GRcade

bear wrote:Have you considered getting a shed by the likes of Steeltech? I think their smallest steel sheds a 6x6 but they are high quality sheds.




If you're talking about a concrete base then I think you'll be able to do most of the prep work by yourself but pouring and floating the base would be a two person job.

I read that as if it was a swear filter effort



Cheers everyone. I might do slabs, partly as I still have some left over from a previous job that may do the trick.

Poser wrote:Tell me more (tell me more...)

I had ruled cement out in my head because I have a fear of mess/hassle/mistakes, but I assume it's potentially an easy thing to do.

I should point out I didn't actually do the cement base (paid someone). If you don't want to do that, Dual's slab approach sounds good.

Poser wrote:

bear wrote:Have you considered getting a shed by the likes of Steeltech? I think their smallest steel sheds a 6x6 but they are high quality sheds.




If you're talking about a concrete base then I think you'll be able to do most of the prep work by yourself but pouring and floating the base would be a two person job.

I read that as if it was a swear filter effort



Cheers everyone. I might do slabs, partly as I still have some left over from a previous job that may do the trick.

My dad did paving slabs for his sheds.

Green Gecko wrote:I was thinking of picking up a decent brand second hand and doing it up. Are there any well regarded, stable metal ones that aren't around anymore or obscenely expensive new?

Sadly mum had a butch one I was going to de rust and replace the top with bamboo, but it was thrown away.

I don't really do cheap unless I can put the work in to repair something unloved but solid.

Dunno sadly, all I know is a cheap one is a definite improvement over the old Ikea TV stand I was using as a saw horse before! The question is: will a £10-20 bench increase your productivity to the point that it's a worthwhile purchase in the short term? At that price point it needs to be useful for one, maybe two jobs, and then it's paid for itself. Treat yourself to a nice bench later on.

I'm always terrified of using MDF because of the dust.

Are you guys talking about portable work benches or a fixed one?

I'm using this one atm from b&q £50 and has served me well for holding skirting/painting surface/resting cups of tea etc

http://www.diy.com/departments/mac-alli ... &rrec=true

Certainly makes a difference having a chop saw resting on that as opposed to working off the floor.

Portable, because I don't have anywhere I can work and clean up dust easily except the kitchen, that has lino and flush skirtings for the cabinets (easy to sweep up). My design/fabrication business is set up in a spare room with carpets. Also I rent. I don't do house stuff except at my mum's, I'm mainly building and re-finishing small stuff, cutting down and combining furniture etc.

I've thought about making a tent outside with some poles and a tarp.

That bench looks pretty good, a quick glance at the reviews reveals it was once on offer at £35 which is a steal.. I'll keep an eye on that.

The one my mum had was really hench looking at these modern ones - it was made of thick plate steel with some holes in it probably to reduce weight. These newer designs seem a little skinny? Is that a weight thing, and we aren't sacrificing stability? I'm not very strong to apply downward force when sawing etc. (Quick Grips help a lot) My main concern is having a wobbly thing - weight doesn't matter as I can move stuff around no problem. It's sustained exertion that is tiring for me as I'm very unfit, so I need something very stable.

Oh and one other totally ridiculous tip I discovered from the other day - lubricating a hand saw. Yep, lubricating a saw with WD-40 actually reduces catching and cuts more cleanly with less wasted energy. You never know what's worth trying until you try it. Just don't expect to paint over the cuts afterwards.

Been putting in some new sinks this weekend, well, her dad has, Im not at that level yet. strawberry float me what a nightmare. Water pipes come from the floor, skirting board around the bathroom so the unit wont sit flush, been to screw fix 3 times and its still not done. All for a strawberry floating sink. It now leaks cus something isn't on tight enough. We need a wrench with quite a wide jaw, are these expensive?

Jesus its been stressful.

Glowy69 wrote:Been putting in some new sinks this weekend, well, her dad has, Im not at that level yet. strawberry float me what a nightmare. Water pipes come from the floor, skirting board around the bathroom so the unit wont sit flush, been to screw fix 3 times and its still not done. All for a strawberry floating sink. It now leaks cus something isn't on tight enough. We need a wrench with quite a wide jaw, are these expensive?

Jesus its been stressful.

