'Blind' faith

[Big Tone]

I’m usually a pretty savvy sort of guy but I dropped a clanger hanging a blind for my lounge the other day. (First time I've done it). I got one from B&Q measuring 1.8M x 2.2M. I cut the horizontal rail to fit the 1.78M width, so next was the vertical height…

Now in my naivety I thought these things would be made to a precise length, so a quick measure of the doorway told me I needed to lose 200mm off each vertical slat but as I’m hanging them I notice there’s a disparity. (The doorway is square). There was a two inch difference between the shortest and longest lengths.

Now it did enter my mind at the start to measure from the hanging end of the slats but of course it’s easier to mark off the short bit I need to cut on a table, (200mm), and use the edge of the table to make a nice straight cut.

In this modern day and age I would have expected them to be an exact 2.2 meters long, but not so. In other words, if I needed the 2.2 Metre drop and therefore not cut anything, they would have been all different lengths.

I’ve had to put a wooden batten up to lower the rail from the lintel and cut them properly as a result. Lesson learnt the hard way; I’ll know in future.

Muggins Tony

 

[ColJack]

what sort of blind.?

 

[Big Tone]

This was the exact one although there's no image available unfortunately.

It's actually a very nice blind indeed and I'm pleased with it. I just wish I had not trusted the overall lengths being equal from manufacture.

I've still got all the off-cuts; there's not more than a fraction of a mm between them. Wish I could say the same of the main slats

I could post a pic later, complete with a puddle of my tears...

 

[gregers]

is it a vertical blind,i did this when i fitted mine but luckily my missus spotted the mistake on slat no 3 and as i had some spares i managed to save the day,
bad luck mate i know how you feel.

 

[Big Tone]

is it a vertical blind,i did this when i fitted mine but luckily my missus spotted the mistake on slat no 3 and as i had some spares i managed to save the day,
bad luck mate i know how you feel.

It is a vertical blind and although I have a girlfriend she don't love me and, IMO, never has. But that's another story...

Bloody B&Q, or whoever makes the damn thing! I feel like there's no fool like an old fool.

Big Tone - THE FOOL!

Just when you get to 50 years old and you've lost loved ones and fed up of what crap life has dealt you a ray of hope comes from the prospect of a f-in' blind which a child of six is meant to be able to fit but you are made to look like a moron!

Goodbye cruel world

(I use humour as a coping mechanism BTW)


I'll post a pic later and you can see for yourself how this would break your heart like love being thrown back in your face and ruins your life like Kim did to me back in 1977! (But that's probably too much information). My OCD does not help matters

If I don't post again assume I've killed myself

 

[Big Tone]

I haven't painted the batten yet but I'm hoping it'll look okay when I do.

Notice the huge difference in them, still yet to be trimmed, in order to make them even...

So then, word of advice: Always measure from the hanging end. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing?

 

[nitro23456]

Get rid of the bloody batten and take the blind back!!!

They never check, then buy it again!

I did this once when I cocked up fitting a radiator

 

[Big Tone]

Get rid of the bloody batten and take the blind back!!!

They never check, then buy it again!

But I'd feel so guilty and I don't like confrontation. Will you do it for me? Do I just say I've changed my mind?

I'd feel better if I at least said something about the condition, if not the whole story

(I'd never make it in politics).

Not only have I cut 200mm off the lengths but but the width is now ~40mm shorter. As a result, I didn't need the one slat so I also had to cut the dingly-dangly string at the bottom shorter too.

What would happen to it anyway, if I did take it back? I'd hate to think it's re-packaged and some poor goof buys this 'sow's ear'. Actually, now that it's painted it doesn't look too bad. Also, I've noticed by having the batten it hides the ugly door rail at the top. 'ang on, I'll get my camera...

I did this once when I cocked up fitting a radiator

But would it still have been fit for purpose or repairable, or was it a monumental "OH NO!" moment?

'twould be easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than make this blind anything close to its original condition.

Paranoid mode 'ON'.. What if B&Q are watching this thread? They could be waiting for me!

I'm CRB checked, (need to be), so I could lose my job and have to turn to crime to pay the bills. Jeeze, I need to think carefully about this...

Edit to add: What if they re-package it and I end up buying the same one back. That would be ironic eh?

 

[nitro23456]

..... on second thoughts, keep the batten. You might get hit by a bus on the way

 

[CortinaV8]

The batten looks fine, takes your eyes away from the pink curtains

 

[Big Tone]

The batten looks fine, takes your eyes away from the pink curtains

Oi! I have feelings you know! They look better in the flesh, just like myself

, and were left behind from the previous owner.

Nothing wrong with pink and besides, they match my Tutu. Actually, since I’ve put weight on I need a Threethree. (Groan)