P
PrinceofDarkness
Hello Tomp, do you still look in here, now and again?
Lucia x
Lucia x
Haven't seen him on here in months. Not sure if he left because of a personality clash with Kevplumb. Now he's disappeared too.
I think Tom may be back on Screwfix forum, or you can contact him through his Youtube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTomplum
I think Tom may be back on Screwfix forum, or you can contact him through his Youtube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTomplum
C
cumbriahandyman
He gives good advice in an understandable format. A blessing to the DIYr.
J
joinerjohn
just watched some of his vids seems to not give a toss about water reg's to me? and thats just the one vid i watched
So,,, you have made your mind up after watching only one video, when you state that you watched some videos?
Let me guess,,, you watched the one about soldering copper straight to lead?
Tomp does explain that this would be a temporary fix, eg on a Sunday afternoon when plumbers merchants would be closed and would leave someone with water overnight, until a full repair could be done.
I bet your one of these plumbers who doesn't answer the phone at weekends and leaves customers without water over the weekend.
Tomp is a great chap and I won't hear a bad word against him. He shows the way plumbing used to be done and how to overcome some problems with temporary fixes. He'd probably passed his apprenticeship years before you were even wearing nappies and knows more about plumbing than you'll ever know.
P
PrinceofDarkness
Well said, JJ. Tomp is indeed a Salt of the Earth, honest to goodness Lancastrian. He has not only such a self-effacing charm, but also an obvious profound understanding of the trade. Tomp is quick-witted, most amusing and is evidently a much loved father and grand father.
As far as I know, he's never had a dissatisfied customer and neither has he fallen foul of Building Control/Gas Safe etc......
However, this isn't the point of my post here: I'm merely trying to establish contact with that blessed Northerner because I'm having a slight difficulty in signing in to that 'other place' - and I can't think why.........
Lucia x
As far as I know, he's never had a dissatisfied customer and neither has he fallen foul of Building Control/Gas Safe etc......
However, this isn't the point of my post here: I'm merely trying to establish contact with that blessed Northerner because I'm having a slight difficulty in signing in to that 'other place' - and I can't think why.........
Lucia x
Some of his tips should be treated with caution - that one about pressure testing plastic fittings using compressed air for one. And there's no point in replying to my post 'cos I can't hear you any more...
Anyways, so why can't the PoD sign on at t'other place?
Go on, tell.
Go on, tell.
P
PrinceofDarkness
Due, simply to a minor infringement of the Sfx terms and conditions, Dev's dear - not that I was aware that they had any such moral code - I thought that I was taking part in a free-for-all Punch & Judy show on that tin-pot forum - with me playing the part of Judy......
I do miss, dreadfully, most of you chaps in that 'other house' though but....
Such is life - Say Larvae......
Lucia x
I do miss, dreadfully, most of you chaps in that 'other house' though but....
Such is life - Say Larvae......
Lucia x
Well, as the font of all moral codes, I would q-u-i-t-e like to know what your minor infringement was.
For no moral-high-ground reason - I'm chust very curious, that's all
For no moral-high-ground reason - I'm chust very curious, that's all
His tools are cheap, and his tips seem to be about saving money in stead of how to do it right. Somehow makes me think of polish plumbers; 10 for effort, but lacking quality.
J
joinerjohn
Tomp's tools are not cheap. He's using tools that were bought years ago. Anyway since when did using "cheap" tools mean a crap job? Does a screwdriver from the pound shop perform less than a £10 Stanley from Protrade? It may not last as long, but does the same job.
Tomp shows tips which householders could possibly use to save money, and what's wrong with that these days?
How many of us have been ripped off by unscrupulous tradesmen in the past?
I know some years ago, our boiler had broken down and following the fault finding guide in the manual, had traced it to either a faulty PCB or a faulty sensor. The missus meanwhile had phoned AAAAAAAAAAArdvark Plumbers out of the Yellow Pages (No Call Out Fee's) Yeah right. Only for a youngish chap to take the cover off, spend about 2 minutes looking (not working) at it, then proudly proclaim "It's the diverter valve. Tell your husband to buy one and fit it himself." "Ohh by the way,,, that will be £50 including vat."
And you wonder why Tomp wants to save some old dears from those sort of practices?
Tomp's videos also show the way real plumbing used to be done. He has skills that are not be taught these days. How many modern plumbers do roof lead work these days? None. You can bet that Tomp had to do this sort of work when he were younger.
You probably belong to the rip it out and renew brigade, simply because you don't have the skills to effect repairs to old plumbing systems
Tomp shows tips which householders could possibly use to save money, and what's wrong with that these days?
How many of us have been ripped off by unscrupulous tradesmen in the past?
I know some years ago, our boiler had broken down and following the fault finding guide in the manual, had traced it to either a faulty PCB or a faulty sensor. The missus meanwhile had phoned AAAAAAAAAAArdvark Plumbers out of the Yellow Pages (No Call Out Fee's) Yeah right. Only for a youngish chap to take the cover off, spend about 2 minutes looking (not working) at it, then proudly proclaim "It's the diverter valve. Tell your husband to buy one and fit it himself." "Ohh by the way,,, that will be £50 including vat."
And you wonder why Tomp wants to save some old dears from those sort of practices?
Tomp's videos also show the way real plumbing used to be done. He has skills that are not be taught these days. How many modern plumbers do roof lead work these days? None. You can bet that Tomp had to do this sort of work when he were younger.
You probably belong to the rip it out and renew brigade, simply because you don't have the skills to effect repairs to old plumbing systems
I have no doubt that Tom has excellent traditional plumbing skills and can do lead work.
However, plumbing has moved on and boiler repairs are not done with a hammer! Lead work is done by roofers now.
The modern boiler engineer may have electronic test meters, contact thermal meters, optical tacometers, oscilloscopes, laptop link, pressure gauges as well as a flue gas analyser. This is whats needed to repair the latest boilers.
Tony
However, plumbing has moved on and boiler repairs are not done with a hammer! Lead work is done by roofers now.
The modern boiler engineer may have electronic test meters, contact thermal meters, optical tacometers, oscilloscopes, laptop link, pressure gauges as well as a flue gas analyser. This is whats needed to repair the latest boilers.
Tony
R
RichieHoneybucket
Dear oh dear Tony you do have it in for poor Thomas. Can you please remind everyone where you served your apprenticeship as a Heating Engineer??!!! Yes, the Beeb as a make-up artist, so please don't disrespect the real tradesmen.
Just pulling your leg Telly Tonny, you're right we do need to have the knowledge & test equipment to install/repair HE boilers. Modern appliances are mainly full of electronics
As for Tom, well he was a true gentleman & as Lucia says; the salt of the earth. He'll be saddly missed.
Just pulling your leg Telly Tonny, you're right we do need to have the knowledge & test equipment to install/repair HE boilers. Modern appliances are mainly full of electronics
As for Tom, well he was a true gentleman & as Lucia says; the salt of the earth. He'll be saddly missed.
