http://www.househacker.com/ househacker/tags/diy
All of them involved taking the laptop apart completely and generally rendering it useless for any other activity. The screens were also smaller than I wanted ? equivalent to an 8?x12? photo, and varied considerably in contrast, brightness, and general image quality.

For my project, I wanted a desktop quality LCD screen of a size equivalent to an 11?x14? photograph. I also wanted professional quality matting and framing.

So, the author opted to use an old LCD monitor along with a hidden laptop. The trick is using two holes in the wall; an upper and a lower. The VGA and monitor power cable is fed through the upper hole and fished out through the lower hole, which is where the laptop sits, still accessible for maintenance and whatnot, but, in the author's case, hidden by a piano and usually controlled wirelessly.

Se also: previous post on DIY digital frames.

WiFi enabled digital picture frame on Amazon.com. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Slick-DIY-Wall-Mounted-Digital-Photo-Frame
This how-to walks you through the process of modifying a mower as well as creating the solar panel/charging station that provides the power. The mower does take a while to charge up (40 hours by the authors calculations, assuming a half-charged battery), but since most lawns don't require mowings of any greater frequency than that (or anywhere near that, one would hope), the solar solution seems like a perfect fit for the task.

The author provides a lot of detail, including a couple of schematics and a parts and costs table. The final price tag was $699, with the bulk of the cost going towards the motor ($312), solar panel ($120) and battery ($90).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Solar-Charged-Lawnmower
Start with a base coat of store-bought black chalkboard paint, and then mix in varying amounts of white chalkboard paint for lighter squares.

The effect is nice and the calendar would probably be quite handy, although it might be tedious painting work to ensure straight and clean lines.

Via Lifehacker ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Chalkboard-Wall-Calendar http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Festive-Lighted-Glass-Block-Howto
One of the more interesting things in this piece is how the author used the hard paper columns that builders use to pour concrete along with some marble paint to create some faux marble columns for $20. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Thorough-Home-Theatre-Construction-Howto here.

From the site:

The Chispito Wind Generator is a 100W machine. It outputs 14volts at 280 rpm, so it starts putting power into your batteries in low wind speeds (7-10mph). It makes a perfect addition to an existing solar, or other alternative energy, home system. On its own, it will power lights, radio, and conservative use of appliances such as computer, satellite, blender, drill, etc.

It's interesting to see smaller companies attempting to build/improve wind power systems instead of waiting for some of the larger players in the industry to offer products at more affordable price points. Some of the offerings out there are more than a little pricey and would take many years to produce a postive ROI.

Via Digg]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Wind-Generator Google, toilets account for anywhere between 20 to 40 percent of household water consumption. Given that we waste clean, otherwise drinkable water flushing our toilets, it should come as no surprise that many people harvest rainwater for toilets and other household purposes where potable water isn't necessary.

The author of this howto walks us through the setup of a rainwater-to-toilet system, while sharing his reasons for doing so:

While it doesn't come close to making up for our gas-guzzling, high-consuming lifestyles, rain harvesting does have a positive impact on our environment. Domestic potable water collection requires effort, energy, and chemicals for purification and transport...
Your house is an "impermeable surface". Rain would otherwise hit the ground where your house is and soak into the underground water table or enter a natural stream. Instead, rainfall from the roofs of many urban homes is tied into the sewer system. During periods of heavy rain, this storm surge from houses, parking lots, and streets into the sewer system can max out treatment capacity, causing raw sewage to flow out untreated into waterways. Harvesting some of this storm surge can reduce peak demands on our water treatment facilities.
Besides the more important environmental issues, most of us in urban areas pay for domestic potable water. I have calculated that each flush of the rainwater toilet (1.6 gallons) saves me just over 1 cent. Costing less than $100 to install, this system will pay for itself over the years.
Also, I have the satisfaction of a small level of self-sufficiency from an urban lifestyle otherwise dependant on society for survival.
The guide covers the details of rainwater collection, a formula for calculating your harvest potential, detailed pictures of the entire setup (including how to mesh the rainwater system to standard toilet plumbing via selector valve, enabling the toilet to run off of either system) as well as a breakdown of parts and costs for the project.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Harvest-Rain-Water-for-Toilet-Water
View the complete process with pics and video here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Tile-Over-Laminate-Countertops-with-Tavy-Thin-Skin-Underlay-System headboard.

Headboards can have a dramatic effect on any bedroom, but they tend not to come cheap. If you don't have a lot to spend and you're plagued by a tiny bed in a big bedroom, then maybe a DIY project like this is what you need to create a handsome focal point while balancing the space.

The different headboard guides offered in the howto all end up in the $70 ballpark, which isn't too bad at all.

Also check out their complete list of DIY projects and crafts here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Headboard videos here.

Amazon.com page - unfortunately they are currently unavailable.

