Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

In article .com,
writes:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.
Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

My workmate certainly has a few marks after ~25 years. I carefully
made sure the cut overhung the edge when using a circular saw.
However, I lifted the sheet off, and found I'd cut about 50% through
one of the crank handles.

I've got a kitchen chair and a stool, which were temporaily being
used as a workmate before workmates existed, and they both have
small saw cuts in them.

--
Andrew Gabriel

On 2 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate.

I hope you got him straight to A&E...

--
Frank Erskine

"Frank Erskine" wrote in message
news
On 2 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate.

I hope you got him straight to A&E...

--
Frank Erskine

One of the guys I used to work with told me how he spoiled two 3 metre
worktops while installing his kitchen. He lost the template for the sink, so
decided to draw around the outside of the sink to cut the hole!

When he realised the mistake, he got another worktop and decided to draw
around the piece he'd cut out of the other worktop so as not to make the
same mistake again. I kid you not!

His third mistake was telling me! LOL

Ian

On 2 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

What would have been ironic would have been cutting something like the
legs off an expensive chair from Heal's and wrecking the workmate.
(you have to know the history of the birth of the workmate for this to
make sense!)


--

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

After installing a new heating system, a number of floorboards in the
airing cupboard required replacing it was late on a sunday night, I was
tired and had spent the week puting this system in, but this was the
last bit of work to be done, so I wanted to finish it.

I cut some new ones to size, laid them on the joists to check fit and
then marked the postion of the water pipes on top of them. I took them
back out to clear debris from the floor void.

I replaced them and started to screw them down carefully avoiding the
marked lines of the pipework beneath. I heard screams from below that
water was gushing through the ceiling.

I then realised that I had put the floorboards back in the wrong bloody
order.

dg

wrote in message
oups.com...
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

Whilst fitting a 13 amp spur, housewife with power off wittering about using
elec kettle for cup of tea with me about 15 minutes away from finishing job.
In the end the noise in my ears got so loud that I just parted the end of
the cable, which was already connected at the supply end, restored the
supply and let her use the kettle. After she'd made her tea I went back to
shorten the cable and forgot to re-isolate it! Those earth leakage breakers
are marvellous! I received no shock, the flash was minimal and my
sidecutters received a miniscule amount of arc damage.

Then there was the time I relit the gas boiler without purging it properly
first - and lost the kitchen window.

That's all for now, my soul feels totally unburdened. :^)

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:45:46 +0100, Frank Erskine
wrote:

On 2 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate.

I hope you got him straight to A&E...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

We've all made them it!
More than once I've cut timber too short due to not being careful.
Now believe and practice "Measure twice - cut once".

Regards,
Eddie

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

Not me... (I keep 'em quiet...)

FWIW Black and Decker have an excellent after-sales service... they were
once able to provide me with new handles for a 30-year-old workmate (obe
of the originals) and did so FOC!

David

The message
from "Eddie G0EHV" contains these words:

More than once I've cut timber too short due to not being careful.
Now believe and practice "Measure twice - cut once".

Ah, I remember first my grandad, then my dad teaching me that. And now
my son knows it.

And, it helps. The other day it helped me cut a bit of cedar to exactly
the right length. Such a shame it was the wrong bit of cedar, the
remaining bit being too short to replace the bit I'd amputated.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

More than once I've cut timber too short due to not being careful.
Now believe and practice "Measure twice - cut once".

Regards,
Eddie

Or as my time served cabinet maker father used to say, keep your wood as
long as you can, as long as you can.

Dave

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for
standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of
some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say
the least.


Hi Tim

I have a largish offcut of 18mm ply left over from a job, you are welcome to
whatever you need. I also have a cheque for the Ramada gig you covered for
me. Pop round Sunday.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

I never make them :-)

(waits for lightning strike).


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In message .com,
writes
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

No ...

hth

--
geoff

dg wrote:
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

After installing a new heating system, a number of floorboards in the
airing cupboard required replacing it was late on a sunday night, I was
tired and had spent the week puting this system in, but this was the
last bit of work to be done, so I wanted to finish it.

I cut some new ones to size, laid them on the joists to check fit and
then marked the postion of the water pipes on top of them. I took them
back out to clear debris from the floor void.

I replaced them and started to screw them down carefully avoiding the
marked lines of the pipework beneath. I heard screams from below that
water was gushing through the ceiling.

I always think you're not a seasoned DIY-er until you've had water
gushing through the ceiling!

Jon.

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

Worryingly, I've done all the things that others have mentioned on this
thread so far:
Cut through workmate - yes
Water through ceiling - yes
Not isolated electrics - yes (when I was 14 - and I got entry and exit
burns to prove it!)
Holes too big in a wortop - yes.

Perhaps I should give up on DIY before I kill myself!

Jon.

In article .com,
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Expensive. They're about 40 quid to replace.

--
*Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

The message . com
from "Tournifreak" contains these words:

Not isolated electrics - yes (when I was 14 - and I got entry and exit
burns to prove it!)

