Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 12:04am | #1

   *
   Funny to me, but my wife says she's getting "one of those headaches." Not a big deal, only about 40 feet of easily accessible mostly-straight-runs pipe to replace. I just can't begin to understand how I could check not once not twice but THREE times and still zone out at the relatively important step of letting the saw munch the pipe.

   I know we've done the f**k-up thread before -- I'd just like to hear any stories of MOMENTARY oversights that, not for any lack of skill, resulted in an ... unintended outcome. Sympathy stories? Puh-leeze? I'm off to buy a bunch of 3/4" type L...

   BTW (Mongo), on the old hot or cold water for the icemaker thing, the goop that came out of the cut hot water pipe sure didn't make me think "yum, drinking water". Mostly rust & some unidentifiable stuff. OK, this is after 60 years of service, but yuck!

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 12:34am | #2

   *You're absolutely right, andrew. No one should have to put up with "goop" in their water. If I had what you describe, I'd not only avoid it in the ice, I'd do my best to rectify it prior to using it for cooking, bathing, and washing dishes, etc.I'm fortunate in that with new construction I'm able to maintain my system from the start. I could probably do more, but I try! Even being on my own well I periodically send out a sample from both the hot and cold tap for testing. You're in an older place and have inherited the supply that was left for you, hopefully you'll leave a better supply for those that follow.Good luck with the repairs, and congrads on another nice pic of your son on the other thread. He's a cutie!

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   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 01:10am | #3

   *A couple of weeks ago, I replaced a deep well pump for a friend of mine. The pump was wired thru it's own fuse box, which had the safty switch that wouldn't let the door open unless the switch was pushed IN turning the power off. I was all done and everything was working. The last thing I did before leaving was closing the box and making sure the switch was pushed home.I get to my friend's office to report success and 30 seconds later the phone rings. A tenant saying that "Yes, there was water, but now there isn't again." Took me half an hour to figure out what I did.Rich Beckman

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   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 02:53am | #4

   *Oops........A long time ago a older carpenter told me that the differance between a carpenter and a master carpenter was they both made mistakes, but the master carp know how to fix them so no one knew................

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 05:12am | #5

   *My philosophy too! Can't count the number of times I've muttered, "Oh, I'll hide that later." Or the designs that have been modified in mid-project by an oops that took it in a new direction.Mongo, I'm only kidding you, you seem to have thought of everything. I'm dying to see your house. And that Guinness on tap you mentioned... Thanks for the compliment, I'll let the young man know. I'm hoping hoping hoping that someday he'll want to help for real. Nah, he'll decide he's a musician or something. Kids.A nice HD story: Just for the heck of it, I asked if they had any dielectric unions. After four tries the guy I asked could pronounce it; he smiled and tried to send me to electrical. I said no, and he smiled and went to find the guy who knew what was going on. And they had them. Usually, if the person i ask doesn't know they try to convince me that the device or material doesn't exist (e.g., MDF? No you must mean MDO... [no I don't, and I can spell])

2. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 06:26am | #6

   *I like that explanation Bill.An old master carpenter once told me that carpentry is a series of compromises.Hehehe, a cutomer told me that I was the most compromizing man that they ever met! He was a tool and die man, who had hired me to install his kitchen cabinets (he was almost done remodeling after a fire). The ceiling was a beautiful finished cedar t&g. His island kitchen drops (also cedar) were parallel to the ceiling, but out of level 2" in 6'. I managed to get his cabinets hanging and looking somewhat level and plumb.Blue

3. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 06:37am | #7

   *AndrewI have the same combo of galv. and new copper, and instead of installing store bought dielectric unions, which are a might pricey, not to mention hard to find around me, I've taken to installing a CPVC threaded coupling between the galv, and a copper or bronze shutoff and then continue on with copper. Using all threaded couplings adjacent to this series of fittings solves the various fitting and 'hot pipe' problems.

4. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 07:18am | #8

   *Andrew, right on re: the quality of help at HD. I used to ask about MDF and be met with a blank stare from my "HD sales professional". I just saw MDF at HD last week, in full sheets. The price was about $6 less then the yard where I've gotten it in the past. The problem is that it looked far inferior (edges not quite as clean, the faces didn't look as smooth)to the MDF I get from the other yard and it had a severe case of the "HD's"...forklift scrapes up the entire stack and a maddening dents all over. I was tempted to buy a sheet, bring it home and examine, then thought about it and walked away. Another sale for the local (actually 35 minutes away) lumberyard. My most recent brain-failure was last summer when putting in the patio. Went out to get 15 bags of portland cement for a section of the footings. Loaded them on the cart, paid, went outside and got my son an ice cream. Sat around enjoying the sunshine, then headed home. Got a few minutes away when I realized the vehicle is riding a little too well. Sho 'nuff...empty in the back. We went back, it was still there. As punishment, we had to get another ice cream.The tap room is always open...bring your son, we've got LEGO's galore...

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   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 07:57am | #9

   *Blue.................I framer installing cabnets???????????Would they pass the marble test??????b All in fun

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   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 08:18am | #10

   *Interesting, and the shutoff is a nice bit of preparedness (I think dielectrics aren't supposed to be enclosed anyway?)... but the other surprise today was that the coupling was only $3.96, including a nipple. I only need two, fortunately. Funny, after nearly 30 years, the copper/galvanized joints look fine. In fact, the 60 y.o. galv. looks fine too, though a bit crusty inside. I tested our water at almost exactly pH 7 -- where do you send your water for analysis mongo?

7. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 08:28am | #11

   *You have Guinness on tap!! Where do you live? I'll bring my own glass.

8. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 1999 08:32am | #12

   *Sorry Mongo -- the secret's out. We'll be there to bathe and drink at 7 a.m. tomorrow -- you do have running water, right? We don't ... yet.And you're right about HD -- it blows my mind that someone could work more than a week in a specific dep't and not know every product they stock. I also don't know why they mishandle their merchandise so badly -- they have enough problems with theft not to need to wreck stuff themselves. I found the MDF by looking way way way up towards the ceiling. I think I'll buy a it from the lumberyard, though, I only need a couple of sheets -- why in the world are they 5'x10'?

9. 
   Guest_ | Mar 04, 1999 03:42am | #13

   *Big sheets, big cabinets. Very handy. Also comes in 49" x 98" sheets. Reason: the factory edge is never clean or smooth. Tip: rerip. Also comes in various weights/densities, the heaviest seems to also be the smoothest (damn). A yellow colored board is the smoothest I've ever seen, and I've never seen any color of it at our home depot. Neither do I want to.the man who knew too much about MDF, as my back will attest. BB