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1

General Discussion Area / Re: scrap prices,

« on: 17 February 2015, 23:37:48 »

I'm about to scrap my winter hack feista and have been told not to expect much! That's how I know the recent prices.

2

General Discussion Area / Re: scrap prices,

« on: 17 February 2015, 21:01:15 »

I do work for 2 different scrap yards and its bad. Over here its 50 a ton. Its goin to be worse than 2008. For, they reckon, a year as emr ( a big scrap dealer) is loading a boat as we speak, if it was set to rise they would have waited. Nobody is buying scrap and some of the big buyers around the world have started selling. Even copper is half the price it was here!
 The price is dropping daily, from what they told me.

3

General Discussion Area / Re: Slow Down

« on: 16 February 2015, 11:55:11 »

That is a terrific idea. I've actually an idea akin to that for a while. It may sound a bit 'fascist' but imagine a 'National Car' - the nearest example in history being the Beetle, coincidentally. But every new driver has one of these neat, simple, standard 3-dr hatch design, be made in Britain, would do wonders for the economy, and you get your immaculate  brand new or refurbished as-new machine, which is then inspected after a year. You've got a black box tracking your driving style, and if, after that year you've covered it in parking dents or worse, well, tough titty, you haven't graduated. Stay on in 'Year 1', until you can drive better. Potentially a second driving test after a year, as well? Until you've proven you can cope with that, then you can't move on. Potentially for Year 2 you have a bhp or cc limit, and then on off you go, get a Scooby or whatever, but it's almost like any idiot can try to drive properly for the duration of the 10-15 hours 'learning to drive', but then you can drive like a complete prickend the instant you're let loose on your own vehicle.

As I say, potentially 'fascist' in its appearance, but the advantages are massive - and not dissimilar to how you learn to ride a motorbike - with 125cc limits etc..

Not a bad idea. Will be good for UK manufacturing and also remove the "my willy's bigger than yours" factor from young drivers, as they'll all be the same.

Over here everybody has to display an 'R' plate for the first year after passing their test. Its the same style as a 'L' plate. Means that they are restricted to 45mph. Works well untill motorway! 
Once you see the r plate you know what to expect. Also a good target for the police. Fines and usually an extension if not displayed, I should know!

4

General Car Chat / Re: Tool snobbery: right or wrong?

« on: 15 February 2015, 00:59:36 »

The one thing I would say about SO is buy there socks, there warm and really long lasting. Haven't worn out a pair yet. 

5

General Discussion Area / Re: Minimum age for driving

« on: 13 February 2015, 20:05:47 »

The republic of ireland had the age at 17 for some cases. Seen 17yr olds driving brand new daf xfs at 40t being driven by them regular. And they where going to england etc. They are still driving today as I see them regular and where pretty good with the trucks, didn't abuse them etc. This was at least 10 yrs ago, and there was some rule about it, maybe could only drive for there family or something.

6

General Car Chat / Re: Tool snobbery: right or wrong?

« on: 13 February 2015, 19:53:34 »

I'm the same with the engraving, everything had to be. I have a good lidl set for the back of the jeep, £70 and all 3 socket sizes and full set spanners.
 Was in a workshop yesterday where a fella had spent 10 grand on a SO rollcab that he now regrets. Its nice but why? Takes 2 people to even move it, about 7ft long 6ft high and full of tools.

7

General Car Chat / Re: Tool snobbery: right or wrong?

« on: 12 February 2015, 20:22:46 »

Back on the original topic...

I noticed the full time mech. had got a new set of spanners.

10-19mm. Snap-off.

Guesses on how much he paid......?

£80 if standard and on offer?  £150 plus if special like long or flank drive?

8

General Car Chat / Re: Tool snobbery: right or wrong?

« on: 10 February 2015, 23:40:04 »

I have a right mix.


I keep a Halfords set in the truck, because for £100 it covers everything I'm likely to need, and it doesn't matter much if I leave it at the side of the road. And yes, I have done that.


I have Halfords Industrial rollcabs and topboxes at home and work. The get both for £400 deal is how I bought the work set; the ones at home were £100 each as ex-display. I have  Britool step-up box at home, which is the same size and adds 4 more drawers.


I have Snap-on 1/4 and 3/8 sockets & ratchets in my box at work, plus 8 to 19mm spanners. Most of these were bought as promotions or secondhand; normal prices are extortionate. The ratchets are well used, as I've 'found' them over the years. I do find the basic SO tools to be excellent, but that is the absolute minimum that is acceptable considering the cost. I can't imagine ever spending the money necessary for SO boxes, and I cannot see why anyone would buy them without the tools to fill them. We no longer have the rep turn up at work, so the 'easy to warranty' doesn't really apply.


