. . . customize Windows 8.1 Start Screen

Now that I have a Windows 8.1 touchscreen computer, I have been wondering how to customize the start screen with my own files and folders.

This is the classic Windows 8.1 Start Screen.  The first thing I wanted to learn how to do was add my own tiles.  The folks as AskVG.com give a quite precise method that worked for me.

ADD TILES TO START SCREEN

1. Right-click on the file or folder which you want to pin to Start Screen and select "Create shortcut" option to create a shortcut of the file.
2. In the RUN dialog box, type %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\
   This opens the "Start Menu" folder.
3. Cut the file shortcut which you created in step 1 and paste it in "Start Menu" folder which you opened in step 2.
4. Go to Start Screen and press "Ctrl+Tab" keys together to show "All Apps" page.
   Here you'll see the file shortcut which you created earlier.
5. Right-click on the file shortcut and click on "Pin to Start" option.

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What about the background pictures?  Microsoft actually has a concise tutorial on that at this link.  It is a two-step process:  First putting your picture in the correct folder, then pointing either your Start Screen, desktop, or lock page to said picture.  When I try it, I will write it out in more detail here.

CHANGE BACKGROUND PICTURES

• not attempted yet

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AskVG also has very simple instructions on how to change the appearance of each tile on the Start Screen, including changing the icon itself.  Unfortunately, I need an app that will convert .jpg and .gif files to .ico files.  Fortunately, there are on-line .ico converters available, such as Online-Convert.

According to Yasser, it is even easier than that.  One merely has to change the extension from .jpg to .ico in order to use it as an icon.  That turned out to be a bogus claim, as the resulting file comes back as "no icons detected."

Microsoft Paint can also be used to make icon files.  One simply resizes the picture and the background to 32 pixels, saves as a 24 bit map, and changes the extension to .ico.  This is fine if one is changing a desktop icon, but it is not adequate for making a larger tile.  I am going to have to test to see if I can use Paint to make a 270x270 icon.

While still exploring, I came across this site, which builds tiles for websites.  One simply enters some information and uploads a photo, and the site generates HTML code to include with a website.  From this site, I discovered the dimensions of Windows 8.1's tile sizes.  They are 128x128, 270x270, 270x558, and 558x558.  Using this information, I created a 270x270 pictures, uploaded it to an icon conversion site, attached it to a shortcut, and pinned the shortcut to my Start Screen.  Although it is there, the result is somewhat disappointing.  The icon appears as a very small square inside the larger 270x270 tile.

I just discovered there are many tile generating apps available from the Windows Store.  However, one is restricted from downloading these apps unless the computer is running Windows 8.1, so I will have to wait until I take my computer to school for Wi-Fi access to download these tile-generating apps.

The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are.  To see them larger, simply double click on the picture.  Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism.  Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.

References:
"Create a Windows 8.1 tile for your site." Build My Pinned Site. Microsoft, n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

"How to Change Icons and Text Labels (Names) of Start Screen Tiles in Windows 8 and 8.1?" AskVG. AskVG.com, n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

"How to Pin Any File, Folder or Program Shortcut to Windows 8 Start Screen?" AskVG. AskVG.com, n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

Jason, Thomas. "How to change pictures into icons for folders." YouTube. YouTube, LLC, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

"See pictures on the desktop, Start, and the lock screen." Windows. Microsoft, n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

Yasser, Ahmed. "How to convert image file ( .JPEG) to icon file ( .ico) [Without using programs]." YouTube. YouTube, LLC, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.

. . . patch a tear in a shoe

I don't know exactly how it happened, but while waxing the floors at work, my $13 Target shoes split open on the pinky toe side.

Since this town is so small, there are no good places {like the ARC} to get used boot-style shoes.  Therefore, I decided to try to repair these shoes by gluing a piece of leather over the crack.

I got this piece of leather from Hobby Lobby for less than $3.  {They are having a 30% off crafts this weekend, so all leather is on sale.  I'm thinking of going back and buying a bag of scraps to use as sewing machine testing.}  The first thing I learned about repairing shoes this way is to bring the shoe so I can buy a closer-matching color.

