DeWALT DCS391N Review. If you’ve been relying on a corded circular saw for years, the freedom of switching to a cordless system is a game-changer. I recently treated myself to the DeWALT DCS391N 18V XR Li-Ion Circular Saw after my old corded unit finally gave up the ghost. In this guide, I’m unboxing the DCS391N, looking at…
Best Hard Drives. Buying a hard drive used to be simple: you just picked the biggest one you could afford. But in 2025, with the rise of high-capacity “Smart Shed” servers and 4K media streaming, picking the wrong drive can lead to slow speeds, data loss, or even “RAID failure.” Whether you are building a…
HDD vs. SSD vs. NVMe. When you’re looking to upgrade your PC, build a server, or just add more storage, the options can be overwhelming. You’ll see terms like “SATA,” “M.2,” “NVMe,” and “Mechanical” thrown around. If you pick the wrong one, you could end up with a system that feels sluggish or, conversely, spend…
Initialise a New Drive. Have you just installed a brand-new hard drive or SSD, but it’s nowhere to be found in Windows File Explorer? Don’t worry—your drive isn’t broken. When you install a new internal drive, Windows often requires you to manually “initialize” and “format” it before it can be used. In this quick guide,…
Change a double wall socket UK. Are you looking to upgrade your home with modern, decorative faceplates, or do you simply need to replace a damaged unit? Changing a double wall socket is a perfect entry-level DIY task that can significantly improve the look of your room. In this guide, I’ll show you how to…
Run CHKDSK to Repair Hard Drive. Is your computer running slowly, or are you getting “file system errors” when trying to open photos or documents? Your hard drive might have bad sectors. These are tiny spots on your drive that have become unreadable or damaged. Fortunately, you don’t need to buy new software to fix this….
Wired vs Wireless. With the arrival of Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and now Wi-Fi 7, the marketing departments of router companies want you to believe that cables are a thing of the past. They promise “fibre-like speeds” without the wires. But if you are building a serious smart home, a home office, or a Smart Shed…
Wire Ferrules. If you work with flexible, multi-strand wiring, you’ve likely dealt with the “fraying end” nightmare. You strip the wire, try to poke it into a terminal block or a small Wi-Fi relay (like a Sonoff), and the strands flare out everywhere. Not only is this a “pain in the ass” to install, but…
If you are just starting your first DIY project—perhaps you’re inspired by my Ultimate Smart Shed series—you’ve likely realized that a simple screwdriver isn’t going to cut it. You go to buy a power tool and see two things that look almost identical: a Combi Drill and an Impact Driver. They both spin, they both…
We’ve been busy — and not just with the Smart Shed! We’ve created the Built By Pete Article Index. As the Built By Pete library has grown from simple networking tips to full-scale DIY construction projects, we realised it was getting a little crowded in here. Whether you are looking for that specific guide on…