The new news 24 thread

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, 64A60 said:

Spent the weekend T-Cutting and polishing the A60, the first time since 2018. The top half of the car is still the original cellulose and was flat as Lincolnshire. Also had to superglue the plastic J back on the rear number plate as it made a bid for freedom after 57 years 😆 

 

Oof! Dad had a Cambridge in that colour. Later, I bought an F reg Oxford at auction (JER 531F) Cracking car, earned me a (smoll) profit

[Low Horatio gearbox]

More house and garden dickery.. house retail like like it's been carpet bombed by Allied Pickfords doing a car jumble. Internet now on... priorities and it was only somewhat of a faff.



42 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

I'd say hand it to the fire station, otherwise a local fire extinguisher supplier will take them in. Halon will kill you in 15 seconds flat if exposed to it, it was that good at smothering fire.

 You learn something new everyday.

[gm]

11 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Good luck.  My local fire station would take it off my hands - for £50.  Sod that then.  Basically I could get rid of it through several channels...all of which involved spending a not insignificant amount of money.

I guess next time I'm taking garden waste to the tip, it might end up there (in the empty gas cylinders and extinguishers section, not just flung in the skip !)

[Fumbler]

Just now, Low Horatio gearbox said:

More house and garden dickery.. house retail like like it's been carpet bombed by Allied Pickfords doing a car jumble. Internet now on... priorities and it was only somewhat of a faff.



 You learn something new everyday.

Yeah it's a brilliant fire suppressant. The problem with it is that it's so dense it displaces oxygen nearly literally everywhere in the place it's released in. Halon 1211 IIRC was able to completely suffocate someone in 15 seconds flat.

[barefoot]

It appears that the Amazon outage wasn't caused by all that Fastly bollocks, but by them selling out of my new book!

Don't worry kids, you can still buy it direct from the publisher; 

https://veloce.co.uk/store/Cool-Recipes-&-Camping-Hacks-for-VW-Campers-p290771667

 

 

[Amishtat]

15 hours ago, vulgalour said:

I might be the only person ever to have no issues at all with Lion batteries.  Maybe I have the only good one?

No, they definitely  made at least two. Had one on the Volvo when I bought it which lasted a couple of years. When it failed its replacement was a scrapyard Yuasa (for a tenner!) which is still on there now. 

[somewhatfoolish]

11 hours ago, Fumbler said:

I'd say hand it to the fire station, otherwise a local fire extinguisher supplier will take them in. Halon will kill you in 15 seconds flat if exposed to it, it was that good at smothering fire.

 

11 hours ago, SiC said:

Halgon sucks all the oxygen out of your lungs. It's a very effective fire extinguisher agent though!

I remember being told the big red emergency button on the wall in the data centres was the P45 button. Hit it without a bloody good reason and that's what you'll be getting next. You had ~60s to evacuate from the alarm going off before they were deployed. If you were in when it went off, you were highly likely to be dead. 

It really doesn't do any of that; if you're in an enclosed space(like a data centre) it's not great news, but less so than CO2. It interrupts the fire triangle by snaffling the oxygen before Mr Fire gets it but only does so at high temperature, if there's no high temp it's just an asphyxiation hazard. If there is a fire then things are a bit different as the byproducts are toxic, but in the same way that most smoke is filled with shit like hydrogen cyanide from combusting soft furnishings, wire insulation, etc. which will irritate the fuck out of your lungs.

TL;DR Halon is not going to kill you nor the nuns with baskets of kittens in the bus queue, unless you include death by melanoma from the hole in the ozone layer.

I'd keep it for my car as the gauge is in the green; a burning car is worse for the environment than a squirt of Halon.

 

[Fumbler]

4 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

 

It really doesn't do any of that; if you're in an enclosed space(like a data centre) it's not great news, but less so than CO2. It interrupts the fire triangle by snaffling the oxygen before Mr Fire gets it but only does so at high temperature, if there's no high temp it's just an asphyxiation hazard. If there is a fire then things are a bit different as the byproducts are toxic, but in the same way that most smoke is filled with shit like hydrogen cyanide from combusting soft furnishings, wire insulation, etc. which will irritate the fuck out of your lungs.

