A random thread for small things that don't really warrant a thread of their own

[Beardy]

Videos of baby elephants have got to be up there with the best thing about the internet. Even the John Noakes inclusive one is worth rewatching from time to time.

[Mrs Pingu]

Baby's first decent selection of wood screws. Does this make me a proper grown up now?
2021-11-30_07-38-13 by The Pingus, on Flickr



<Waits for someone to tell me what's wrong with them>

[Beardy]

From past experience, you’ll use all of a couple sizes very quickly, then you’ll use another couple of other sizes because you’ve not got the right ones by which time the rest will have ended up in a mixed up mess, but it won’t matter because you won’t be able to use them for,anything any time soon. Then when you do need a couple of screws of the remaining sizes you’ll not be able to find the box and when you are in the big shed you’ll see another selection pack and in spite of your previous experiences, partly because you can’t remember just exactly what size you do need, you’ll buy it and the whole process will start again.

[ian]

I have a screwdriver but no screws, so am confined to a life of DIY celibacy.

[Beardy]

Given the collection of wounds I’ve been collecting over the past couple of weeks, I thing that your position is probably the most sensible and I’m sure it’s the safest.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Baby's first decent selection of wood screws. Does this make me a proper grown up now?
2021-11-30_07-38-13 by The Pingus, on Flickr



<Waits for someone to tell me what's wrong with them>

I have one of those boxes, but torx screws.

It is a really sensible selection. The most commonly used screws are in large numbers and the others in much smaller numbers. The box is also substantial, so I see myself topping it up in the future.

[ian]

I don't even know how free-range screws work. I can screw in pre-existing screws, but really, what they hell do you do with a free-range screw. I'm terrified. Does that mean there are free-range holes?

I used to have a drill and my wife gave it away after an incident.

[Kim]

Wood screws are self-tapping, which means they'll make a hole in the wood at a random angle automatically without you needing to tap them with a hammer.

Machine screws, on the other hand, need a machine to make holes for them.

Although it may seem tempting, ACME Instant Hole shouldn't be used for making screw holes, because you'll only lose the screw in it.

[ian]

I do remember some device in Craft, Design & Technology (in which I have GCSE) that did something to do with screw threads. You swirled it around and bit of metal came off (swarf, I remember words at least).

It's probably a useful thing, trust me, you never fix a wonky door on a bathroom cabinet with a random forest regression model.

[Kim]

Ah, the Rex Garrod fax machine.

ETA: Link updated to remastered version.

[Ashaman42]

Ah, the Rex Garrod fax machine.

Oh that's just wonderful!!

[Kim]

The entire series is, even if some of the technology is a little dated.

They missed a trick by not using lathes with synchronous motors.

[Gattopardo]

Ah, the Rex Garrod fax machine.

ETA: Link updated to remastered version.

Wonderfully pointles.

[JonBuoy]

I have a lot of sympathy for the people who have been without power since Arwen did its thing but this caught my eye from:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59483500

Indra Rampersad van Boeckel, from in Ford in Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been without power since Friday and witnessed her shed being crushed by a tree.

"It's heart-breaking really, it's not easy even making a cup of tea on a stove," the 42-year-old dentist said.

Well if you're struggling to make tea on a stove you ain't getting anywhere near my teeth!

[Cudzoziemiec]

Ah, the Rex Garrod fax machine.

ETA: Link updated to remastered version.

Excellent use of gaffer tape.

As would be expected from Tim Hunkin.

[mrcharly-YHT]

I have a lot of sympathy for the people who have been without power since Arwen did its thing but this caught my eye from:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59483500

Indra Rampersad van Boeckel, from in Ford in Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been without power since Friday and witnessed her shed being crushed by a tree.

"It's heart-breaking really, it's not easy even making a cup of tea on a stove," the 42-year-old dentist said.

Well if you're struggling to make tea on a stove you ain't getting anywhere near my teeth!

Is she not one of those who only has a solid fuel heating stove? There was one mentioned in the article where they said it took a very long time for their heating stove to boil a kettle.

[T42]

Reportedly BBC Scotland listener re power cuts: "You can't do the things you usually do. You can't brush your teeth because your toothbrush is flat."

Aw. Time to invent the wood-fired toothbrush.

[Jurek]

Whilst changing tube lines at Highbury & Islington a short while ago, a message was broadcast over the PA thusly: "Would Inspector Sands go to the control room immediately".
I checked out which escape routes which were available to me before deciding in which direction I should run.
In the end I opted for the southbound ginger line train, the departure of which was imminent.

[rafletcher]

Wood screws are self-tapping, which means they'll make a hole in the wood at a random angle automatically without you needing to tap them with a hammer.

But as you’ll no doubt know, the Birmingham screwdriver saves a lot of that pesky time consuming screwing.

[hatler]

Whilst changing tube lines at Highbury & Islington a short while ago, a message was broadcast over the PA thusly: "Would Inspector Sands go to the control room immediately".
I checked out which escape routes which were available to me before deciding in which direction I should run.
In the end I opted for the southbound ginger line train, the departure of which was imminent.

Good call. Same holds true in large department stores too.

[Paul]

Whilst changing tube lines at Highbury & Islington a short while ago, a message was broadcast over the PA thusly: "Would Inspector Sands go to the control room immediately".
I checked out which escape routes which were available to me before deciding in which direction I should run.
In the end I opted for the southbound ginger line train, the departure of which was imminent.

Good call. Same holds true in large department stores too.

The southbound ginger line train?

[Jurek]

Whilst changing tube lines at Highbury & Islington a short while ago, a message was broadcast over the PA thusly: "Would Inspector Sands go to the control room immediately".
I checked out which escape routes which were available to me before deciding in which direction I should run.
In the end I opted for the southbound ginger line train, the departure of which was imminent.

Good call. Same holds true in large department stores too.

I should add the the minute and a half that I waited for that train to depart felt like a lifetime.
But I felt that an aluminium bodied tube train might afford me some protection.
Should the need arise.

In reply to Paul:Ginger line is colloquial for the London Overground - on account of it being depicted in that colour on TfL maps.             

[Wobbly John]

Baby's first decent selection of wood screws. Does this make me a proper grown up now?
2021-11-30_07-38-13 by The Pingus, on Flickr



<Waits for someone to tell me what's wrong with them>

Always remember to double check the lid is latched shut before picking the box up by the handle...

BTW,  Seeing Kim's mention of Rex Garrod,  - he judged some Young Engineers competitions I took a team to several years ago, so spent a few days in his company. He was a very knowledgable and resourcful man.

[phantasmagoriana]

Whilst changing tube lines at Highbury & Islington a short while ago, a message was broadcast over the PA thusly: "Would Inspector Sands go to the control room immediately".
I checked out which escape routes which were available to me before deciding in which direction I should run.
In the end I opted for the southbound ginger line train, the departure of which was imminent.

I'd never heard of that before. Now I shall make a mental note...

[Jurek]

Baby's first decent selection of wood screws. Does this make me a proper grown up now?
2021-11-30_07-38-13 by The Pingus, on Flickr



<Waits for someone to tell me what's wrong with them>

Always remember to double check the lid is latched shut before picking the box up by the hande...

Oh yes. I have had this on site. And then had to delegate some poor unfortunate to pick up, sort and segregate the mess.