SO ratchet screwdrivers are the only ones I've found worth having, and have 3 sets; one for the truck, one for work and one at home. This is probably extravagant, but it's only money.


I have a load of Sealey stuff, which is pretty good, well priced and easy to find. Plus they do all sorts of special stuff, which tends to be much cheaper and just as good as SO equivalents.


I also have a load of unbranded stuff for odd jobs; like bearing pullers, brake windback tools and the like.


As I go to several shows each year, I often buy from traders, so I have lots of Eclipse pliers, saws snips etc, none of which were more than £5new. I once bought a number of Bahco files and handles, and got some funny looks at work when I on burnt the handles as they'd never seen that before!


I do find that it is worth buying branded cutting tools, like files, chisels, saw blades and snips.

It is also worth keeping some cheaper spanners for modifying to do awkward jobs, as heating and bending a £15 SO spanner really hurts!

 I'm probably the same. I've a lot of different makes (14 sets of spanners at last count, the dearest being SO flank drive which are great for injector pipes and a £8 set which are really thin for getting at air voss fittings on air valves), the only make I don't have are halfrauds. The big bonus with S0 and mac is the rep called every week and you got tools on the trip. £30 a week for 7 yrs fairly adds up when, at one time there was 3 vans coming in. At the minute I have 3 armstrong swivel long handle ratchets which are taking some abuse and I'm very impressed with. As said SO ratchet screwdrivers are the best and mac for non insulated crimping pliers for terminals in multiplugs.  Also with being self employed I'm better spending money on tools rather than giving it to the tax man. 
 Has the op ever been on a proper SO van? I've just finished wiring one at it still amazes me after 20 yrs. A tool for every job!

9

General Car Chat / Re: Which car do I sell? One has to go :(

« on: 29 January 2015, 23:42:10 »

Put the black in storage untill the range rover dies. Tell the swmbo that you sold it, then when the v8 goes, suddenly the omega is for sale and you got it back. Simples.

10

General Discussion Area / Re: Snowing

« on: 29 January 2015, 20:03:59 »

Left my workshop 20mins ago and it just started raining. Drove home 8miles to carrick, which is beside sea, to no snow and bits of slush. Very little wind though.

11

General Discussion Area / Re: Snowing

« on: 29 January 2015, 18:55:31 »

Had about inch this morning with main roads clear, but snowed on off all day. Just had enough again to blanket the place and make roads slippery again. I'm above belfast in the hills and belfast is clear.  Also armagh had reported 20cm in places. Starting to freeze now.

12

General Car Chat / Re: LDV Maxus Panel van ?

« on: 06 October 2014, 12:36:59 »

Spoke to the mate who worked on ldv from 92 till now. Maxus are ok if not abused. Euro 4 engines can chew  the crank if oil changes neglected due to egr. E 3 engines far better with v little failures unless really neglected. E 4 has an afm and egr where E 3 didn't. Most parts still available apart from some panels. He has customers who would by more if they could and others who hate them. Ldv computer still works so he can still do anything like keys and ecu's etc. He breaks the vans regular as worth more that way, he always has a good stock of parts.
Basically buy a maxus with a good service history and not abused.
 I also don't like them and hate the centre dash.

13

General Car Chat / Re: LDV Maxus Panel van ?

« on: 05 October 2014, 20:53:37 »

Worked at the dealership (daf / ldv). As said previously, built cheaply. Especially early ones. No dealership backup so very little dealer only parts. Worth more as parts now. Seen plenty with 200k on them but worth nothing after that. Get a single owner one as better looked after. I can find out what to look for etc tomorrow as a good mate still works on them regular.

Worked on v8 sherpa and convoy's. Police used them over here, could outrun the sprinters back in the day and good fun to drive hard. Some even had lsd's!

14

General Discussion Area / Re: My new logo on profile

« on: 04 October 2014, 21:37:14 »

Lol,we help out the emergency services,community nurses,meals on wheels etc when there is adverse weather conditions 

I do something the same over here with the red cross. Out last year in the snow delivering water and generators. Also we would recover/move cars in the floods if blocking roads with our winches as we can wade through a lot of it. Still in its early stages over here but its a worthy cause and good fun. Raises the profile of 4x4's which always helps.

15

General Car Chat / Re: drivers cpc

« on: 29 September 2014, 19:15:31 »

 

If I wanted to resurrect my lorryist licence I'd have to shell out about £550, as I'd have to have a medical, do the CPC course and buy a new digi-card.    Is it worth it? 

All depends on what work is available around your parts
What I can say for definite is that due to a lot of drivers retiring / kicking it into touch, there is a lot of work in Eire driving across to the continent at the moment if that floats your boat so to speak 

Especially if you know how to use a magnet