TL;DR Halon is not going to kill you nor the nuns with baskets of kittens in the bus queue, unless you include death by melanoma from the hole in the ozone layer.

I'd keep it for my car as the gauge is in the green; a burning car is worse for the environment than a squirt of Halon.

 

As I stated earlier, Halon is very good at suffocating fires and living things. You're right saying CO2 will kill people in a similar fashion, especially in enclosed spaces. It's not so bad out in the open to vent halon and CO2. The fact the extinguisher is still holding pressure is quite good, but it's still a halon extinguisher. Some quick googling shows they haven't been manufactured in over 20 years. A nice prop, yes, but I still wouldn't rely on it if it were me. A dry powder extinguisher isn't much after a quick search, as is a carbon dioxide one.

[Essex V6]

13 hours ago, brownnova said:

Great turn out at Mavericks tonight: 

 

And there was this... which was just absolutely perfect 🤩 

Wow - Chevette HS last week, Lotus Sunbeam this week - superb!

[Slowsilver]

12 hours ago, gm said:

I guess next time I'm taking garden waste to the tip, it might end up there (in the empty gas cylinders and extinguishers section, not just flung in the skip !)

I recently found an old Halon extinguisher while clearing out my late father's garage. Checked online and it said that our local tip in Buckingham would take it free of charge. Took it there with a load of other stuff and asked the guy there, who took it with no problems.
 

[Ghosty]

My local Halfords have offered me a job interview for part time working in the bike bit.
It's less per hour and less hours that my current job ((£9.50ph 20 hours with commute, vs.  £10ph 40 hours working from home) but the job security is potentially better. 

The thing is I don't interview well... dilemmas. 

[Spurious]

1 minute ago, Ghosty said:

My local Halfords have offered me a job interview for part time working in the bike bit.
It's less per hour and less hours that my current job ((£9.50ph 20 hours with commute, vs.  £10ph 40 hours working from home) but the job security is potentially better. 

The thing is I don't interview well... dilemmas. 

I think half the battle with interviews is being polite, turning up on time and being presentable. 

Knowing a little about the company and having an educated guess about what questions they're going to ask and preparing those will cover 90%. Good luck 🙂🤞

[Six-cylinder]

13 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

My local Halfords have offered me a job interview for part time working in the bike bit.
It's less per hour and less hours that my current job ((£9.50ph 20 hours with commute, vs.  £10ph 40 hours working from home) but the job security is potentially better. 

The thing is I don't interview well... dilemmas. 

Have the interview anyway as it is practice for a job you really want.

Remember an interview is a two way thing and until you have questioned them you are not in the best position to decide if you want to work for them. 

[Ghosty]

I'm assisting in a collection mission tomorrow...

[danthecapriman]

Was bored this morning, so decided the beautiful warm weather was a good opportunity to just get out for a drive somewhere.

Took the Volvo out since it’s not moved further than the end of the driveway for about three months now! It was also pretty much running on fumes too, so I treated the old girl to 3/4 tank of Esso super unleaded. 
Took it right out to Midhurst on the A272 then cut back south towards the back of Chichester via the A286 & back roads then back home. Did a good 55 miles or so. 
The old tank didn’t miss a beat, but the work I’ve done on it over the last few months really has transformed it. It’s so much smoother and the new exhaust has completely silenced the annoying ‘chuffing’ from the blowing front pipe. I didn’t actually realise it was as bad as it was!

Absolutely gorgeous day to be out and about too, especially out on the back roads. Some really lovely scenery right on my doorstep! 
Might get the Mercury out for the same route on the weekend!
 

[brownnova]

5 hours ago, Essex V6 said:

Wow - Chevette HS last week, Lotus Sunbeam this week - superb!

It’s amazing what turns up week by week... the Chevette was there again this week in fairness! 

