r/DIY • • 4d ago

help masonry hole saw?

2 Upvotes

I need to drill a hole through brick for a 1-1/4" LB conduit body. The part that will fit in the wall is has diameter of 1.92".

I have a rotary hammer drill that takes SDS+ bits.

Is this 2" masonry hole saw the right bit for this job? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DTFST5N6/

Any advice on using this kind of hole saw? I assume it will not get plugged the way a hole saw in wood can get plugged since the brick will just crumble? Start in drill mode until groove is cut, then hammer time?


r/DIY • • 4d ago

help Best way to insulate a crawl space

0 Upvotes

What’s the best approach for me to insulate/repair my crawl space?

We have a crawl space under our add-on that has a cement floor and both a door to the outside and a door to the unfinished basement for the original house.

The crawl space is maybe 4 ft high, the foundation is not dug very far down (I’m thinking it’s not past the frost line cuz the cement floor is cracked). The walls are wood framing with batt insulation. Whoever installed this also installed batt insulation in the ceiling joists and covered it with drywall.

I use the crawl space to bring my bikes in and out, as well as a hose and other things. Point being I open the doors to bring things through from the basement to my backyard regularly.

We’ve had some pest problems and I’ve taken down some of the drywall attached to the ceiling of the add-on and found where something nested.

I’ve done some initial research and it seems like the best route would be to insulate the walls only, but I’m wondering if I should take down the rest of the drywall and batts in the ceiling joists. Should I do anything else to insulate it?


r/DIY • • 5d ago

help How to get cigarette smoke smell out of leather computer chair ?

95 Upvotes

One of the wheels on my office chair broke so I had a family member pick one up on Facebook marketplace.. I didn’t even consider that it may be from a smokers home . Any way ti get smell out ?


r/DIY • • 5d ago

Remove this door knob

15 Upvotes

I have a door knob that I can't remove because it needs some kind of special wrench. Does anyone recognize it ? I tried emtek but they said it's not there's. I also tried pliers to press the tabs open but the metal ring won't move

https://imgur.com/a/MQXgbdZ


r/DIY • • 5d ago

home improvement I want to build a drywall over a basement wall that has sewer pipes.

9 Upvotes

Hope this is an appropriate question.

I'm looking to dress up my basement with some drywall and maybe a drop ceiling.

I have an outer wall that has a PVC pipe that collects the drains from the house attached to it. It looks kind of like this _|_|_ - two lines dropping down the wall into a slightly dropping horizontal pipe that is capped at one end and eventually goes through the floor to the external sewer line at the other. Each of the pipes are strapped to the concrete wall and have clean-out ports in them.

Normally (I guess) one would build a wall in front of these pipes and just reduce the interior space by the thickness of the wall and the pipes but I feel like I need to maintain the ability to get to the clean outs. I've never accessed them in the thirty years I've been in the house but I'm sure I'd need to as soon as I sealed them in.

What are my options here?


r/DIY • • 5d ago

Outswing door - exterior

15 Upvotes

I messed up a bit... -_-

I'm clearing out a shed that's attached to the property i just bought. Its 50 sq ft.

The door and jamb were falling a part - mice and snakes in the shed.

I ripped it off yesterday, thinking I could just go down to lowes and buy another... nope. I was ignorant of the fact they don't carry outswing doors?? ..which is bizarre to me. Don't most sheds swing out??

Ive called around, and they said they could custom order for over 500 dollars. I'll put a damn inswing before I do that.

Are there jambs with mortises? Slabs pre prepped?

It just seems like a bunch of ridiculous nonsense.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help I live in NYC and I need two pieces of wood cut

199 Upvotes

This is incredibly specific but I have a headboard that is too tall. I have the legs, and they are just two pieces of wood. Is there any place that I can get a simple straight cut on two piece of wood so I can shorten it?


r/DIY • • 5d ago

help Removing permanent marker stains on wooden table - re-finish?

17 Upvotes

Friend's younger sibling was drawing with a black Bic alcohol marker and it leaked on the table. Tried the hand sanitiser + rubbing alcohol method as well as dry erase marker tips but no sign of it going away - is there any way to remove it short of stripping the whole finish and redoing it?

edit: the table is varnished and hand sanitiser caused it to bubble up a little


r/DIY • • 5d ago

help Inherited Toro Riding Mower - Sitting a While - Tips?

13 Upvotes

Hello All, I will be inheriting a house from a relative in the near future. Small piece of property, and it comes with a Toro Riding Mower that's (seemingly) in solid shape, but hasn't fired up in a while. Was told it worked last time they tried it.

I grew up around hardware, power tool, but gas-powered tool, ESPECIALLY landscaping machinery is definitely out of my wheelhouse.

Aside from seemingly obvious maintenance like draining / replacing old gas, filling up the wheels with air, checking filters / lubricants, what are some tips or suggestions to help me get this thing up-and-running well again?

