What have you been doing today?

[kingandy2nd]

Went racing for the first time this weekend.

Very steep learning curve, especially as I’ve had hardly any time in the car.

Annoyingly in the video I picked 5th rather than 3rd going up the hill which killed the pace and let a couple of people through.

Ended up with a DNF in this race as I went into the gravel which unfortunately knocked a rear brake pipe off.

Second race I was much more cautious and built up the speed a bit more. Starting to get more comfortable with the car, but still need to get to grips with the brakes especially.

 

[Mottie]

Ended up with a DNF in this race as I went into the gravel which unfortunately knocked a rear brake pipe off.

Second race I was much more cautious and built up the speed a bit more. Starting to get more comfortable with the car, but still need to get to grips with the brakes especially.

Not bad for a first attempt. A mate of mine used to mechanic at race meetings for a couple of Lotus cars that raced when he worked in a Lotus dealers. He said that the drivers were animals and would still give it full beans even if the car was overheating, engine knocking or the oil light was on. You’ve got to start not caring for the car when racing!

 

[kingandy2nd]

Not bad for a first attempt. A mate of mine used to mechanic at race meetings for a couple of Lotus cars that raced when he worked in a Lotus dealers. He said that the drivers were animals and would still give it full beans even if the car was overheating, engine knocking or the oil light was on. You’ve got to start not caring for the car when racing!

Yeah, lots of people going full beans and breaking their cars. Quite a few people that rent their race cars as well so they can use and abuse them and the just give the keys back at the end of the weekend…they pay a pretty penny to do that too!

 

[Mottie]

Took the bath screen off in preparation for a replacement and started digging out the old mastic around the bath as I’m replacing that too. Took bloody ages and I had to remove the taps too. At one end of the bath I have a near 11mm gap between the bath and the tiles. I’ve gone all round the bath tonight filling that gap with waterproof grout. Going to try my hand at masticking tomorrow. Will need to leave it a further day to go off before refitting the taps and the new bath screen. We had to go round my mums place tonight for our shower and will probably do the same tomorrow.

 

[fillyboy]

Took the bath screen off in preparation for a replacement and started digging out the old mastic around the bath as I’m replacing that too. Took bloody ages and I had to remove the taps too. At one end of the bath I have a near 11mm gap between the bath and the tiles. I’ve gone all round the bath tonight filling that gap with waterproof grout. Going to try my hand at masticking tomorrow. Will need to leave it a further day to go off before refitting the taps and the new bath screen. We had to go round my mums place tonight for our shower and will probably do the same tomorrow.

I don't think grout would be the go to for that gap, I'd have gone for silicone to help bond the bath to the wall, then a finishing bead when that's gone off.

These are very good from screwfix, bit of a knack to using them but a really good finish can be achieved.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

 

[aveatry]

I don't think grout would be the go to for that gap, I'd have gone for silicone to help bond the bath to the wall, then a finishing bead when that's gone off.

These are very good from screwfix, bit of a knack to using them but a really good finish can be achieved.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

I use masking tape on the wall and on the bath or where ever I am using silicone

 

[Mottie]

I don't think grout would be the go to for that gap, I'd have gone for silicone to help bond the bath to the wall, then a finishing bead when that's gone off.

These are very good from screwfix, bit of a knack to using them but a really good finish can be achieved.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

I looked at ready made grout and it said 'suitable for gaps of up to 4mm' so I ended up getting some powdered stuff that said 'suitable for gaps of 3-15mm'. Oh well, it’s in now and I’m not digging that out so going to mastic it later today. If it falls out I’ll have another go another time - I’m reaching my boredom threshold for this job now! I've bought this tool to apply my mastic but I’m going to mask it off too.

 

[Mottie]

I don't think grout would be the go to for that gap, I'd have gone for silicone to help bond the bath to the wall, then a finishing bead when that's gone off.

These are very good from screwfix, bit of a knack to using them but a really good finish can be achieved.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

I looked at ready made grout and it said 'suitable for gaps of up to 4mm' so I ended up getting some powdered stuff that said 'suitable for gaps of 3-15mm'. Oh well, it’s in now and I’m not digging that out so going to mastic it later today. If it falls out I’ll have another go another time - I’m reaching my boredom threshold for this job now! I've bought this tool to apply my mastic but I’m going to mask it off too.

Well, that went as expected - bloody ten times worse that what it was like before I started! Made a complete and utter balls up of it. Did a fine job of masking up, did a fine job of applying it but I thought the mastic was a little on the 'liquid' side of the scale. Pulled the masking tape off and it just lifted everything up. Went everywhere. Tried to smooth it out with my finger but it was as soft and as sticky as a baby' turd. Mrs Mottie was all "Oh dear…" but I knew she was thinking 'You should have got a mastic man in like I’ve been saying for the last 6 months you stupid git' or something along those lines. Oh well, time to get a man in…..

 

[fillyboy]

Well, that went as expected - bloody ten times worse that what it was like before I started! Made a complete and utter balls up of it. Did a fine job of masking up, did a fine job of applying it but I thought the mastic was a little on the 'liquid' side of the scale. Pulled the masking tape off and it just lifted everything up. Went everywhere. Tried to smooth it out with my finger but it was as soft and as sticky as a baby' turd. Mrs Mottie was all "Oh dear…" but I knew she was thinking 'You should have got a mastic man in like I’ve been saying for the last 6 months you stupid git' or something along those lines. Oh well, time to get a man in…..

Did you use sanitary silicone or one of those 'silicone substitutes'?

 

[Mottie]

Did you use sanitary silicone or one of those 'silicone substitutes'?

I bought the most expensive one that B&Q had. Never seen mastic this ‘wet' before. It had the texture of cream cheese.

 

[Mottie]

I had this already but I wasn’t sure about universal stuff. Would that be okay for a shower?

 

[fillyboy]

Don't know, the first one is a hybrid polymer like ct1 which I have used quite a few times because it has better adhesion, especially on new really shiny baths, the unibond one also isn't a silicone but not something I've used. A good quality sanitary silicone is always easier to apply.

 

[Mottie]

Don't know, the first one is a hybrid polymer like ct1 which I have used quite a few times because it has better adhesion, especially on new really shiny baths, the unibond one also isn't a silicone but not something I've used. A good quality sanitary silicone is always easier to apply.

Thanks. I’ve given up on it. Phoned my builder mate up and he gave me a number to call for someone he uses. I’ve got Mastic Mark coming round tomorrow. I’ve got a few more bits he can do when he’s here too - a couple of windows, front door, kitchen worktop, windowsill….

Bloody blokes on YouTube showing me how easy it is…..