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, Ghosty said:

My local Halfords have offered me a job interview for part time working in the bike bit.
It's less per hour and less hours that my current job ((£9.50ph 20 hours with commute, vs.  £10ph 40 hours working from home) but the job security is potentially better. 

The thing is I don't interview well... dilemmas. 

Funnily enough, my interview went something like this...

"So, what attracts you to working for Halfords?"

"Well, I've always been interested in cars; I've rebuilt a couple, and I'm currently restoring a Vauxhall Viva. I'm very familiar with service items and accessories, including audio and touring, and I've two years retail experience."

"Right... so what if I told you that this position's for the bike department?"

"Um... I own a bike?"

I still managed to get the job.

Bike section (or BikeHut, or whatever it is now) used to be mostly building kids' bikes and trying to stop wee toerags stealing BMX bits. It may be a bit more adult oriented these days, but if you've an ounce of mechanical nous I reckon they'll be more than happy.

Slip in that you used to work as a cycle courier, and you've no fear in stripping down a bottom bracket or setting up a gearset, and you'll be ahead of 99.9% of applicants.

Pay was never great (and then worse when the company was owned by CVC - minimum wage all the way) but they used to run various staff bonus incentives, plus there were always additional hours to pick up if you wanted. Doing out of hours deliveries, and especially bike builds around Christmas (14hr days out the back in the store, bolting together endless Pretty Princesses and Fire Chiefs) can boost the wage packet.

If you're after full-time hours, you may find yourself being offered a full-time post before long.

In terms of job security, then yes - unless things have changed, it was always pretty secure. The only way people ended up getting the heave-ho was due to staff theft, which was endemic on an industrial scale at times (guys stealing pressure washers and Professional toolsets to order) - although one manager did get the chop (or, was encouraged to tender his resignation) over a nasty bullying incident over which he was quite rightly challenged by staff. 

I worked for them on and off for nearly ten years - different stores, different roles. Bike tech, touring 'expert', We'll Fit It! hi-viz mook, till monkey, child seat fitter, Area 6 trainer.

I left and came back numerous times, and to be honest it helped me out of a hole on a number of occasions. When things went tits-up in Australia and I ended up back in my parents' place, broke and jobless, I called in to get a brake spanner in an effort to get my old Escort running again, and came out again as the parts manager. One of the fellas who'd been a part-timer years before on bikes was now the store manager; saw me, remembered me, asked what I was up to these days. Lifesaver.

Go for it. If nothing else, it's experience - but don't get hung up on the corporate bullshit, just tell them a bit about your cars, about overcoming mechanical problems, and that you know how to look up parts online and handle cash. You'll be grand.

Oh, and don't forget - staff discount!

[Supernaut]

I worked in my local BikeHut from 2009-2011 part-time while I was a student.

All of us in BikeHut knew far more about cars than the guys downstairs in car parts! We were all proper petrolheads upstairs.

[LightBulbFun]

19 hours ago, gm said:

I was raking around in the garage at me mam’s house and found an old Halon fire extinguisher - so I brought it home and hung it up in my own garage (still shows pressure but I doubt I would rely on it, it’s probably illegal to use one these days anyway)

also found this tiny multi tool spanner thing

Some kind of spark plug tool ? 

there isn't STY645 written on it somewhere is there perchance? as it looks an awful lot like the Fire extinguishers fitted to Model 70's in later service!  

 

[Ghosty]

7 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

"Right... so what if I told you that this position's for the bike department?"

"Um... I own a bike?"

Yep, this. They said 'we saw on your CV you like cycling, well we'd be starting you in the bike department' which was amusing as it was listed as just a CSA role. I've actually applied to specifically work in a Halfords bike section before and been refused... 

 

[dome]

7 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

I worked in my local BikeHut from 2009-2011 part-time while I was a student.

All of us in BikeHut knew far more about cars than the guys downstairs in car parts! We were all proper petrolheads upstairs.

I was a Bikehut Manager for a year or so around the same time-I tried to avoid sharing my car knowledge where possible as I'd just get roped into fitting fecking bulbs and wipers when I should be bolting together shit bikes. 

