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Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Feb 20, 2021

Replacing the rear shackle on my old truck literally changed me forever

The rear shackle on my truck snapped. Fixing it was supposed to be simple. It was anything but. — It was summer of 2020. I had a huge backlog of work to do on my 2002 Chevy Silverado project truck. But the weather was gorgeous, and I had all summer to do it. …

Trucks

4 min read

Replacing the rear shackle on my old truck literally changed me forever
Replacing the rear shackle on my old truck literally changed me forever
Trucks

4 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Aug 31, 2020

One super simple trick for keeping your hands clean in a filthy workshop

As you might have seen on my Patreon lately, I recently got a couple of new additions for the workshop: the Eastwood mini lathe and mini mill. (So far, so fun.) I’m working on a couple of “newbie versus” videos for them, similar to my MIG welder series. Those…

Machining

2 min read

One super simple trick for keeping your hands clean in a filthy workshop
One super simple trick for keeping your hands clean in a filthy workshop
Machining

2 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Jul 22, 2020

I finally turned this giant log into an anvil stand, and it only took me six years to do it

So I’ve had this giant log in my garage since 2014. The goal was to use it as a base for an anvil for blacksmithing. At the time, I wanted to learn smithing to open up some capabilities in the workshop, like making tools and heavier-duty metal hardware. …

DIY

7 min read

I finally turned this giant log into an anvil stand, and it only took me six years to do it
I finally turned this giant log into an anvil stand, and it only took me six years to do it
DIY

7 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Jul 10, 2020

Read this before you replace your grungy old deck

There might be some beautiful wood hiding there. I spent the first five years of living in my current house with a gremlin on my shoulder. In this case, that gremlin was our deck. It was wobbly, weathered, and covered with deck mold. I was advised that it was too far gone, that it had to go. …

DIY

9 min read

Read this before you replace your grungy old deck
Read this before you replace your grungy old deck
DIY

9 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·May 3, 2020

When it comes to DIY auto repair, failure is absolutely an option; Silverado rear brake fix, part 2

A project like this is more about the adventure than the final destination. Don’t forget that when you’re covered in blood and rust at 1 a.m. and need to work in the morning. And so we again return to Project Old Grey, a journey to fix up my dad’s…

DIY

4 min read

When it comes to DIY auto repair, failure is absolutely an option; Silverado rear brake fix, part 2
When it comes to DIY auto repair, failure is absolutely an option; Silverado rear brake fix, part 2
DIY

4 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Apr 18, 2020

Small screw, big trouble: Fixing the rear brakes in my 2002 Chevy Silverado, Part 1

In “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” Robert Pirsig writes about the effect that one stuck screw can have on a mechanic’s psyche: It’s normal at this point for the fear-anger syndrome to take over and make you want to hammer on that side plate with a chisel…

DIY

3 min read

Small screw, big trouble: Fixing the rear brakes in my 2002 Chevy Silverado, Part 1
Small screw, big trouble: Fixing the rear brakes in my 2002 Chevy Silverado, Part 1
DIY

3 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Mar 22, 2020

Racing against time to make two stands for a wedding

In this video, I race against time to make two stands for a wedding: One to hold an outdoor arbor in an indoor venue, the other using handy conduit connectors to hold a hanging neon sign. The arbor holder literally could have been a 2x4 with holes in it…

DIY

2 min read

Racing against time to make two stands for a wedding
Racing against time to make two stands for a wedding
DIY

2 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Dec 11, 2019

Everything wrong with my new (old) project truck

After a lifetime of waiting, Andy has scored his first pickup truck — and, big surprise, it needs some work. — Ever since I have known about trucks, I have wanted a truck. That includes the little toddler version of myself who first laid eyes on his dad’s farm truck at the time, forever hoping, upgraded truck after upgraded truck, that maybe this would be the one he’d drive someday. …

DIY

8 min read

Everything wrong with my new (old) project truck
Everything wrong with my new (old) project truck
DIY

8 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Nov 16, 2019

Can a jigsaw compete with a CNC plasma cutter? Making the DiResta portable bandsaw stand with simple tools

Do you really need to spend thousands of dollars on a computer-controlled plasma-cutting table to make intricate cuts in incredibly hard steel? Well, if you’re in a hurry, then yeah, you should probably buy one of those tables (or find someone else who already has one). But if you’ve…

DIY

2 min read

Can a jigsaw compete with a CNC plasma cutter? Building the DiResta portable bandsaw stand
Can a jigsaw compete with a CNC plasma cutter? Building the DiResta portable bandsaw stand
DIY

2 min read


Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

·Aug 25, 2019

A $40 riding-lawnmower hack that could save your kid’s life

Warning: This post is about preventing one of the worst accidents a parent could imagine. It’s a sunny Saturday morning. You have lots to do. Mowing the lawn is first on the list. If you’re fast enough, maybe you can beat the coming rain, get the grass cut and…

DIY

4 min read

A $40 riding-lawnmower hack that could save your kid’s life
A $40 riding-lawnmower hack that could save your kid’s life
DIY

4 min read

Project Lab

Detailed, documentary-style DIY videos and blogs that demystify DIY.

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Andrew Reuter

Andrew Reuter

DIYer, Project Lab. Web-editor-type, Lee Enterprises. Dad/husband. @djnf, @theexponentnews, @uwplatteville alum. Seeking best obtainable version of the truth.

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