it's drainage, maybe it's closer to french drain as opposed to weeping tile if it's closer to a fence? But would it need a vent like that in that situation?

For my situation, yes, I think the most logical conclusion is that it was some sort of weeping tile ventilation, even if many aspects about it (size, design etc.) that doesn't make sense.

It's close to the house, the fence, and that's actually the gate that you see in the picture. Narrow inner-city side yard.

Interesting idea on the sound, I'll try that out. Going to try that and some digging after work today. Didn't find any clues on the house blueprints.
Is it a correct assumption that if it's ventilation it would it be going more down than parallel to the surface when I start digging?

[Fuzz]

It's probably just a French drain under or beside the pavers, and ends in gravel. If it is a narrow lot it's probably just to move water away from the foundation.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's probably just a French drain under or beside the pavers, and ends in gravel. If it is a narrow lot it's probably just to move water away from the foundation.

If it was a french drain that would make my decision on where to move that downspout so much easier so I'm really hoping it is. Right now it runs alongside the path and ends at the top of the basement stairs (and then of course, runs down the stairs) which is not only colossally stupid for drainage but also in the way...

I guess what I'm looking for is how I'd confirm if that's the case?