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Home Improvement Today?

Discussion in 'Garage / Workshop' started by Hotdog, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. Oct 1, 2021 at 7:49 PM
    Toyko Joe

    Toyko Joe Here for the pictures

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    :thumbsup:
    If this is your first; they’ll change your life in ways you never knew possible. If it’s not your first still… either way Congratulations!
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2021
  2. Oct 2, 2021 at 5:28 AM
    Blue92

    Blue92 Well-Known Member

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    North Carolina
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    Learned a lot of valuable lessons this week, courtesy of Mr. Burglar.

    1. Never leave anything of value in the view of windows. I was so stupid for this.
    2. Dont blow off things that our out of place or think nothing of them. I was being cased and just didnt realize it until it was too late. Coming home last week to find my screen door popped open and the door knob (but not the deadbolt) unlocked should have been a major tip off. I simply thought I forgot to lock them that morning.
    3. Security should be the #1 investment after move in day. I moved in 3 months ago and thought I would get to installing cameras eventually. Unfortunately I have no footage or pics of the perp.

    In light of that, Im making a lot of improvements.

    1. Live feed cameras from Blink. I now get notified anytime a squirrel gets within 15 feet of my house.
    2. Laminated glass on the window they broke out. Should stop another brick. Its only one window, but its something.
    3. Window locks on all windows that arent to be used as points of exit in an emergency. My front windows are 8 feet off the ground so those arent an issue. My back windows can now only open 4 inches.
    4. Im looking at installing discreet iron bars on my back windows. A little overkill? Maybe. But as of now, I dont feel safe in my own home. Physical barriers are some of the best defense and that should alleviate my fear. Going to copy these. Shouldnt be too hard to weld up and anchor to the brick.
    Screenshot_20210929-030119.jpg

    5. Getting quotes from local security companies. Not my favorite idea to have someone else with the ability to look in your home, but Ill entertain the idea.
    6. Considering acquiring a large dog. I live alone, and I think a large Rottie/German Shep/Malinois/Dobermann will be a great defense to have. Just need to finish my fence.

    All in all, the perp was an idiot that left blood everywhere. On the window he broke out, on my bed (my pillow case is in the evidence locker), on some stuff he rifled through. The sheriff got a lot of evidence between that and all the hand/fingerprints. So the probability that they catch him is high, if hes a repeat offender. Unfortunately, the probability of getting my stuff back is super low but whatever. Its just things. All I can do is learn from it and move on.

    This can happen to anyone. Prepare accordingly and dont rely on the neighbors to prevent it (even the neighborhood nosy lady didnt see anything) and dont rely on the police to arrive in time.
     
  3. Oct 2, 2021 at 5:32 AM
    Babybluetaco

    Babybluetaco Well-Known Member

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    Austin
    Monroe, North Carolina
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    Trying to make the front of my house look a little better. Waiting on my mother in law to bring me some flowers to plant. Sprayed everything with round up before the pine needles.

    2FC23036-4F18-4A1D-BDC5-AE64C376D4A8.jpg
    6C5B906A-807F-4DBE-AA34-804F594E118D.jpg
     
  4. Oct 2, 2021 at 5:36 AM
    Babybluetaco

    Babybluetaco Well-Known Member

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    Monroe, North Carolina
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    I have ADT. Total waste of money. Last time my alarm went off (dogs barking) adt called an hour later to ask if everything was okay.
    Time before that my wife was home alone with my son I was at work it was late in afternoon and getting dark had some people knocking at the back bedroom window then the power went out. 45 minutes later they called to let us know the power was out and they would be dispatching the sheriffs office, but she had already called and there sheriff was standing there talking to her when adt called. Wouldn’t waste my money. Get a dog.

    I have a husky and a pit. If shit hit the fan I’d gladly send them on there last mission if it meant protecting my family.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2021
    jubei, theredofshaw, Kappes03 and 4 others like this.
  5. Oct 2, 2021 at 7:24 AM
    Pablo8

    Pablo8 Here!

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    Everson WA
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    OVT, 4.88, ADM, F&R ARB lock, KO2's, RWD L MOD
    Yesterday was the first sunny day in 5 so naturally it was NUTS TIME.

    Rest of the concrete poured - pics later.

    Bobcat ditcher rented and went to town.

    Even ZT'd the mound.
     
  6. Oct 2, 2021 at 8:55 AM
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    Sorry to hear.
     
    Drainbung likes this.
  7. Oct 2, 2021 at 10:06 AM
    velillen

    velillen Well-Known Member

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    I finally tried out WAGO connectors. Instead of the "normal" wire nuts. The WAGO 221 model specifically with the lever to lock/unlock. Have to say I love these things use wise. Connection seems pretty solid (cant pull the wire out) and was super quick and simple to use. Strip wire, insert, push lever down, done. Not that wire nuts are hard but they can be annoying IMO. Especially with "used" wire. They are a bit expensive compared to wire nuts but for a homeowner who doesnt need many they are definitely a nice option.

