More How to Videos?

Well why not?

It's been raining daily and unbearable hot so I'm trying to stay busy doing small projects and using my old desktop to create these how to videos!   I whipped up a little intro Using Windows Movie Maker, and found some royalty free music, so I'm learning!  I really should name my effort "rough cutz"  I've been revving up my You Tube Skilz! I now have 18 subscribers, I'm no Bob Wells, I do projects out of necessity so may as well share the info, someone may stumble over these and it could be useful.  The problem is I need a video editor that works with MPG4, my Panasonic makes MPG4 clips...while My Kodak makes AVI and that works well with Windows Movie Maker but lately it won't stay on... the online editor I used hammered the quality of the video.  Hopefully I can figure something out on that, if I was more organized to make the entire video in one clip..but that's hard it's like TAKE ONE, now TWO, now THREE...etc.

Casey somewhere in TX

I had to do some reworking of my bug screens.  Mainly because the plastic magnet holders I originally used kept falling apart and losing the magnets. While on the road I repaired a couple using duct tape and it worked so well I figured wtheck, I'd just do all of them that same way! It's not glamorous and nothing about my life is so it fits right in.  Meanwhile here's the 2 clips I made on van screening needs.  I had to combine 4 clips to get this video together. You Tube discontinued the ability to combine clips I suppose that happened when Google bought them?

Tools needed: 2 sheer curtain panels, 6 heavy duty bar magnets, 12 light duty disc or bar magnets,  2 in wide duct tape, (you can tear or cut the duct tape into pieces) 

The cabin window screens are a no sew project so even if you don't have a sewing machine, or sewing skills you can make these screens. I fiddled up some illustrations using my PSP to illustrate how I did it...I've had these about 3 yrs and I decided to remove the plastic magnet holders and use the duct tape on these so this is a remake....and here is how I did it, and these are simply for utility if you want yours to look great then you can finish the edges better than I did.  I have been using these screens for about 3 yrs They work perfectly.  In this video I totally forgot to attach my intro..like I said Rough Cutz! 

Tools:

Screening, scissors, 2" wide duct tape, tape measure, and 3 magnets for each door, 

this should only take 1/2 an hour or less to do 2 screens!  I saw some people paid up to $20 each for professionally made screen..why do that when you can Do it Yourself??

             

Once I get to traveling again I hope to make more videos on location! I do see people are interested in locations and I'm sorry now I didn't do many location videos...I probably won't get back to many of the places I've already been!  Something to look forward to and give me hope!!  Stay cool if you can!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

I did it myself!

to learn how to take your dryer apart search it up on You Tube  

Most of the time I use a clothes line.  It's cheap! But when it's humid in summer, you can hang your wet clothes out for days and it will never dry it will however sour and mildew! In Winter your wet clothes will freeze I have had this happen, it's really funny when you can stand your pants up in the corner.  LoL. So that means a clothes dryer comes in handy.   This is the set I purchased in the 90's so they are kinda old. For the most part, still working. Except the dryer got soooo hot I couldn't even touch it. Needless to say I couldn't use it.   (tumble drum---->)

(<----thermostat compnent)

A dryer is a very simple machine.  It has a control center at top...mine has 3 switches the temperature selector, the start button, and the cycle timer switch. Then the cabinet on mine is like one piece of metal bent to a 3 sided configuration, then the front with the door attached, and the top...inside you have the drum it simply sits in there is turned by a motor and a belt much like in your car only smaller. 

There's 2 thermostats in the dryer one in the door, and one on top of the heating element this big round thing. So the problem according to my research could be the heating element is broken somewhere along the way and touching the cabinet and being grounded...or the thermostat is stuck open and not working. There's 2 of them I replaced one with a used one I found for $2.  I hope it works..and the other I ordered a replacement on Ebay. I made some notes to remind me what wire goes where and I took photos.  The heating element was not broken so I think it's the thermostat stuck in the open position, such a silly thing it has a bit of metal in it when it reaches 250 F it opens to cool the tempt down, then it cycles on and off in this way...so it can get stuck...and I believe that is the problem.  You can not see this piece of metal it is sealed in the component. 

(control center ------->)

This is the control center from the back (top photo) showing the 3 electrical components, I had to replace the one on the end the shaft was broken off the temperature  selector knob, I accidentally broke if off when I was moving the dryer out of the house...I got a used one at the appliance store downtown for $10.  