Have you tried stripping a live mains cable with your teeth? If not, I
heartily suggest you avoid it.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut
right through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut
through at about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw
(B&Q, £25) and I didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not
much use for standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to
get hold of some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but
inconvenient to say the least.

Expensive. They're about 40 quid to replace.

Depends on the model,but yes 40GBP is minium.

However a trip to the lumber yard will get you the same wood and thickness
for a small amount of money.
All you have to do is cut it to size and glue a piece of laminate flooring
on top of the two peices. ;-)

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for
standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of
some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say
the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

I've done the same thing,however I usually cut wood going along the full
gap between the jaws,but the depth of cut was not set resulting in me
cutting through one side of the steel arms below the jaws. :-(

Just as well I can weld.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

On 2 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!


Looked about in the loft for somewhere to cut the loft boards I was
putting in, decided that the open hatch was ideal to put the boards on
while cutting them with the jigsaw....

While sawing a car up with my new electric saw managed to just about
cut though the sill and axle stand underneath it.


Mark S.

Eddie G0EHV wrote:
More than once I've cut timber too short due to not being careful. Now
believe and practice "Measure twice - cut once".

Then cut it again, and a third time - and dammit, it's still too short.


--
Ian White

"Eddie G0EHV" wrote in
:

More than once I've cut timber too short due to not being careful.
Now believe and practice "Measure twice - cut once".

That doesn't work for me, pipe, timber etc, it's always

"Measure umpteen times from all directions, cut once - it's still too b****
short"

mike

"Tournifreak" wrote in message
ups.com...

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

Worryingly, I've done all the things that others have mentioned on this
thread so far:
Cut through workmate - yes

My old workmate has plenty of nicks, I think the new ones are pretty much
damage free.

Water through ceiling - yes

Yep many years ago replacing a immersion in a Fortic cylinder, wasn't too
clued up on how header tanks work at that time :-)

Not isolated electrics - yes (when I was 14 - and I got entry and exit
burns to prove it!)

Always been pretty good with that. Though I was nearly electrocuted by the
YTS boy years ago, twice, little prat!

Holes too big in a wortop - yes.

That's next week ;-)

My classic - architrave or coving cut wrong handed, so many bloody times!

H

On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 23:09:42 +0100, "HLAH"
wrote:


My classic - architrave or coving cut wrong handed, so many bloody times!


The next time that bloody happens to me, I'm going to say "sod it,
we'll have the coving running down the wall in that corner."

Cheers,

Colin.

In message , writes
On 2 Sep,
"Tournifreak" wrote:

I always think you're not a seasoned DIY-er until you've had water
gushing through the ceiling!

I haven't had water gushing through the ceiling, it was worse, My best DIY
beer! I had put a dust cover over the tap but left it turned on. The cover
blew off when the barrel pressurised, the first I knew was the amber nectar
gushing through the ceiling.

Pah - I got woken up one morning by a bomb going off

well, actually it was a water cooler container (the best thing I could
find for brewing in Indonesia). I sealed it when I thought it had just
about finished fermenting, just to build up a bit of pressure

.... covered the whole room in a layer of foaming must

glad I had a servant to clean it up for me


--
geoff

wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

I backed a landrover into mine.

The message
from The Natural Philosopher contains these words:

I backed a landrover into mine.

I reversed over my favourite Primus stove.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut
right through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut
through at about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw
(B&Q, £25) and I didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not
much use for standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to
get hold of some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but
inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess
their cock ups!

I backed a landrover into mine.

What mine was that then? ;-)

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

raden wrote:
In message , writes
On 2 Sep,
"Tournifreak" wrote:

I always think you're not a seasoned DIY-er until you've had water
gushing through the ceiling!

I haven't had water gushing through the ceiling, it was worse, My best
DIY
beer! I had put a dust cover over the tap but left it turned on. The
cover
blew off when the barrel pressurised, the first I knew was the amber
nectar
gushing through the ceiling.

Pah - I got woken up one morning by a bomb going off

well, actually it was a water cooler container (the best thing I could
find for brewing in Indonesia). I sealed it when I thought it had just
about finished fermenting, just to build up a bit of pressure

Once had that happen as a kid making ginger beer, only with a glass
lemonade bottle. Pretty darned spectacular I can tell you... glad
nobody was in the room when it went off!

David

In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut
right through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut
through at about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw
(B&Q, £25) and I didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not
much use for standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to
get hold of some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but
inconvenient to say the least.

Expensive. They're about 40 quid to replace.

Depends on the model,but yes 40GBP is minium.

However a trip to the lumber yard will get you the same wood and thickness
for a small amount of money.
All you have to do is cut it to size and glue a piece of laminate flooring
on top of the two peices. ;-)

The ply jaws on my workmate split after a couple of years service and
got replaced with some nice hardwood from a fire surround that got
stripped out, and still going strong after 18 years, though I do need
some more of the little plastic peg stops.



