Penners
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Listen, Mr flippin' expert... you come down here to darkest Suffolk, bloomin' miles from the phone exchange, and you try getting better than 1.3 megabits absolutely top whack!
- Thread starter Pford75
- Start date
skier-hughes
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Well........
I invited you up here to show you how to combat it and what did I get........
Oh we've had a party without you..........
Let's hope you drop to 28k :wink:
I invited you up here to show you how to combat it and what did I get........
Oh we've had a party without you..........
Let's hope you drop to 28k :wink:
FamilyWiggs
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I remember well my first 28.8k modem. The size of a microwave, emitting shrill melodic handshakes.
Oh and the joy when I paid 70 quid to upgrade to 33.3k! I did try to convince SWMBO that the speed increase was worth it. Not sure I ever notice any increase though... one day it'll be a classic.
Oh and the joy when I paid 70 quid to upgrade to 33.3k! I did try to convince SWMBO that the speed increase was worth it. Not sure I ever notice any increase though... one day it'll be a classic.
Penners
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Wish I'd never chucked out my Sinclair ZX81. It's probably worth... oooh ... £2.50?FamilyWiggs said:
I still have my ZX Spectrum which I threaten my children with if they are being particularly tiresome :wink:
Back to the thread....my wife advises me that she has had some considerable success with hot water on the adhesive and that I can "finish it off" when I get home this weekend......
Back to the thread....my wife advises me that she has had some considerable success with hot water on the adhesive and that I can "finish it off" when I get home this weekend......
Penners
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What a thoughtful woman. She obviously doesn't want you to miss all the fun.Pford75 said:
skier-hughes
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It might be stuck all over her now!
Thought I owed the forum an update on progress given all the helpful suggestions. Some browsing of other online fora seems to indicate that this is a common problem and something which tilers (they have their own forum) hate.
So, given the various types of advice I decided to try a range of solutions and see which one offerred the most success.
Methylated spirit - Seems less successful than the white spirit (cant explain why)
White spirit - Some limited success...seems to make the adhesive brittle and it can then be chipped off....but only where it is thick...the thinly spread stuff isn't chipping.
Caustic soda - Mixed up very strong. This was quite successful and seemed to make the adhesive much easier to remove. Some major drawbacks though...It is obviously a major skin irritant, it appears to be lightly pitting the wood surface (which is not disastrous since it will be sanded) but more importantly, it stinks. :shock: The smell can only be described as 'lightly rotted summer rabbit in a sunny paddock'...slightly sweet but nausea making...I couldn't stomach more than 5mins in the room.
Paint & Varnish remover - Although the adhesive is neither of these, it does a great job of removing it. Slight issue is that you end up with a lot of 'sludge' scraped from the floor, which needs to go somewhere. It's also going to be costly to strip the entire floor area.
I'm tempted to strip the worst areas and then sand (accepting that i may get through more sanding sheets than normal until I remove the adhesive)
So, given the various types of advice I decided to try a range of solutions and see which one offerred the most success.
Methylated spirit - Seems less successful than the white spirit (cant explain why)
White spirit - Some limited success...seems to make the adhesive brittle and it can then be chipped off....but only where it is thick...the thinly spread stuff isn't chipping.
Caustic soda - Mixed up very strong. This was quite successful and seemed to make the adhesive much easier to remove. Some major drawbacks though...It is obviously a major skin irritant, it appears to be lightly pitting the wood surface (which is not disastrous since it will be sanded) but more importantly, it stinks. :shock: The smell can only be described as 'lightly rotted summer rabbit in a sunny paddock'...slightly sweet but nausea making...I couldn't stomach more than 5mins in the room.
Paint & Varnish remover - Although the adhesive is neither of these, it does a great job of removing it. Slight issue is that you end up with a lot of 'sludge' scraped from the floor, which needs to go somewhere. It's also going to be costly to strip the entire floor area.
I'm tempted to strip the worst areas and then sand (accepting that i may get through more sanding sheets than normal until I remove the adhesive)
Here is the floor after the removal of the vinyl tiles, but before any attempts at removing the adhesive. As you can see, there is both the felt backing of some tiles and the tan-coloured adhesive in other areas....will hopefully post an 'after' pic soon
The asbestos comment earlier is worth re-raising. We've got a bunch of 1950's/60's tiles which need to come up. The RICS surveyor warned me not to lift them without the asbestos survey (which we needed anyway).
The asbestos surveyor reckoned there was no risk of fibre release, but disposal could be a problem and tested samples.
The samples were negative, but I was glad not to have exposed myself without comprehending there was a risk.
Now we have a disused asbestos concrete water tank and the bath panels(!) which are also positive to remove and dispose of safely.
As I understand it a single exposure to the 'wrong kind' of asbestos can lead to asbestososis(sp?) so I would think twice about doing this job without a sample test. A single sample test was "about £25" but ours was done as part of a £500 survey.
Even if you don't do the test, I would take the precautions of a full disposable suit, resporator mask and double bagging the waste - of course your mileage may vary on the necessity of that.
The asbestos surveyor reckoned there was no risk of fibre release, but disposal could be a problem and tested samples.
