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My bathroom cabinets, which are wood stained with clearcoat, are 20+ years old and showing their age. The humidity of the bathroom really wears down the finish. I'd like to paint them. Do I need to do sand away the clearcoat, or can I just prime & paint? What paint is recommended for this...

I'm thinking of getting an entry level 3-gallon air compressor (0.6 scfm @ 90 psi). Just for occasional week DIY tasks. What type of tools could you run with this? Nailer? 3/8" Ratchet? 3" Cutoff saw? Reciprocating saw? Paint sprayer?

Does anyone have experience with cordless garden tools that run on Li-ion batteries? Hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, etc. How powerful are they compared to low-end gas models? They go for about $150 (gas models are $225-250). I'm wondering which to get

When you hire a contractor to work on your house, when is it reasonable for them to require a deposit before starting the work? What types of work typically require a deposit? If they don't require one, is it safe to assume you can cancel the job before they begin (without causing undo hardship...

What's the consensus on using threadlockers on screw-drive hose clamps? In particular, loctite purple #222.

The rainy season is upon us, and I have a garage queen that will rarely be driven. It's a waste to insure it for 30 days a month when it will only be driven 1-2 days. I was thinking of canceling comprehensive & collision, then reinstating it on just the days I drive it, from now until April...

There's an evil company called Direct Marketing Assocation that's responsible for most of the junk mail you get. 95% of the stuff I get in the mailbox is junk and it [censored] me off. DMA has a way to opt-out but you have to do it every few years. They also have a way to opt out for a deceased...

Can you name all the adjustment screws on old televisions? You know, the ones that required a screw driver to turn the dial What was each adjustment called and what did it do?

What are some things you proactively replace around the house? (instead of waiting for them to fail before you replace them) Some things I thought of: 1. Garage door springs 2. Hoses for washing machine & toilets 3. Garbage disposal 4. Water heater anode rod how about dishwashers and clothes...

Something I don't understand is why people who live in bad areas buy really nice cars, like $40k to $60k cars, then park them outside on the street. I know people who do this and their cars all end up with an assortment of scratches and dings on the bumpers because other drivers (with their...

I'm more concerned with braking and handling performance than with fuel economy. To me, a car that performs better is safer. To that end, would it be a good idea to underflate the tires during the dry months? (to increase the contact patch size). If so by how much? The car is street-driven...

My garage floor is so ugly, it's driving my crazy. There are paint stains and chemical stains (some 10+ years old). I can remove the oil stains but the paint stains appear permanent. There is also some pitting in the concrete. What are the options to improve the look? Can you paint over a...

Some cars have aerodynamic underbody covers that are held in place by dozens of screws. Is removing/reinstalling them a 1-person job or do you need a 2nd person to hold the piece while you screw them in? Is there a trick to doing this with just one person?

I bought a new floor jack and decided to test it. I raised the saddle 6" then placed a jug of water on it. After 4 hours it descended to the floor. I don't see any leaking hydraulic fluid around the pistons. When I used the jack to lift a car, the jack felt fine -- no sponginess or no weird...

Have you ever had any "interesting" or exotic pets? examples: scorpion, snake, praying mantis, tarantula

Do you think this is a Torx bolt or just rounded off hex bolts? I inserted an 8mm hex socket and it fits snugly but I didn't apply torque for fear of rounding it off if it were a torx head. I don't have the right size torx socket to test and wanted to ask before buying a torx set. What do you think?

Has anyone used dry ice to remove minor dings? I've seen some videos where people use dry ice or an upside-down can of duster spray (for keyboards) to freeze the dent. The dent pops out due to the metal contracting. I'm thinking of trying this but not sure what it'll do to the paint. Plus it...

I've heard this before, that using the A/C more often will shorten the battery's lifespan. Why is that? The only 2 reasons I can think of are (1) the AC tends to raise underhood temps, and (2) using the AC requires the electrical fan to run more often especially when you're at a stop, thus...

What would your dream garage be like? I'm not talking about vehicles, I'm talking about the setup, tools, etc. I guess it'd have to start with a lift, some low-profile hydraulic jacks, air compressor, lots of overhead lighting, every size socket known to man, a bunch of ratchets and torque...

Looking back, what were some things you learned in grades K-6 that you now know were absurd? I remember learning about the 4 food groups: dairy, breads, veggies, meat. We were taught that pizza had all 4 of these so pizza was the perfect food. Yes really, we learned that pizza was good for you.