Wish I could repaint this control panel but then all the graphics would be gone, so it looks okay and will have to do! I probably could find a replacement one but that is simply cosmetic. 

the heating element 

The heating element of this Hotpoint Dryer (General Electric) is attached from the inside in the very back you have to completely disassemble the unit to get at it! Some have the heating element right at the back for easy access.  

                        the motor                                                                                the belt tension pulley

I decided to paint it while it was apart, the almond color does not go well in my quirky Laundry/Solarium Room so I wanted stainless steel.  I didn't do a perfect job on the paint but it's not bad looking either.  Here's the top getting it's second coat.  I cleaned out all the dust bunnies of which there were many!! I took the cabinet outside and actually used my air compressor with blow off connection and blew it all out! 

Painting the top & cabinet 

This is the fan, its sucks the air down through the lint trap, and then out through the vent pipe, and then out to the outside.  I gave it a good cleaning out.  Once I got the cabinet painted and while waiting on the thermostat to arrive I began the reassembly.  I can get to the top thermostat with the top of the cabinet off.  So I put the drum back in you simply sit it in and on back of the drum is a spindle, and it fits into the hole in the center of the heating element.  The belt goes around the drum then onto the shaft of the motor and the tension pulley keeps the belt taught so the drum is pulled around by the spinning belt! I tested it by rotating by hand, it glides around smoothly.

the drum back in place

I didn't take a before shot! But I intend to paint the washer too so I'll do a before on it they look identical.  That is the washer in the background, it will be moved when everything is done in this room.  

  

the front panel with door reattached 

Once the thermostat arrived it took me 2 seconds to install it!  I then put the top back on and fed the wiring harness up through the top and attached the wires in the correct place to the back of the control center.  

The control center attaches to the top and now it's ready to test.  Not one screw was left over but honestly there is very little holding these things together, all you need are a couple of screw drivers one with a star head a straight, and a phillips, and then a couple sizes of nut drivers.   I used a small battery powered screwdriver, and just changed out the bits as needed.  

              

IT WORKS! I dried a load of sheets...the only problem is some black marks got on the sheets..I hope that goes away in time...I had to re-level the drye it was not sitting level...so Another $80 saved in this case more like $180.  My estimate. (service call probably $100 he wanted to charge me $40 for a $12 component, and the other parts he would have gouged me for those too... My cost was $10 for the used selector switch, $2 for the used door thermostat, I got the main thermostat for a bid of $12.50 free shipping, 3 cans of stainless paint $15.  So I did it for about $40 give or take....And some of that paint goes to the washer.  I probably should of waited till I had the washer done too before posting this but one Appliance make over is about like any other...the washer is only getting a paint job. 

I will try to remember to take an after photo when it's all back in place, that could be a while! 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Waiting on the World to Change

My World that is!!

...so most regular readers know I am trying to get my home and grounds back up to snuff after many years of neglect started in 2012 after the divorce decree!  So next on the list (altho it needs a new roof and a new HVAC unit), Im going ahead and doing some of the things I can do on my own or with minimal help and investment.

The shed is an eye sore! This shot shows how close it is to the house...its not normally THIS junky around  it I'm dragging stuff out in prep for the "TAKE DOWN" 

Its currently about 9 x 9...with a lean-to side of an additional 8 ft x 12 ft. an "L" shaped building I dn't need it to be that big. I used to have 2 riding mowers one died so its gone, I have 2 bicycles I only need one, so one is going soon...and there is more of my X's old cast off stuff that is going now that I am ready to tackle this job.  

As the house grew, with the porch addition, the shed got closer, and it blocks the view of the trees out back from the screen porch...so I've decided to make it smaller and move it. My new plan is for it to be 8 x 16 and rectangular in shape. One end is only a 3 sided affair as the mower and bicycles, wheel barrows etc go in there, I think a sliding barn style door will enclose that part of it and make it more weather tight.

 This is a big project.  I had hoped to actually rip it back to the studs and pick it up and move it over and turn the door so it is facing East. It currently faces the house! So I removed all the "stuff", the contents, and its now scattered all over the place and it looks like I'm having a huge rummage sale!! Tarps of every size and color are attempting to keep my gotta keep stuff under cover. It is a hideous mess. It may be too rotten to safely move so may have to completely dismantle it. I put most of the Stuff in storage containers to keep it dry. 

