Archive for the 'DIY' Category

iphone stuck in recovery

July 10th, 2010

With earlier iOS iterations, a manipulation of the sleep/wake and home buttons would abort iPhone recovery mode. There are plenty of helpful youTube video simplifications and mini tutorials on this subject, none of which apply to the newer (e.g. 3.1.3) devices. I spent hours sifting thru them and after attempting all combinations of holding down [...]

brake job

March 19th, 2010

No need to pay an automotive service center specialist the big bucks. This is maintenance that can be done in the garage. The local auto parts store has the replacement pads and special tools. Safety stands are necessary since the vehicle will be raised and the wheels removed. Supporting the vehicle with a floor jack [...]

current state of the art

March 3rd, 2010

FAQ: What do you use to keep track of and journal your outdoor exercise? Use Nike Plus with an iPod Nano for repetitive routes. If you like, the iPhone 3G already has the receiver/software built in. You will still need to acquire a sensor for the shoe. Nike brand shoes are not required if you [...]

Degas Bottle

July 11th, 2009

Shade tree mechanic(s) wrestle with a faulty radiator coolant expansion tank: The reservoir was split which allowed weepage and seepage which eventually became leakage. None of these symptoms were visible from the engine compartment topside, except for the occasional adding of coolant. The sickening sweet smell from the slippery glycol mixture dripping from the underbelly [...]

Deck Rehab

June 26th, 2009

The railing had developed an ominous lean from warping of this baseboard over time. $50 dollars in lumber and new fasteners plus some sweat (free) put it right again. A photo sequence details the task. 4 inch deck screws were used for the repair in place of the original nails. This should help to prevent [...]

Dont try this at home

April 26th, 2009

The only way in is with the cutting wheel or chisel pry tool or hacksaw. The Apple power adapter (brick) wasn’t intended to be disassembled. The case is glue bonded. However with the power supply inop due to a separated output wire, what was there to lose by attempting a repair. A simple splice and [...]