On 05/16/2011 10:18 AM, jamesgangnc wrote:
On May 16, 11:16 am, "Steve B" wrote:
We put some fans out on our patio. Over a few years, the blades have
drooped. These blades appear to be some type of luan, about 3/16" wide.
They appear to be either composite plastic, or some form of pulped wood.

Can they be straightened? Maybe put in an oven with some brick weights, and
a pan of water to make a steam chamber out of it? Other suggestions?

If I go buy new ones, are there different materials and grades? The local
ReStore, (the one for Habitat for Humanity) has sets of 5 for $3, and I'll
take them Wednesday when I go to see if the bolt pattern is the same. But
just wondering if these can be salvaged.

Steve

Lot of times the mount is symetrical. If so just flip them.



As a point of reference, see also the following, which was posted in
a.h.r about 2 1/2 years ago.

http://www.diy-forum.net/scariest-th...e-t151205.html


On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:10:06 -0600, "HeyBub" (E-Mail Removed)
wrote:

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
What is the scariest thing in your house?

In my house the scariest thing is that ceiling fan in the living room.
One never knows when the propeller will come off and decapitate me or
someone else. It came with the house and I want it removed. I put a
sign by the switch that says "DO NOT TURN ON". But somehow somone
always turns it on. Then I have to risk my life walking in that room
to shut it off. I dont know why they put dangerous things like this
in houses.

Linda

It's a simple matter to install a safety-chain on ceiling fan blades. A
small length of chain and two bolts per blade are all that is needed. Simply
attach the chain from the metal spoke to the blade and you're good to go.
Works just like the safety chain on a trailer hitch.

Another safety item is to have blade fabricated out of rubber. You can do
this yourself with fairly thick sheet rubber and a sharp knife (use extreme
caution with sharp tools). If the blades DO come off, they'll only cause
bruising (unless they hit you in the eye - use safety glasses while enjoying
the breeze).


This might hold the propeller blades on, but what if the whole fan
comes flying off the ceiling? Instant decapitation. When I was a
child these were not used in houses, but I remember going to a store
with my parents and the ceiling fan in the store got me so scared that
dad had to take me out ot the car while mom shopped. They are
frightening and just dangerous no matter what. There must be better
and safer ways to cool a building.

I told my husband not to buy this house because of that ugly
frightening fan, but he insisted it was a good house and said he would
get the fan professionally removed. That was over 3 years ago, and I
have already threatend to divorce him if he dont get it out of here.
He always says money is tight and there are more important things to
fix, and tells me to just not turn it on. I explained to him that
even if it's off, it could fall on someone and kill them. I am going
to hire someone myself to remove it if he dont do something about it.
Even if it means the end of our marriage. I just cant live in a house
with that thing anymore. Especially since it seems to turn itself on,
because my husband said he never turns it on, and the kids know if
they turn it on, they will be severely punished. So it must turn
itself on. Either it leave this house, or I will take the kids and
leave.

Linda