The new location is over to the right, and the gable/door end currently facing South will face East it will rotate 90 degrees. I want to keep it close to the house so when  doing yard maintenance or working on projects it's close enough that its not a deterrent from getting chores done.  In other words I don't want to walk a mile to get a screw driver!

when moved it will occupy this space (above).  I have to cut 2 trees, not a problem as one is bent at a funny angle and one is small--- will do that as soon as it quits raining!!  I have made  progress, now we have had several days of rain and drizzle, so Im stuck inside waiting on better weather to work in.

 

the end is all open now

the front is almost gone

these 2 large camellia trees, will stay although they are blocking some of the view maybe a trim back to shrub size is in order (?), it will be a change for me to get used to as the shed being where it is has also offered more privacy, but I'm ready to make that change and open UP the view around the back.

I can already see daylight!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

More Trip Preps!

Continuing trip preparations, and working on the issues with the DLEX!  The AC blower comes on blows a while then switches off....and for days nothing..It went off for the entire winter no heat no defrost...it was such a pain...and get this:

When I bought this van the blower was not running right...so I took it to the Dodge dealership in Lugoff, SC they told me I needed a new blower motor...they had it an entire day, they replaced that blower motor and charged me over $400...not long after that my son needed a vehicle.... so I loaned him the van...he never told me that the blower stopped running...so an entire year went by without me knowing it was not running!! Then when I got it back the blower began working again so I was Like "YEAH" 

...then the problems started again...on off on off on off...and then finally OFF and its 100 outside.  The van has 2 A/C blowers one in the rear so I could get some relief from the back blower....but it was still not cool the way we want it to be...like I told y'all I was blowing up You Tube last week looking for any clue trying to figure this out...

I had planned to replace the resistor which is a $30 part of the AC system....so I went to the Auto Zone to get one, when I arrived I ran into the mechanic who did my recent tuneup, he said don't replace the resistor, he said "I jiggled the wire on the blower motor and it made the blower come on...so its in that area"...he told me where to look..so I did this!!

The following are 3 videos I made of the repair...I did this to help other people who might be having the same problem!

                     

            

Each time I am able to do my own repairs I always say "another $80 saved, this time I've been saying $400 was WASTED!!!   SO that's all the problems I KNOW about,  

*knocking on good wood* now those FIRES IN THE WEST NEED TO GO AWAY!! We leave Monday heading up to Indiana so Mom can visit with her 79 y.o. brother. 

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

TWO down!

While my sis was here we did some DIY projects! I only have a list a mile long .....Its so great to have a good helper! She is driving back to her home in the Rocky Mountain State as I write.  Today it has been what our weather man is calling RAW and he is right!! Wind, Rain, Cold--and tomorrow we have our first frost freeze for the 2014 Fall season...so no chores or projects are happening today!!

Remember this.. the old sewing table I got  at the recycle dump?

BEFORE SHOTS

It was in pretty rough shape... we stripped the top layer off...and rubbed on some Tung oil..

I need to wax the inside with some Minwax paste to get a good sheen...but other than that Im very pleased with the refinish job we did....then we put my old machine inside, it had been mounted in a portable cabinet but it fit in here pretty good!

Here it is with the machine set up.

I have 2 home machines, this old one is a straight stitch machine...

Its very old I have had it since the late 1960's Im sure its way older than that ---the machine hole is a bit longer than my old machine, I will find a filler or sewing tray to cover that so my scissors and pins wont fall through..

I also have a couple of old zig-zag machines they both have the same problem...each one has 2 plastic cogs in them..and both currently wont sew due to failure of these plastic cogs! Why put plastic in these the rest of the machine is all metal? Maybe that's intended to give the machine a shelf life??  Here is the problem...see the plastic got brittle and began to fall apart.  If I order new parts I may be able to repair both machines...this is the machine I had hoped to put in the cabinet but it's not working for now I have no current sewing projects but I can do any sewing I want to with a straight stitch machine.

zig zag Singer 513 This machine was purchased in the mid 70's

the bad idea Plastic Cogs

I don't know whether to fix this machine or not---I don't know if I have the proper tools I could try...If I ever get a good day with NOTHING to do maybe--

another project we worked on was this---

Garden Benches---we have a matching pair they also are very old--


BEFORE

The wood has rotted! So we replaced the wood and the screws that hold it on...

we reworked both..when the wood seasons a few weeks then i will stain it... the wood I used was wider and thicker so they benches are much sturdier too.

I was happy to get both these projects done! 

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

The Day After Friday the 13th!!

