02-02-2013, 05:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2013, 05:42 PM by AlanBeckett.)
It's not at all unusual young Col.
Over the last few (nice?) days I've put a couple of shelves and a light in the upstairs wardrobe over the stairs, a nice simple warm job you might think.
I knew I needed some timber so a trip to B&Q first. Now to put them up. Measure, cut, screw and glue some supports to the walls - one is real brick the other is stud, and this being 1937 it's lathe and plaster. My ordinary Black & Decker refused to have anything to do with the brick, but fear not, that's what I have a big SDS for. However, the SDS would only work while holding the mains cable at an acute angle. That proved to be the usual problem of damaged wires due to the over-tight cable clamp, so strip and rewire. Holes drilled, timber cut, brackets fixed to the back wall so all I need now is some Nonails - Gripfix actually. Surely I have some. Well, half a tube, partially set. Never mind, it will do. It did, but by the time I'd got both shelves up and the hanging rail I was about knackered. Bear in mind that each problem requires a trip from upstairs down the full length of the garden and into the garage. As it was going dark I knocked off.
Day 2 was the light. While I was at B&Q I'd bought a simple striplight with a pullcord to go ever the door. Step one was down to the garage again for some 1.5 T&E and a Joint box, just in case. Of course there was only dog ends of T&E and no Joint boxes, so back to Wickes - it's closer. Now we're motoring so poke a hole in the ceiling with a long screwdriver and go up to the attic to see where it comes through, but couldn't see it due to insulation. Back down the garden to get a cane and poke again. Ah, so, there it is, a bit close to the eaves for comfort, but what the hell. Back down to the garage to get hammer and clips then back up the attic to route the cable to a convenient joint box - miles away of course. Back to the bedroom to mount the light then switch off and back up the attic to connect up. Back down to ground floor to switch on and test - OK - followed by general cleanup, return all tools and consumables to the garage and get job signed off by the Project Manager.
After that I needed a shower and some beer. It's often said that it's the simplest jobs that seem to take the longest. Today it took me an hour to saw off a bit of steel bar and drill the right size hole in it, but that's another saga
Alan
Over the last few (nice?) days I've put a couple of shelves and a light in the upstairs wardrobe over the stairs, a nice simple warm job you might think.
I knew I needed some timber so a trip to B&Q first. Now to put them up. Measure, cut, screw and glue some supports to the walls - one is real brick the other is stud, and this being 1937 it's lathe and plaster. My ordinary Black & Decker refused to have anything to do with the brick, but fear not, that's what I have a big SDS for. However, the SDS would only work while holding the mains cable at an acute angle. That proved to be the usual problem of damaged wires due to the over-tight cable clamp, so strip and rewire. Holes drilled, timber cut, brackets fixed to the back wall so all I need now is some Nonails - Gripfix actually. Surely I have some. Well, half a tube, partially set. Never mind, it will do. It did, but by the time I'd got both shelves up and the hanging rail I was about knackered. Bear in mind that each problem requires a trip from upstairs down the full length of the garden and into the garage. As it was going dark I knocked off.
Day 2 was the light. While I was at B&Q I'd bought a simple striplight with a pullcord to go ever the door. Step one was down to the garage again for some 1.5 T&E and a Joint box, just in case. Of course there was only dog ends of T&E and no Joint boxes, so back to Wickes - it's closer. Now we're motoring so poke a hole in the ceiling with a long screwdriver and go up to the attic to see where it comes through, but couldn't see it due to insulation. Back down the garden to get a cane and poke again. Ah, so, there it is, a bit close to the eaves for comfort, but what the hell. Back down to the garage to get hammer and clips then back up the attic to route the cable to a convenient joint box - miles away of course. Back to the bedroom to mount the light then switch off and back up the attic to connect up. Back down to ground floor to switch on and test - OK - followed by general cleanup, return all tools and consumables to the garage and get job signed off by the Project Manager.
After that I needed a shower and some beer. It's often said that it's the simplest jobs that seem to take the longest. Today it took me an hour to saw off a bit of steel bar and drill the right size hole in it, but that's another saga
Alan
