robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Thanks gtviva. I'm not as fussed by the garden as I probably should be, we'd always accepted it'd be a lost cause this year. Still an eye-opener though! I think the corners are the biggest issue, it cut them to a square corner using a hand mitre saw but that didn't work since the corners aren't square! I did see a YouTube guide suggesting to cut to the profile of the skirting, but I'm absolutely not skilled enough for that. Also had a an issue with the skirting not sitting flush, but it's wavy as opposed to curved so not a bending in storage issue - more a case of the walls aren't flat. Hoping some filler/sealant type solution will hide that well enough though This said, any advice or suggestions always welcome! Cheers, Rob
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Jul 25, 2023 18:15:47 GMT
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It's not quite been the week I hoped or expected it to be, still a few bits done but nowhere near as productive as I'd wanted - just life starting to get in the way, and mojo a little low atm The CU install is slow and steady, he seems to be doing it in 2hr stints which is starting to get a little frustrating if I'm honest, but it'll be worth it once done. Also not quite in the top corner as I'd asked (and I had left ample cable) but it is what it is and will be hidden away anyhow My primary focus has been the bathroom, but I've not really had a clean run at it. It is now fully painted (except where tiles will go of course), wired up (apart from extractor fan as I need a little mount for that to cover the humungous existing void) and the floorboards are down permanently now. The "stud wall" is all but up ready for tiling. No pics yet as I'm constantly aiming for an endpoint, then missing either time or materials... Also picked up some sofas from family so we've a bit more a living space in the kitchen/diner area now too rather than just the one room In the meantime I've been chipping away at the outdoors, but the weather has prevented me from cutting the grass which is a bit of a mojo drain at the moment (drafted this update prior to a 90min window earlier - got about halfway!) The weather has at least confirmed my unsuccessful guttering repair was indeed as bad as I thought... I'm back to work Friday, so hoping to have a much better few days beforehand. A good run at the bathroom, and finalised bedroom layout so everything can be fixed to walls etc, would be nice... Cheers, Rob
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mrbig
Part of things
Semi-professional Procrastinator
Posts: 462
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Jul 26, 2023 10:20:34 GMT
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Looks like an amazing place, albeit not without a price!! I'd love to have a project like that with so much space and potential, but then not so keen on everything that needs doing! I think the key, as you've done, is to have a finished room or two where its clean, tidy and finished. Makes such a difference to your outlook.
Will be superb when finished, good luck with the rest of the project, looking forward to the results.
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1969 German Look Beetle - in progress
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Jul 26, 2023 20:44:29 GMT
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Looks like an amazing place, albeit not without a price!! I'd love to have a project like that with so much space and potential, but then not so keen on everything that needs doing! I think the key, as you've done, is to have a finished room or two where its clean, tidy and finished. Makes such a difference to your outlook. Will be superb when finished, good luck with the rest of the project, looking forward to the results. Thanks, always having something to do was/is part of the attraction for me though (we'll see how long that lasts!) Staging it was always part of the plan, albeit we're far behind on said plan - and none of it is "finished". But some of it does now feel like a home rather than a construction site which, as you say, is a massive plus Cheers, Rob
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Jul 27, 2023 18:43:03 GMT
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Some more short windows for mowing has helped, getting somewhere now slowly. Still loads to do! Also managed to get the bathroom stud wall/box frame up so next up is tiling... Never done it before, and as we know anything visual is not exactly my forte... The flexi drill bit thingy was a life saver Back to work tomorrow, haven't had the run at it I wanted but slow and steady isn't the worst place to be Cheers, Rob
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Jul 27, 2023 20:19:13 GMT
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Tiling is very easy, top tips are, start one tile up from the bottom and make sure all tiles at the bottom will be cut. You shouldn't tile off the floor, bath edge etc. As there are unlikely to be exactly level.
Put a straight edge along the wall to tile off. A piece of timber screwed on temporarily is my favouritem
Work out where the cuts will be when setting out the tiles to avoid small pieces.
Use the plastic tile spacers but only put one side in the gap so you can take them out. Don't leave them in as they will show through the grout.
Buy a cheap electric tile saw from Toolstation or similar but use a sliding score and snap tool for straight cuts as it's faster.
