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Spent the day trying to turn a drain valve on an old copper fortic cylinder. Stupidly I balded the nib at the end and now anything I use just turns and turns. I bought a kit from screwfix which allows the removal of threaded screws but I don't seem able to drill the brass, my supposed metal...

Hi chaps, I'm looking at taking on a big job over the coming weeks - DIY tanking to my cellar/basement area. Now, I've had a survey so far and the guy seemed very knowledgeable. The house is very old with no DPM or DPC. Unacceptable moisture readings are through the floors and large...

Hi chaps, really easy question this for most.. I got 69x69mm lengths of timber I want to cut, but I want straight and easy cuts so fancy buying my first compound saw.. Bit of a silly question this but I see many sizes advertised as e.g. max depth 60 x 220mm max width. I understand the width...

Hello chaps. As pathetic as this might sound to someone who actually knows the answers, I have spent the entire day trying to figure out exactly how this senario fits together. Here are the details of my assignment: I have devised a single story rear extension that will be built...

This is a bit of a long shot really but I'm trying to get some hands on experience in the construction sector. I'm studying a BTEC in Construction at college right now in North London. I have two days available to help out anyone wanting help - Tuesdays, and Thursdays. I don't need to be paid...

Is it possible to make good money as a joiner or cabinet maker if you work for someone else? If someone you know considered doing joinery or cabinet making for a living what advice would you give them?

Well I've been feeling a little depressed recently about the direction I'm taking my life. I'm still not earning good money despite all the college work I have put in. It just feels at times like I am going to be an eternal student. A friend of mine who studies economics at University has no...

I'm trying to drill an 8mm diameter hole in order to fit brackets that hold a curtain blind. I get easily through the plaster but once I come up against the blockwork nothing I buy has any affect on the concrete blockwork underneath. I have a set of masonary drill bits that are designed for...

Hello Chaps. I have agreed to help refurbish my mothers ground floor flat. All the flooring except for the bathroom and kitchen consists of an oak hardwood. As you can see in the pictures, the boards are not very wide but the overall look is still nice even after 80 years...

What is the best possible respirator on the market for the most reasonable price? The firm I work in has no dust extraction, and it becomes especially difficult when someone is using a router, the dust and fumes created are very difficult to tolerate. Some people don't have a problem with it but...

I'm painting MDF at the moment and the problem is that it gets very messy. I have in my posession a lint free cloth which cleans away the majority of the dust, however, once I start painting, all the remaining dust build up on the brush and I end up painting a mixture of sealant and dust...

Recently I got in contact with a guy who does carpentry work in the south of London. The problem is he works out of his van, and does not have a workshop, so all his work is carried out on site with portable machinery e.t.c. Its also a problem travel-wise, because I live in the North of London...

As we all know its difficult to find employment at the moment. I live in North London and I have emailed about 90-100 firms in the surrounding area. I've also gone round and spoken to every joinery firm I can find in my local area, through directories and search engines, and have recieved...

Is there such a thing as MDF wood filler? I have an mdf cabinet that is marked and scratched along the face side but I cannot find anything that matches the tint of MDF. I'm assuming that this is because most people paint over MDF so it does not matter what filler is being used. In my case...

Hello guys. This is a very simple question really. I'm fixing up a compost container which was made by someone else using treated softwood. All I have to do now is fix a new roof on it. What would be the best sheeting material to use, strand board or plywood? I will possibly install it at a...

I have a question about storage units in bedrooms. At 13x10 feet this bedroom has built in storage units that span the entire length of the room on one side. Theres two full wardrobes adjacent to each other then there are draws running along the bottom (where the t.v and HIFI sit), and storage...

I have an MDF cabinet which I have made. Its all 18mm thick timber. The problem I'm having is that I have a rebate which is 18x6 running along the sides of the carcass for the doors to fit in. I have tried placing some 18mm timber up against where the door is going to be but there is no...

How do you route MDF without making a bloody mess? Even with a hoover stuck on the end the dust goes everywhere. Any tips?

Calculate the cubic meters required to produce 500 pieces of hardwood 1500mm x 150mm x 25mm thick

I need some help completing some of this theory for my level 3 bench joinery. If you can answer any of these, please do. I would appreciate it. Explain briefly the action to be taken when a) electric power fails b) a workmate recieves a minor cut to a finger c) a marking out error is...