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Rikkitic
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  #3467256 6-Mar-2026 13:28
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I, and the house I live in, are old. The roof leaks a little in heavy rainstorms but it’s not too bad. For reasons I won’t go into, it can’t be repaired at this time. 

 

After the last big rainstorm, my equally old but still excellent Sony TV started issuing dampness alarms. I didn’t even know it had such a thing. I put a fan over it for a day and everything returned to normal. As far as I could determine, there was a small leak along a seam in the ceiling that was the source of the problem. 

 

I can’t go on the roof but I checked the attic. Unfortunately, the apparent leak was right where the roof meets the attic floor. It was completely inaccessible so there was nothing I could do from there.

 

The layout of the lounge is such that the TV occupies the only space where it can go. So I decided to make a deflector shield for it to at least keep the drips from penetrating the interior. The leaks are very tiny.

 

I found a surplus lid to a plastic bin and sawed off one edge. I then drilled a couple holes in the lip to line up with the wall mount holes of the TV. I then took the wall mount screws, still in their original package, and bolted the deflector on. Any leak from above will now strike that instead of the ventilation slots on the TV.

 

This is an extremely minor DIY and not worth any photos. The only reason I have posted it here is because I am old and have nothing better to do.





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


FineWine
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  #3467272 6-Mar-2026 14:25
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Rikkitic:

 

This is an extremely minor DIY and not worth any photos. The only reason I have posted it here is because I am old and have nothing better to do.

 

Well done 👴🏻😁👍

 

Age has nothing to do with what you can do - it is just a state of mind.

 

I'm 71 and go to aqua-aerobics twice a week and Tai Chi twice a week and volunteer at the SPCA once a week for 4 hrs cleaning cat cages and areas. My OA ankles and knees tell me off all the time, but my mind says 'just do it'.

 

If I don't do this then I will just stiffen up and will have to go back to a cane and walking pole.

 

PS: I'm doing a two-day weekend Tai Chi retreat this weekend approx 6 hr days and I know my body is going to tell me off - but WOF I know I will enjoy it.





Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.


larknz
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  #3467281 6-Mar-2026 14:52
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FineWine:

 

Rikkitic:

 

This is an extremely minor DIY and not worth any photos. The only reason I have posted it here is because I am old and have nothing better to do.

 

Well done 👴🏻😁👍

 

Age has nothing to do with what you can do - it is just a state of mind.

 

I'm 71 and go to aqua-aerobics twice a week and Tai Chi twice a week and volunteer at the SPCA once a week for 4 hrs cleaning cat cages and areas. My OA ankles and knees tell me off all the time, but my mind says 'just do it'.

 

If I don't do this then I will just stiffen up and will have to go back to a cane and walking pole.

 

PS: I'm doing a two-day weekend Tai Chi retreat this weekend approx 6 hr days and I know my body is going to tell me off - but WOF I know I will enjoy it.

 

 

I'm 71,nearly 72. I spend an hour at gym every afternoon and take a 30 minute walk every morning. I believe keeping moving is critical for keeping you young.


Rikkitic
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  #3467295 6-Mar-2026 15:03
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Pfft. Young-uns. 81 here.

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


k1w1k1d
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  #3469866 13-Mar-2026 22:11
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Daughter's wood box is finished.

 

 

 


k1w1k1d
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  #3480218 12-Apr-2026 14:44
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We only have one car now and I have taken over half the double garage for my woodwork play area. I finally decided it was time to upgrade the drill press and band saw area. 

 

The drill press was originally mounted sideways on the cupboard. I fitted castors to the cupboard so that I could pull it out from the wall as required to drill or cut longer pieces of wood.

 

 

I fitted a 180mm rear extension to the back and fitted dust extraction pipework to both the drill press and band saw. Trade Depot have a good cheap supply of plastic pipes and fittings. I also fitted a drop-down table extension the end of the cupboard.

 

 

While I was at it, I made a sandpaper storage cabinet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SirHumphreyAppleby
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  #3485543 29-Apr-2026 14:29
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Like many on Geekzone, I have a 19" rack. While I have a few rackmount switches, a UPS and a server, I primarily use the rack as adjustable shelving, because proper rackmount gear is noisy and typically much more expensive than desktop alternatives, at least when new. I ended up selling my proper rackmount servers because they just weren't suitable for a domestic environment.

 

I have two Intel NUC boxes for servers (along with N100/N150 and PC Engines APU2 systems), which are starting to show their age. One has been shutting down on warmer days, despite the fan barely ramping up. Apparently, this is a known issue which can be rectified by replacing the thermal paste/pad. Either way, it's a heat issue which isn't going away especially now I have introduced a 10Gbs^-1 switch and passively cooled N100 router into the mix.

 

The solution? A simple rackmount fan unit. Trouble is, these too are stupidly expensive, so herein, I present my DIY solution.

 

 

 

#1 Five custom laser cut 1U mounting plates. These are 2mm 5052 aluminium. These have a little flex, but are rigid enough for the job.

 

The cutouts are for six 40mm fans and a STC-1000 temperature controller. These controllers are dirt cheap and easily replaced. Under $NZ10 from AliExpress including shipping.

 

I am actually only planning on using two of these plates, but shipping was the main cost and I wanted a more solid bundle to protect them in transit. They work out to around $20 each if anyone is interested in the spares.

 

 

#2 Ready for assembly

 

Three plates are shown. One with the protective plastic still on one side, one exposed aluminium and finally the powder coated version.

 

The powder is Dulux Gunmetal Metallic Kinetic, since it's a pretty good match for the NUCs and one of my TP-Link switches.

 

I chose the cheapest fans I could get my hands on, a decision I am surely going to regret.

 

 

#3 Assembled (sorry about the focus)

 

I had to change the DC connector to another one as those connectors that are meant to be compatible with both 5.5x2.5 and 5.5x2.1 inputs don't work very well. Otherwise, the final assembly is as below.

 

 

#4 Installed

 

Looks just like a bought one. Actually, I did look at some of the commercial ones and my build quality isn't significantly worse than some of those. Plus, I save money and get the satisfaction of doing it myself!

 


Yoban
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  #3485616 29-Apr-2026 16:30
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SirHumphreyAppleby:

 

....The solution? A simple rackmount fan unit. Trouble is, these too are stupidly expensive, so herein, I present my DIY solution.

 

 

Sensational effort and good motivation for me to follow suite with my 19in rack and trying to get the rack fans on top to run quieter....


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