Recall last week I was painting this bedroom..well now the painting is 99.9% done...because at the twilight minute I RAN OUTTA PAINT.........GRRRR..

This color doesn't photograph very well its not green, its more of a khaki....

 and as I said I wanted to replace the sliding closet doors with bi-fold ones because it gives better clearance to the closet, you can get STUFF in/out easier!! SO here are the directions....and the little plastic bag of PARTS holy cow.....ah-okay whats this?

In every language known to mankind...Notice on the box it says 3 easy steps?

Then there is the list of tools needed...here's my pile of tools..

The tool on the bottom of the pile is for PLAN B.... in case ALL ELSE FAILS
...no the real reason its there is IM ABOUT TO GO POSTAL....I mean go to the post office...because on that same morning the Post Office sent one of my ebay packages BACK TO ME..its in a flat rate envelope, it has flat rate shipping label attached, a postal note on it that reads---- (Return to Sender NOT FLAT RATE)?----- WTH? SAYS WHO? IF IT FITS IT SHIPS right??? Up to 70 lbs? This package weights 6 lbs. I'm trying to get over it, but UNTIL IM standing at that Post Office Window, and getting an explanation from the Postmaster... I can't calm down!! No this tool will NOT be in involved in that conversation...

____________________________________________________________________

A little dry fit and then I realized....

The bi-folds I got are 29 and 1/2 inches wide each, I got 2 sets, directions say keep at least 1/4 inch clearance on each side so it can clear the facing when its opening and closing....so I measured...MINE is gonna be "YIKES" 1/2 an inch too wide on both sides...

WHAT??? Now the tool on the bottom of the pile is starting to call my name...

"go ahead make my day" (a little worse if possible!!) 

SO the only thing to do was BLOW A HOLE IN THE (*&^% ) doors

or CUT 1/2 inch off each one! ( I know what you're thinking... did she cut it with the rifle?)  

NO I DIDN'T, I was feeling LUCKY so I used the circular saw....cut the side that fits next to the wall...does it look off? 

THE knobs that came with the doors are ridiculous, just a bare wood round knob, and there's no pre-drilled hole??What the??... so I've gotta drill a hole and put on knobs, I have some knobs that may work, but need longer screws to attach with ..Now I have to paint these and the room door you see up in the photo above, give the room a good cleaning....then its ready for the furniture to go back in...I just pushed it to the middle of the room while painting, and some of the furniture in here doesn't even belong in the bedroom...everything is a mess!  Its coming together tho, slowly but surely!! Im starting from the back and working my way to the front.... A bit dirty, and bit hairy, but I DID IT!!!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

A Bright Spot

What a difference a week makes! NO rain for 3 whole days and cool and sunny! Makes the work go much better when I'm not sweating bullets with the heat n humidity.  I didn't even need the fan yesterday when I painted...I finished painting the Sunroom...I LOVE it, its quirky and fun...and GREEN!

and BLACK AND WHITE!    

This room is off the screen porch and has a cement floor....so I decided to have some fun with that...I still have to touch up some black to white bleed, but I really LIKE IT....the screen porch floor will be next, I will paint it mostly black but some checkerboard maybe in the alcove area.  I guess I should have taped it out so it would have been perfect, but perfect is boring...I don't have time for perfect!

I removed the sash style window and put in plate glass,,,,at first I thought I would close up this window all together, but on the other side is the kitchen and it needs all the light it can get so Im planning to put a stained glass applique up...I used a section of the plate glass that was in the East facing wall of windows...the top center one, I took it to be cut down the width was perfect, but it was a little too long, and the glass shop did it for me and didnt charge me! That was sweet...did I mention I dont have a budget? The funding for my repairs is coming from selling off the extra stuff on ebay!! 

That's the glass in its new location...Yep the water heater is in this room, and an old vent pipe, I've got a plan to find or build from scraps a cabinet I can slide over it and slide off if it needs service. I may be moving the laundry to this area too, not decided yet, but I THINK SPACE has to have a JOB...so now this space needs a job..a purpose.

SO THAT a BRIGHT SPOT for sure!! 

This old enamel table is one I've had for a LONG time, it was sitting in the old Greenhouse I used it at one time as a potting table, BUT yikes,,,, the legs have decayed sooo, ITS gonna get new legs, and gonna sit in this room by the sunny window! I would love to put all Retro Looking things in this room!  Shouldn't be hard since everything I own is RETRO! HA.

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.