I have a trick for you to make custom stencils, any size, shape, and inexpensively.
I dont have time to run to the craft store or wait for an order to come in the mail and because I
work on larger projects I like to be able to make my own stencils to fit the right size of my projects.
HOW TO:
** I print out a simple graphic on regular paper the size I need.
** Then I cover the front and back of the paper with strips of clear packing tape.
(This makes my stencil thicker and water/paint proof.)
**The final step is to cut my stencil out with a shape knife and get to work.
YES IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE!
I recently used these fancy Fleur de lis stencils to finish off a sheet music dresser I did.
Be sure to stop in to see whats new in shabby chic white hardware available at firstfinds.
The Etsy shop is filled with all sorts of vintage hardware.
There is over 1000 pieces of used hardware to choose from
Read More..
How to measure for replacement handles and mounting screws.
99% of the time you will be dealing with a measurement on the quarter ...
Meaning the measurement will be
3" - 3.25" - 3.5" - 3.75"
3 inches - 3 1/4 inches - 3 1/2 inches - 3 3/4 inches and so on
A quarter of an inch is easy to misread so double checking is always wise
and measuring with a tape from the 1 inch mark is best.
This handle above has a 4 inch center to center mounting.
Now to the screw length ...
If you have picked a simple flush mounted handle you simple measure the drawer or door thickness
and add a quarter inch.
Flush mounting means the handle sits flat on the surface like the ones shown below.?
If you pick a handle with a collar that goes part way into the drawer or door
you have to compensate for that length as seen below.
THINGS TO NOTE:
It is better to keep mounting screws with the furniture they came on than to remove them
and keep with the hardware because they already match the thickness of the wood.
Most hardware has the same thread pattern for mounting screws. Every so often
you will come across an antique piece with a smaller thread. These screws should be kept
with the hardware.
Your local home improvement store offers inexpensive mounting screws.
These are usually cutable to several different lengths.
I also offer a tutorial on How to fill hardware holes here
and a tutorial on installing your hardware here
You can find great hardware here, Etsy shop
The idea of a wi-fi enabled thermostat that you can control remotely through your smart phone or computer is very appealing. Unfortunately most of the wi-fi thermostats Ive run across have one major flaw. They require the use of an internet or cloud based system for remote monitoring capabilities which leads to a lot of problems and concerns. Ive had my Honeywell Wi-Fi Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat RTH8580WF installed for over a month now and here are my issues with not only the Honeywell thermostat but other similar thermostats that can only be used with a 3rd party web service.
Cannot Access Thermostat Directly
The biggest drawback is that while the thermostat can communicate on your wireless network, most of these cannot be accessed directly. The Honeywell RTH8580WF I own for example is not accessible on my local home network.
It took me a while and some effort getting the thermostat installed because I needed to run a new thermostat wire to connect the C wire but after that everything was going well. Then Superstorm Sandy hit my area. I wasnt hit as hard as others but I did have some damage to my home and other issues to deal with.
Luckily I didnt lose power but I did lose phone and internet service. I spent most of the day after the storm assessing damage, taking pictures, watching workers, cleaning up debris, doing some maintenance and temporary repairs.
That evening I crawled into bed cold and tired. I was about to step out of bed and head down to my thermostat to raise the temperature until I remembered I have a thermostat I can remotely control with my phone. As I was reaching for my phone I remembered my internet service was down due to the storm. I had just installed the thermostat the previous day, spent time and money (close to $50 for fish tape, wire and transformer) to get the thermostat installed before the storm hit and now the first time I really wanted to use it, I couldnt. It was a real let down.
All the other devices on my network worked fine, even wi-fi connected ones such as my phone. I was able to upload photos and videos to my media server from my phone all day. These thermostats that require an external web service cannot be remotely controlled when the internet connection is down. Even if youre connected to the same local network.
This was a big dissapointment for me because I had planned to develop some software to monitor the temperature in my home. At some point this functionality may be available through the Total Control Comfort website but its not there yet. Even if it does get added to the portal Im still not comfortable letting a 3rd party have access to personal information such as my homes temperature.
Privacy Concerns
The web based portals that allow remote control of the thermostat also appear collect information about your schedule, indoor and outdoor temperature as well as any changes you make to your thermostat. In the case of my Honeywell thermostat, it was sending information to Honeywells webservers over 100 times a day.