If something looks wrong stop and work out why and put it right.
When cutting edges where tiles join each other at 90 degrees consider what angle you will be viewing from to get the best edge. For example wall to floor tiles fit the floor tiles and then tile down the wall to the floor as you are looking at it from above and if the cut edge isn't great it's less noticeable.
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Jul 28, 2023 13:05:16 GMT
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As above but also carefully check the flatness and verticality of the wall to need to make sure there is enough cement under the first ones you lay to allow for the bumps in the walls, if the walls are miles out consider getting them skimmed or dry-linig with water resistant board first.
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Jul 30, 2023 19:56:22 GMT
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Babies take up a lot of time! Now she's here though, the pressure's off a little and I'm enjoying the more leisurely pace of pottering about. Waffle incoming... Friday I was back at work, but working from home meant I could answer questions when things inevitably went awry with the installation of this box frame. Measurements would have worked but for the fact that I hadn't accounted for, nor been advised of in my defence, the brackets and studs. End result, one stud sits fractionally above the finished floor level... I'm hoping it's something that can be consumed when the underlay & carpet is eventually finished First up Saturday was to finish prep for the tiling, fitting the backing boards The current unresolved issue in the bathroom is the extractor fan, and that the existing hole for it is too big. Plan A was a mounting board, but apparently that won't look good enough, and I can't really argue it tbf. Any suggestions? Plan B is currently to fit the pipe, fill with expanding foam and skim over Up next I wanted to get the picnic bench I picked up a while back tidied up, so started sanding that down. No pics, it's still not done, but largely there now so hopefully back together soon enough. Got some outdoor paint coming, still debating whether or not to use it but probs will to preserve it a little. Overnight however the parasol did try to escape Now for some car content, with MOTs a couple of months away, I wanted to get a headstart on things. For the Audi, my main concerns are exhaust and the instrument cluster. LCD works very intermittently and with a false warning light for the lights (they do all work!), the bottom half of the display very rarely works. Additionally the speedo doesn't work at all, and the fuel gauge behaves as a rev counter... Cartronix in Portsmouth replaced the LCD screen itself a couple of months ago, so I dropped them a message and they reckon it's the processor at a fee of £175. My hesitation is that I've no idea what it might be, and risk spending a lot of money chasing improperly diagnosed faults. So I dug out the vag-com I've never used. Although the right pins, it didn't physically fit. No bother... With it fitted, I had to install the driver... Which is as far as I got, since I don't have a device capable of using one of these Borrowed one of these this evening so hoping to have another play about tonight / tomorrow Any thoughts/feelings/opinions on vag-com (going to use VCDS lite) or the symptoms described above welcomed as always Next up was the Clio - apologies for modern content, main problem being the reversing lights don't work. It happened when I fitted the towbar, although it was the single wire I didn't (and didn't need to to touch) but surely too much of a coincident, so I started there. Managed to fix the fog lights coming on with the rear lights on trailers, but no such luck with reversing lights on the car. Googling suggests the switch is a common failure point, but continuity tests on the lights make me doubt that. Any ideas? I do need a new fog light for the trailer, dug through my box of bits and didn't think this would do it A £6.32 one should though Some other pics of random bits I've been up to as well Cheers, Rob
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Jul 30, 2023 19:58:22 GMT
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Thank you for the advice homersimpson and kevins, it has been duly noted and I'll endeavour to apply it once I have all the bits needed - watch this space!
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coming along, for the floor if it's only 5mm or so you can lift the floorboards at the last rafter or 2 either side and add a shim underneath. For the wall you could use foam but a more robust fix would be to buy a celcon type block and cut it with a saw to fill the gaps, mortar it in and plaster over.
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coming along, for the floor if it's only 5mm or so you can lift the floorboards at the last rafter or 2 either side and add a shim underneath. For the wall you could use foam but a more robust fix would be to buy a celcon type block and cut it with a saw to fill the gaps, mortar it in and plaster over. Could you turn the bolts around so that the nut and thread is on the bottom?
If not then can you grind them down as necesary to get clearance?
As its the bottom and there are at least four bolts in each side loosing a bit of bolt length shouldn't make any difference. They only seem to be there to stop the legs splaying out and aren't carrying any real weight. The other option might be to get the fabricator to weld it together on-site so that some or all the bolts can be removed.
