How To : Hang a wall sconce
Let there be light! Brighten up a room by hanging a beautiful wall sconce. Check out these tips on how to mount and wire a wall sconce.
Let there be light! Brighten up a room by hanging a beautiful wall sconce. Check out these tips on how to mount and wire a wall sconce.
Wall sconces are a great way to give a room accent lighting. Do you find most of them a little too subtle though? Try making this bad boy. This video will show you how to make a custom wall sconce out of an old hubcap and a few brackets and screws. Quick, easy, and badass home ...more
Getting a pro to replace a broken thermostat can be costly, but if you pay close attention, you can learn how to replace it yourself. You Will Need * A Phillips screwdriver * Masking tape * A pen * A new thermostat * A level * A drill with a 3/16-inch bit * Drywall anchors * A ...more
Bob Schmidt from Home Remodel Workshop demonstrates how to frame a wall 16 inches on center. His tutorial is especially helpful, so pay attention to his tips, tricks, and specific techniques. When laying out a top and bottom plate for a typical wall a framing square is usuall ...more
This video is from the Dummies video series. The video will describe the process of replacing a standard light switch with a dimmer switch. First you must pick a dimmer switch that has the capacity to control the light fixture you would like to dim. Add up the wattages of all ...more
Jon Olson shows us how to replace an electrical outlet and how to replace a wall switch as well as some other electrical tips you can use around the home. Part 1 of 15 - How to Maintain your home electrical wiring and fixtures. Maintain your home electrical wiring and fixtures ...more
There are a few ways to make trapdoors, but out of all of them, this one is my favorite. It's fast, completely hidden, and both opens and closes. This particular trapdoor can be used for a variety of purposes, such as hiding your valuable possessions, having a secret entrance ...more
Welcome to Minecraft World! Check out our tutorials, post to the community corkboard, and come play on our free server! Our previous workshop on building an automatic boat dock went really well. A lot of Minecrafters showed up and everyone got right to work on their own versi ...more
In this online video series learn how to install electric garage doors from licensed engineer and licensed home inspector Drew Finn as he demonstrates electrical garage door installation including: mounting the door bracket, attaching the rail to the head, installing the drive ...more
In this series of video clips, expert interior designer Craig Hale demonstrates how to properly hang a picture or other wall décor. You’ll learn what sorts of tools and drywall anchors you’ll need, as well as several design tips, including how to hang art at eye level, how to ...more
How to patch a hole in drywall / plasterboard / Sheetrock. Everyone at some stage in their life will need to patch a hole in drywall / plasterboard / sheetrock. Instead of doing some dodgy patchwork, watch this video to see how simple the job is. The steps are as follow in poi ...more
Need to set extend a cable but there is a wall in the way? It's tricky to do! Here's a helpful hint for feeding wires through walls in this how to video. Watch and learn how a coat hanger and a soda straw can help guide wire through tiny holes.
Drilling into the walls of your home is intimidating if you don't know what you're doing, but it's really pretty easy to do safely. Watch this video to learn how to choose a bit, know where to drill, and drill correctly.
Remember the arcades? Were you saddened when they closed up one by one, leaving no outlet to actually go out and socialize while you played video games? With all the home consoles and internet connectivity, gaming has evolved, but the social factor has been eliminated. Sure we ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a programmable thermostat. Steps:1. Turn off service switch at boiler. 2. Pull off cover from existing thermostat. 3. Unscrew thermostat from its wall-mounted sub-base. 4. Loosen wires connected to thermostat's sub-b ...more
Believe it or not, you don't need to hire an electrician to add a few electrical outlets in your home. The only thing you really need to worry about is being safe. This Old House walks you through the entire process of adding receptacles, from cutting the hole in the drywall t ...more
Plaster walls, although popular homebuilding materials, are notoriously easy to damage. Door handles, elbows and moving furniture are all great at putting holes in plasterboard walls, holes which, thankfully, only take an hour or so to patch up. Stumped as to how to do it? Wat ...more
