CULTURE OF DOING

Servicing my condensing boiler

Having run out of other automotive and home projects for the moment, I recently turned my attention to some long overdue servicing on the...

cultureofdoing

Oct 2, 20233 min read

Replacing a "rear propshaft" seal

After doing a complete timing belt job recently, I thought I'd take it easy and tackle something a bit less involved: replacing the...

cultureofdoing

Jul 17, 20212 min read

The "timing belt job from hell"

I've borrowed the title of this post from the YouTuber and mechanic whose channel is called "Ratchets and Wrenches." In the 21 years I've...

cultureofdoing

Jul 6, 20213 min read

Replacing inner CV joint boots

I've only had my Quickjacks for a few months now, but they are already almost paying for themselves. So far, I've done some transmission...

cultureofdoing

Mar 25, 20212 min read

Elevating my DIY game to a new level

I've been wanting a set of Quickjacks for a long time, and I finally got one for my cars this past Christmas. The Quickjacks quite...

cultureofdoing

Jan 21, 20213 min read

Effervescent about removing efflorescence

Efflorescence may sound like some pop band (think "Evanescence"), but it is not (although it may be just as vulgar). I recently noticed...

cultureofdoing

Jan 1, 20212 min read

I'm not a hoarder, Part 2

If you've seen pictures of my basement, you might be wondering, "Why does he have so much crap? Is he a hoarder?" No! As I've posted...

cultureofdoing

Jan 1, 20211 min read

Worse than a lump of coal: A sump pump failure for Christmas

I woke up on Christmas morning to find an alert on my mobile that my basement water leak sensor had been triggered overnight. Not having...

cultureofdoing

Jan 1, 20213 min read

"One word: Plastics"

That line from the 1967 classic "The Graduate" seems to have become one of the most memorable in cinematic history for literary reasons...

cultureofdoing

Sep 13, 20204 min read

I installed a modern anachronism

The mailbox will one day go the way of the pay phone and Blockbuster stores. Nonetheless, I thought I needed a mailbox for my new house,...

cultureofdoing

Sep 2, 20203 min read

Flat roofs need scarecrows

I've previously written about how specifying a roof hatch was a no-brainer when I was building my house -- because one never knows when...

cultureofdoing

Jul 10, 20201 min read

I used binder clips to create a very versatile window cleaning tool

My modern house has 32 windows. More than half of them are large floor-to-ceiling windows. Cleaning the windows is a chore in and of...

cultureofdoing

Jul 1, 20203 min read

I used my automotive hydraulic trolley jack for a plumbing project

My Craftsman trolley lifting jack that I use on my cars came in quite handy for a plumbing project today. Backing up a bit: I wanted to...

cultureofdoing

May 31, 20202 min read

I’m not a hoarder/“If you want it done right, do it yourself” Part 3

My basement is key to my home maintenance needs When you’re stuck at home on the first day of a COVID-19 lockdown with not much to do,...

cultureofdoing

Mar 16, 20202 min read

Making Surround Sound Speakers Portable...

... using an Ikea clothes rack When most people look at this Ikea Rigga clothes rack, they see a clothes rack. I see a chassis for a...

cultureofdoing

Jan 2, 20203 min read

Up on the Roof

Making use of my roof hatch When designing my new house, there was little question that it would have a flat roof for a thoroughly modern...

cultureofdoing

Dec 29, 20191 min read

Plastic, Plastic, Everywhere

The Container Store's Titan resin cabinet is a Rube Goldberg explosion of plastic parts I'm not usually daunted by furniture requiring...

cultureofdoing

Nov 18, 20192 min read

"IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF," PART II

How I passed Arlington County's stringent stormwater management facilities standards with flying colors As a follow-on to my first post...

cultureofdoing

Nov 15, 20192 min read

WALL SWITCH PLATE LABELS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE CRAP

How my "krauter" car sticker mods led to an aesthetic home interior design solution I often find "synergies" between my experience...

cultureofdoing

Nov 12, 20191 min read

"IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF"

How I had to fix my general contractor's total f*ck-up. My first blog post is about the wisdom of the Do-It-Yourselfer's mantra that "if...

cultureofdoing

Nov 11, 20192 min read