Graham's Top Tips

[Flyfisher]

3 and 3/8ths, 17 and 11/32nds and 22 and 15/16ths?

Easy. Three and a half-ish + seventeen and a third-ish + almost 23 = about 44.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Penners - I think your fractions question and MdB's swift answer illustrates my point perfectly. Base 12 has more factors than base 10 so enables easier division!

And there is much greater precision possible - If I want to measure something that 11 and 17/64ths of an inch, I need to go to 6 decimal places in the metric system to get :shock: the same level of precision.

An then there is the self-evident point that metric numbers are so untidy - I mean take everyday things like a pint; it's 568ml in new money*. What ridiculous system expects us to buy common things in multiples of 568? 8)

I predict this whole decimal thing will be short-lived.

*Except for the Scottish pint which was 3 imperial pints - clearly much hardier drinkers than those of us south of the border!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Ooh how lovely. I've just discovered that the barleycorn (3 to the inch) was made up of 4 "poppyseeds".

All you could ever want to know about "proper" measurements before those European types came on the scene and messed it all up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_units

 

[MdB]

And there is much greater precision possible - If I want to measure something that 11 and 17/64ths of an inch, I need to go to 6 decimal places in the metric system to get :shock: the same level of precision.

Nice try. B+ for effort. E- for attainment.

11 and 17/64ths is 11.265625. However, what is 11.265627 as a fraction? Answer 11 and 265627/1000000ths. (and no you can't reduce this)

Giving an answer to something in 64ths is only accurate to +/- 0.0078125 where as giving an answer to 6 dp is accurate to +/-0.0000005

 

[MdB]

Top tip - Don't start an argument about the benefits of SI measurement over imperial measurements on the top tips thread...

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Giving an answer to something in 64ths is only accurate to +/- 0.0078125 where as giving an answer to 6 dp is accurate to +/-0.0000005

You obviously haven't seen the level of (in)accuracy of my measurements! :roll:

 

[Feltwell]

I blame Napoleon.

Good idea - blame the French (or one of them at least) :lol:

By the way - mis-spell Xenophobia as Zenophobia, and t'internet tells you it is a fear of sun-cream. Maybe that's why we all live in Britain!

It's on the internet - it must be true........... :?

 

[Moneypit]

So far as I'm concerned, the world has never really recovered from the disappearance of the chetwert and the pood.

40 pounds to a pood. 7.5 chetwerts to the tun.

Now what could be easier?

The pood is a a lyrically beautiful unit. When you also realise that area can be measured in roods, it becomes patently proper to refer to pressures not in Bars, Pascals or psi, but Poods per Rood.

 

[Feltwell]

It's been a while.....

When drilling a hole in a wall, and not being able to find your cable detector, do not look at the old blanked-off lightswitch just below where you are drilling and think "It'll be OK, unless the sparky was a complete numpty and put the cable in at about 30 degrees off vertical the cable will be at least 4 inches away from where I'm drilling".

As in doing so you will discover that yes, the sparky was a complete numpty and put the cable in at about 30 degrees off vertical. And I drilled straight through it. I had however knocked the lighting circuit off first *just in case*, so at least nothing went bang.

You then realise that to repair this you will need to access the roof void above this room. A roof void that has no access. So you have to cut a large hole in the ceiling, and make a new loft hatch. And then have the fun job of crawling along a space that is only marginally bigger then you are to sort the cables out.

And this, dear friends, is how a 10 minute job takes 2 days.

 

[kirstickle]

If you have a small kitten with diaorrhea (sp) don't assume that it won't do a sneaky one in the kitchen, get the stuff all over it's paws, jump in the litter tray to give said paws a lovely crunchy coating, then walk through the roller tray of white emulsion that you left on the floor whilst having a break from painting the ceiling. Oh and then don't assume that the kitten will not try and lick it all off....

 

[AMc]

It's been a while.....
When drilling a hole in a wall, and not being able to find your cable detector, do not look at the old blanked-off lightswitch just below where you are drilling and think "It'll be OK, unless the sparky was a complete numpty and put the cable in at about 30 degrees off vertical the cable will be at least 4 inches away from where I'm drilling".

Great minds eh? Yesterday I was fitting a shelf bracket in the utility room. There is a light switch directly underneath but there's also a hole in the wall above where various heating and power things are going into the main house. I see trunking going down beneath the surface in the corner with 2 lengths of twin and earth - "Oh good, they went down in the corner and then across, I can just drill these holes then." Hole one, fine, hole two fine, hole three - spark and the lights go out. A quick exploration with the bolster shows an entirely separate line of trunking right where I've drilled

 

[Flyfisher]

As in doing so you will discover that yes, the sparky was a complete numpty and put the cable in at about 30 degrees off vertical. And I drilled straight through it. I had however knocked the lighting circuit off first *just in case*, so at least nothing went bang.

And that is a masterclass in why safety is always a personal responsibility rather than mindless reliance on H&S rules, regulations and directives!

You thought it all through, realised the risk was minimal but still insisted on contingency.

The alternative interpretation is that it's yet another proof of sod's law in action.

 

[Pford75]

It's also further evidence on why Part P is actually quite useful and that amateurs shouldn't play around installing electrics :x

 

[Feltwell]

I don't think Part P will stop those that want to bodge something though - they'll just carry on regardless.

 

[Ushy M]

If you have a small kitten with diaorrhea (sp) don't assume that it won't do a sneaky one in the kitchen, get the stuff all over it's paws, jump in the litter tray to give said paws a lovely crunchy coating, then walk through the roller tray of white emulsion that you left on the floor whilst having a break from painting the ceiling. Oh and then don't assume that the kitten will not try and lick it all off....

I'm sensing a new role for this kitten as a paint pad.....

 

[Flyfisher]

It's also further evidence on why Part P is actually quite useful and that amateurs shouldn't play around installing electrics

Sometimes a bodge can be so bad it can actually be helpful.
It shouldn't be too difficult to avoid this 'hidden' wiring:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Unbelievable and in direct contravention of all wiring regs - which if I remember correctly stipulate wiring to run vertically & horizontally from switches and fittings, and if poss within the ?30cm border of floor and ceiling. In any event, diagonal runs are out!

 

[Penners]

diagonal runs are out!

Listen bor, in Norf'k thass not doi-agonal. Thass slantendicular. Un't ut.

 

[Flyfisher]

At least it isn't 'hidden wiring'.

 

[Me!]

Part P and all attempts to stop amateur wiring under the pretence of safety are totally misguided whilst things like this are still happening to cables all over the country every day –


When are the government going to introduce and enforce a total ban on all rats and mice?