Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[Music_Freak]

Thanks Geoff...

They're both the same thing...now that did make me giggle. Here I was thinking pendulum jigsaws did something completely different.

Thanks for the advice about which way to face the colorbond etc. That may not have even occurred to me. Hopefully I'll have the money to buy the saw in a few weeks

[geoff]

Hi MF, the end of year sale may have some tools on special, just be careful they may want to sell electric tools that are now redundant, that may still be good enough for you to buy.

Another caution is that the tools that are on special maybe discontinued so any spare parts, such as blades etc could be difficult to get.

I have bought tools on special that were no longer available, but the price was good enough to do the job, so I was happy.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Hi geoff mf and all.

Back to bug ya geoff haha,

l need too break two tiles they're about 300 square by about 15ml thick each. They have a terra cotta flat texture and colour , not the glossy ones . l need to break them in half cross the middle somehow but l don't have any tile stuff. ls there any other just general tools in the shed that l could get a pretty nice break with , how do l do it ?

Also two grey pavement type blocks sorry not sure what you call them. They're 300 square by about 50ml thick. I think they're just a concrete type thing coloured up , got them at Bunnings.

l'd really like if possible to break these cross the middle too , same deal is there anyway l can do that with what l might have?

Pretty sure l do have one cold chisel somewhere but it's only about a 30ml wide, not sure if that'd be any use ?

Thanks as always.

rx

[Guest_1584]

Had on thought , maybe a stone cutting wheel Geoff , 4 or 5 bucks.?

Or would you just snap them somehow, doesn't have to be a perfect break, rough would work nice actually .

[Music_Freak]

RX,

Breaking pavers...how brave of you! Just the thought terrifies me a little...

I'll be buying my jigsaw by the weekend...so wish me luck! I'll definitely post here with any questions (this thread is GREAT!). I don't know why I'm posting about my buying a saw, you don't need to know that. I guess I just feel like I'm neglecting the forums. Carry on 🙂

[Guest_1584]

Hiya mf , and ahhh, no worries, that's great about the saw , love getting new stuff haha especially when you've been waiting.

Hmm, hey , maybe silly of me , yikes, no spares either, well we'll see what geoff says hey.

[geoff]

Hi RX and MF, to cut those pavers, you need a steady hand and to be careful, and there are a few different ways, depending on the equipment you have, but you will need a stone cutting blade and with some pavers, the blade is reduced quite quickly, plus the middle ring that fits onto the saw/angle grinder becomes loose so the nut holding it on has to remain tight.

A drop saw is the safest, an angle grinder or a power saw and keeping it wet with water maybe needed, but you don't necessarily have to cut the whole paver in half, once you cut through half or a bit more then you will be able to break the paver, remember it's only the top that shows, so if the bottom is broken in a strange way, no one is going to see that part.

Just be careful and put the paver that's been cut over something that's solid, lining up with the cut, then put pressure or hammer it with a rubber hammer then it should break in half.

Hi MF, is the jigsaw on special, and buy blades for timber and metal, and a timber blade will have no chance of cutting metal.

Please let me know you both get on, or if anyone else has a question please ask it.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

Well now I know how to cut pavers if the need ever arises for me. Thanks Geoff 🙂

The saw is just an ozito one from bunnings for $34, comes with a few blades, 2 timber and 1 metal, I think, but I'll probably buy more if they're not too expensive, seen some for $13 but not sure if they'll match. I'll have to read the box or ask someone. I've been to bunnings before and had guys that don't even work there help me...pretty funny. I must fit the confused female mould brilliantly.

[Guest_1584]

Hi geoff and thanks as always.

l got ya no worries, They aren't for some fancy path actually they're finishing off around my fireplace actually , it's all built out of the same pavers and the tiles are along the front of it.

Anyway ok great stuff thanks again l'll give that a go, don't worry if l breakem l breakem, plan b haha,

All the best . rx

[geoff]

Hi MF, that's OK, but the blades that come with the jigsaw normally don't last that long, just so you have to buy more.

Ask the attendant if the blades will fit and try and keep your receipts until you definitely know.

Hi RX, are the pavers the edging around the fireplace and other tiles/slate being in the middle of the pavers, just curious.

Best wishes.

Geoff.