Screws In My Coffee

I was refilling my kitchen soap dispenser the other day and somehow the person doing the work broke the ends of the threaded pipe that the refillable bottle connects.  I did not panic, I just went to Loews to get another one.  I was not surprised to find out that I could only buy a matching blackened copper finish soap dispenser if I bought a complete kitchen facet set. Arrrrgh. So I decided to get a cheap plastic chrome replacement.  Before I opened the box I read the description and it described how you could use the included tubing to bypass the refillable bottle and connect to a large liquid soap bottle.  This would eliminate having to go under the sink every few weeks to refill it.  Instead of keeping the cheap dispenser, I bought some 1/2 inch OD by 3/8 inch ID tubing and fitted my existing dispenser with it.  I cut a 1/2 inch hole in the top of my super size Dawn bottle from Sams club and viola, it works. The bottle of Dawn and my soap dispenser...

This month I was able to get back to working on my house.  It was very frustrating to be physically limited to working on my house due to my bicycling injury.  I am glad that I am getting back to normal. January 15 - Making the attic safe to work. I started working on making the platform in the attic above the hall safer to walk on.  I have been working in the area as it is adjacent to the master bathroom.  The existing plywood was un even and not completed supported.  I also had to temporarily remove some of the plywood decking to expose the area where I was installing the new data center and access point. Garage Attic Platform I have been climbing up these attic ladder stairs for a long time.  I decided to add some plywood at the top where I step every time I go up or down.  the addition of the plywood makes it safer. Top of the stairs attic access above the garage before adding plywood decking Top of the stairs attic access above ...

I got a big fan to help out with the hot humid weather.  Having a little breeze while working in a garage or out on the driveway really helps. This past Friday, Saturday and Sunday I worked to finish the frames for the two six foot work benches for my shop.  I had an office desk that was purchased used at a garage sale in Austin, Texas that was too big for the house so it was used as a work bench in my garage.  I wanted to repurpose the four drawers in my new work bench.  I will use the other parts on future projects.  All of the 2 x 4 framing was built from wood taken out of the master bathroom. I also fixed the shop vacuum so that it fit snuggly on my tables saw.  I got some pipe fittings and cut one of the vacuum extension tubes and it works great.  I still have a lot to do to get the saw set up the way that I want, but for now I can make consistent cuts for multiple pieces of wood quickly and accurately. One of the things that I will make...

I finished the first shop bench on Sunday.  I did some plumbing hacking and added a hose bib on the sink so that I could attach a hose for a sprayer.  I usually attach a longer hose to this sink to wash my bike so adding an extra connection for a hose will free up the regular faucet. I removed the legs on the old sink and mounted it in the 2 x 4 framing before adding the 1/2 inch plywood top.   I will paint and seal it later. This is the first time that I have used a Kreg Jig Pocket-Hole Machinery for a project.  I have been watching DIY wood workers on YouTube for a few years using this tool and I finally bought one.  I used it to put in the sink supports and a top support after shoving the frame into the location which was really snug.  Having the ability to secure the 2 x 4 from the inside with the pocket hole drill was cool.