home improvement Archives - The Silicon Underground

Where to buy Lionel trains in St. Louis

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 11:00:47 +0000

If you want to know where to buy Lionel trains in St. Louis, you have a lot of choices. It’s more than possible to make a day of train shopping in St. Louis. I’ve never seen a comprehensive list of

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Central Hardware, St. Louis history

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:00:54 +0000

St. Louis-based Central Hardware was one of the first big-box home improvement chains. It peaked in 1993 at 39 stores in six states in the midwest, employing 3,700 people. It was once the 19th largest hardware retailer in the United

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Who makes Insinkerator garbage disposals?

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:00:50 +0000

Insinkerator is a venerable and popular brand of garbage disposal you can find at at almost any hardware or home improvement store. You can find one at almost any price point you want, whether you want to spend tens of dollars

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Cheap kitchen backsplash ideas

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:00:48 +0000

If you need cheap kitchen backsplash ideas, I have one idea that’s cheaper than any of the others I’ve seen: Fiber-Reinforced Plastic, or FRP. With FRP, you can knock out a backsplash with less than $50 worth of materials. It’s

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Are LED light bulbs worth it?

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:00:56 +0000

I’ve been buying modern forms of light bulbs for almost 15 years now. So when someone asks me, “Are LED light bulbs worth it?” or “Do LED lights really save you money?” I can answer the question. I was more

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Department 56 vs Lemax

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 11:00:49 +0000

Department 56 vs Lemax is a battle between the two biggest names in holiday villages. There are a lot of similarities between the two brands, but the differences may matter to you. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering

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How to repair wire insulation

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:00:34 +0000

Sometimes wire insulation gets damaged. The wire will still work, but exposed metal increases the risk of short circuit, electrical shock, or even fire. When you come across damaged insulation, you really need to fix it. Here’s how to repair

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Wire a ceiling fan with light to one switch

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 11:00:49 +0000

People frequently wire a ceiling fan with a light to two light switches. That way they can control the fan with one switch and the light with the other. But what if the room has only one switch and you

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Wiring an old house for Ethernet

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 11:00:59 +0000

Wiring an old house for Ethernet can be challenging but offers real benefits. Wired Ethernet is faster and more reliable than wireless, so devices that have a wired connection can take advantage of it. Having wired connections also allows you

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Who makes Barracuda garbage disposals?

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Barracuda is a private-label brand of garbage disposal you can find at Menards home improvement stores. They are usually the least expensive disposal on Menards’ shelf. But who makes Barracuda garbage disposals? Who makes Barracuda disposals? The mount appears to be

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