The samples were negative, but I was glad not to have exposed myself without comprehending there was a risk.
Now we have a disused asbestos concrete water tank and the bath panels(!) which are also positive to remove and dispose of safely.
As I understand it a single exposure to the 'wrong kind' of asbestos can lead to asbestososis(sp?) so I would think twice about doing this job without a sample test. A single sample test was "about £25" but ours was done as part of a £500 survey.
Even if you don't do the test, I would take the precautions of a full disposable suit, resporator mask and double bagging the waste - of course your mileage may vary on the necessity of that.
:shock:
Too late. The tiles have already been lifted and disposed of. I took them to my local 'Civil amenity centre' (dump) and they didn't raise any concerns with me chucking them in the 'general waste' bin....so assume they're okay. I spent yesterday sanding the floor, although was wearing a full respirator (not just a dust mask).
Anyone know the early symptoms of asbestosis?
No, sorry and the hope is you'll never find out either. I'm reasonably sure this was belt and braces health and safety advice. My point was what looked to me like a comparitively simple job could perhaps have been quite dangerous. My post was so the next person who finds this thread can make an informed decision before they go ahead.PFord75 said:Anyone know the early symptoms of asbestosis?
Schoolmarm
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It will be ages off and pain or shortness of breath or both.
OK....just spoke with NHS direct to get their advice on whether to visit my GP.
They read a fairly lengthy toxicity report to me. AMc advice is spot on and would encourage the use of professionals if you believe you have asbestos. However, their report stated that light inhalation or ingestion of asbetos fibres over a short period (days) is only likely to result in localised irritation and symptoms (cough, sore throat etc.). Current medical cases linking asbestosis and lung cancer to asbestos exposure are only where there has been prolonged exposure. The advice from the toxicity specialist was that i needn't see my GP, unless I develop a severe cough or chest pain :?
Quire a shock really and to be honest, quite annoying....I'm very good at testing for lead paint etc. and taking the right precautions with other DIY (mask, goggles etc.)....annoyed with myself for wondering if this might be asbestos and not hving it properly tested.
Lesson here for fellow PPUK'ers
They read a fairly lengthy toxicity report to me. AMc advice is spot on and would encourage the use of professionals if you believe you have asbestos. However, their report stated that light inhalation or ingestion of asbetos fibres over a short period (days) is only likely to result in localised irritation and symptoms (cough, sore throat etc.). Current medical cases linking asbestosis and lung cancer to asbestos exposure are only where there has been prolonged exposure. The advice from the toxicity specialist was that i needn't see my GP, unless I develop a severe cough or chest pain :?
Quire a shock really and to be honest, quite annoying....I'm very good at testing for lead paint etc. and taking the right precautions with other DIY (mask, goggles etc.)....annoyed with myself for wondering if this might be asbestos and not hving it properly tested.
Lesson here for fellow PPUK'ers
Schoolmarm
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There was nothing your gp could have done anyway. If you are oldish it probably won't matter, :mrgreen: as it takes a few years to get going seriously. It is my children being anywhere near that I am dead keen on avoiding. Children being 24, 21 and 19.
edited to add; not wishing to sound defeatist or anything :twisted:
edited to add; not wishing to sound defeatist or anything :twisted:
DaveBrigg
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On the bright side, you would be very popular when there is hot food to be lifted off the barbecue.
:roll: Very funny........... :lol:
Anyway, here is a pic of work in progress on the floor. Have now managed to remove the asbestos tiles and adhesive (all bar the edges which I will do with a belt sander)
I've given the floor a coat of oil (boiled linseed) and we are currently undecided on whether to wax or varnish - thoughts welcome. The remains of the previous finish is in fact deliberate (honest), we simply like the patina rather than having a 'new' looking floor. We've tried this in other rooms and been pleasantly surprised with the final effect after a coat or two of Liberon Black Bison wax.
Just out of pic is a large bay window, which was also previously tiled. Underneath however, it is some kind of hardboard rather than timber. Rather than paint this surface, we are erring towards getting it finished with a decent piece of timber which could be oiled/polished. I was thinking walnut, but some initial enquiries today have ruled this out on the basis of cost. Any suggestions on a good looking piece of timber would be welcome. (The floor is pine, but i'd like to avoid the scandinavian sauna look if possible)
Anyway, here is a pic of work in progress on the floor. Have now managed to remove the asbestos tiles and adhesive (all bar the edges which I will do with a belt sander)
I've given the floor a coat of oil (boiled linseed) and we are currently undecided on whether to wax or varnish - thoughts welcome. The remains of the previous finish is in fact deliberate (honest), we simply like the patina rather than having a 'new' looking floor. We've tried this in other rooms and been pleasantly surprised with the final effect after a coat or two of Liberon Black Bison wax.
Just out of pic is a large bay window, which was also previously tiled. Underneath however, it is some kind of hardboard rather than timber. Rather than paint this surface, we are erring towards getting it finished with a decent piece of timber which could be oiled/polished. I was thinking walnut, but some initial enquiries today have ruled this out on the basis of cost. Any suggestions on a good looking piece of timber would be welcome. (The floor is pine, but i'd like to avoid the scandinavian sauna look if possible)