A personal account of returning to woodworking after a discouraging school experience, recounting four DIY projects that rebuilt practical skills and confidence. The first project was a simple dog gate made over a weekend using a Black & Decker Workmate, handsaws, drill, screws and wood glue; cuts were imperfect, mounting involved screwing a timber pad to masonry with rawlplugs (initially three screws, later two more), and an improvised bolt gave about 1mm clearance. The gate was painted with white Dulux satinwood without primer, and the author repeatedly notes rushing the finishing stages. YouTube tutorials and local suppliers like Screwfix and Sydenhams enabled sourcing materials.
Subsequent projects grew in scale and complexity. A raised patio bed used 200x100x2400 sleepers (many twisted), 100x100 posts, a Bosch UniversalCirc cordless circular saw (limited 50mm cut depth required flipping sleepers), heavy 150mm screws, orbital sander and Ronseal + eggshell blue finish; tool choices prompted regret over Bosch DIY/Pro battery incompatibility. Alcove shelves involved scribing walls, 6mm MDF, 300mm shelf depth to double-stack Blu-rays, and careful batten supports, yielding an estimated 20kg capacity despite visible filler and sanding imperfections. Across projects the consistent finding is practical, functional results achieved by learning from videos, iterative tool purchases, and accepting “good enough” finishes.
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Ceiling fans are experiencing increased popularity and innovative designs to improve energy efficiency and airflow. Some models now incorporate smart technology for remote control and automation. (mcmansionhell.com)
High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) is expected to decline by 90% in volume over the next 7-10 years, according to Irrational Analysis. DRAM stocks could double before experiencing a drop of at least 70% from their peak within a decade. (irrationalanalysis.substack.com)
Framework has opened pre-orders for its 192GB Desktop DIY Edition featuring AMD Ryzen AI Max 400 Series, starting at $11,239. Customers can choose between DIY or pre-built options, with the ability to order multiple units and customize configurations. (frame.work)
Groundrun automates Wi-Fi setup testing on the ESP32, ensuring reliable connection methods like Bluetooth, Soft AP, and WPS are consistently functional. A simple custom app sends credentials via different protocols to test each setup process. (groundrun.io)
China's 2.2MW EV chargers are already in service across five cities, enabling charging in under five minutes. The US is considering 750kW chargers, expected to arrive next year after delays from 2026. (electrek.co)
The CHOMPI portable sampler instrument has been released as open-source, with hardware and software files available on GitHub for developers to customize. The project is discontinued and no further updates will be provided, but the community can discuss and share creations on the CHASE BLISS Discord. (chompiclub.com)
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