Suggestion for this website

[Handyman]

What about a facility on this site to store useful "best practice" guidance notes for specialist tools & materials? It's taken me a little while, but I've got hold of some useful bumf about resin injection fixing methods. Seems a shame that this type of information can't be made available to others. They could be indexed under the same general headings as the forums (or is the plural "fora"?)

I know that more admin time might be involved, but what about a pdf upload section where these things could be submitted for evaluation before being made generally available? I know, this all implies more time and effort by the chosen few, but is there any mileage in this idea?

 

[AdamW]

It might be seen to encroach on the "How To" section... Why not add a section to "How To" called "best practice"?

There is the problem, however, that best practice is often subjective: whilst one person thinks method A is best, someone else will have a million reasons why method B is better. So you need to have some way of discussion, i.e. a forum... keeps on coming back on itself! One example that leaps to mind is a couple of weeks ago someone posted an article on the Forum, "How to install an extractor fan". Led to a barrage of comments "but what about if you were installing fan A?" and "No, that is only correct if you are installing fan B", "you forgot to mention ducting" etc. etc...

So I think it would have to be "official" documents only, i.e. pdf from the manufacturer rather than "How I think product X should be used". It would take up a lot of space though, gigabytes.

 

[AdamW]

Oh, and "forums" and "fora" are both acceptable plurals of forum.

Did they ever resolve whether the plural of "mouse" for a computer is "mice" or "mouses"?

And another controversial one, one virus and another virus together are viruses, not viri.

 

[breezer]

gets on soap box.

i think your "best practise" would be a good idea, but a complete waste of time.

As you said, which "version" would it be?
how would any one know it was there? That IS meant to be sarcastic, have you ever noticed how often people ask how do I "xyz" and the reply is "try a search for xyz as it has been asked before"

what if some one claims to have followed it and gets it wrong.

Alot of the time on this forum, i admit people will search first, but quite often they dont, or search a little bit, and end up asking for the same xyz.

For example, how many times have you noticed posts in the wrong section, despite the fact it clearly says this forum is for ........... and they still post in the wrong place

it goes to show that people do not read, so having instructions in writing for people to read................

gets off soap box

 

[Handyman]

By "best practice", I'm referring to recommendations as published by the product manufacturere, not subjective views of Joe Public.

As I read it, the "How to " section tells you how to do something, but not necessarily how to use something (e.g. a new type of adhesive, or something like that).

I'm not suggesting "best practice" guides on how to use things like wood glue or cement, but some of the more specialised products are worthy of guidance notes. e.g. Products I've had to use recently include High Polymer external render basecoat, and resin injection fixing. Both products I'd never used before and had to gen up before using.

 

[mildmanneredjanitor]

There's a website on this forum???

And that reminds me,

how do I wire up a shed???

 

[Handyman]

Best practice for wiring shed:

<advice deleted>

Sorry boys and girls.
Breezer is right.
Having read other posts elsewhere on this forum, I'm sure someone would actually try out my advice - which was posted in jest

I've had a bad day.

 

[breezer]

Do not attempt above post

sorry handyman but i suggest you change your post becasue although you post in jest this is a diy forum, what you have suggested is lethal

 

[mildmanneredjanitor]

Didn't someone get prosecuted a few years ago for doing similar with door car handles???

I believe the owner got fed up of attemted theft etc. on his customised car and decided to take the matter into his own hands using an ignition coil!!!

I have seen flame throwers fitted on a car for personal protection. Africa I think nasty place.

I believe Mercedes Benz stopped fitting keyless systems (finger print type system) cos owners couldn't hand over keys anymore in a hijack situation... Yes...

 

[AdamW]

South Africa is where the "flame throwers" are legal. In fact, in South Africa it is perfectly legal to kill someone if it is proven to be in self-defence, which is why it was so easy for them to make the anti-hijack flamers legal.

Doesn't Johannesburg have more car-jackings than LA?

Here is the device in question.

And some goit once ran up £7000 on my credit card in Johannesburg, luckily I had never been to SA and reported the charges as fraudulent so wasn't liable for it. Ironically, when my Dad went to J'burg on business they automatically cancelled his card because of "a spate of credit card fraud in SA"!

 

[AdamW]

I believe Mercedes Benz stopped fitting keyless systems (finger print type system) cos owners couldn't hand over keys anymore in a hijack situation... Yes...

A bit like Demolition Man where he nicks the guard's eyeball to get out of the prison.

Of course anyone who lives in an area where they are liable to get jacked should have one of those immobilisers that cuts in after a minute or so. Or bulletproof glass. Either will do.

 

[securespark]

What's the plural of Guinness??

 

[Handyman]

Guinness is already plural.
It is the term used to describe more than one Guinnes

 

[mildmanneredjanitor]

What's the plural of Guinness??

Guinness is a plural, wouldn't know the singular...

Never ordered only one!!!