Replaced a broken lock set for a top-hung aluminum glass window panel with a new unit that I bought from the local aluminum window and door vendor. Bought two pieces for RM4.00 a piece.
Never one to pass an opportunity to explore I took the opportunity to examine in detail how the fitting works by taking apart all the separate components and putting them back again before screwing the set down at its original location.
Using a standard size cross-head screw driver I was puzzled why despite using a lot of pressure and strength the screw driver kept on dislodging itself from the screw head when I turned the tool. When I examined the cross-head screws in detail I realised that I was using a wrong size screw driver for the work. After switching to a smaller cross-head screw driver was I able to secure the screw properly in position. It goes to show that you need the right tools in order to accomplish a given task with efficiency.
I found out that the screw at the back of the mounting unit controls the tension of the locking lever. If you want a tight fit of the lever turn the screw clockwise until it stops turning. If you prefer the lever to turn easily loosen the screw a bit by turning it anti-clockwise.
It looked easy when the auto mechanic demonstrated to me step by step how to pry open the car floorboard carpeting to insert old newspapers underneath the fabric. In order to soak up the water collected in the wet carpet I have to do this everyday changing newspapers until all the residual water in the carpet dries out completely.
This morning when it was my turn to do the work it took me about an hour to remove plastic moldings, rubber door seal, pry open the carpet, remove the wet newspaper, insert new papers and reassemble all the components back to their previous state. I believe with more practice and experience I should be able to do the work faster and more efficiently.
Ater enduring a week of complains from the wife decided to check out why one of the light indicators in the anti-burglar alarm control panel is lighted up day and night, even when all the doors and windows in the house are closed.
After checking around the whole house noticed that a magnetic sensor at a trap door has dislodged itself from its original station in the wooden door frame although the door is closed. Hence the separation between the magnetic sensors in the door frame and its counterpart in the door panel has triggered the ant-burglar alarm system to light up the associated indicators continuously.
The problem is resolved after re-attaching the sensor to the wooden door frame with heavy duty adhesive. With the two magnetic sensors properly secured and aligned with one another in position the affected indicator light automatically shut down by itself.
This used to be a small opening in the cement screed on the driveway slab outside the main gate. It started life as a 12 cm dia hole. Then after two weeks the 12 cm dia. hole gradually turned into a big gaping hole measuring 25 cm x 25cm. It is definitely getting too big to ignore.
Working with the wife we patched up the hole using a paint scraper with a small quantity of cement paste mix that we procured from a friendly Indonesian worker who was mixing cement sand paste in a nearby house that is under renovation. We asked only for a small quantity but received more than our request. After patching up the hole we then leveled the side of the driveway slab with the excess cement paste .