--
bof at bof dot me dot uk

bof wrote:
In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut
right through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut
through at about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw
(B&Q, £25) and I didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not
much use for standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able
to get hold of some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but
inconvenient to say the least.

Expensive. They're about 40 quid to replace.

Depends on the model,but yes 40GBP is minium.

However a trip to the lumber yard will get you the same wood and
thickness for a small amount of money.
All you have to do is cut it to size and glue a piece of laminate
flooring on top of the two peices. ;-)

The ply jaws on my workmate split after a couple of years service and
got replaced with some nice hardwood from a fire surround that got
stripped out, and still going strong after 18 years, though I do need
some more of the little plastic peg stops.

Spare parts section, B&D indoor,
http://tinyurl.co.uk/foes

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes
bof wrote:
In message , The3rd
Earl Of Derby writes
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:
Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut
right through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut
through at about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw
(B&Q, £25) and I didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not
much use for standing on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able
to get hold of some hefty ply to knock up some replacements, but
inconvenient to say the least.

Expensive. They're about 40 quid to replace.

Depends on the model,but yes 40GBP is minium.

However a trip to the lumber yard will get you the same wood and
thickness for a small amount of money.
All you have to do is cut it to size and glue a piece of laminate
flooring on top of the two peices. ;-)

The ply jaws on my workmate split after a couple of years service and
got replaced with some nice hardwood from a fire surround that got
stripped out, and still going strong after 18 years, though I do need
some more of the little plastic peg stops.

Spare parts section, B&D indoor,
http://tinyurl.co.uk/foes

Thanks, looks useful, though it works out at £15.59 for a set of four
inc. P&P, but it did get me looking around, there's a few places doing
them on eBay for c. £5, search for: workmate pegs.


--
bof at bof dot me dot uk

bof wrote:

Spare parts section, B&D indoor,
http://tinyurl.co.uk/foes

Thanks, looks useful, though it works out at £15.59 for a set of four
inc. P&P, but it did get me looking around, there's a few places doing
them on eBay for c. £5, search for: workmate pegs.

I dont use the pegs, I've made some dowling the same diam as the holes and
glued&screwed the dowl pegs to a strip of 1'3/8" piece of wood the lenght
of the table.

Just dump the wood strip in the holes when I need it.


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

wrote:

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!


{deep denial} whats a mistake? {/denial}{/denial}{/denial}


NT

wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth.

Ply? Was that an old Workmate ? 8-) Most of my Workmates have good
quality birch ply tops on them by now, partly to reduce damage, partly
to replace the crappy MDF they're generally supplied with these days.
Fix it decently and you'll have _improved_ the thing.

When I make trestles for big framing, I make them with softwood top
members that are deliberately at least a blade radius higher than any
fixing metalwork. Now I can just saw straight through the tops, without
trying to arrange any dangerous overhangs. They last surprisingly well
and it's a lot easier to re-make some more trestles every year than it
is to worry about where I'm sawing.

Tage Frid told a nice story of apprentices with a foreman who charged
them a Danish kroner each time they put an accidental cut into their
workbench. Finally one of the apprentices was leaving to join the army
and he prominently gave the foreman a last kroner "as he'd cut the
bench". The foreman was pleased with his honesty, until he'd left and
he saw the bench -- now sawn completely in two.

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 04:46:12 -0700, deckertim wrote:

Whilst cutting some mdf and in a bit of a hurry I managed to cut right
through my workmate. Both of the pieces of ply are now cut through at
about 80% depth. I was using a brand new circular saw (B&Q, £25) and I
didn't even feel any increased resistance! So not much use for standing
on anymore. Not too bad as I should be able to get hold of some hefty
ply to knock up some replacements, but inconvenient to say the least.

Just made we wonder whether anyone else felt the need to confess their
cock ups!

There are some deep (and very neat) slots in the ally frame of the
vertical circular saw rig at our local B&Q :-)

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Ian"
saying something like:

When he realised the mistake, he got another worktop and decided to draw
around the piece he'd cut out of the other worktop so as not to make the
same mistake again. I kid you not!

Priceless.
--

Dave

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Lobster
saying something like:

well, actually it was a water cooler container (the best thing I could
find for brewing in Indonesia). I sealed it when I thought it had just
about finished fermenting, just to build up a bit of pressure

Once had that happen as a kid making ginger beer, only with a glass
lemonade bottle. Pretty darned spectacular I can tell you... glad
nobody was in the room when it went off!

I blame Blue Peter for that. I carefully copied the recipe but something
was missing - it was the instruction to release pressure every so often.
A batch of half a dozen bottles blew up in the kitchen and peppered the
walls with glass shrapnel - TF the kitchen was empty.
--

Dave

The message
from Huge contains these words:

(***Favourite*** Primus stove?!??!?!?!?!?!?)

Yeah. I've got a few. Can't be more than seven or eight.

But I can give up any time.

Just don't look too closely at the collection of Tilley/Optimus/Primus lamps.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.