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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2019 23:26:00 GMT
Well I went to B & Q this afternoon armed with the sizes required for 14 lengths of 44 x 33. Nobody at the wood cutting bench, buzzed, someone turned up 10 minutes later. "Sorry mate, we only cut sheet materials, 340 width minimum, minimum length 500mm." Nothing about this on their website, only that the first 15 cuts are free. Wasted 20 mile return journey to Crewe which incidentally seems more like a suburb of Warsaw than a shitty south Cheshire town. Well pissed off. How many times and in how many ways do you have to be told B&Q are a waste of space?
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 3, 2019 5:54:54 GMT
Well I went to B & Q this afternoon armed with the sizes required for 14 lengths of 44 x 33. Nobody at the wood cutting bench, buzzed, someone turned up 10 minutes later. "Sorry mate, we only cut sheet materials, 340 width minimum, minimum length 500mm." Nothing about this on their website, only that the first 15 cuts are free. Wasted 20 mile return journey to Crewe which incidentally seems more like a suburb of Warsaw than a shitty south Cheshire town. Well pissed off. How many times and in how many ways do you have to be told B&Q are a waste of space? Yes, you're right. If they weren't one of the very few left in this sector they would probably have gone under by now.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 6:06:05 GMT
The only advantage they have is that they are open on Sunday. I much prefer independent timber yards. The bigger ones like Jewson and Travis-Perkins have many of the same issues as B&Q.
I live a very dull existence, last night I searched for cross-cut box designs for use with a circular saw, there are lots of them. Very low-tech and quite possible to make one from scrap.
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Post by naughtyfox on Jul 3, 2019 6:17:31 GMT
Ricco, sorry to be critical, but no-one familiar with DIY expects the shop to cut timber to length. That's who B&Q serve, the average person in the street, with varying levels of diy skills, not mind readers. Agree with this. B&Q is just amother store where they save on labour costs and expect the 'customer' (punter) to wander round by themselves hunting for merchandise. "If it's not on the shelf we haven't got it. Just give us your money - lots of it - and bugger off." Other shops guilty of this 'service': M&S, Sainsburys, Tescos, Morrisons, Debenhams, Selfridges, B&M. At least in charity shops you get personal service.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 3, 2019 6:45:01 GMT
The only advantage they have is that they are open on Sunday. I much prefer independent timber yards. The bigger ones like Jewson and Travis-Perkins have many of the same issues as B&Q. I live a very dull existence, last night I searched for cross-cut box designs for use with a circular saw, there are lots of them. Very low-tech and quite possible to make one from scrap. I think I have a cross cut box at my parents', that could be the solution. Otherwise I've found a local yard that does a cutting service. Only problem is that they don't state what lengths their timber comes in (varying lengths apparently), just a price per metre. I'd rather work out what I want cutting from what length before I go. Still, it's a possibility.
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Post by JohnV on Jul 3, 2019 6:46:27 GMT
In defence of B&Q personnel ...... they do hire part time wrinkleys more experienced members of the population who often do know their stuff and are also often very helpful ..... but unfortunately as they are an equal opportunities employer, they also employ a lot of thick twats
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Post by bodger on Jul 3, 2019 6:53:47 GMT
Ricco, if cutting some 44x34 in the car park is such a problem for you then I don't hold out any hope of you ever managing to complete a satisfactory mini-project like this. I find I have to compromise and adapt to unexpected circumstances nearly every time I do a small job on the boat - if you expect to buy timber neatly cut to exact size, how will you manage when something has to be 'adjusted' ?
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 3, 2019 7:31:31 GMT
I can cut up the wood Bodger, no probs. If there was a bench or something similar I'd be pretty confident of doing a half decent job. But there isn't, I'd be faced with using a traffic bollard or a kerb to make 26 cuts. Not ideal. My thinking was that if I can get the wood cut to size, nice and square, free of charge, why not, it's a no brainer really. Seems that's not going to happen now.
As for adjustment I should nick your name off here! I've a chisel to make adjustments to the hinge seating if there are height issues, and thin plastic spacers that will be discreet when cut to size. A plane if a little needs taking off a face of timber. If the doors are out of square I'll force them square and use the cladding to brace it in position. Or unscrew the joints and take a little bit off a length.