I have many glues sitting around due to my jewelry glue testing.  One of them, Beacon Glass, Metal and More®, claims to be flexible when dry, so I am going to attempt to use that one on the shoe.

The first thing I did, of course, was wash the area to be glued using Dawn dishwashing liquid; and I allowed this to air dry to the touch.

I then attempted to cut a leather patch to cover the split.  I used a pair of desk scissors.  You can see in the picture the need to get a better matching color, but I'm going to proceed anyway.

Now, the glue says to “apply evenly to surface” and “need not be applied to both surfaces.”  I got out a toothpick {left over from my universal knife block project {posted on my Facebook page before starting this blog} to use to spread the glue evenly over the back side of the leather.

While checking the patch fit, I accidentally turned over the leather patch.  As you can see in the picture above, this is less of a contrast to the shoe color and should, therefore, be less obvious.  Hence, I decided to use the wrong side of the leather as the right side of the patch.

Using a toothpick, I roughed up the surface of the shoe a little bit to assist in adhesion, then I waited for the shoe to dry.  In the meantime, I ate a bologna, cheese, and pickle sandwich and watched Dogma on DVD again.  At the first confrontation between the angels and the prophets, I used a toothpick to spread glue onto the leather {and my fingers}, flipped it over, and placed it on the shoe, using a clean toothpick to push it into the corners and crevices.

Here is the shoe with the repair.  The glue says it takes 24-72 hours to cure.  I will probably not wear this shoe again until Monday night at work, which is 42 hours away.  We shall see at that time how the repair holds up.

1 Jul 2014 Update:  When I got home from work last night, I checked the repair.  The glue had come loose on one side.  Since I need the shoes for work, I cannot do another patch attempt today.  I am going to have to wait for the weekend to get here.  I have placed another shoe repair attempt on my schedule.  Next time, I think I will use the E6000® glue and see what happens.

1 Jul 2014 Update:  Trying to repair shoe again.  This time took a jewelry file and scuffed up the surface of the shoe, in hopes of better adhesion.  I also used the E6000® glue; I then read the directions.  I was supposed to wait 2 minutes before sticking the pieces together.  Oh, well.  Live and learn, right?  So, the shoe is once again repaired and will be drying for over 72 hours before I wear it again for work.  Hopefully, the repair will work this time.  Either that, or I'm going to have to get off my cheap ass and buy another pair of work shoes.

The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are.  To see them larger, simply double click on the picture.  Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism.  Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.

clean black iron pipe

On handling black iron plumbing pipe in my Lowe's, my hands came away very black.  It seems black pipe comes covered in oil to prevent rust during shipping (Williams).  Being a novice at google-fu, I was unable to get much information on de-oiling the pipe.  Most projects that use black iron pipe don't include instructions for cleaning the pipe, and the loft bed project I am using for reference simply says, "after cleaning pipe." Here is what I have found to this point.

Steevo recommends mineral spirits, while bob15 recommends alcohol or parts cleaner.  Most of the other sites were about removing rust, removing the black oxidation, or cleaning meth pipes.  Of these suggestions, I am going to start with alcohol.

This is why you want to clean black iron pipe before using for furniture builds.  Don't want this getting on your sheets or pants, do you?

I chose rubbing alcohol from the local grocer because it is easier to obtain than running to the hardware store.

This is the pipe before cleaning.  I squirted a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and cleaned the outside of the pipe.  I did this four times in total.

This resulted in a nicely shiny grey pipe ready to be used to build furniture.  I further discovered that one should also clean the connectors (Ts, flanges, etc.) as well.

The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are.  To see them larger, simply double click on the picture.  Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism.  Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say “No” or have a number in front of it.

References:
bob15. "Removing coating from black iron pipe." General Garage Discussion. The Garage Journal, 10 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 June 2014.

Steevo. "Removing coating from black iron pipe." General Garage Discussion. The Garage Journal, 10 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 June 2014.

Williams, Jane. "Black Pipe Vs. Galvanized." eHow. Demand Media, Inc., 21 June 2013. Web. 13 June 2014.