Questions tagged [terminology]
questions about what a term means, or about what the best term is for an object or situation
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What makes a tee "sanitary"?
I'm looking at tapping into an existing drain line at the vertical vent, which I understand should be via a horizontal run to a sanitary tee. The vent is 2 inch PVC; the horizontal piece I will ...
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Is this kind of clamp on a braided PVC hose reusable or does it get replaced with a new one when it is removed?
I don't have much experience with PVC hose clamps and have never seen the kind in the photos here. I've only seen the kind with the turn-screw that tightens or loosens the clamp. This one looks like ...
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What kind of tubing comes with a kitchen sink sprayer?
I need to replace the water supply tube on a concrete/masonry saw. It is rather too flexible and easily kinks and has developed a pinhole leak at the kink after only a few weeks of light use.
Now, we ...
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What is the North American term for sand used in making mortar for laying a sandstone patio?
I've been watching Brits prepare and lay patio stone on Youtube, and have been reading blogs by Brits. They recommend using "sharp sand" to make the mortar for laying sandstone rectangles. ...
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What is an anti-siphon trap?
I have seen traps by the same manufacturer with some designated as non-siphon and others as anti-siphon. What do those terms mean in a domestic waste plumbing context?
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What is the two-cup device called for blowing compressed air into a hole in concrete thru one cup and vacuuming out the dust thru the other?
Does the device below have name? Trying to shop for one online.
A while ago I saw a video (which I can't find at the moment) showing a two-cup device for extracting dust from a hole drilled in ...
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"Switch, General-Use Snap" -- What Does that Even Mean?
I'm confused. I've always thought that a "Snap Switch" looked something like the thing pictured below, because the early ones made a definite snapping sound when actuated.
But an image ...
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Terminology: For THHN wires in conduit (and NM not in conduit), what is the difference between relabel, identify, marking, phase-taping,
I've been reading different forum posts to understand wire labeling requirements for THHN in conduit. I thought I had it figured out, but now I'm getting lost in terminology and seeking clarification....
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Name for this kind of table saw?
I am finding pictures of table saws sold in England that are deeper than they are wide. Does this kind of table saw shape have a particular name in the industry or among English remodeling ...
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What do we call this simple ragged-end cylindrical tool for making round holes in walls? It's a hand tool, to be hit by hammer
I came across the Russian word шлямбур (shlyambur), describing this kind of tool for making holes in brick/concrete walls, but I can't seem to find the correct English term. The entries in the ...
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Anyone know the name of a cabinet hinge that will "kick out" 3 inches (see image)?
What is the name of a hinge that will kick out when open? (See image below - click to enlarge.) I have an adjacent blind that won't let me open my kitchen cabinet.
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What kind of tools/techniques are used to reduce the thickness of metal tubing? [closed]
I'd like to be able to take some small brass or aluminum tubing, the kind sold to hobbyists, e.g., from K&S brand, and make it thinner, but maintain a cylindrical shape.
I presume a couple things ...
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Do PressFit copper fitting tools exist that require less muscle leverage?
I am not asking for shopping advice or recommendations, just want to know whether the tool I have in mind actually exists in the real world, and if so what it is called. It's not something ...
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What do you call this part for restricting/holding insecurely?
Since I'm neither a professional repair-person, nor a native English speaker, I'm having a hard time figuring out what I would call this kind of a part:
(the thick frame is the surface the part is on,...
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What is a "pressure cup" copper fitting?
Pressure cup is not a term I encountered when I was last searching for copper fittings, about ten years ago for a bathroom remodel. Is pressure cup a synonym for tapered thread which needs to be ...
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special key wrench for spin-down filter's brass 3/4" MNPT fitting that lacks wrench flats?
We've had a lot of sediment in the water after this past month's flooding. Water pressure also jumped to 100psi. The Water Authority had to shut down a plant and reroute the system through some ...
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what is the name/designation for two-conductor insulated shielded copper wire for 24V that runs to the aquastat?
I would like to order some wire online but don't know what it's called. Two-conductor shielded copper wire for 24V, insulated so it could be secured with zip-ties to the HX supply and return pipes ...
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term of art for extra-shallow-depth refrigerator
I am hoping to replace an old fridge with a new one that does not stand so far out from the wall. I've found so-called "counter-depth" ones that are about 30" deep and also a few ...
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2
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"key will unlock the door" vs "key will *open* the door, but not unlock"
Can anyone help me with terminology to describe two different types of functioning in a door lock. (Please note, I am not talking about a lock that is broken.)
My front door and my back door both have ...
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anchoring a beam made from dimensional lumber to concrete piers
The rim joists of a shed will sit on two horizontal beams. The beams need to be secured to concrete piers with some kind of galvanized tie. Something like the one in the picture.
The beams will be ...
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What do the numbers in screw sizes M3, M4 etc. mean?
I noticed that in some (many?) countries, screw sizes are listed as "M+number", e.g. M3, M4, M5 and so on.
What does this size designation mean?
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What is the protective plate on a door lock called?
Some doors have this plate that guards the latch mechanism.
For some reason my search-fu is failing, I found tons of diagrams of lock and door parts but I can't find that plate.
What is that called?
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What do you call a door-attached bar for hanging belts?
Closet doors, particularly those for the closet section which houses a rail with hangers, often have a sort of a cylindrical bar attached to the inside of the door. A thin bar at a short distance from ...
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Need a tensioning rod to push something tight (opposite of a turnbuckle)
I need rod that can push two blocks of wood apart. The space is about 16" wide.