 

@Ghosty I'd say it's worth a shot, if nothing else it should get you some experience and look good on your CV if you want to carry on in the cycle trade. 

 

[BorniteIdentity]

On 6/8/2021 at 4:05 PM, vulgalour said:

I might be the only person ever to have no issues at all with Lion batteries.  Maybe I have the only good one?

 

23 hours ago, Stanky said:

I've bought several batteries from them over the years and always been impressed by the service and prices. The onl;y time I didn't was when I needed a new battery RIGHT NAO after it died just before I was due to go away with the family for a holiday in Quornwall and the old one gave up. I got a Lion one then and it was fine for several more years actually.

 

23 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I've had plenty of Lion batteries without issue.

 

Lion Batteries are fine - I've had 3 on various cars over the last 10 years.  Never a problem.  I am a staunch supporter of "Buy cheap, buy twice" but on the basis that you have to change them anyway, I just buy them and they never let me down.

I had a couple of shit Yuasas though.  

[brownnova]

Not car related but... 

We do a zoom pub quiz every week and there’s one team on there who are smug and think they know it all, and this week they had 49 out of 57... and were leading as all the teams gave their scores. We were last to give our scores and we had 49 1/2... watching them get smugger and smugger knowing we were about to beat them by half a point was actually really satisfying... 

Last week we came last 😂😂

[High Jetter]

Quizzes can be un-predictable. The Chase is getting really challenging!

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

Not car related but... 

We do a zoom pub quiz every week and there’s one team on there who are smug and think they know it all, and this week they had 49 out of 57... and were leading as all the teams gave their scores. We were last to give our scores and we had 49 1/2... watching them get smugger and smugger knowing we were about to beat them by half a point was actually really satisfying... 

Last week we came last 😂😂

Slightly kinda vaguely related I guess...

Back when I was in secondary school I was the least sport-type orientated person in existence...So nobody ever wanted me on their team.  The one thing they didn't realise though is that I'd been playing pool since the day I could see over the edge of the table - not least because we used to live literally next door to the pub in our tiny rural village so we basically lived in there as much as in the house.  Especially as I was friends with the kids of the landlords.

Roll round the school sports events when I was in year two (so I'd have been 14).  Nobody else from my school house turned up...years 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6...I was meant to be one of two people for year 2.

My house won the pool competition that year...There were a few surprised faces that day...The expression on the face of a 17 year old who's just had their ass handed to them three frames in a row by the nerdy second year is something I'll always remember!

Really want to get our table unburied as it's been forever since I last had a game.  If anyone in the vicinity of MK would like a game of pool once we're safely able to meet again, feel free to give me a shout!

[EightMegs]

The Yaris has passed its NCT on the third go and a friend has bought a Fiesta for £185 which will need remedial work for its M.O.T in August and I'm glad the Yaris is roadworthy again so I can use it to lug the welder and some tools across on the ferry.

[Lankytim]

I’m going to look at this on Saturday, it’s going to be a spares source for my Volvo 145 provided-

It can be extricated reasonably easily.

It doesn’t fall to bits when moved.

Theres anything useable left on it.

There’s a very good chance it may fall down on all three of these deal-breaker issues.

I might just salvage what I can and leave the rest for the bin man tbh. 

 

[egg]

Yeah I need to use the Mondeo more (Lion battery!)

[stuboy]

Nothing exciting,  swept and deweeded my allocated parking space, and painted badly house number on floor, and put up signs, yes one needs moving.

 

Also found bit my old mk2 mondeo sill that rotted off ( rip )

[rusty998]

5 hours ago, Lankytim said:

I’m going to look at this on Saturday, it’s going to be a spares source for my Volvo 145 provided-

It can be extricated reasonably easily.

It doesn’t fall to bits when moved.

Theres anything useable left on it.

There’s a very good chance it may fall down on all three of these deal-breaker issues.

I might just salvage what I can and leave the rest for the bin man tbh. 

 

Looking forward to seeing this being pulled out of the under growth