DIY and Home Improvement
Hands-on work on the home: repairs, renovation, installing fixtures, tools, workshop technique and materials. Tech DIY (home labs, PC builds, electronics) stays in Computing. An extra channel alongside an episode's main one.
#5050: Engraving Hardened Steel: Carbide Grades & Hardness Tests
How to measure material hardness without destroying your workpiece, and pick the right carbide grade for stainless steel engraving.
#5049: How Deep Does an Engraving Need to Be?
Why engraving outlasts stickers and ink — and what NASA specs reveal about carving for the ages.
#5034: Moving Heavy Boxes Off High Shelves, Safely
Warehouse pros never lift above shoulder height. Here’s how to apply that rule to your tall home shelving.
#5026: Moving Boxes Through a Window? Try Rolling, Not Lifting
A storage nook reachable only through a window needs a clever transfer system. Here's the fix.
#5024: Voltage Tiers: What Your Drill Battery Really Means
Why 12V tools can't do sustained work, what 18V really buys you, and how battery platforms—not tools—are the real commitment.
#5021: Shop Vac vs Vacuum: The Port Is Everything
Why the port matters more than peak horsepower, and how to navigate the adapter maze.
#5016: Micro-Engraving Bits: Why Fine Carbides Fail on 2mm Text
The bit that's perfect for 0.5mm text is exactly wrong for 2mm numbers. Here's why.
#5015: Plugs vs. Water: What Actually Keeps You Safe
Why bathroom and outdoor outlets fail, and what actually works to keep both you and your gear safe.
#5003: The Wearable Parts Drawer That Doesn't Exist
Can you wear a 10-compartment parts box on your belt? We searched. It doesn't exist. Here's what does.
#4978: Can Your Wall Scanner Actually Find Live Wires?
Most wall scanners can't reliably detect live AC wires. Here's what actually works.
#4977: The Measurement Ladder: From Tape Measures to Point Clouds
Seven rungs of physical measurement, from steel tape to laser scanners. Where error lives and what you trade at each step.
#4964: How SDS Bits and Rotary Hammers Really Work
Why your hammer drill bounces off concrete while an SDS rotary hammer powers through.
#4949: Honing vs Sharpening: What Actually Happens at the Edge
The magnetism myth debunked, plus the real tools and techniques for keeping blades sharp.
#4932: How to Buy One Pegboard in Israel
Finding a single custom-sized pegboard in Israel means navigating a B2B supply chain that doesn't want to sell you one.
#4930: Build a DIY Parts Department Like an Aircraft Mechanic
Stop running to the hardware store mid-project. How to stock 64 or 300 drawers with the right fasteners.
#4925: ESP32 Mics for Remote Home Monitoring
Why an $8 ESP32 with a MEMS mic beats expensive cameras for remote audio monitoring in a vacation home.
#4905: The Hidden Grid Behind Your Parts Bins
The metal skeleton between your wall and your bins — what it's called, how it's sized, and how to install it.
#4903: Can You Really Sew Your Own Shorts?
What it actually takes — in time, money, and skill — to make a pair of shorts from scratch.
#4833: How to Label a Historical Book Without Destroying It
Wheat starch paste, acid-free paper, and graphite pencil — the surprisingly specific protocol for labeling old books safely.
#4830: The Hammock Physics Problem
Why collapsible indoor hammock stands wobble, what a decent outdoor one costs, and the hardware you actually need.