While the connections appear to be secured by SSL and the web service is password protected there is always the possibility that the information can be accessed by those not authorized to do so. Knowing how you set your thermostat can allow someone to guess when you are or arent at home. The information can also be accessed legally if subpoenaed. What happens if theres a crime committed and someone misidentifies you at the scene? You claim you were home alone when you would normally be at work. Instead of raising the temperature you put on a sweater or stayed in bed sick. Authorities request your thermostat history and sees you didnt increase the temperature which may poke a hole in your alibi in some peoples eyes.
These may seem far fetched but could be a big problem if they ever happen to you. There are other ways that the information may come back to haunt you.
Targeted Advertising
In the connected world we live in, information is very valuable. Think of a company like Google. It provides a free service to the masses but it uses the information it gathers from those users to make billions of dollars. They monitor usage and search patterns to be able to provide targeted advertisements which advertisers are happy to pay for.
The same can be done with your cloud based thermostat. Does your home take longer to heat up than other homes in your area? That might be valuable information that can be sold to local contractors in your area or other service providers and they can even know the best time to call. Does your thermostat schedule indicate you work at night? More advertisements can be tailored for you.
But your phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry so you dont have to worry about that right? Wrong. Any company you currently have a relationship with can call you unless you specifically tell them not to. All it would take was for your thermostat service provider to do the calling on behalf of third parties or they might just send you junk mail.
Carefully review the Privacy Policy for the thermostat you choose if it only has an option for web based access. Unfortunately this information is not provided when you make the purchase.
Possible Future Fees
Honeywells Terms of Service indicate that they have the right to charge a fee for use of their web based portal. Another company already has instituted a monthly fee to remotely control the thermostat. Whether fees are charged or not will depend how much money the company can make off the usage statistics and other personal information it gathers. All the internet connected computers and employees it takes to run the web portal arent free.
If the web portal ever gets discontinued for whatever reason or fees are instituted that you do not wish to pay, remote control of the thermostat through the Internet is gone.
Needs A C Wire
This isnt such a big drawback, especially if you have a newer HVAC system but in older homes it may require running additional wiring. My original thermostat only controlled my heating system and used 2 wires. I needed additional wires to run the power to the thermostat. The thermostat draws too much power to be run on batteries solely.
I contacted the manufacturer of my heating system and they informed me that it wasnt recommended to run the C wire off the 24VAC transformer. They claimed it would increase the load on the transformer and might cause problems including premature failure of the transformer. That meant buying an external 24vac transformer for the thermostat. Between the new wire, transformer and fish tape it wound up costing me close to $50 to run the new wires to install the thermostat. Thats with doing all the work myself. If you hire an electrician or HVAC contractor to do the work, youll have to pay labor costs.
Other Options
I dont like the idea of sending out my homes temperature information to someone else thousands of times each month so I was glad that the wi-fi features of the thermostat could be disabled.
After looking around it seems the only wi-fi thermostats that allow you to access them directly are the Homewerks Radio Thermostat CT-30-H-K2
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At the last minute before your husbands fun loving family shows up for dinner
you run to your master bedroom trying to remember where the extra leaf for
the kitchen table was stored. Finally with victory you find it stashed in the back of the closet,
behind your husbands laundry bin. Thankfully he uses the floor for his laundry
and not the bin so getting the leaf out should be quick and easy.
Once you slip through the hanging clothes and stubbing your toe on the sewing machine
also sitting on the floor on the closet, which reminds you that you should have
hemmed the dress you had planned to where this evening, you pull out the leaf with victory
still on your side and head straight for the dining table. Thank god the kids havent
come in from their busy day in the yard of hosing the dog down to set the dishes out yet.
Now its just a slight bit of acrobatic moves to get the table pulled apart by yourself
and get the leaf in place.
Seriously!! ... now youre confronted with a big gaping hole pointed right at the door way
where your in-laws will be entering the room.
"I could turn the table and hope no one will see" ...
but that will block Beckys escape to her room when
aunt Patty starts complaining about her fancy $200 shoes that dont fit right
and cousin Jeremy staring inappropriatly (really he just has a lazy eye)
"The good table cloth will cover it up and solve all the problems!" ...
There is no time to start looking. The casserole timer is going off and the rug has not
been vacuumed for that would disrupt the game that Henry is watching.
Once you give in and start tearing open drawers and cupboards you find the good table cloth
still has mustard stains from Jacks birthday party that you had hoped might vanish if left alone.
The USB Hub will work without the power adapter being pulled and just off of the power from the USB port you connect it to. For devices that draw more energy, such as external hard drives, you can choose to plug in the Hub.
I chose the Belkin because Ive used their products in the past and have always been pleased. I saw another model that also
