What's made you smile today?

[PuntoHowTo]

I’ve just bought the tiniest little torque wrench with a 1/4 inch drive and a selection of small bits to use on it.

Turns out when you start messing about with high end bike stuff with titanium and alloy bolts you need to do everything to a very specific torque unless you like breaking bolts and having to spend what a normal packet of bolts would cost in B&Q, for one replacement titanium bolt.

I’m super loving this little tiny torque wrench, 5nm is way more than you would think if tightening by hand, infact going back over bolts id previously tightened, I’d say about 80% we’re not tight enough. And at least with the tiny torque wrench you don’t have to guess at 3, 5 or 7nm

 

[bugsymike]

I’ve just bought the tiniest little torque wrench with a 1/4 inch drive and a selection of small bits to use on it.

Turns out when you start messing about with high end bike stuff with titanium and alloy bolts you need to do everything to a very specific torque unless you like breaking bolts and having to spend what a normal packet of bolts would cost in B&Q, for one replacement titanium bolt.

I’m super loving this little tiny torque wrench, 5nm is way more than you would think if tightening by hand, infact going back over bolts id previously tightened, I’d say about 80% we’re not tight enough. And at least with the tiny torque wrench you don’t have to guess at 3, 5 or 7nm

So are you saying "strip the threads and back half a turn" wont do.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I’ve just bought the tiniest little torque wrench with a 1/4 inch drive and a selection of small bits to use on it.

Turns out when you start messing about with high end bike stuff with titanium and alloy bolts you need to do everything to a very specific torque unless you like breaking bolts and having to spend what a normal packet of bolts would cost in B&Q, for one replacement titanium bolt.

I’m super loving this little tiny torque wrench, 5nm is way more than you would think if tightening by hand, infact going back over bolts id previously tightened, I’d say about 80% we’re not tight enough. And at least with the tiny torque wrench you don’t have to guess at 3, 5 or 7nm

I'm quite "into" my torque wrenches, owning 6 at this time in different "colours and flavours". Can I ask what you bought?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I'm quite "into" my torque wrenches, owning 6 at this time in different "colours and flavours". Can I ask what you bought?

It’s nothing special

Just a cheap Amazon job.

Amazon.co.uk

I’ve done a few rudimentary measurements with a known weight and a ruler and it seems accurate enough for my needs

I couldn’t justify spending a lot given how often I will probably use it.

It says it will work from 2-24nm and it has a nice easy to use lock.

I probably should use a torque wrench a lot more for thing, rather than the standard measurements of “that’ll do” or “that’s not going anywhere”

I also bought a freewheel removal tool at the same time, but this did not fair so well when it came to torque as in it shattered as soon as any torque was applied

 

[Cheest]

First outdoor burgers today on the charcoal grill for lunch today. I had an audience of one, as Buster dog was hoping I'd drop one. He was disappointed, so I did share a bite with him. Bestest dog.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It’s nothing special

Just a cheap Amazon job.

Amazon.co.uk

I’ve done a few rudimentary measurements with a known weight and a ruler and it seems accurate enough for my needs

I couldn’t justify spending a lot given how often I will probably use it.

It says it will work from 2-24nm and it has a nice easy to use lock.

I probably should use a torque wrench a lot more for thing, rather than the standard measurements of “that’ll do” or “that’s not going anywhere”

Not so long ago I wouldn't have even thought of buying a "cheapie" like this but I think that now a days they are actually quite accurate, at least initially. Not sure how long they'll stay in spec with use though? Could be a good enough buy for occasional use? You probably already know this but do remember to wind it back to zero after use, especially if it's not going to be used for a while, to stop the spring going out of spec. Must say it looks the part doesn't it? You must keep us informed of how it performs.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

First outdoor burgers today on the charcoal grill for lunch today. I had an audience of one, as Buster dog was hoping I'd drop one. He was disappointed, so I did share a bite with him. Bestest dog.

My daughter's dog - Labradoodle, quite a large dog - is kept on a very strict diet and it seems to keep her very healthy. She's not allowed any unapproved snacks but knows Grandad is a soft touch so hangs around by my feet under the table when we are visiting!

 

[StevenRB45]

Back to work after a month and a bit of paternity leave.

On Monday my deputy was giving me a rundown of what had gone on while I was away. One of the things I immediately thought "ah crap this is going to be carnage" but I didn't have time to address it at the time coming in to 800 or so emails.

Got my ducks in a row by yesterday and having had a word with my gaffer basically saying this is what's going on it's probably gonna be bad but I'm going to dig through and test it later I'll let you know tomorrow.

Did that today and was very surprised that nothing was actually knackered...so dug further into it and was even more surprised that it had been done exactly how I would have done it and as a result minimum impact for what was a negative change.

Then I remembered they told they were going to do it March...I told them if done badly it was going to be a **** show and gave them a plan to allow it not to be a **** show.

