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Everything posted by ToughButterCup
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Checklist: Buying a used digger
ToughButterCup replied to ToughButterCup's topic in Tools & Equipment
There's one thing about diggers where I'm not wistful though.... The number of nipples she had. More of them than a sow, fewer than a Labour Ward. Some of them so hard to get to I needed to remove my hand to get access, and then spend ages trying to latch onto the slippery little thing. On successful connection, pump like Hell with my 'wrong' hand to get some grease in. And then realise I'd pumped all the grease I had. Rinse, repeat. But she would always demand more. And the older she got, the sloppier the connection. Good training for life eh? -
Checklist: Buying a used digger
ToughButterCup replied to ToughButterCup's topic in Tools & Equipment
How right you are. 6 years ago that happened to me. And by chance I was put in touch with a local company: Allan's BobCats Hire. He came out that evening , sorted it. After selling my digger - it still hurts - I've had dozens of hires from him - just because he went that bit further. That digga the only tool I've owned where SWMBO said -unprompted- "That's really useful..." Is it OK to feel wistful about a digger? -
Not sure what to do?
ToughButterCup replied to CalvinHobbes's topic in Landscaping, Decking & Patios
Get a woman. No need to be related. Anyone of the Monstrous Hoard will do - anyone over about 20 to 25 . She'll know A what? -
Blocks for Driveway, can stone blocks be used?
ToughButterCup replied to revelation's topic in Driveways
Yes. I'd call that a dry mix . Not sure everyone would use that term but hey.... you get used to it. Your suggestion above is perfectly OK. A really good reference site for this sort of thing is by a guy who runs this website (Paving Expert) here..... He's a Lancastrian (of course) -
Blocks for Driveway, can stone blocks be used?
ToughButterCup replied to revelation's topic in Driveways
Maybe the advice was given in the context of increasing adhesion of the limestone block. You can - as @nod suggests above - dust some cement on top of the sand before laying, or make a weak mix of cement (only) and water and coat the bottom of the limestone blocks before laying. In simple terms, make the blocks 'stickier' before laying them. I'm edging a path with limestone setts at the moment. I 'butter' each sett before laying it. Bit of water and some cement in a bucket, mix well ( weak gravy ) and drop the sett in that mixture while I'm laying the current sett. I was very surprised to see the amount of 'butter' some of the setts absorb. Occasionally I forget (gone for a coffee) that I've left a sett in the bucket with the cement mixture in it. Half an hour later it's noticeably harder to take the sett out of the bucket. Here's a video of the type of thing I mean ( but a slightly different technique again) -
Ooooops - New windfarm cancelled.
ToughButterCup replied to MikeSharp01's topic in Environmental Building Politics
Thats what politics is for .... looking at the broader ( than a 'wind farm' for example ) picture. Dysfunction is an amiable - affliction : it's like @MikeSharp01 says '... something has to give ...' You say dysfunction, I say give. (Oh lets call the whole thing off : like @SteamyTea suggests) -
Battery Storage - Lifespan and Replacement
ToughButterCup replied to marmott2334's topic in Energy Storage
Welcome. Life-span? What have the manufacturers / installer claimed the life-span to be ? -
Systems and people show themselves for what they really are when things go wrong. Not when all is smooth and lovely.
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Ugh. SWMBO has hidden the SunAmp behind a (moveable) linen cupboard. Thanks @Russdl
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The relative dampness (or dryness) of the materials (in this case , sand) makes a noticeable difference. Bagged contents might be damper than normal (water is cheap) A paddle mixer might help?
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Are you in yet?
ToughButterCup replied to MortarThePoint's topic in General Self Build & DIY Discussion
Your question is close to "When will you be finished ?" There's not a month goes by without us being asked. I don't think people want to know the answer, they just want to say something to show a bit of interest. My reply.. "If you see me using a strimmer, I'll be finished" -
Soakaways: alternatives?
ToughButterCup replied to Post and beam's topic in Rainwater, Guttering & SuDS
Look up the terms 'SUDS' and 'Rain Garden' . You'll find masses of stuff to help you. -
Insurance for Build by Neighbour's Son
ToughButterCup replied to Spinny's topic in Party Wall & Property Legal Issues
There is another approach. Kindness, small droplets of it first, followed by careful nurturing, building trust. Followed by discussion. The only fight worth having (your name for for it above is 'concern') is the one we all have with ourselves trying to make today - (and that alone is hard enough) a success. Talk, listen, reassure, build a bridge. -
Exactly. Make yourself - politely - a difficult target. Very politely.
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Yes. I had a close look with a graphics package. The hole - and more importantly its position - might be: might be suspicious. Where's the path in relation to that 'feature' ? If it's not a hole, but a sheet of plastic (DPM ?) , is the DPM the vector for the water from a leak source elsewhere ? Leaks are worse than having a truculent tenager in the house. Much worse.
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Hello. Welcome. Tell us a bit about about the research you have done for yourself: who have you talked to , what research have you done on your LPA website, what professional advice have you sought? I ask, because - as written - you give us precious little information to go on.
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Checklist: Buying a used digger
ToughButterCup replied to ToughButterCup's topic in Tools & Equipment
I knew it ! Gottcha! You're one of those Bad Boys. -
Checklist: Buying a used digger
ToughButterCup replied to ToughButterCup's topic in Tools & Equipment
Ditto. -
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450 ppm or less (I think). Window always open on tilt : better put - rarely if ever shut. The wind direction and open-window/door configuration is very important. The chimney effect is very noticeable Sensor positioning appears to be important - I have found 'dead spots' in our house. As I write this at my desk (a dead spot) its 775 - with a 3m window wide open 4 meters away. Bedroom seems to be 'OK' to the extent that I can tell. The CO2 meter needs an a/c socket nearby, so the test hasn't been as extensive as I would like (flex length). The only time I've noticed a 'red' alert ( on the meter) is when over Christmas the house was packed with friends and family, cooking on full blast and some people were vaping like it was going out of fashion. I think that MVHR might well lessen the number and extent of dead spots. It'll be interesting to do a comparison. The question is how to do a fair comparison? Because for six or seven months of the year we have at least two windows open. Maybe @SteamyTea or @TerryE could help my thinking process with a 'fair' design ? Please? The main point is I realise that our approach is not for everyone: most want to switch MVHR on - forget it - and pay the bill. But until recently we couldn't afford MVHR, and so have been forced to experiment and 'feel' what the house will do for itself. To me, it seems to do better than I expected : slow temperature change up or down, and to an extent sauerkraut resistant. It is very clear though we have to open a combination of doors and windows every day. Whereas with MVHR we wouldn't need to think about it.
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And let the smog-filled air into your Berlin high-rise ? There's a standing joke in Berlin ... Stossluften (shock ventilation) is really about neighbours being able to chat to one another: Old Mother Schmidt opens her window wide, puts a cushion on the window shelf, and hoists her décolletage onto a longsuffering cushion, bangs on her neighbours window. Frau Dumke (old Berlin name) opens her window, stands on a chair, sticks hers out of the window too : both of them put the world to rights. I'll spare you the teenage jokes about that process. No wonder they cant use MVHR properly. They open the window to talk to one another. Not because their flat is chock full of sauerkraut and the consequent farts.