Manufacturer's order page.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Blind-Mark-Drywall-Cutout-Tool video (Windows media) from the Free Hand site.

Available from Amazon.com.

Via the always interesting Smart Stuff.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Clever-Hands-Free-Drywall-Installation-Tool
The Internet claimed that disassembling a toilet to check the flange or to replace the wax ring was easy. Invariably, the same sites that talked about how easy this task was would follow that up by saying, "A TOILET BREAKS EASILY BE CAREFUL!!!!" The sites also varied in how detailed their instructions were, in one case even going so far as to skip the whole "removing the tank" part. As a public service, I'm going to give you the definitive step-by-step guide to disassembling a toilet to repair it.

Also be sure not to miss the toilet diagram Stephen has created, which, although highly technical and beyond the comprehension of the layman, is a useful toilet anatomy nonetheless.

Link: How To Disassemble a Toilet In Many Easy Steps]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Funny-Toilet-Disassembly-Howto DIY concrete countertop project, although that might not be the case once one becomes more acquainted with both jobs, but it does explain why kitchen work can be so costly.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Kitchen-Countertop
Here's the basic setup. The garbage can is filled with ice water, which is then fed by gravity (a siphon) through the copper tubing coiled along the back of the fan. The hot air passing through the tubing warms the cold water, cooling the air. Waste warm water is then pumped outside. The system will cool an average room to a comfortable level in approximately 15-20 minutes. Depending on flow rate, a full bucket of water will last approximately 1-3 hours. I use a single bucket before bed on hot nights, which lets me get to sleep. Once the water runs out, the house has cooled off enough that the fan alone provides sufficient cooling.

Recently, someone has posted instructions for making improvements to the homemade air conditioner, which involves an aquarium pump to recycle the water, which in the first generation model, was routed outside the house.

Via LifeHacker]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sub-Thirty-Dollar-Homemade-Air-Conditioner
Here's the criteria they were after, from the article:

It must be cheap. Total budget for all materials to make a 100" diagonal 16:9 screen, including frame, must be less than $100.

It must be simple and quick to assemble. We did not want to make a lifetime hobby out of making a screen. We wanted the materials to be easy to find, and we wanted to put it together in less than two hours of invested labor.

It must be easy to install. We wanted a no muss, no fuss solution with a fixed frame that we could hang on a wall in a matter of minutes.

It must perform!!! We had no delusions that we could invest a hundred bucks and a couple hours labor and come up with a screen that would match the quality of the Stewart screens we use in the projection labs. But how close could we come? That was the challenge. And as you will see below, the results were surprisingly good.

If the cost of the screen is what's been holding you back from buying a projector, perhaps a frugal DIY solution such as this one will be your tipping point.

Article: Make a 100" Screen for under $100]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-a-Hundred-Inch-Screen-for-Under-a-Hundred-Bucks television wall mounting and has shared the details for anyone looking to undertake the installation on their own. The installer lists the tools you'll need for the hanging and also covers finding an appropriate mount location, stud finding, cabling issues, etc.

About.com also offers some wall mounting instructions, including tips on handling situations where cables aren't (or can't be, for whatever reason) behind the wall:

We can either place an obstacle under the television, which would look odd, or we can cheat the eye with camouflage. I have a friend who had this very problem, and his solution was to create a molding that would be used as a cover for his cables. He painted the molding the same colour of his wall, and when placed over the cables it looks like part of the wall. Granted, it's raised about 2-3 inches off the wall, but it looks very natural. As far as supplies, small strips of wood (a 1x2 for the sides and 1x4 for the face) cut to the length of the TV to the floor should be enough to make such a piece.

Wikihow.com provides a more orderly and straightforward, step-by-step instruction set, if that's more your bag.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Some-Plasma-or-LCD-Wall-Mounting-HowTos
Speaking of mosquitoes, apparently some clever teens have recorded the so-called Mosquito alarm that malls have been experimenting with to keep kids from loitering (the Mosquito alarm is a high pitched alarm that cannot be heard by most people over 20, but tends to drive teens crazy) and have adapted it to be used, surreptitious, as a quasi-silent ringtone on their cell phones during class. Heh, kids.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Do-it-Yourself-Mosquito-Trap soundproofing discussion over at studio-central.com. The thread begins with the oft recommended carpet and foam wall technique, which, as you'll read, is a total no-no to some - although it's not quite unanimously opposed. The carpet opponents believe carpet and foam to be dangerous potential fire hazards that, lacking any significant mass, have minimal soundproofing ability - which is hotly debated due to many people adding their anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

The discussion offers many links to different, informative soundproofing resources, including this document called Exposing Acoustical Myths (PDF), which really breaks down a lot of the misconceptions people have about the science of soundproofing a space. Another nice resource is this page that details the different drywall, stud and insulation configurations and their corresponding STC ratings. STC ratings are, according to stcratings.com:

...a single-number rating of a material's or an assembly's ability to resist airborne sound transfer at the frequencies 125-4000 Hz. In general, a higher STC rating blocks more noise from transmitting through a partition.