Past Steve is always more competent than today's Steve I have learned this over many years.

 

[bugsymike]

Back to work after a month and a bit of paternity leave.

On Monday my deputy was giving me a rundown of what had gone on while I was away. One of the things I immediately thought "ah crap this is going to be carnage" but I didn't have time to address it at the time coming in to 800 or so emails.

Got my ducks in a row by yesterday and having had a word with my gaffer basically saying this is what's going on it's probably gonna be bad but I'm going to dig through and test it later I'll let you know tomorrow.

Did that today and was very surprised that nothing was actually knackered...so dug further into it and was even more surprised that it had been done exactly how I would have done it and as a result minimum impact for what was a negative change.

Then I remembered they told they were going to do it March...I told them if done badly it was going to be a **** show and gave them a plan to allow it not to be a **** show.

Past Steve is always more competent than today's Steve I have learned this over many years.

Companies always seem to manage to carry on.
After I left as foreman of a multi franchise, I had felt that I was doing most of the work, greeting customers, diagnosing their problems. Ordering the parts, telling the mechanics what to do, putting right their mistakes, writing out the customer's accounts etc. Yet somehow they carried on although with some changes and their franchises were dropping off.
After leaving and going self employed, I felt like a big weight had been lifted off me and yet I was earning more money and turning over more vehicles.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Companies always seem to manage to carry on.
After I left as foreman of a multi franchise, I had felt that I was doing most of the work, greeting customers, diagnosing their problems. Ordering the parts, telling the mechanics what to do, putting right their mistakes, writing out the customer's accounts etc. Yet somehow they carried on although with some changes and their franchises were dropping off.
After leaving and going self employed, I felt like a big weight had been lifted off me and yet I was earning more money and turning over more vehicles.

I've worked for a couple of pretty large concerns and some much smaller family owned ones. I much preferred the small family ones because "the team", small though it might be, was always pulling in the same direction and, by and large, decisions made by "the boss" seemed to me to be sensible and right. With the larger organisations there's always people who stick their oar in but have very little idea what your job actually involves and therefore make/impose on you, "silly" working practices which you just have to waste time finding ways to work around without "upsetting" them too much as that then causes more problems.

 

[StevenRB45]

Beat Parking eye...without it taking several years and a court case.

 

[irc]

Could have started this in the grumpy thread, but...
TV started playing up yesterday, flickering randomly. It's 15 years old, so (apparently) its not done too bad for a "smart" TV of that era.
A bit of googling suggested that it was probably the power board, so probably not a cheap fix.
Decided to have a look at possible replacements, so after a bit of research, paid a visit to John Lewis, as I was nearby.
Found a 50" which was what I had decided on, so checked on availability. None in stock at store, but could deliver on Tuesday.
"But if you went for the next model up, we've got one in stock"
Oh yeah... upselling time.
But that model was actually reduced to lower than I had seen it online, making it £20 more than the one I had intended, rather than £90 more.
Only one problem. I was in the Panda, and its a pretty big box.
Shouldn't have worried though. Tardis Panda strikes again.
Got it home, plugged in, set up and... time for a cuppa and a big smile.
TVs have definitely moved on a bit in 15 years.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Could have started this in the grumpy thread, but...
TV started playing up yesterday, flickering randomly. It's 15 years old, so (apparently) its not done too bad for a "smart" TV of that era.
A bit of googling suggested that it was probably the power board, so probably not a cheap fix.
Decided to have a look at possible replacements, so after a bit of research, paid a visit to John Lewis, as I was nearby.
Found a 50" which was what I had decided on, so checked on availability. None in stock at store, but could deliver on Tuesday.
"But if you went for the next model up, we've got one in stock"
Oh yeah... upselling time.
But that model was actually reduced to lower than I had seen it online, making it £20 more than the one I had intended, rather than £90 more.
Only one problem. I was in the Panda, and its a pretty big box.
Shouldn't have worried though. Tardis Panda strikes again.
Got it home, plugged in, set up and... time for a cuppa and a big smile.
TVs have definitely moved on a bit in 15 years.

Our TV is at least as old as yours, one of the early Panasonic led edge lit smart tv. It's only a 42 inch screen, but at that time that was pretty average. It's been impressively reliable but is now not as bright as it was - Panasonics of that era were well known for not being exceptionally bright but did have a reputation for accurate colour rendition which is what attracted me to it for viewing films. Now though it's loosing detail in the darker parts of an image even with brightness turned up. Probably just the LEDs dimming with age? My next "home entertainment" purchase will be the home cinema amp I've talked about previously but once the finances have recovered a TV will be next on the list. Our living room is quite bright so I've decided to stick with an LED type, at this time I'm impressed by the 55 inch Sony Bravia 7, but who knows what there might be on the go by the time I come to buy.

If you felt like it I'd be very interested to know what you bought, screen type and what you think of it?