The worst bodge

[LadyArowana]

Makes me seethe when I see the slots in screws not lined up orthogonally.
That WAS what you were referring to, right?

I spent quite some time messing with the centre of the bath taps on the mixer so that Hot and Cold were horizontal when turned off. Big Dave had got it *almost* right and the first time I fiddled around I just made it much worse, however in the immortal words, "but still she persisted"

 

[Cubist]

I spent quite some time messing with the centre of the bath taps on the mixer so that Hot and Cold were horizontal when turned off. Big Dave had got it *almost* right and the first time I fiddled around I just made it much worse, however in the immortal words, "but still she persisted"

Errm, Ma'am could always simply replace the internal-screw driven valve to the gate type which always opens and closes to the same handle position.

 

[LadyArowana]

Errm, Ma'am could always simply replace the internal-screw driven valve to the gate type which always opens and closes to the same handle position.

I think you have me confused with some other ‘competent person’ Unscrewing a fixing ring which keeps the little round enamel inset labelled “Hot” in place is about my speed. Once we get to internal screw driven anything if I start meddling it’s going to end with water all over the floor and an emergency call out. Plus they were brand new taps, in a new bathroom, and I spent even more ages choosing them.

 

[Athers1971]

How about this one? Fluorescent light wired into a socket attached to a beam above the fire place

 

[noj]

How about this one? Fluorescent light wired into a socket attached to a beam above the fire place


View attachment 10624

I had an identical setup!

 

[Thatspellstrouble]

I win!

 

[Cubist]

I've been undecided about where best to record this tale. It falls between quite a few stools and could have easily gone to 'The Satisfying Small Projects' thread or to another the name of which I don't recall right now concerning Hating Waste but I'll settle for Worst Bodge as it seem the most appropriate.

A couple of days back I happened to notice that the business end of my small angle grinder had taken on a very alarming wobble and there was a distinct possibility the darned thing would part company with its metal grinding disk at high velocity to wreak untold damage to my shed of perhaps even me! After finishing what I had been doing I went back to inspect the tool to discover what may have gone wrong and perhaps salvage some of the bits for other uses. Yes, I'm a pack rat, at least as far as my sheds contents are concerned. Separating the gear head from the drive revealed the root cause to be the application of a much vaunted practice called 'Value Engineering' by the manufacture which, in this case is also a euphemism for 'Inbuilt Obsolescence'. To shed a little light; Value Engineering was a 'creative thinking' technique used extensively by product manufacturers to improve their products the only example of which I'm aware was Stanley Tools deciding that a cheese grater was an excellent basis for a new type of wood plane - hence. the Stanley Surform.

Back to my angle grinder. After removing a couple of screws I quickly found that the bearing and crown gear wheel were contained inside a nylon/plastic housing under a flimsy steel plate that was in turn held in place with just three small screws, one of which was obviously loose and floating around underneath the crown gear. Removing said gear and the still in situ but also loose screws exposed the root of the failure and generated my disgust for the penny pinching manufacturer who had decided to use an injection moulded nylon/plastic for the housing rather than a more durable steel or aluminium body. But even this was not the full depth of their financial perspicacity - the pillocks had used 8mm self-tapping screws driven through the steel plate to firmly (not) secure the bearing in its recess.

Stopping my cannibalisation of the rest of the now defunct angle grinder I went off to get a cuppa while fulminating about shoddy manufacturing methods and materials. While doing so I realised I may just be able to bodge a repair to get another few years out of this particular tool. After casting around for useful materials and discounting most of the potential candidates I turned to my trusty, and rusty, collections of screws, bolts and the like - remember, I'm a pack rat - and came up with three 12mm self tapping screws of about the right diameter which, after the depth of the original holes was increased, successfully and very firmly pinned down the bearing retaining plate.

Hopefully, I can now look forward to another twenty years of use out of my old angle grinder - but I'm still going to grouse about shoddy bodges. Particularly when they are commissioned by the OEM!

 

[Mrs McG]

I read an article recently that said inbuilt obsolescence is illegal in France. UK have been talking about it for about the last two years I think but it’s not made it into legislation yet.

I think I can top the strip light on a beam, here’s what I found when I removed a light screwed onto my beam …

 

[Toby Newell]

How about this one? Fluorescent light wired into a socket attached to a beam above the fire place


View attachment 10624

at least the wire looks antique

 

[housewinnie]

Cannot find a pic of exact part but the soil pipe was held in place by a piece of timber propped against the wall

 

[Willsa]

Perhaps an improvised 'cleat' - as used on boats - to secure a rope from above for say a loft ladder or stabilise a heavy/awkward load on the stairs below?

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that you seem to know the answer to the inverted hook mystery. There is a loft hatch indeed in close (if very high up) proximity!

I can now fully picture a rope from the loft door coming down, tied around the hook. To tension the hatch shut and keep the zombies out.

 

[Willsa]

Makes me seethe when I see the slots in screws not lined up orthogonally.
That WAS what you were referring to, right?

Yeah - forgot to add trigger warning. It's impossible to unsee now but here goes the image I should have posted to begin with. Apologies for the all the distress caused.

 

[housewinnie]

New part of the house. Taking out the kitchen units and found someone has screeded up to them by an inch and half. Wonderful.