So, basically it is the opposite of a turnbuckle, kind of like a tensioned shower rod.
Is there any kind of ...
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5
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What are wrenches called that are just cut out of steel flats?
There are wrenches that are used to get into tight spaces that are just flat pieces of metal with a hexagonal hole cut out of them. Often they come with things like table saws and are used to move the ...
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A type of compartment that rises out of a desk
I'm building a computer desk and I had the idea to hide some speakers in a compartment towards the back. I'd like the speakers to pop up out of the desk on some kind of mechanism that rises up, kind ...
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What are "backstab" receptacles/outlets?
Several questions and answers on the site mention electrical outlets or receptacles with "backstab" holes (just a short while ago, here). I'm sure people in the US find that description to ...
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What do you call those little round rubber things in door jambs?
What do you call those little round rubber things in door jambs?
Those things are used to prevent the door from hitting the jamb. It's kind of like a little round bumper.
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Identification of a fitting which will hold a small rod
I need a fitting that screws in on both sides like a pillow block, is made of plastic and will receive a rod of 1/4" diameter. In other words the rod would just snap into the fitting and be held ...
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How do I fix this poorly designed double-rod towel rack?
Original question: How do I name/ describe this bolt so that I can search for and purchase it?
I have a troublesome towel rack that I’ve been fighting with, off and on, for several years. After much ...
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What is the name of this plug/socket combo from a rangehood?
I have a rangehood with some lights for illumination. But they're expensive lamps, mains voltage, not very bright and they run hot. So I'm looking to remove and replace with something LED based. ...
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Is caulk referred to as silicone caulk?
I know there is a difference between silicone and caulk?
Sometimes I see caulk referred to as silicone caulk which makes me think it is silicone or a type of silicone. Is it correct to use the term ...
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Polaris type electrical connectors terminology
I have a question regarding Polaris type electrical connectors. I should state right up front I am NOT an electrician, but have done some home wiring and think I know most of the basics.
I am trying ...
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What is the name of this part of drawers?
I was trying to describe a specific part of a set of drawers in another question, and cannot find the right name for it.
A photo showing the same part. Notice not all drawers have these, or they may ...
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what is the opposite of a shoulder screw
A shoulder screw's unthreaded section has a bigger diameter than the threaded section. I'm looking for the "opposite" if you'll pardon the term.
What is the name of the screw type where the ...
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Is "servo-drive" a generic term when applied to kitchen cabinets/drawers?
I'm translating a Russian text about a high-tech kitchen, and one sentence goes like this:
The cabinets are equipped with servo drives and will open at a light touch.
The original text says ...
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Are they really called "linear panels"?
I'm translating a Russian description of a building project, and the house in the project is partially covered with "linear panels". It turns out there's a whole large Russian article in Wikipedia ...
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What is the grommet called for a pipe clamp?
I bought a pipe clamp and after it arrived I found it does not tightly fit the pipe because I think it is supposed to be used with a grommet.
The problem is that to find a grommet to fit this thing, ...
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Flexible palm disc sander: Are there any other names?
I came across a hand tool in a This Old House/Nick Offerman video that is some sort of flexible pam disc sander.
How it's used: I think the user can simply velcro on a hook-and-loop sanding pad (...
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What's the term for a hole with a screw thread?
I'm replicating a drawer handle that fits on an M4 screw. If you'd look inside the plastic hole, you can see a gold-colored metal tube that has screw threads. That's what the screw screws into.
My ...
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What is the name of a "headless" bolt
Wasn't sure whether to post this on ELU or here, but thought I would have better luck here. Anyway Merriam Webster defines a Stud Bolt as
a bolt with threads on both ends designed to be screwed ...
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What is a 'Yoke' in NEC / electrician parlance?
NEC rules sometimes refer to "the yoke".
For example: 1999 NEC § 210-4(b):
Dwelling Units. In dwelling units, a multiwire branch circuit
supplying more than one device or equipment on the same ...
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1
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Terminology for the sidewall of a mezzanine floor
For a mezzanine, stage or other flooring with an exposed sidewall, what is the proper construction or architectural term for that sidewall?
For example, here we see a mezzanine:
The red circle shows ...
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What is the technical term for a non slip-on/slip fit bath spout that installs through the wall?
I ordered a shower kit online that included a wall mounted tub spout. When I went to install the tub spout I discovered that it had a very large male thread, some kind of nut, and an adapter (looked ...
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What is the name of this metal bar with holes at the ends?
I need to find a metal part that looks a bit like this:
hole for bolt strong metal
| |
___|____________________________v_______
/ v ...
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What do you call a power splitter without a cable? [closed]
...No, this is not a setup for a joke.
In Israel we have gadgets like this one:
It's basically like a power strip, except it doesn't have a cable. You plug it into a lone power socket and now you ...
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In layman's terms, what is reverse osmosis filtration?
The water filter installed in the kitchen advertises to work by the method of "reverse osmosis".
Can someone explain this concept without using technical terms or marketing mumbo jumbo?
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What do you call conventional wood staining that doesn't result in a glazed effect?
I am shopping around for a new kitchen, which I want to have finished in stained wood. What seems to be quite popular these days is "glazing" which seems intended to highlight any texture, relief, ...
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Inflating wheelchair tires to 90 PSI
I'm looking for a way to easily fill my wheelchair tires to 90 psi. I understand that I don't understand all the technical stuff I should consider when buying a small compressor or a tire inflator, ...
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