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| Is it it me or is everything you buy these days made of cheap materials? The other day myself and number one son managed to buckle a trolley jack. The jack cost 200 Euros and number son wasn't an happy bunny. Did he throw it on our scrap metal/ treasure recycling pile? Oh no. He gets out the gas and cutting torch and cuts out the weakened steel. Then he got some 12 mill plate steel and cut out two replacement pieces and even reinforced it with additional steel. Half an hour later, much welding and the jack was back at work under a tractor. |
The jack back at work. It's a lot stronger and just needs a lick of paint. A welder and a cutting torch are useful pieces of equipment on a smallholding.
Have to agree with you Dave, cheaper materials seem to used in just about everything these days. Hats off to your boy, a most excellent repair my man.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. You can pay a lot for something and still find it's made of rubbish. Bring back the blacksmith and cobblers. Local brewery too. Thanks!
DeleteI once bought a mixer tap for a bath years ago when living in UK and on installation the connector nuts went oval on me. So took it back to B&Q got a cash refund went to plumber supplier, paid less and bought a pint of bitter on the way
ReplyDeletehome- such is life!
By the way what make was the jack ?
Hi Heron. Perhaps B & Q gave us all free pints to drink? Don't know the name of the jack. He bought it from one of those travelling vans that come around the rural roads. Thanks!
DeleteYes it seems goods are just not made of quality materials anymore. Nothing last for long is for sure. I have had to search high and low to get metal parts for my shades instead of plastic and one part I have yet to be able to do better than a metal plastic combo. Though being metal doesn't mean its good quality as proven by your experience. Sadly fabric is reallllllly not the quality it used to be sighhhh.
ReplyDeleteHi Texan. Cheap can be nasty. It's good to hear you source quality parts for your blinds. You will never be short of customers. Thanks!
DeleteNice job....great son....happy Dad!
ReplyDeleteI love it when a plan comes together. That's the A team slogan isn't it? Perhaps us smallholders should be the: Hay Team?
DeleteYes Vera he made a nice job. We should be very reluctant to throw anything on a smallholding - thanks!
Agree. Everything seems to be much lighter now-a-days, I call it built-in obsolescence, nothing lasts as long as the older stuff.
ReplyDeleteBuilt in obsolescence. I like that Cumbrian. Products should have stickers that say:
Delete"made to break."
I often look for old hand tools at car boot sales. They are so much stronger than a lot of today's tools.
That's what we do in the country, on the land, we make and mend, as in this case, mend. You cant do without the gas and the welder. Excellent job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. You need to be able to fix things or know somebody who can in the countryside. I will pass on your praise.
DeleteThings are made to just throw away nowadays, cheap materials. Built in obsolescence, especially with electrical goods. We have a Honda mower, we have had it 28 years and it was second hand when we bought it, a couple of things have been replaced, and the handle broke a couple of weeks ago but we have a wonderful Swiss chat who can repair just about everything, he reckons the mower will outlive us.
ReplyDeleteHonda is a very good make Anne. I have an Honda lawnmower. The Swiss chap sounds like somebody who is never short of work and can fix anything. Thanks!
DeleteI like to see something mended and not thrown away, it's a bit galling though when it's due to crap workmanship.
ReplyDeleteHi Kiirsty. I agree with you. Would love to see blacksmith/agricultural fabricators/ repairers, spring up everywhere and go back to the days when things were made to last. Thanks!
ReplyDelete