So, the higher STC the better. Another site worth checking out is Acoustics.com. They've made available an Acoustics 101 overview page, as well as handy project design resources that give detailed tips on designing all sorts of different types of rooms, including home theatres. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Informative-Soundproofing-Discussion
I will tell you the things that you absolutely must know for music production in a clear, simple, even entertaining way. While much of this knowledge is technical, I'll avoid bogging you down with unnecessary technical details. We are not flying to Mars here (except maybe musically), so we can have a little fun. After all, our music is something we want people to enjoy.

For those interested in creating the proper space to create and record masterpieces, the section on home studio construction will be of the most interest.

Via Metafilter.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Create-a-Pro-Quality-Home-Recording-Studio-in-your-Home excellent list of random tips and tricks for getting things done around the house, from fixing your squeaky floor (use baby powder!) to sanding down the bottom of a door:

If a door is dragging on the floor or threshold--making scraping sounds-place sandpaper on top of a stack of magazines and position the pile under the door. (Use enough magazines so that the door hits the sandpaper.) Then work the door back and forth over the abrasive.

Now that's pretty clever.

Via 43Folders.com]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Old-Text-File-Jam-Packed-with-Tips-and-Tricks
ExtremeTech.com walks you through the creation of just such a device with this tutorial on creating a handy RFID access controller for the front door of your home. This is a very nice, detailed tutorial that includes a parts list, tool list, software and schematics. The project looks pretty intensive, so set aside a good chunk of time to see it to completion.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-RFID-Access-to-your-Front-Door
Also see Bar Monkey for pictures of other setups as well as a forum with instructions and help on building your own. If you only need drink ideas, check out the drink search engine, YourNextDrink.com.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Super-Cool-Automated-Computer-Controlled-Bar these foam eavestrough fillers, mind you), to giving your dishwasher a tuneup to silencing squeaky floors. They've also offered a list of the regular maintenance tasks that every homeowner should follow.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Quick-Home-Repairs-from-Popular-Mechanics Markus Wandel has created a nice DIY home intercom howto, complete with schematics and usage instructions:

If you can manage it, get two speakerphone-type phones. Leave them in "speakerphone" mode continuously and pound on the keypad to attract the attention of the other end.

Heh. Via Boing Boing.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Utilize-Unused-Telephone-Lines-to-Make-a-Home-Intercom-System ready made wireless music player, you can build your own out of some off the shelf (the shelf being ebay, usually) parts and some shell scripts, as Nathan True did. Luckily for us, Nathan has provided a nice step-by-step walk through of the process. If you're not afraid of some hardware work and elastic bands(!), then give it a go and help bring some harmony back to your home audio world.

via Engadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Wireless-Music-Player http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Detailed-Flash-Laminate-Flooring-HowTo this previous post.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Install-Hardwood-Flooring-Video-HowTo http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Hot-Tub
DRIcore is an ideal product to use on basement floors - or workshops. The plastic cleats raise the panels off the floor, allowing moisture to pass underneath. The DRIcore that Brigitte chooses for her workshop is perfect for so many reasons. It?s ideal for moist conditions, it?s attractive and it?s super easy to install.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DRIcore-Subfloor-System-Installation-HowTo Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter but don't want to spend the money, why not make your own poor man's version? From the site:

There were of course the usual hanging planters that are really nothing more than a regular pot with strings tied to a ceiling hook. These really didn?t appeal to me due to previous experiences where the water of flowed down through the soil and filled the overflow basin at the bottom. Another option is hanging inverted planters which have been around for a very long time. Some in a much older design made from terra cotta in a traditional mexican style and a newer one made of plastic that had internal foam spacers for dirt/water containment. This naturally put my mind into make it myself mode.

With flora becoming so elevated lately, we may never get to try the nifty gardening chair, sadly.
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Topsy-Turvy-Tomato-Planter Engadget has posted a useful step-by-step howto on building your own Tivo-like home theatre PC (HTPC) using MythTV. They list each piece of hardware they used on the way to a successful, smooth install. From the site:

The total for the base system is $988. The addition of the TV tuners brings the grand total to $1126.

