Author: rexplex

With a bachelors degree in history, I turn wrenches for a living. I’m most at peace when I hear the wind in the trees or the gurgle of a brook. I’m a believer in the Renaissance Man, as epitomized by DaVinci engineer, artist, soldier, statesman. As Heinlein said, “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

Glamping Kitchen (Mk.2){part 2}

In which we add plumbing….

First off, this is as basic a plumbing system as I can imagine.

Second, the sink, which would normally be the most expensive bit, was free. I recovered it from a foreclosed house I was cleaning out. I found one here for $60, but you still need a drain basket.

So while this seems so extra (and it is pretty unnecessary) it’s not an expensive addition.

We bring everything, including the kitchen sink

Measure twice, check orientation, then cut.

While building kitchen Mk.2 I made a cutting error that cost me time and money to fix.

Circular saw offset jig

I made a quick jig so I could accurately place my saw guide. And, as usual, I made it incorrectly and then figured out an easier way. I’m going to write up the way I did it, and then explain how to avoid my mistake.

Glamping kitchen (Mk.2) {part 1}

The first version of the kitchen was made from low quality plywood that I had on-hand. It was never supposed to be used a second time, but I never found the time to remake it with better quality materials.

We’ve used it for at least seven years, and I think I’ve identified all the shortcomings.

Steel pins
Shelves aren’t interchangeable
Wasted space, shelves are too big for crates
Paper towels get rained on.
Doesn’t pack flat

Breakdown Table (Mk.3)

This portable table is part of our glamping setup. It’s made from a single sheet of plywood and uses zero hardware to hold it together. It breaks down flat for storage & transport.

Holiday lights are made for smart plugs.

I’ve been putting my holiday decorations on smart plugs for probably five years now. It really makes things easier when you can automate your decorations.

Worst sink drain design I’ve ever seen

When we bought the new house, I was happy to see that both upstairs bathrooms had new vanities. I didn’t realize then that the new fixtures were probably worse than the 50 year old units that they replaced.

The thing I hate most about this house (Photo taken after cleaning, I couldn’t post a dirty shot)

More smarts for an old house

Or adding physical controls to a virtual system

One of the pain points on our smart home journey has been allowing visitors and children without i-devices to control the lights. So far I’ve installed two different solutions, and one of them actually works. The one that doesn’t work is due to the construction of my home, the device itself seems fine.

Better still, the one that works is easier to install and cheaper to purchase.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Not so much hidden really as trick the brain to ignore the power cords for the rear speakers.

In the beginning

While the cloth covered cable is nice, it’s not really something I want to look at.

It is Finished

Finally, six months behind schedule, my living room wall is finished.