Home DIY

I don't know where you're going wrong - lots of options on google if you search for stainless steel gate hardware. I'd imagine that the latch will also last longer if the hinges remain in the correct position.

Sorry. Should have said that they need to be black. The options available at B&Q are pretty much the only options I can find anywhere else.

They are simply not holding up - the coating doesn't last and they start showing rust, the hinges start to get creaky, etc. I was looking for something with a more durable coating.

I got this:

https://www.toolstation.com/nilfisk-buddy-ii-12l-wet-dry-vacuum-cleaner/p65733

It's been great for using a detail sander/random orbital sander on the stairs.

Should have said that they need to be stainless or galvanised but I'd like them black.

Buy stainless and paint black?
It does seem the offerings on screwfix get slated for being low quality.

Building a "tree house" for the kids, progress so far has been slow, I stared building the platform last summer!

Made a bit more progress now :)

Going to be cladding it with larch shiplap boards and felting the roof.

Thinking about making the door in heavy duty canvas with zips at either side but would love any suggestions for a "fun" door idea.

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Incredible. That view! Where is that?

Wormit, NE Fife, we have an amazing view up the Tay.

I’d suggest maybe sliding barn doors, but little fingers...
Super heavy duty felted wool? You could layer it like plastic car wash doors.

Yeah, trying to come up with something safe, unusual and practical!

Need to buy a multi meter - any suggestions? Was just going to buy something reyt cheap off ebay.

Toilet seat has broken (fuck off with your jokes), square number, fuck knows the brand/model. Where do I start looking for a replacement?

We've got a storm door (outer door onto the stairwell of our tenement) that we currently double lock at night with a deadbolt. That door is our main egress if there was a fire, and we're aware that it's not a good plan to have a need to fumble for a key in an emergency. Our previous place had a large bolt which did the job - all I can find online are relatively puny tower bolts or very agricultural looking bolts for farm gates etc.

Does anyone know where I might find a very large bolt akin to the one in the photo below? Pen for scale.

You can Google 'Pollokshields fire 2019' and 'Pollokshields fire 2020' to see why we're keen to get this sorted...

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Cheap multimeters are fine.

Some of the really cheap ones don't have a continuity buzzer, come with incredibly spindly leads that contain one strand of copper (or "copper") that break immediately; or use weird types of battery. Watch out for those.

Also for @Aroogah upthread

Ironmongery direct is a good place to start for such things. Have you considered getting a panic bar fitted? There are ones available for twin leaf door sets.

what did you use as connectors for the sander?

It opens inward, so a panic bar wouldn't be much use I think! We're also looking at escape ladders for the other end of the flat - just trying to find somewhere strong enough to mount some Petzl Coeur bolts or similar.

I didn't consider that. But no in that case a panic bar would not help.

What do you need to measure? I bought what I thought was a good one but it didn’t measure amps for DC current. Annoyingly I had to buy another just to take one measurement.

This will do the job
AstroAI Digital Multimeter, TRMS... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDBW1PT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is for the front gate of the house. One of those 2 1/2 foot high things.

A lot of the stuff on Ironmongery Direct looks exactly like the stuff from B&Q that starts to rust - powder coating not withstanding. That was the gist of my original complaint; it's all the same cheaply made chinese stuff no matter where you go. Was hoping to find something more durable.

Here’s the catch, I don’t really know. I’ve got a set of digital scales that are broken, I suspect it’s a broken switch.
I’ve also just bought a coffee grinder that doesn’t work, but no longer switches on.
I figured I could just do some basic continuity testing to look for broken switches or loose connections. I don’t really know what I’m doing.
Ironically, I’m training as a sparky, but so far I’ve only done classes on building and wiring regulations because we can’t do any of the practical training due to covid, which doesn’t help me testing electronics.

I don't typically buy outdoor ironmongery. However in my general experience ironmongery direct stocks a much higher quality of products across the board than B&Q.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ms8306d-digital-multimeter/161fg#product_additional_details_container

I like the look of this because I need to pop to screwfix anyway, and it offers no contact current detection (I assume this is when you can touch insulated wires to see if they’re live) which would be useful as under our floorboards is a nightmare of various cables of various vintages.

suggestions for a "fun" door idea