I don't like to touch anything that requires plumbing, I go straight to the plumber for these kind of things. Getting to the taps behind our sinks is a strawberry floating nightmare and like you, I don't have all of the specialist tools needed for the job.

Glowy69 wrote:Been putting in some new sinks this weekend, well, her dad has, Im not at that level yet. strawberry float me what a nightmare. Water pipes come from the floor, skirting board around the bathroom so the unit wont sit flush, been to screw fix 3 times and its still not done. All for a strawberry floating sink. It now leaks cus something isn't on tight enough. We need a wrench with quite a wide jaw, are these expensive?

Jesus its been stressful.

Welcome to the world of DIY.

I have an old biscuit tin full of bolts from when I completely took apart my old car down to a shell, they've come in useful so much.

On the subject of sinks... the taps on one of my sinks has come loose and moves around. I was hoping it would just be a nut that needed tightening but it seems like whatever the piece is that holds the water and waste pipe has come away and am assuming is broken.

This has happened just after selling my house so I'm hoping there is an easy solution.

Hime wrote:On the subject of sinks... the taps on one of my sinks has come loose and moves around. I was hoping it would just be a nut that needed tightening but it seems like whatever the piece is that holds the water and waste pipe has come away and am assuming is broken.

This has happened just after selling my house so I'm hoping there is an easy solution.

Post some pics, I can tell you the issue. Sounds like a back nut.

Was busy last weekend. Renovated a dying/dead shed and generally improved the state of the garden a fair bit. Will look better once the grass comes back.

Hell of an improvement, good job, the grass really is letting the side down now.

Glowy69 wrote:Been putting in some new sinks this weekend, well, her dad has, Im not at that level yet. strawberry float me what a nightmare. Water pipes come from the floor, skirting board around the bathroom so the unit wont sit flush, been to screw fix 3 times and its still not done. All for a strawberry floating sink. It now leaks cus something isn't on tight enough. We need a wrench with quite a wide jaw, are these expensive?

Jesus its been stressful.

Those wrenches are about 20 quid. I went through the whole plumbing stuff a year or two ago and bought a load of tools as i fitted a new tap to my kitchen sink. strawberry float that again though, it was a nightmare due to the plumbing put in being very different to what my new tap setup had. The latest issue i just called a plumber, i'm good with electrics i guess and painting as well but anything involving water is a no go area for me now.

Glowy69 wrote:Been putting in some new sinks this weekend, well, her dad has, Im not at that level yet. strawberry float me what a nightmare. Water pipes come from the floor, skirting board around the bathroom so the unit wont sit flush, been to screw fix 3 times and its still not done. All for a strawberry floating sink. It now leaks cus something isn't on tight enough. We need a wrench with quite a wide jaw, are these expensive?

Jesus its been stressful.

Taps or drain leaking?

Tap spanner shouldn't be to expensive.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/adjustable-basin-wrench/14631

Also leave any electrical work to the pros they amount of dodgy gooseberry fool I've seen and had to put right always amazes me. Also surprised it doesn't go up in flames.

darksideby182 wrote:Also leave any electrical work to the pros they amount of dodgy gooseberry fool I've seen and had to put right always amazes me. Also surprised it doesn't go up in flames.

If it's new builds or relatively new it's not that bad but yeah anything that was built over 20 years ago I've found to be a mess. Especially as electrical wiring standards have changed massively over the years.

D_C wrote:Was busy last weekend. Renovated a dying/dead shed and generally improved the state of the garden a fair bit. Will look better once the grass comes back.

Is that Cuprinol Willow colour weatherproof paint on that shed?

Looks really good!

degoose wrote:

darksideby182 wrote:Also leave any electrical work to the pros they amount of dodgy gooseberry fool I've seen and had to put right always amazes me. Also surprised it doesn't go up in flames.

If it's new builds or relatively new it's not that bad but yeah anything that was built over 20 years ago I've found to be a mess. Especially as electrical wiring standards have changed massively over the years.

Yep next Regs update is next year (allegedly)
Amendment 3 of the 17th Edition (BS7671) was pretty big in 2015. Pretty much any new circuits done in a dwelling a fuse board upgrade is required. Glad I don't do any domestic work as it's generally to a gooseberry fool standard.