I like to grow vegetables all year round, and I couldn't afford the big gas bulbs, or the power to run them. The big gas bulbs: can explode can burn you and your plants cost upwards of $50 a month to operate raise the temperature in your home, causing the air conditioning to ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to retrofit cellulose insulation. Steps: 1 Locate two adjacent wall studs on an exterior wall. 2 Use utility knife to remove a shingle from the bottom of the wall; be sure the shingle falls between the two studs. 3 Use a 1 1/8 ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to patch stucco. Steps: 1 Scrape loose, blistered stucco from the wall with a 4-inch drywall knife. 2 Clean away loose grit and dust from the wall with a wire brush. 3 Create stucco by mixing three parts sand, one part Portlan ...more
Learn how to eliminate cord clutter with the folks from Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE. Nothing is more annoying than a pile of messy cords. Those dozens of wires around your home?in your kitchen, by your computer, behind your TV?can be a tangled nuisance. Control cord clutter w ...more
Wall studs are both critical for maintaining the structure of your home and supporting items of weight and function on the interior walls (e.g. cabinets, shelves, plasma TVs, etc.). With wall studs playing such a critical role, consistently being able to find them is important ...more
Every summer my husband and I plant a tomato plant. We do this to enjoy the plump red tomatoes right off of the vine. This summer we have had a problem, which is that SOMETHING IS EATING OUR TOMATOES AND IT IS NOT US! The Beginning Let me start from the beginning. Purchase ...more
You can very easily replace your normal light switch on the wall with a dimmer switch. The first step is to turn the power off at the circuit breaker. To prevent anyone from accidentally turning the circuit on put a piece of tape over the fuse switch so that it is clear that i ...more
Ron Hazelton shows the most secure way to hang heavy mirrors or art on plaster walls using toggle bolts. Attach a sturdy hanging wire to the piece if necessary. Draw a level line on the wall where the top of the piece will go. Stretch the hanging wire taut and measure the dist ...more
Sometimes a simple drowning trap is too boring, and you want something that's a little more stylish and exciting. That's where this trap comes in! This is what I like to call "The Mangler". It consists of a set of pistons that chomp together, literally chewing up your enemies ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to fit a dry lining back box. This is very easy to install, and the sides will grip the wires on your light. First, determine where you want your switch, then mark a quick line using a sturdy level. Next, you will cut out a hole in the wall the s ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to replace and install a programmable thermostat. The materials required for this project are: a screwdriver, masking tape, marking pencil and batteries. Begin by turning off the power of the furnace. Then remove the face of the old th ...more
No one likes it when random people wander into your home and mess things up, which is why it behooves you to hide your things from even the most prying eyes with builds like this totally invisible, 2x2, piston-operated door with no visible redstone either inside or outside. Th ...more
It can be very difficult to see underneath wall cabinets. The cabinets and your body can cause a lot of shadows and make it very hard to see. Getting light under the cabinets is very easy. The answer is to install thin profile fluorescent lights that are made to go under the c ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a mini-split air conditioner. Steps: 1. Lay pad on ground, check for level, then set condenser unit on top of pad. 2. Use 1 ½-inch hole saw to drill hole through house for refrigerant line. 3. Feed refrigerant line ...more
This video demonstrates how to hang things on hollow walls. From the people who brought you the Dummies instructional book series, brings you the same non-intimidating guides in video form. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to hang things on hollow walls, For Dummies. Th ...more
Welcome to Minecraft World! Check out our tutorials, post to the community corkboard, and come play on our free server! The workshop this past Saturday was focused around making a Redstone Elevator, and everyone joined in and made their own versions—all very cool and creative ...more
This is a perfect gift for the Wiccan or pagan on your holiday gift list - make a wall hanging or wreath shaped like a pentacle. A perfect blend of Christmas and Yule! You will need 16 gauge wire, along with your favorite ribbons and beads. Video: .
Using just a few inexpensive pieces of hardware, you can construct your own rack designed for storing and organizing spools of wire. Bolt a dowel to a wall or another rack, then thread your spools on the dowel. You can still get the wire, and now they won't move!
Gemstone earrings are quick to make at home, not to mention cheaper and more customized. To make gemstone low wall bezel earring, you'll need low wall bezel findings, gemstones to match the findings, ear wire findings and bent chain nose pliers. Learn how to make gemstone low ...more
Looking for a decorative garden wall hanging? Why not make one yourself?
