Any question answered...

Well yeah, it's the bolting to a bench part I struggle with. I have some kitchen cupboard doors I can bolt one to and then maybe clamp to the dining table and see what happens.

It's a bit more akward though. They're not that local so I have to ride over leave bike, walk to bus stop, bus to home then ride something else to work. Then repeat when I pick it up.

Oh. I ride over, take cranks off, do work on cranks, re-install cranks, ride off. But yes not hugely convenient for you. Maybe there's something similar more local.

It might be possible if I WFH one day and I went over for lunch and they were cool doing it while I waited but I try not to impose myself too much on their work timings. There is a closer shop but I don't like it.

I'm buying a bench vice. It's a start.

https://www.londonpowertools.co.uk/electrical-products-e/heating-e4/clarke-cv6rb-150mm-workshop-vice~clat6504003

I think the problem with the type of vice at the start of this discussion is the position of the clamp - it's unlikely to stand 50Nm around the axis of the clamp unless you tighten it so much it will damage the table, especially with the clamp being relatively close to the edge.

Fixing a vice to a board, and using a pair of G clamps should get round this - clamping off axis will be better, the larger area will avoid marking the table top, and suitable packing pieces underneath should prevent the clamps from damaging the underside of the table.

Can you cut up one of the kitchen cupboard doors? Glue and screw together to make something thick enough to recess the heads of bolts, and use offcuts to protect the underside of the dining table. Possibly use plain bolts and washers rather than coach bolts - this will make it easier to take apart for storage.

This is starting to sound like a project in it's own right - if it's for a one off job then offering beer money to someone who owns a vice will probably be quicker and cheaper. You can use mine, but I'm in darkest Shropshire...

Well, it's loosened off twice now so it's likely to only get worse and I hate not having a vice at home, they're so fucking handy.

Shropshire? Is that anywhere near this:

What's a good G clamp?

Fortunately I was given such a bench vice by a mate.
Fine as it goes, but, I'm not an engineer, and you have to buy
and remember where you put the 'soft jaws' adaptors.
If I was going to buy a vice I would be close to convincing myself that this;
https://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section//sn/FAIVMULTI360#.WugyBpch200
would be much more versatile.

I'm in the Clee Hills, about 25 miles up from Leominster.

Eclipse spring to mind if you want 'good', but almost any with a cast frame and Acme thread will be fine - avoid pressed steel or plastic frames, and don't forget to allow for the thickness of protective packing pieces when working out what size you need.

Yeah, I don't know what size I'll need so I'm just going to order big ones and hope for the best.

I would imagine a pair of 4" clamps would be fine unless you've got a very chunky dining room table.
Mine weigh around 800g each and live in a drawer. The 12" one weighs over 6kg, is rarely used, and is an absolute bugger to store.

I just bought a pair of 200mm clamps. It's a pretty chunky table + the shims. Also you can always go smaller but not bigger. I hope I don't need the deep ones.

yes report them.

Do it! There's nothing I like better than helping people get fired by commenting on the internet.

I love a story. Tell us the story.

Does your 'friend' know this person or in any sort of wider community context and likely come accross them again?
In an ideal world, I'd report but would worry slightly about the ramifications if I actually knew the person.

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Report it to the employer anonymously?

Just remember racism is a hate crime and is illegal. I'd be anonymously tipping off the old bill online but not at the cost of my life becoming difficult because of it.

Are they a POS because they posted a racist rant? Or Are are they a POS who happens to have posted a racist rant, thereby solidifying their position as a POS?

If the former, how serious was the rant? Could it be interpreted any other way? Could you contact them and like you say, nudge them towards reeducation?

If the later maybe all bets are off but got knows what they did to you / people to deserve the POS moniker

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You know where to hammer the sausages

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Is the length of recessed brake nut dependent on the frame/forks or the brake caliper? Bought some ultegra brakes off ebay and they didn't come with the nut and shimano sell like 8 different sizes. Side question, anyone know somewhere that sells them for less than a fiver a nut?

Local bike shop will probably give you one for free