Home Improvement Today?

Progress! After going at the hill with a pick axe for 4 hours and getting about 4 feet last week, I decided to rent the back hoe again and went at it for 14 hours on Saturday. Finished up at the front wall edge and will now muscle to level for the top wall edge. The dirt is a lot more flaky and will break apart much more easier than the bottom section.

 

Used vinegar and steel wool to age the cart.

 

Seems like a strange way to do it... Never heard of that before. Looks cool though!

 

You soak the steel wool in vinegar for 24 hrs. Then remove the steel wool. Then just brush it on. It goes on clear and changes color in about 5-10 minutes. The mixture will darken the wood. You want a wood that has some natural non-white color to it, like redwood or red oak. White woods like birch or pine don't change color as much.

 

Putty and paint make it what it ain't. Pulled up the old nasty carpet and found the original hardwood floors in decent shape to boot.

 

not improving my home, but these are a neat alternative to retrofitting pot lights, Standard Products 6" downlight.
14.3W dimmable LED, overall depth 2 1/4". mounts in a 4" deep box (or existing 5" and 6" pots)

 

What is the advantage of those over just installing a LED PAR30 bulb ?

 

Looks good, what color stain are you using? I have been looking into doing some distressed/aged pieces. I am working on getting some cedar and black locust pulled out of the swamps and rivers in florida.

 

cheaper vs buying a rough in, baffle, and LED lamp (my cost ~$65).
much easier to retrofit in an insulated space.
if you already have pots then an LED lamp is the better option.

 

Gotcha

 

Had the driveway cleaned and sealed. ahh the asphalt is black and pretty again.

 

Quick question since we're kind of on it...

I've got these "Smarthome" dimmable switches throughout my house. Before I got here all lamps were incandescent. I've put in some "dimmable" flourescent flood bulbs in some cans and the dimming doesn't work worth a shit. Would LEDs work better or would I need different switches because of the wattage difference?

 

standard dimmers (for incandescent lamps) are not compatible with dimmable CFLs and LEDs.
you will need a dimmer that is marked for CFLs and LEDs, like this\/\/\/
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-D...r-White-DVWCL-153PH-WH/203490337#.Ug7bZZKsiSo

...unless you like having the strobe light option.

 

Installed a new Larson storm door, little pricey at $297 after taxes, but has much more quality feel and hardware than the competition. Pretty easy install overall.

 

Figures

 

There is no stain on it. The steel wool and vinegar mixture makes it that color (it goes on clear and starts turning in about 5 minutes). The wood is redwood. The mixture works best for a non-white wood that has some color to it (e.g. Birch and pine don't change color much). It would probably work well with cedar.

 

So this is for an installation where I want to add a new light?

I have been thinking about adding some pot lights in my living room. This looks like a good option. Where do you get them?

 

Added a sliding top to the cart. I used the vinegar and steel wool mixture to age the wood.




I put some polyurethane on the top which brought out the darker color. I also added a spot to hold plastic wrap. I took the serrated edge from the plastic wrap box and attached it to the bottom of the cart for tearing off a sheet.

 

I ordered them from my electrical supplier. best bet would be to find an electrical supplier in your area that carries Standard Products.

http://www.standardpro.com/en/e-catalog
click light emitting diodes -> downlights -> 61507

 

The wife and I painted the family room last night to brighten it up (too much brown). It's a moss green. The wood really drank up the paint. It took 1.5 gallons to do the room.