New Grump of the Day

[Penners]

I just buy a brand new tub each time as it works so much more easily

My experience is that brand new putty often works too easily. It often comes out of the tub very oily and sticky, making it almost impossible to work without having it all over your hands.

In these circumstances I usually wrap it in brown kraft paper and leave it for a week or two to lose some of its oil.

 

[Me!]

This is an absolute Brexit disaster to all Period Property renovation and maintenance!.

 

[Penners]

Well, I was vehemently against Brexit for all kinds of reasons, but that's my worst nightmare! :evil:

 

[a twig]

GRUMP ONE:
Why is it, when it's a choice of two things, you always end up choosing the wrong one.
Four bales of insulation arrived today - two widths possible to choose from, I was pretty sure I chose the right width.
Apparently I didn't, so now will require a lot of cutting and stuffing :evil:

GRUMP TWO:
My annual MOT reminder text message came through from my garage for the SIII today. The old girl promptly snaps her speedo cable and develops a steady brake fluid leak.

That's in addition to the ongoing overheating problem which I am slowly replacing every single part of the cooling system in an effort to get to the bottom of... A beautiful new aluminium performance rad arrived this week and new hoses are on order. If it ain't that, then its water pump. If it ain't that, then probably head gasket. In which case I will be selling the vehicle in a high fit of dudgeon afterwards.

FINAL GRUMP:
Turns out most modern suppliers of glass fuses make they just a fraction narrower in diameter than the originals. So when I replaced an original blown fuse, the new one slides around, periodically leaving me without headlights - requiring a frantic dive under the steering column and minor electrocution until the contact is made again - just what I want as winter sets in... Cue another project to convert to blade fuses being added to my ever growing projects list...

 

[Feltwell]

Well, I was vehemently against Brexit for all kinds of reasons, but that's my worst nightmare! :evil:

Oh come come Penners, look at these nice reassuring words from Boris Johnson at the Spectator awards last night:-

"I understood that Brexit means Brexit and we are going to make a Titanic success of it."

Finally the man has said something I agree with :lol:

 

[a twig]

And my final grump / panic / oh *!£@%$ moment...

Not sure that joists are supposed to be just resting on a nail and able to be lifted off with one hand. Very glad I was underneath it when I found out, not lying on top of it!

 

[JanJonWestWales]

need the image...sounds exciting !!

 

[Penners]

Boris Johnson

:lol: :lol: :lol:

:roll:

 

[Penners]

glad I was underneath it when I found out, not lying on top of it!

Glad??

Dangerous situations to be in with a poorly supported joist:-

1. Lying in top of it.

2. Underneath it.

 

[a twig]

Ah, but I was tidying up some wiring before I put a new ceiling up, so was able to catch the joist as it fell with my free hand much better than lying on top of it and coming down through the absent ceiling and onto the floor below...

Incidentally photobucket is down for maintenance, hence the lack of image.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

Ah, but I was tidying up some wiring before I put a new ceiling up, so was able to catch the joist as it fell with my free hand much better than lying on top of it and coming down through the absent ceiling and onto the floor below...

Incidentally photobucket is down for maintenance, hence the lack of image.

cor..that looks so much like our house....glad your ok.

In 6 years of renovations, working alone, working at heights, rotten floorboards, dodgy scaffolding...I have (touching wood) only had one accident, and thankfuly just a bad scratch to show for it.
While trying to place the first oak joist in the library, stood on a solid platform, I had to reach out and stepped onto a supposedly solid box over a hole in the basement below...It wasn't solid.
I fell through (still holding the joist)...the box was scattered with chisels, nails, hammer,and sundry sharp items....ended up in the basement below with the joist and tools at my feet ...and a nasty scratch on my inner arm, where it hit the wood going through the hole....soooo lucky

Lesson learned..don't do that again

(is this the start of a "my worst accident thread ")

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I have been saving up my grumps-----what grumps you say --Jocelyn is living in a 1986 build what could possibly go wrong------ok, certainly nothing going really wrong with the build it's the Builders who, combined with the North Norfolk way of doing things are a dangerous combination!

After waiting for months the Builder finally came along to update my teeny tiny kitchen, pullout the dated cabinets, replace with the standard Howdens cabinets and re-tile the walls. To speed things up a bit I removed all the old tiles and cleaned up the walls as best I could expecting that he would make good before re tiling--that was wishful thinking-he slapped up the new tiles which are now becoming uneven and out of line.I have never had to complain about workmanship before but I have had to this time and will have to go through the agony of clearing the shelving so he can re do the tiles.It seems there is no pride in the job, its a case of let's get it done .

Added to that, the simmering oven on my Aga City 60 is not reading the right temperature so an hour on the phone to Aga produced nothing more than a promise of an engineer sometime next week and a hefty call out fee of £150.00,(up front\) however, after my unladylike shriek I was able to pay an annual, no limit call out, charge of £58.00. That mess wasted my entire morning , only then, to be told that my Electrician cannot come for another week to put in some more points and the Plumbers that I asked to come and give me a quote to refurbish the downstairs cloakroom have not bothered to respond to my phone message of 2 weeks ago. grrrrr

 

[Penners]

Hmmm... sorry to hear of your troubles, Joss, but while I am not unsympathetic, neither am I surprised. East Anglia a very much a growth region, and I think pretty well every builder has the chance of more work than he can cope with. So, with a number of them, it's not a question of "how can I do the best possible job?" but more of "how little time/effort/quality can I get away with?".

I know that complaining is difficult, but don't let them get away with it. If you can find one, set an ex-Navy man on them!

 

[Flyfisher]

Top Tip of the Day #1
When transporting large tubs of ready-mixed lime plaster, be sure that they can't slide around under heavy braking lest they collide with each other, split open and then proceed to dribble their contents all over the interior of the car.

How do I know this . . . . . ? :shock:

 

[Flyfisher]

Top Tip of the Day #2
Those rigid plastic 'boot liners' are worth their weight in gold, especially if you're in the habit of not securing potentially messy loads. :roll:

 

[Penners]

large tubs of ready-mixed lime plaster

Oh good grief! Bad luck FF!

Still, on the plus side, at least your car is breathable.

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Indeed - always look on the bright side

 

[DJH]

Braking hard...in Norfolk! Have you got hills there now FF?

Doug

 

[DJH]

A belated Grump but it's been growing over the last few months...

I was asked to give some advice about the leadwork on a partially ruined castle over here and, despite my years of experience ( ) I fell for the trap and find myself working nearly full time laying lead again. As my head got bigger with the flattery so it emptied pro rata :roll:

A kind of bonus is that about 14 rainwater heads are needed with accompanying downpipes so I have something to do in my workshop over the winter.

Here's my sketch of what I think they needed although I really think there was a missed opportunity to replicate some of the architectural details from the castle on the heads but the client is not inclined towards embellishment.



and this is the working drawing



On the bright side I suppose I'll get another retirement party maybe with some presents this time. 8)

Doug

 

[Feltwell]

Top Tip of the Day #1
When transporting large tubs of ready-mixed lime plaster, be sure that they can't slide around under heavy braking lest they collide with each other, split open and then proceed to dribble their contents all over the interior of the car.

How do I know this . . . . . ? :shock:

PlasterMess.JPG

I know a young lad who did that in his Dad's car with some paint. Went everywhere, including over him. He was very upset.

In fact he was overcome with emulsion.

I've already got my coat........