What's your most stupid DIY cockup?

[Mentalguy2k8]

Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

[Graham.]

Yesterday I needed an emergency shoe shine. Didn't have my glasses on.
guess which one I used?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/8738444589/in/photostream/lightbox/

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Dis Manibus]

"Mentalguy2k8" <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me...

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

I have a memorable DIY 'near miss'. I was sawing through my mum and dad's
kitchen units, with a view to making it easier to rip them out. As I was
getting near the floor, and going through the trim at the bottom, I thought
I'd take a look behind, to see if anything was in the way. There, right
under the blade was the plastic mains water feed pipe, coming into the
kitchen some two feet away from the wall. Am I ever glad I stopped at that
moment.

[The Natural Philosopher]

1/. leaving a full bottle of woodworking glue standing on the studwork
when I covered it in plasterboard.

2/. Turning off the cold mains supply, to work on the hot side of a
sealed pressurised hot water system and not telling my wife not to flush
the loo..and open the taps..oh dear air enters via unclosed ballcock
valve, and cold taps and tank of hot water in roof drains ALL OVER the
bathroom and drips into sitting room as I rush to attic to close gate
valve ...

3/. It probably doesn't count as DIY, but the classic case of building
two left wings on a model aeroplane.

4/. Believing that when SWMBO says "I want it there" she has actually
thought about it, and means it...

--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

[Tim Watts]

Almost a Frank Spencer moment :)

Mine was:

Old car, door lock screwdrivered. Had MIG - so decided to weld a plate in.

Forgot I had the window open, so the weld spatter hot it full force so that
when wound up, a 4inch2 area was like a thimble's surface.

Went to scrappy to get new glass turning a job that was the cost of 2 cans
of spray paint (filler-primer and top coat) into a rather more expensive
excercise.

Still, you could not see the repair after I had resprayed the whole door :)

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

Reading this on the web? See:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet

[Lobster]

On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Putting a nail through a gas pipe...?


...on a bank holiday :(

--
David

[The Medway Handyman]

As a teenager, when aerosol deodorants fist became popular, I sprayed my
mums hair lacquer under my arms in error. I actually did it on two
mornings before I noticed.

It certainly stops you sweating :-)


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

[The Medway Handyman]

On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Can't call yourself a DIY plumber until you have done that. BTDTGTTS.

Sawing through the top of your workmate.

Drilling into a cable you installed yesterday.

And Desmonds - installing a steel spray arch in a car wash - with it
between his van & the door....

[fred]

In article <kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me>, Mentalguy2k8
<Mental...@gmail.com> writes

>Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

Mentioning this group in another, resulting in a well known poster there
thinking it was acceptable to include this group in their
socio-political ramblings.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

[bm]

"Mentalguy2k8" <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me...

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

1 of our 2 lounge lights stopped working (2 ceiling fans with 3 lamps each)
both on a double dimmer. Friggin dimmers I thought so went and bought a new
one, fitted it, one light still wouldn't work. Remember how the fans have
pull-cords? We NEVER use them for the lights but wifey had pulled the
friggin thing :)

[polygonum]

On 14/05/2013 21:11, Graham. wrote:

Should have used real shoe polish!

--
Rod

[John Rumm]

10pm Sunday night in my case ;-)



--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Bob Eager]

Mentioning lightning conductors in this group and getting the w_tom loony
again.



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
My posts (including this one) are my copyright and if @diy_forums on
Twitter wish to tweet them they can pay me £30 a post
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Graham.]

On Tue, 14 May 2013 22:37:58 +0100, polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk>
wrote:

I got a tin in Tesco today to cover up the area I bleached!

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Ericp]

On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
<Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:

Draining the blocked sink into a bucket by removing the pipe from the
underneath of the sink and then happily standing up and emptying the
bucket into the sink and thinking NOOOOOOoooo as the water washed over
my feet.

[Graham.]

uk.rec.sheds got a mention in my daughters Linguistics dissertation.
She still graduated with a first.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Graham.]

Finding switches or other features in your car as you clean it prior
to selling it.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[The Natural Philosopher]

+1 BTDTGTTS

[Bob Eager]

Did that with the Galaxy after owning it for three years. Never knew
there were little lockers in the front doors...

[Bob Eager]

On Wed, 15 May 2013 00:01:32 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 14/05/13 23:47, Ericp wrote:
>> On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
>> <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
>>> under running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single
>>> time.
>> Draining the blocked sink into a bucket by removing the pipe from the
>> underneath of the sink and then happily standing up and emptying the
>> bucket into the sink and thinking NOOOOOOoooo as the water washed over
>> my feet.
> +1 BTDTGTTS

I think we all have!

[Theo Markettos]

Mentalguy2k8 <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Parked car in the 'short stay' bays at the station to drop somebody off.
Come back to the car and the key got stuck in the lock and it wouldn't turn.
Pulled out the Haynes manual and proceeded to try to hotwire the car (in
full view of passers by). Eventually gave up and called the RAC. RAC man
took off the steering wheel lock (which I'd never heard of before) and it
worked fine.

