21
votes
Accepted
Where does the strength of a French cleat lie?
If you consider the physics of this, the B wedge is going to apply more outward force on the cleat attached to the wall then the A wedge for a given amount of weight supported. So you might cause the ...
- 20.4k
17
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
Here is my invention for you.
It is a board. The pliers and snips that volunteered for this project straddled it nicely. If you cut off the ends of the board and reattached them at right angles (...
- 5,498
17
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
How about something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Olsa-Tools-Pliers-Organizer-Storage/dp/B01M27BV34
If you want more ideas then run a Google search for "plier rack"
- 10k
14
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
The problem is you are using office supply organizers for tools.
Try hitting one of the Borgs (Home Depot, Lowes or Menards) and visit their tool section. They should have plenty of tool ...
14
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
You say hanging them on a wall is acceptable. In that case:
Put them against the wall.
Grab one at your nearest toolshop or hardware store or make one yourself. All you need is a piece of metal/wood,...
- 312
11
votes
Accepted
What is this tool? Need help with identification!
I will go with knife vise. Looks like you are missing the base/stand.
edit it is actually called a Knife Makers Vise.
knife vise
different style
and another
- 4,397
9
votes
Accepted
Should I run outlet circuits through the studs or up and along the top plates?
I prefer the "up and over" method rather than drilling thru the studs, esp. since you don't intend to finish the walls. Not sure what code says about that. I believe that exposed cable ...
- 14.1k
8
votes
How can I move a 500 lb wooden table top into my basement down a flight of stairs?
That is a big piece of wood. There are three obvious approaches:
Get some professionals to do it. A grand piano weighs more than that (and is more awkwardly shaped). Professionals will have the ...
8
votes
Accepted
conduit for ground in metal shop
Yeah, that's wrong. The inspector ought to know better; clearly does not inspect a whole lot of commercial installations.
Gently stand up on the point and show him the code, and leave him a path to ...
7
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
I use a grey foam block like is typically used for packing or cut out in shape for instrumentation cases:
I use an X-Acto knife to cut out slots for the heads of the tools that roughly contour the ...
- 272
7
votes
Shop Electrical - MWBC Serving 240V and 120V Outlets
This is fine, provided you obey a few rules
While a MWBC serving a mix of 120V and 240V receptacles certainly may look strange to the uninitiated, or those who interact with electrical systems in a ...
- 72k
7
votes
Where does the strength of a French cleat lie?
My imperfect grasp of physics would tell me that the strength would be equal in both cases, however, B is more likely to jam & be hard to remove later.
The downward force is equal in both cases, ...
- 4,369
6
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
I would get a board (of ply or similar) and lay out the pliers etc in a sensible arrangement. Then insert a screw for each tool so that the tool sits on the screw by its hinge when the board is ...
- 20.8k
6
votes
Wire AC Condensor fan motor to three prong plug for shop fan
Mains wiring is dangerous
You're not allowed to just barf a bunch of wires and call it done. The fan, I assume you scrounged this from an old air conditioner, is made to fit inside a housing, which ...
6
votes
Should I run outlet circuits through the studs or up and along the top plates?
Lights on their own breaker is good.
One breaker per wall is dubious. If you alternate the breakers feeding outlets there's a bit more wire, but when you are working in an area and plug two things ...
- 134k
5
votes
Build workbench against wall or free standing
If you have the space, a freestanding workbench away from the wall is a great thing to have. It is much easier to move your body around the bench and workpiece than to rotate the workpiece, ...
- 33.4k
5
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
Here's yet another tools-on-the-wall idea. This is light gauge galvanized sheet metal -- probably 24 ga from the HVAC duct aisle at the local big box store. The non-magnetic tools (flux pens, tweezers,...
- 19.6k
5
votes
Levition FBBOX installation
For line voltage (120/240 - all 120V to ground, so basically the same voltage from a code perspective) you don't need a divider. A divider is needed when you have low voltage (network/TV/phone) ...
5
votes
Where does the strength of a French cleat lie?
I don't know that the strength really lies in the angle. If I were picking, I'd go with X over Y, but because you don't want to create too much of a wedge between the cleat and the wall (Y will put ...
- 19.8k
5
votes
How to Wire a Light, GFCI Outlet, Switch and 2 Outlets on a single circuit
It's all about GFCI discipline. Since you want to use downline protection for the GFCI, you have to be extremely fastidious about Line vs Load. So...
There are 2 ways to go. Pick one.
DO protect the ...
4
votes
Is an electrical lockout a good way to protect children in a workshop?
Locking the breaker is certainly an option (probably a good one). I would consider it a hassle to have to unlock the breaker before work and having to relock when done. However, I'd rather do that ...
- 1,308
4
votes
Accepted
Shop Electrical - MWBC Serving 240V and 120V Outlets
Yeah, I work a lot with MWBC. That looks fine to me... It should limbo under the NEC 2017 guidelines. If you don't get this permitted by the time your state adopts NEC 2020, then your entire plan ...
4
votes
Is my plan to move and upgrade service panels reasonable?
400A boxes
400A panels are expensive because nobody does that. The normal thing to do with a 400A meter is immediately split it to two 200A main panels, just ordinary common-as-dirt main panels, ...
4
votes
How to Wire a Light, GFCI Outlet, Switch and 2 Outlets on a single circuit
You'd simply pull from the most convenient junction box which has a constant hot cable. You can't come from the light box if it's actually a switch loop, or from a switch box that's a loop. You need ...
- 105k
3
votes
House and Shop on 100 AMP Service
I ran a small shop on 60 amps for many years. Unless you're running welders, large compressors or other big electric motors (5+ HP) you shouldn't have any trouble. Even with my 13 amp table saw, dust ...
- 49
3
votes
Using PEX Fittings with Nylon Tubing
There is a great video on YouTube by "The Build Show" about various PEX and push to connect fittings. They pump them up until they burst. They burst well above the stated ratings. Unfortunately I can'...
- 6,096
3
votes
House and Shop on 100 AMP Service
ESPECIALLY with mostly gas appliances, I wouldn't worry about it. I have a small woodworking shop that I feed with a 60A feeder breaker and I have NEVER tripped it. What you have to remember is that ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
Is an electrical lockout a good way to protect children in a workshop?
I would not consider this solution inexpensive, but not bad compared to hospital bills. There are devices known as circuit breaker lockouts:
A number of sources exist on the internet, with varying ...
- 9,293
3
votes
Accepted
Looking to setup a 100Amp panel in my attached garage and have ideas/questions
The type of cable you linked to is SE cable covered by Article 338 of the National Electrical Code. It connot be used underground with or without a raceway. Here is the pertinent code language.
338....
- 19.3k
3
votes
How to store my pliers and wire cutters on my desk?
Typical is a wall rack with holes in which one part of the handle is inserted. Wooden home-made or wire/plastic for pegboard mounting purchased. If you want it on the desktop rather than wall-mounted, ...
- 134k
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