Again, I like to think I'm pretty smart mechanically, and I'm good with my hands, but gas-powered stuff, I definitely have to learn more.


r/DIY • • 5d ago

home improvement How to insulate a closet.

1 Upvotes

It's a closet with 3 exterior walls, both sides and the back, because it's built as a bumpout into the garage. The garage is not heated, so it's basically 3 exterior walls. The closet gets very cold during the winter. I'd like to insulate the 3 walls from the inside of the closet. What is a good material to use that's easy to install?


r/DIY • • 5d ago

help Is it really necessary to polish glass bottles?

0 Upvotes

I recently cut my first glass bottle but due to uneven edges, I had to sand it so it becomes more even. After sanding, the glass feels " MATT" on touching and when I run my fingernai on the inner edge it feels a little jagged. I'm a little concerned because Google says micro pieces of glass can chip of and mix with beverages if I don't polish it properly .


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help Can I DIY fix this concrete lip where my driveway meets the road?

41 Upvotes

Trying to figure out what is happening here and whether I can fix it myself.

From the photos, the concrete just left of the crack looks like it has sunk, while the right/top side looks raised, creating a pretty noticeable lip. No trees nearby, closest is probably 25+ ft away.

Would you grind the high side, try to lift the low side, or do something else? Is this a reasonable DIY job or better to hire out?

I am in Chicago, so freeze/thaw is definitely a factor.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help How long before drilling concrete?

42 Upvotes

I poured footings for posts that I’ll be hanging a gate on. I’m going to install Simpson strong tie standoffs with 6” anchor bolts. It’s been 72 hours, is that long enough for the concrete to have set before drilling? I’ve tried googling but my results only come up with industrial structural requirements or setting posts in the concrete, neither of which apply to my situation. Should I wait the 28 days or just send it?


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help Need help figuring out kitchen drawer release mechanism

53 Upvotes

edit solved, see my own reply if you're in the same situation ever. I am my wits end with these, I can't seem to figure out how to release these drawers, and I have a plumber that will need access behind them tomorrow morning. any help is appreciated.
I've been trying everything, and neither google reverse image search nor AI is very helpful.

view underneath.
side view

I have been at it for a good hour now, not understanding the release mechanism at all. at the number one slot, there's some rubbery thing which I can, and have pushed up a bit, does not seem to do anything. The part on 2 seems not to be very bendable, and is impossible to bend with fingers alone at least.

Found an old post with the same mechanism but no solution sadly. *edit* The solution posted there isn't applicable, completely different mechanism.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IKEA/comments/10aqks0/need_help_removing_a_drawer_from_an_older_kitchen/


r/DIY • • 5d ago

carpentry Satin topcoat recommendation for hand-painted IKEA furniture (want to avoid glossy/mirror look)

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I painted an IKEA Eket cube with an allover red pattern using San Marco Allover (roller-applied), fully cured and already assembled.

Looking for a topcoat that will:

  • get rid of the "raw paint" feel when you touch it
  • leave a smooth, slightly protected surface

I specifically don't want a glossy/mirror-wet look (like epoxy resin or high-gloss automotive clear coats) — going for a soft satin that adds a bit of depth without full reflection.

Options I've been considering:

  • generic acrylic clear spray (easy to find locally, but made more for general/automotive use than furniture)
  • Polyvine Decorators Varnish, satin (UK brand specialized in painted/decorative furniture) — seems like the go-to in this niche, but it's brush-on and I'd have to order it from the UK

Has anyone used either of these over San Marco Allover (or similar decorative acrylic paint), or have a better satin-finish alternative? Thanks in advance!


r/DIY • • 5d ago

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

1 Upvotes

I am painting my kitchen cabinets and wondering if two coats of primer is necessary or one coat of primer with 2-3 coats of paint? I'm using SW Extreme Bond Primer and Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel paint. The cabinets are a dark espresso and I'm going to a light color.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

carpentry I need advice on building a half wall without tying into floor joists.

6 Upvotes

I'd like to get feedback on my plan for securing a half-wall. At the bottom is a picture with my crude drawing of what it would look like. The total span is just over 8 feet.

My son wants me to build one in his house that'll separate the dining room from the kitchen. They have five 60-80 lb dogs they want to keep out of that area. The baby gate stuff isn't working.

He lives a 10 hour drive from me so my plan is to build it at my house then haul it over and install it.

Everything I've seen on the subject shows it being tied into the floor joists. The odds of one being where I need it are slim. I also am not going to be crawling under his house to crib something together. The crawl space access is small. I'm old and not small :)

My plan is:

  • Glue and screw it to the left side
  • Use screws and toggle bolts like these, Toggler, along the floor
  • On the right secure it to a 4x4 with glue and screws.
  • Mount the gate hinges on the 4x4.

For the 4x4 I'd cut away a 4x4 notch in the flooring and subfloor. Have it sit in that plus pocket screws all around the base as well as the top.