    O and if you want fun reads...go google WAGO vs wire nuts. Some of those forum threads are as good as Chevy vs Ford vs Toyota truck type ones lol.



    O and dont mind this example. Its very temporary as we are running more power to the garage. (going from a single 20amp 120v to 50amp 220v). Just needed to be able to turn the lights on in the garage (and the run is actually turned off at the breaker now).

    And some people shouldnt do home projects. Pretty sure the previous owner did this run. It was at least direct burial cable but was only buried ~3-6" in no conduit. Least that made it easy to pull out of the way for the excavator
     
  8. Oct 2, 2021 at 10:20 AM
    Dayman Karate

    Dayman Karate Well-Known Member

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    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/daymans-karate-class-but-you-wont-learn-nothin-4-link-lt-and-previous-iterations.755134/
    I noticed a lot of connectors like that in France. Not sure they use wire nuts at all. I’ve added some can lights that had that style and they’re a lot less trouble. Less work and chance to mangle the ends. Plus you see exactly how much contact you have and it’s uniform throughout the connection.
     
  9. Oct 2, 2021 at 10:21 AM
    velillen

    velillen Well-Known Member

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    I know WAGO is a German company. And a lot of threads about "wire nuts vs wago" turns into Americans saying wire nuts are better and Euro people saying they have used WAGo style connectors for years. Ive used a few of the light fixtures with them as well. Not the lever style but the push in style. This was just my first time using them outside of light fixtures and Im quite impressed. Id only ordered a "sample pack" but just ordered a bunch fore for the garage build
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2021
    Dayman Karate[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Oct 2, 2021 at 10:29 AM
    Toyko Joe

    Toyko Joe Here for the pictures

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    In j-boxes from instrumentation to field wires we always use wego connectors. Highly recommend.
     
  11. Oct 2, 2021 at 3:06 PM
    Pablo8

    Pablo8 Here!

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    Everson WA
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    2019 Cement Sport 4X4 MT AC
    OVT, 4.88, ADM, F&R ARB lock, KO2's, RWD L MOD
    Remote control dude for pumper
    clogpump-1.jpg

    ditch.jpg
     
  12. Oct 2, 2021 at 3:30 PM
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    Whats going in trench?
     
    Pablo8[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Oct 2, 2021 at 3:38 PM
    Pablo8

    Pablo8 Here!

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    2019 Cement Sport 4X4 MT AC
    OVT, 4.88, ADM, F&R ARB lock, KO2's, RWD L MOD
    Irrigation pipe 1" pvc. For hose spigots in to be garden areas.
     
  14. Oct 3, 2021 at 5:20 AM
    williams63

    williams63 Well-Known Member

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    chili
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    Sorry to hear this. Once you been broken into nothing is overkill. I grew up as a kid in a bad neighborhood. Never was broken into but they tried many times. My dad was good at keeping them out. I moved far from there up into NH. Makes me laugh that people around here don’t lock their doors.
     
  15. Oct 3, 2021 at 5:25 AM
    williams63

    williams63 Well-Known Member

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    I will second this. Had ADT installed when we first moved up here. Set it off by accident once and they never called. Among other problems we canceled it and about 2 months after we canceled they called because they go an alert from are alarm. Even though the entire system had been removed.
     
    Babybluetaco[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Oct 3, 2021 at 6:02 AM
    SRH

    SRH My horns hold up my halo

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    Anyone else thinkingo_O? From my walk this morning, not my house.
    0833AA55-0C6C-4E27-AFF3-092E503EE3F1.jpg
     
    Slashaar, MGMDesertTaco and wilcam47 like this.
  17. Oct 3, 2021 at 6:53 AM
    OffroadJet

    OffroadJet Well-Known Member

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    Thats wild but at least the kayaks have something to lean against. lmao
     
    wilcam47 and SRH[QUOTED] like this.
  18. Oct 3, 2021 at 6:59 AM
    SRH

    SRH My horns hold up my halo

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    Coming from a 15 year construction job, I noticed this immediately. It amazes me the things that should be so obvious go unnoticed to others. I almost feel bad for them…. Who was their contractor? :facepalm:
     
    Slashaar and wilcam47 like this.
  19. Oct 3, 2021 at 7:08 AM
    OffroadJet

    OffroadJet Well-Known Member

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    What state is this house? I can see if its in the north the water from the downspout will make the driveway a iceskating rink in the winter lol
     
    wilcam47 and SRH[QUOTED] like this.
  20. Oct 3, 2021 at 7:09 AM
    SRH

    SRH My horns hold up my halo

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    Northern Illinois, It’s a problem!
     
    OffroadJet[QUOTED] and wilcam47 like this.

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