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Questions tagged [hardware]

Hacks related to ironmongery, tools, machinery etc. Not for technological hardware.

Hacks related to ironmongery, tools, machinery etc.

This tag is not for hardware.

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Questions off-topic here may be on-topic at Home Improvement Stack Exchange.

65 questions
5
votes
3 answers

Unscrewing a screw which have loose teeth

I am not sure whether it is the correct term. Let me explain. I have a laptop that looks like this. The bolt inside looks like this. During repair, I tried to manually remove the screw using the exact size screw driver. To my dismay, the screw…
Jem Eripol
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4
votes
3 answers

Remove string from vintage caster wheels

Bits of thread - some longish - have gotten wound around the axles on my vintage roller chair wheels in my sewing room. Now there is a wad of string on each side of each wheel axle and it can't be removed. How can I remove the string?
user29681
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4
votes
3 answers

How can I make a motor with a belt change directions?

*Note: I've included question and answer since this is a lifehack I stumbled across and thought it was worth sharing. :) I work in agriculture. One of the things that we frequently do is moving small square haybales from one place to another. To…
anonymous2
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2
votes
5 answers

How can I grip a soldering iron close to the tip without burning my hand?

I would like to be a able to grip my soldering iron closer to the tip to have better control of what I'm soldering. As asked, here is a picture of the soldering iron, it's an chinese TS100: On expensive soldering irons the distance from grip to tip…
user5507535
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1
vote
3 answers

What Allan key do I use to loosen this 12.9 HDW nut?

This is a photo of the nut, it's a hexagonal nut and I have an Allan key set but don't know which one to use to loosen this.
Ashley
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1
vote
3 answers

Cutting a screw while minimizing the damaging effect of vibration

I need to cut some screws (from M3 to M4) coming out of a LCD screen. What technique would you use to avoid damaging the device with vibration? I was thinking of using a Dremel cutting wheel. Sawing by hand or cutting it with a pincer/tenaille would…
JinSnow
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1
vote
3 answers

DIY Grabber Pole

I am working on a Grabber Pole. I need a way to close the clamp from the other end of the pole. The jaws stay locked when closed until released. I thought of using a bike brake cable and maybe a pulley? Any other ideas?
fixit7
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1
vote
1 answer

How to prevent an electric screwdriver from slipping when tightening/loosening a screw with a slotted drive?

I know that to use an electric screwdriver it's better to use a screw with a Philips or Torx drive, but sometimes you need to use or find yourself in situations where you need to work with a slotted drive screw and they are very annoying to work…
Fabio Silva
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1
vote
3 answers

How can I mend the worn screws in my laptop?

I have a fairly recent laptop. It works really well, except that the screws in it keep dropping out. This must be because I have taken it apart to mend or upgrade it that many times, that the teeth have worn down. It's not the part of the screw…
Omar and Lorraine
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0
votes
0 answers

Extending the Life of Pens

Pens these days frankly, suck. I can't use one for more than a day without it starting to bleed or just completely stop working, and I do not want to go and buy another pack of pens (although they are cheap, it's annoying). Anyone got any helpful…
Demisemihemidemisemiquaver
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0
votes
2 answers

Balance bench grinder weight distribution

This is my bench grinder on a piece of foam cushion that blocks around 70% of the vibration reaching the carpet. Because of the weight difference between a grinding wheel and the brush wheel, it leans a little to the right. I do not want to add a…
fixit7
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0
votes
4 answers

3rd and 4th hands

I looked at several craft stores, but found nothing suitable. I do a lot of work that requires my using my 2 hands whilst needing an object to stay stationary. I have these items along with plenty of 1/8 inch plywood, screws, bolts, etc. Drill,…
fixit7
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