Garage Shop Air Filter

The Corsi-Rosenthal Box is a DIY air purifier that uses HVAC filters and a simple box fan.  I originally built one during Covid and later moved it to my garage where I do my woodworking.  After having it on a cart for awhile, I decided to mount it from the ceiling where I plugged it into to a smart switch so I can turn it on/off with an app and where it doesn't take up floor space.  I also when from a 4 filter design to a 5 filter design.

It's bigger then commercial air filters which goes from $100 to $800 so it's about the price of the cheapest commercial ones.  Performance-wise, research on Corsi-Rosenthal boxes has shown that they perform very well.  Making it just requires 4 or 5 filters, a box fan and tape.

For a garage shop, I don't need anything fancy.

Drill Press Table

 After many, many years, I finally got around to building a drill press table.  The drill press was a tool that I thought that I'd use frequently when I bought it but I found myself generally avoiding it instead.  I think it is because of the setup that was needed whenever I needed to use it particularly all the clamps that ended up getting used and trying to balance the work piece on the small round cast iron table that it comes with.

The dimensions of the drill press table is 12" deep by 24" wide.  The thickness is 2 sheets of 3/4" Baltic birch plywood since that's what I had on hand laminated together so there is enough thickness to allow for putting in the T-tracks used by the fence and hold-down clamps.  The fence 2 1/2" tall and is made from the cutoffs that I had from the Baltic birch.

Two thing missing that is common on many DIY tables are tracks on the fence to allow for a stop block and having a replaceable sacrificial top area are that gets drilled in.   I didn't have any extra T-Tracks for the stop block and I usually just use a scrap piece of wood and a clamp when I need one.  I plan to add the sacrificial piece when I chew into the current top to see what areas that would normally chew up.

For now, I'll see if having the table will make me use it more often. 

Determining Screw Length For Interior Walls

 

When driving screws into interior walls it's important to avoid driving into wires or pipes.  Wires and pipes going through studs should normally be going through a 1" diameter hole that is centered on the stud.

Interior drywall are typically 1/2" so a maximum screw length to avoid hitting something would be 1/2" + 1 1/4" = 1 3/4".  For a cabinet back that is 3/4" that would mean 1 3/4" + 3/4" = 2 1/2".

Object Backing	Maximum Screw Length	1" Into Stud
0	1.75	1.5
0.25	2	1.75
0.5	2.25	2
0.75	2.5	2.25
1	2.75	2.5
Drywall	0.5
Stud	1.25

Basic tools for homeowners

 New homeowners often find themselves constantly visiting the hardware store the first few weeks after moving into their new home.  Those visits take time and can be intimidating given all the items available so here's my suggestion for an inital shopping list that will hopefully save you some times and lower the number of trips to the store.

• Tape measure - this is used so often that you might consider buying two
• Knife/Box cutter - you'll be opening a lot of boxes and packaging.  A multi-tool might be a good option for versatility.
• Screw driver - After driving back-and-forth, you might hope this is the drink but sorry, no.  Have at least one philips head screw driver and a flat head screw driver.  The latter is also useful to pry open paint cans lids, etc.
• Pliers - a pair of hand pliers can save a lot of pain trying to get an old nail or object out.
• Level - Checking that something is level happens more than I expected.
• Paint brush - useful for both applying paint and also brushing things off/
• Painter's tape - People swear by duck tape, but I use the famous blue painters tape for everything and not just for painting because it comes off easily.
• Hammer - I don't use a hammer all that much but when needed there isn't many other substitites so keep one around.
• Sand paper - For sanding and removing things stuck on surfaces.
• Vynyl gloves - inexpensive and protects your hand from chemicals and other gross stuff.
• Eye protection - Listen to Norm!
• Dust mask - Don't want to breath in dusts and molds.
• Power drill & drill bits - Save time and your wrists and get a power drill.  I recommend getting a drill and driver set as they are common and cost effective.
• Stud finder - Don't rely on your Tindr app.  Get a real stud finder so your picture frames don't fall off the wall.
• 5 gallon bucket - Useful for bringing your tools around to where you need them and can use to hold other stuff.  I suggest getting two (or get a tool bag to replace one of the buckets)
• Paper towels - DIY can be a dirty job
• Baby wipes - It's gentle on a baby's skin so probaby also for your painted walls.
• spackling compound - I know  you don't make mistakes but the previous person might not have put the hanger your spouse wanted.
• putty knife - Cover up the mistake by the other person.

Learning About Lights

On a bulb, there might be a number such as F32T8/TL741 but what does the numbers mean?

• F32 means it is a 32W bulb.
• T8 gives the size (T8 is a 1" diameter tube).
• 7 - I'm not sure what this means.
• 41 means the color temperature is 4100 Kelvin.
• 2000 K is like sunset/sunrise
• 3000 K is warm yellow light
• 4000 K is a warm white light like early day light (has a bit of yellow)
• 5000 K is also daylight and is a good option for a garage.
• 6000 K gives a noticeable blue tinge.

What the number doesn't indicate is the brightness (i.e. Lumen) or the color rendering index (CRI).

When it comes to lumen, the right number depends on what the area you want to light up.   A 60W incandescent bulb is about 700 lumens.  Putting a 5000 lumen light in your bedroom will be too bright and harsh but it might be just right for a 2 car garage.

The CRI is a number from 0 to 100 where 100 gives the best color reproduction on the object while a 1 will make everything look like a single color.