This price is probably beatable if you opt for a lower end processor, which will save you some money and really wont cost too much performance-wise provided the tuner cards you choose do hardware encoding. Tuner based encoding takes the vast majority of processing load off of the CPU. That being said, faster is always better when it comes to CPUs, generally speaking, so too severe a drop in clock speed will hamper menu navigation and other features which will detract from the snappy, slick user interface that you want in a PVR. If you're not too Linux savvy and aren't ready to do a manual install, a great way to set up MythTV on a PC is by using KnoppMyth. KnoppMyth is available on a downloadable, bootable CD that aims to make the MythTV installation as straightforward, user-friendly and painless as possible. If your system meets the hardware requirements, the CD will install MythTV onto your system while prompting you for only a minimal amount of configuration questions. If you encounter problems along the way, the KnoppMyth forum is invaluable. The site's admin, Cecil, not only tirelessly develops KnoppMyth, but also personally answers an unbelievable amount of questions on the forum, which, by the way, is packed full of information on getting up and running with MythTV - useful no matter what your method of installation.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Build-Your-Own-Home-Theatre-PC wishing well illusion coffee table isn't your speed, maybe you'd be happier with this pinball machine coffee table (with working lights, of course) that you can build yourself with instructables.com's thorough step-by-step pictorial. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sweet-Pinball-Coffee-Table-Howto Doityourself.com has many useful step by step articles for home renovations and repairs, including this one on waterproofing your basement which may be useful to anyone with a leaky basement and looking to save some money by attempting to do the repairs themselves. The site also has a large, active forum with over 40,000 members.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Basement-Waterproofing-Howto how to use a hammer) to intermediate (repairing cracked tile, repairing a defective light switch) to more advanced topics (basement foundation repair). They've also got a nice list of reference materials on topics ranging from the various nail and screw sizes to weights and measures and the metric system.

*Regarding PDFs: it's been said before, but Foxit Reader is a really fast and lightweight alternative to Acrobat Reader that deserves some attention. Give it a shot. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Nice-List-of-General-Home-Repair-Howtos
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Multilayer-Home-Office-Desk some money as well.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Arcade-Driving-Game-Cockpit Glass Block w/ Mini Lights howto. If you're comfortable drilling into glass and haven't had too much egg nog, then you shouldn't have any trouble with this simple project. This is a beautiful craft that emits a warm, soft glow that is really inviting, creating the perfect festive ambiance.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-a-Festive-Lighted-Glass-Block basement or gameroom. If buying one is out of the question, why not consider building your own MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) unit? This howto describes the steps from cutting the MDF to installing fans, speakers and of course buttons and joysticks. They've included a parts list with costs, which totalled £ 630.79 (about 1,118.19 USD), which is nearly $2,ooo cheaper than the Costco and Target models.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Arcade-Cabinet automation front, although they have posted a decent overview article on the subject. The majority of the projects are related to networking and digital home entertainment.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/CNET-Digital-Home-DIY-Projects site has many videos such as this on a wide range of home renovation subjects. If you are considering laying ceramic tile, you may be interested in underfloor heating. Warmly Yours offers an online flash app to aid you in estimating the cost of an underfloor heating system.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Video-HowTo-on-Laying-Ceramic-Tile-in-the-Bathroom


]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Japanese-Paper-Lampshade-HowTo http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Turn-Your-Old-Laptop-into-a-Digital-Picture-Frame "Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls, which has some solid tips on keeping the junk down by preventing your name, number and address from being added to every customer database on the planet. One clever gem:

Sexually Oriented Advertising (SOA):The only help you'll get from the Post Office in controlling junk mail is for explicit stuff. Fill out USPS forms 1500 if you wish this type of mail to stop. You define what you find to be explicit -- if that's an automobile parts catalog the post office won't disagree with you.

Good stuff.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Reduce-Your-Junk-Mail POTS system to your VOIP system, you may be interested in this DIY project that walks you through the creation of a telephone-to-VOIP adapter for your wired or cordless phones. From the site:

Just imagine: You can walk with your wireless phone chatting with Skype friends for free, you can make free call to your mom if she is connected to the Internet...Skype wireless phones are expensive, VoIP adapters cost ~$60, but you can make it for free if your have details.. from old TV, Radio or other electronics.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Skype-Phone-Adapter diynetwork that covers template construction, mold making, pouring, and finishing up.

Here's another very detailed tutorial from NaturalHandyman.com. Both are good, but the diynetwork breaks down the materials needed in a nicer format.

For some inspiration, take a look at Cheng Design to see some amazing examples of what's possible to accomplish with concrete.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Concrete-Countertop-HowTos

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Incredibly-Thorough-Structured-Wiring-HowTo
Some nice features:

A plexiglas top, which enables washable marker action.

Cup holders that position the beverage flush with the table top.

3 pull out trays on each side of the table.

1" Grid covering the entire surface.
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ultimate-Game-Table
If you:
have $10, need an answering machine, have a Linux box and have some spare time on your hands, then you may be interested in making your own linux based answering machine. This howto will walk you through the steps to get you up and running with a geek badge called the linux based answering machine.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/A-10-Dollar-Linux-Answering-Machine
From the Depot's useful Know-How page.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Big-Home-Depot-Plumbing-HowTo-List version.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-LCD-Projector http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Houseplant-Irrigation-System-for-45-Bucks