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or even coutersink the holes and use coutersunk bolts.
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,109
Club RR Member Number: 64
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Wing Commander HQglenanderson
@glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member 64
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or even coutersink the holes and use coutersunk bolts. Or, wait until the building inspector has done his bit, then just cut that bit of flange off with the two bolts. They’re not doing any work in that application. If you’re worried, drill the other two out to the next size up and use bigger bolts.
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Aug 27, 2023 22:18:40 GMT
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Still pretty useless at updating this unfortunately... Lots to catch up on so might span a couple of posts as and when I have time A quick car related update time by way of some photos Previous fail was on front suspension arm bushes and emissions.. Emissions always strikes a fear in me, simply because I don't understand how to fix them. Apparently the carb mount thingy thingymagig is split, letting in excess air - but I'm almost positive I've already changed that (last year, after I was told the same thing when it struggled to idle). Perhaps not, some inspectigating required. Still, getting it from 8.5%ish CO to 0.2% I can only presume was a case of "want it gone, don't mind how" - which in this case worked for me Certainly a nice enough chap running (owning?) the place to the extent my Audi's booked in for end of next month.. Need to make a decision and stick my hand in my pockets on the instrument cluster problems.. Cheers, Rob
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Aug 28, 2023 11:47:48 GMT
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Apparently the carb mount thingy thingymagig is split, letting in excess air - but I'm almost positive I've already changed that (last year, after I was told the same thing when it struggled to idle). Hmm, looks cracked (definitely) but equally new (possibly). Very disappointing if so Cheers, Rob
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Aug 29, 2023 16:27:48 GMT
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Such is the quality of modern pattern parts, If VW heritage do one it might be worth raiding the piggy bank.
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Aug 29, 2023 21:10:10 GMT
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Such is the quality of modern pattern parts, If VW heritage do one it might be worth raiding the piggy bank. That's the most disappointing part, it was VWH I got this one from Have emailed them, will see what happenes Cheers, Rob
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,338
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Sadly Volkswagen themselves have given the supply of classic parts to VW Heritage, who I'd vowed never to use again after receiving some properly substandard parts from them a good few years ago. Their returns process was byzantine in its complexity, obviously to deter returns. It lost them a customer in me, and I've unrecommended them to any classic Volkswagen owner ever since. I've had considerably better experience with werk34, Paruzzi, and Just Kampers. Although Kevins is right, all modern rubber seems to be atrocious regardless of origin.
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Aug 30, 2023 11:13:13 GMT
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Loving the work on the house. My golf with I think VWH carb flange has lasted 5 years since replacing. Do you run the standard airbox? If so check it is supported correctly with the front bracket. It may be that causing the flange to split if it can wobble lots or is under tension. I had to space the front bracket higher after fitting the weber carb as to bolting the airbos to the bracket was flexing the flange, it should just sit neutral with no tension if that makes sense.
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 186
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Sept 8, 2023 21:44:16 GMT
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Well although I was doubtful, having seen a decline in recent years of the service 'Heritage Parts Centre' offer (noting it largely seemed to have dropped off since that change) I can't complain this time round. Only minor nuisance was having to message the returns department rather than an email to the general help account - surely it could have been forwarded on - but beyond that been pretty faultless. New part sent out no questions asked (I submitted a photo) via next day delivery It was a pleasant job, delayed only by a Chinese takeaway Things of interest (subjective) was that one nut was tighter - psr - which corresponded with a not quite flush fitment as below. Time will tell if a conscious effort to not overtighten them pays off Also of interest was the fact that the split didn't appear to reach all the way through, so may not be the root cause after all... miniman31 that sounds an avenue to explore, I'm not aware of any bracket so unsure what you mean here. Any photos by any chance please? It does seem solid enough, but I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination. I did spot a redundant (rightly or wrongly) embedded nut on the flange, any idea if this a possible culprit also? Sadly no time to test today, so it'll have to be tomorrow if time permits. Plans involve more tinkering with services to enable the dressing room floor to go down, and a long overdue grass cut I do also intend at some point this weekend to do a proper update on the house front, not that there's a load to update on! Cheers for now Rob
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