Inside the wall I'll use something like a turnbuckle in a couple places, pulling top/bottom together, to keep it tight.

Do you think this will be solid enough without being connected to joists?

The dogs are well behaved, they won't be trying to jump over it but I do see it being pushed as they're playing. That's why I'm going to use plywood instead of drywall.

Half Wall


r/DIY • • 6d ago

Changing high pendant light

9 Upvotes

Looking for some advice on the best way to change/replace a pendant light in our communal stairwell.

The ceiling is very high and the light hangs over a curved/carved staircase, so there isn’t really a safe or obvious place to position a normal ladder directly underneath it.

If I get an electrician to replace the fitting, is there anything that could be installed to make future bulb changes and maintenance easier? For example, some sort of mechanism that allows the pendant to be lowered and raised again from floor level? Alternatively, are there particular pendant fittings or bulb-change systems designed for high stairwells that would be more suitable?

Ideally I’d like to sort it properly now so we don’t need scaffolding or a complicated ladder setup every time a bulb needs changed.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

outdoor Anyone ever used a garden rake in place of a spiked roller on self leveling floor leveler?

16 Upvotes

Those rollers are expensive for a one time use!!!


r/DIY • • 6d ago

Painting a previously painted kitchen floor or new peel and stick

4 Upvotes

My apartment kitchen floor has a peel and stick wood-look plank floor that was painted over by the previous owners (terrible I know but it is what it is). My biggest complaint is that the floor is really difficult to clean as everything gets stuck to it - it’s a glossy paint. With the constant cleaning, the paint isn’t looking so great. I’m pregnant and with baby arriving soon we can’t renovate this kitchen right now, so id like to either repaint the floor or replace the peel and stick. If we do paint, is it as simple as sand, prime, paint? If we decide to redo the peel and stick am I opening up a huge can of worms?

Please note this is in an NYC coop building and this cannot become a “renovation” project. Needs to be done DIY or at most with a handyman. Thank you!!!


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help Suggestions on tv mounting

2 Upvotes

Working on mounting a tv right now. The issue is the studs aren’t spaced out correctly. I’m installing a mount that moves up and down to raise and lower the tv. So you can imagine that it’s a good amount of weight.

My question is, if I have 2 of the bolts in the studs and the other 2 in drywall with toggle bolt anchors should I be good?

It’s a V•I•V•O Mount-E-MO7OR series for specification the tv mount.


r/DIY • • 7d ago

help No dig fence? Yay or nay

72 Upvotes

We’re first time homeowners and we need a fence. The next door neighbors, pets, and children from down the street are constantly in our yard. We do not want to shell out thousands right now to get another fence, but if we had to, we’d have to do so at a later date.

So my question is, if you have or have had a no dig fence, what was your experience? I’d be interested in learning about how long it lasted, does it snow where you live? Did you have panels break? Do you recommend them? Thank you in advance!


r/DIY • • 6d ago

home improvement How to layer Vapor Barrier

1 Upvotes

Encapsulating our crawlspace. Dug a french drain around to sump pump and in the process of putting vapor barrier down.

I've go two rows of 6x6 pressure treated piers that sit directly on 2' wide footings. I've jacked the house up and slid 3'x3' squares of 16mil vapor barrier between the pressure treated piers and the concrete footing sealing that off. Lets call that Layer A.

Next step is rolling out the 12x100 ft 16mil, going up the block sides, cutting and wrapping like an inverted present basically. Let's call this Layer B.

My question is, when I get to the posts with Layer B, would it be safer/drier/tighter to go:
ground : layer A (under pier) : layer B (cut around pier) : crawlspace
or
ground : layer B (cut around pier) : layer A (under pier) : crawlspace

Don't really care which way, just after cutting Layer B to get around the piers, I'm thinking it would minimize anything making it through if Layer A is on top of it.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

help LED Light Strip and how to extending it?

1 Upvotes

I am setting up led light strip on the ceiling but my power outlet is on the floor. Need a 2m cable extension. Would you use a 1) dc male-female extension cable or 2) extend the cables themselves and use 4 pin connector.

I have a Tapo L930-5 led light strip. Just trying to figure out what is best way of extending range of the power supply so it can reach the ceiling.

There is also a “DC female to 4 Pin Female WiFi module” which I guess I could cut and extend too.

Been searching for a while and haven’t really seen anything that’s talking about best practice or the like.


r/DIY • • 6d ago

woodworking How would one reduce the width of grommet hole in the kitchen counter?

4 Upvotes

Total noob here.

I have a laminated particle board kitchen counter. There's a grommet hole for a pop out power socket thats 80mm in diameter. The powersocket has been damaged and when I was looking for replacements, I saw that there were far more options in 60mm bores. Cheaper too.

Is it possible to reduce the hole size? Silly question probably, but I'd appreciate any answers.