About a quarter of a million homes sustain damage from broken pipes every winter. Here's how to avoid a similar fate. Watch this video to learn how to prevent pipes from freezing. You Will Need * A pipe insulator * Caulk Step 1. Attend to outdoor hoses Unhook, drain, and s ...more
If you've ever been inside of a real laboratory, you probably noticed how expensive the equipment is. You'd never be able to afford even just one of those ultra high-tech machines required to splice genes or split atoms. Even the lesser machines can be prohibitively costly, in ...more
Welcome to Minecraft World! Check out our advanced tutorials and come play on our free server. Harvesting items from animals no longer requires wasting precious time chasing after them. During last Saturday's Weekly Workshop, we built a few different kinds of animal harvester ...more
Sturdier than sewing thread and far less cumbersome than metal wire, dental floss has an amazing multitude of practical uses that can be used for baking, cooking, interior decorating, and more. The sturdy and thin material that helps you get gunk out of your teeth can be used ...more
Redstone is versatile and can be put to a myriad of uses when constructing things on your island in MineCraft. This tutorial shows you a couple basic ways to start building with redstone, such as wired doors and solid walls. Part 1 of 4 - How to Use redstone to make doors, bui ...more
In this video we learn how to prepare a wall for drilling. First, check for pipes and cables in the wall using a digital detector. After this, it's a good idea to tape some masking tape with an envelope on the wall to catch and dust and debris that falls off while you are dril ...more
In this video, we learn how to install shelves to organize a closet with Lowe's. A wire closet system is a great way to organize a closet, but you first need to map out your space and where you want things to go. After this, it's time to install. All you need to do is place in ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to build a subwoofer for a Mini Cooper. Start off by cutting the wood so it's to the exact sizes that you need. Next, attach the walls of the subwoofer together with a screwdriver and screws. After this, apply wood glue to the inside of the wood ...more
Bob Schmidt tells us how to set up cabinets for an entertainment center in this tutorial. First, make sure you set base cabinets next to your wires and put a hole in the back of them so you can cover the wires up, but still have easy access to them. You can easily make these h ...more
Pick of the Week: Au Revoir Simone / Alexa Wilding / George Sarah @ Echoplex ($14) I'll be at this show and can't wait to check out this all girl band from Brooklyn, NY. I've been following them for a while and really dig their electronic dream pop music. Admiral Radley / The ...more
Harry shows ways to fix common garbage disposal problems. First he shows if it hums use a crowbar to break free what is stuck. If you flip the switch and nothing happens it may be the red reset button on the bottom has popped out. He enplanes it may even be a bad wall switch o ...more
Worried about your dog figuring out how to jump over your fence? In this video tutorial from Ron Hazleton, learn about the "invisible" dog fence some are installing which keep a pooch away with electrical signals. It's underground, out of sight, and actually works! Within this ...more
When you have plaster walls that are a hundred years old you are going to have a lot cracks. Thankfully this Home& Garden how to video will give you a few tips on how to fix and fill in cracks in old drywall. Watch and learn to use wire mesh tape to help keep the drywall crack ...more
This article is dedicated to sugarcane, because we all want more sugarcane in Minecraft. The best way to generate sugar cane is with an automatic reed farm that uses pistons and redstone. The pistons push the canes into the water canal you'll build, then delivers them to the c ...more
Looptaggr is an ingenious drive-by tagging device by Ariel Schlesinger and Aram Bartholl. It's cheap, quick and easy to make, and even speedier to use. Cities and small towns across the world may be littered with graffiti mayhem in no time at all... From Looptaggr, how to make ...more
Until you decorate, your house won't feel like a home, but when you start hanging picture and frame on your living room walls, you should watch this video from Lowe's for some pre-hanging tips! Hanging artwork and picture frames around your home is an easy way to create a mor ...more
I've heard blind people have heightened senses, but I never imagined it could translate to such superb soccer footwork. As you watch below, remember this- all players are legally blind except for the goalie. *For a full description of how the game works, scroll down. Via Wire ...more
In order to install Warmups Underfloor heating system, you will need the following: a Warmup Thermostat, a Warmup Kit, RCD, a multimeter, a permanent marker, measuring tape, tape, and scissors. Prepare the subfloor in advance. Install insulation. The surface needs to be smoot ...more
Warnings no one can get physically hurt just very emotional. Remote Control Demolition Derby Demolition derby cars are wired up with remote controls: 3 of the guys nervously strap themselves into each vehicle, whilst the other jackass's feel ecstatic to have hand held remot ...more
This video tutorial is in the Home & Garden category which will show you how to light up your ceiling without recess lighting. Tamara Maslar shows two easy lighting projects to brighten up your living room. The first project is lanterns. You will need paper lanterns, assorted ...more
DARPA and Dallas's Southern Methodist University are collaborating on a super high tech camera, capable of scanning eyeballs in a moving crowd. Via Wired, "Called Panoptes, the devices use low-resolution sensors to create a high-res image that can be captured using a lightwe ...more
A wall niche is a great way to add a nice decorative look to a wall. The niche is made of lightweight polyurethane. To install the niche choose the location on the wall where you want to put the niche. Put the niche up to the wall and draw an outline around it. Before you star ...more
Feel like getting crafty? In this 8-part video tutorial, learn how to create the perfect pair of mini fairy wings, approximately 6 inches wide. Also included within these videos is how to make realistic-looking bat and dragon wings. To complete this project, you will need cell ...more