It won't be perfect but if it's as good as the horn mounting I made for my old bike using a thin steel clothes bracket, hacksaw, hammer, pliers and drill, I'll be happy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 7:31:42 GMT
The only advantage they have is that they are open on Sunday. I much prefer independent timber yards. The bigger ones like Jewson and Travis-Perkins have many of the same issues as B&Q. I live a very dull existence, last night I searched for cross-cut box designs for use with a circular saw, there are lots of them. Very low-tech and quite possible to make one from scrap. I think I have a cross cut box at my parents', that could be the solution. Otherwise I've found a local yard that does a cutting service. Only problem is that they don't state what lengths their timber comes in (varying lengths apparently), just a price per metre. I'd rather work out what I want cutting from what length before I go. Still, it's a possibility. Do you remember I said make a drawing first? Standard practice is to sell by the foot translated to the nearest metric equivelent so 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1 etc. Yes, you have to pay for the entire length so you figure out a) what you need to produce the job then b) what you need to make this from with the least waste. This is where the cross-cut machine at the old-fashioned timber yard comes in so handy and saves you a ton of work, gives a better more accurate edge...I'm repeating myself and getting bored. Top tip: bring a tape measure. Often, off-cuts are a bit less than a standard size but look like they are (say) a 1.2 when in fact its a 1 metre length. Thus they cannot sell it as anything but a 0.9...this can work heavily in your favour if its a big job and allows for many 'a-ha' moments...much fun.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 3, 2019 7:58:28 GMT
I think I have a cross cut box at my parents', that could be the solution. Otherwise I've found a local yard that does a cutting service. Only problem is that they don't state what lengths their timber comes in (varying lengths apparently), just a price per metre. I'd rather work out what I want cutting from what length before I go. Still, it's a possibility. Do you remember I said make a drawing first? Standard practice is to sell by the foot translated to the nearest metric equivelent so 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1 etc. Yes, you have to pay for the entire length so you figure out a) what you need to produce the job then b) what you need to make this from with the least waste. This is where the cross-cut machine at the old-fashioned timber yard comes in so handy and saves you a ton of work, gives a better more accurate edge...I'm repeating myself and getting bored. Top tip: bring a tape measure. Often, off-cuts are a bit less than a standard size but look like they are (say) a 1.2 when in fact its a 1 metre length. Thus they cannot sell it as anything but a 0.9...this can work heavily in your favour if its a big job and allows for many 'a-ha' moments...much fun. Sounds good that. So, go to the yard armed with tape measure and list of lengths needed, root around for the most economical lengths, hand selected lengths to bloke on saw with lengths written on them (I'll take a pencil), sorted?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 8:14:09 GMT
Do you remember I said make a drawing first? Standard practice is to sell by the foot translated to the nearest metric equivelent so 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1 etc. Yes, you have to pay for the entire length so you figure out a) what you need to produce the job then b) what you need to make this from with the least waste. This is where the cross-cut machine at the old-fashioned timber yard comes in so handy and saves you a ton of work, gives a better more accurate edge...I'm repeating myself and getting bored. Top tip: bring a tape measure. Often, off-cuts are a bit less than a standard size but look like they are (say) a 1.2 when in fact its a 1 metre length. Thus they cannot sell it as anything but a 0.9...this can work heavily in your favour if its a big job and allows for many 'a-ha' moments...much fun. Sounds good that. So, go to the yard armed with tape measure and list of lengths needed, root around for the most economical lengths, hand selected lengths to bloke on saw with lengths written on them (I'll take a pencil), sorted? Nearly right. You march in with your size tens on clutching a cutting list. The yard guy does all the rooting, thats what they get paid for. They are normally quite helpful, especially in working out the most economical use of materials. And they'll spot you are not trade straight away but don't worry, you 'aint the first. You can follow the yard guy into the yard and be picky about which boards you buy. There will be a pile...
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Post by JohnV on Jul 3, 2019 8:18:37 GMT
Sounds good that. So, go to the yard armed with tape measure and list of lengths needed, root around for the most economical lengths, hand selected lengths to bloke on saw with lengths written on them (I'll take a pencil), sorted? You can follow the yard guy into the yard and be picky about which boards you buy. There will be a pile... always have a damn good look especially if more than one board needed .... remember you want them to match. As Nemesis says, in a decent yard they are generally helpful.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 3, 2019 8:19:30 GMT
Sounds good that. So, go to the yard armed with tape measure and list of lengths needed, root around for the most economical lengths, hand selected lengths to bloke on saw with lengths written on them (I'll take a pencil), sorted? Nearly right. You march in with your size tens on clutching a cutting list. The yard guy does all the rooting, thats what they get paid for. They are normally quite helpful, especially in working out the most economical use of materials. And they'll spot you are not trade straight away but don't worry, you 'aint the first. You can follow the yard guy into the yard and be picky about which boards you buy. There will be a pile... Cheers for that, job for this afternoon, as well as picking up my mitre/ cross cut block and set square, might be needed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 8:33:53 GMT
Sometime, the 'orse, she drink. Ay caramba!
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Post by samsam on Jul 3, 2019 9:00:42 GMT
Parkers timber in Nantwich will sort you out, and cut up. A proper timber yard selling good timber and boards.
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