Any question answered...

This stuff seems very effective.
https://cerberus-strength.com/products/atlas-tacky-remover

Something branded, not just generic alcohol/white spirit

You don't need branded, you need d-limonene from your chemical supply shop

Is there a thread on here where people post funny / interesting / peculiar memes they saw out in the wild?

FTFY

This does ring a bell. Although sadly I don't, so far as I know, have a convenient chemical supply shop.

I don't, so far as I know, have a convenient chemical supply shop.

And the one I bought mine from doesn't have it any more, but a quick google brings up several alternatives, e.g. https://www.bonnymans.co.uk/product-page/d-limonene-limonene-orange-terpenes-orange-oil-technical-grade

"orange solvent" as used in Dentistry clears up a lot of gunk, smells OK too.

Used to be a brand called Krex, but I think it was withdrawn because of toxicity or some other excuse

I’ve got a steel mesh polished watch strap that I want to make satin/matte. Obviously can’t use physical abrasives as it’s mesh, is there a chemical way of doing it?

Obviously can’t use physical abrasives as it’s mesh

Why?

What happens when you rub a brillo pad on it? Surely the mesh is too fine to catch fibres.

It only gets the surface, and not into the mesh sadly so looks a bit weird

You could try tumble polishing, well unpolishing it. Take it off the watch put it in a smallish plastic tub, pour in some cutting medium, play sand(?) screw the lid on, tape the lid on as well and then attach it to something that spins. Inside a bike wheel? Cable tie it to the drum in the tumble dryer and put it on the No heat setting? Tape it inside for a hole saw and run it in a drill?
I’ve not unpolished like this, but have cleaned up nuts and oddly shaped parts before. I did the drill one on it’s slowest setting for longer than you’d think.

I've used a stainless Thermos daily for a couple of years and its insides are encrusted in coffee and it smells of old milk. My cleaning routine is a quick soak in the wup bowl, rinse, turn upside down. Should I be cleaning more thoroughly (for health reasons)?

I would - I use bicarb of soda in water for the same job on mine, works pretty well

Baby bottle sanitising tablets (Milton or off brand) work pretty well in my experience.

Or dental tablets for cleaning false teeth, very cheap.

I use these for cleaning water bottles too when they inevitably go a bit manky. I don't love the chlorine smell after but imagine stainless steel doesn't taint as easily as squishy plastic. Could make the next few coffees less than optimal aroma.

Thanks, will try. Frequently feel unwell for no specific reason, GP can't find any underlying issues so just trying to look at what else it could be by eliminating this and avoiding the communal work water boilers and mains water filters which I do not trust/paranoid.

Sodium Percarbonate works well to scrub organics off hard to reach places, and it doesn't kill your fish.

Yeah, they need a decent wash afterwards to get rid of it!

Cheers, Testers response was enough to park the metallurgy for another time. Going to experiment with a laser cutter and various plastics instead.

Puly Caff is what you use to dissolve all that residue off espresso machines. Steriliser tablets are are ok for water bottles etc, but they are just bleach and won’t dissolve off the stuck-on coffee and milk scale. Neither will descaler powder. You need something like Puly Caff which is a mix of detergent and [they don’t say what it is but it’s probably] sodium hydroxide.

Someone has 'donated' (dumped in my garden under a tarp after asking Mrs c00ps if I'd be interested) me a Dahon Cadenza with a knackered frame. All other bits are fine (wheels, drivetrain, disc brakes, all finishing kit and forks - Tiagra stuff and ok hydraulic shimano brakes I think). Are there any inexpensive disc-specific adult size frames for 24" wheels knocking about that I can take all the components over to in order to sort out something rideable? A sort of maxi minivelo? (midivelo?)

Was thinking maybe a 26" frame might do - but skinny tyres and small wheels surely will mean the BB is very, very low. And I get enough pedal strike when I ride my Raleigh Shopper...

https://kingdomcoffee.co.uk/media/productattach/c/o/coshh_sheet_-_puly_caff_powder_tablets_3.pdf

Sodium sulphate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium percarbonate

(I'm not a chemist but) sodium hydroxide isn't listed and I presume it would be as it's hazardous?

Where can I look at and buy a Leatherman or Leatherman-style multi tool today in East London?

Cotswold outdoor in Leyden Street

Once you get it clean, I find a silicone spatula useful for getting off day to day residue in combination with dish soap