Theo

[John Rumm]

On 14/05/2013 22:28, The Medway Handyman wrote:
> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>
> Can't call yourself a DIY plumber until you have done that. BTDTGTTS.

The better version is when you are under the sink, and pass the bucket
out to a helper and ask them to empty it...!

[Scott M]

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

BTDTBetc!

How about: Refurb'ing a friend's tiny kitchen. Same units & new doors,
different worktop, bit of cabling, new tiles and decided that what had
been under the wallpaper could do with a skim. Mate who's a plasterer
comes in and finishes off.

Stood with my friend looking at the drying plaster and:

"How much effort would it be to move that doorway across"

I believe the plasterer is still thinking of suing for damage to his work!

(It was a worthwhile move, the door was off-centre, wasting space and
causing the fridge to block cupboards)

Scott

[harry]

On May 14, 8:34 pm, "Mentalguy2k8" <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under

> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.Ads not by this site

Lay concrete, then absentmindedly walk across it a few
minutes later.

Try to construct a thermal heat store.

[RJH]

Seeing an increasing number of dissertation students use forums as a
source of primary data.

Rob

[sm_jamieson]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:34:43 PM UTC+1, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

I didn't make that mistake.
I remembered to put the plug in - thinking "ooh, close one" !
Then when I'd finished cleaning the waste pipe I pulled out the plug !

Simon.

[fred]

In article <avfroi...@mid.individual.net>, Bob Eager
<news...@eager.cx> writes

>On Tue, 14 May 2013 22:32:10 +0100, fred wrote:
>
>> In article <kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me>, Mentalguy2k8
>> <Mental...@gmail.com> writes
>>>Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>>>running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>>>
>> Mentioning this group in another, resulting in a well known poster there
>> thinking it was acceptable to include this group in their
>> socio-political ramblings.
>
>Mentioning lightning conductors in this group and getting the w_tom loony
>again.
>

Suitably mitigated by your public service sig.

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <m5f*dE...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,

A friend did something similar with a rental car. At end of a
holiday, they were driving one of the people to a railway station
in Spain IIRC, who was going home to Germany by train, before
dropping the car back at the airport and catching a plane home.

When they dropped off the friend at the station, unload his lugguage,
and waved him off, they realised the rental car keys were on the train,
heading off to Germany, and the car was stopped in a no stopping place
outside the station...

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

[Tim Lamb]

In message <kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me>, Mentalguy2k8
<Mental...@gmail.com> writes

>Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

I must have a very selective memory unless you count the occasion when I
foolishly stepped off a 15' ladder onto an asbestos roof that had been
exposed to fire....

--
Tim Lamb

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Don't think I've actually done that and made a mess but I've certainly
got very close. Like replacing bucket used to catch the trap water under
the sink, rinsing the trap, going to empty bucket...

Cutting through the rising main before the inside stopcock was
interesting. In mitigation the "builders" who refurbished this place had
run it through that copper coloured plastic waste pipe through the floor
slab but at a shallow angle. This "waste" pipe didn't appear to go
anywhere it wasn't connected to the sink, and didn't appear the other
side of the units. It was in the way... Hacksaw out, cutting through
nicely, phsssstttt, and water appears in the cut. Fortunately I'd found
the outside stop cock and obtained a key a week or two before (it's
twenty yards down the road in the verge normally buried under grass). It
was only a small cut and inside the "waste" pipe so water wasn't spraying
everywhere for the few minutes it took to get the water turned off.

--
Cheers
Dave.

[polygonum]

On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.

Put it on the cooker at a low setting, went outside to undo another nut
which was stuck fast. Eventually heard an odd popping/bubbling noise.
Kitchen black. Air black. Me black.

Called fire brigade but, luckily, it was all disgusting mess rather than
burning building.

Used spray lubricant thereafter...

--
Rod

[Graham.]

On 15 May 2013 01:59:56 +0100 (BST), Theo Markettos

The first car I had with an integral steering lock

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Graham.]

As I was saying

The first car I had with an integral steering lock had a button on the
underside of the column that you had to press before you could rotate
the key fully anticlockwise which engaged the lock.
So removing the key was a two-handed affair.



--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[F Murtz]

In the days before asbestos was dangerous, cutting a hole in the
asbestos sheeted wall with a circular saw with abrasive blade in it and
cutting through all circuits to the rear of the house, the last one
being the one the saw was on.

[dochol...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:34:43 PM UTC+1, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

More of a near miss, but...
Many years ago I was helping a charity out - they were using a former hospital building owned by the Department of Transport (waiting to be demolished for a bypass). One day I went in and noticed the drains seemed to be overflowing, even though we weren't using much water. A bit of detective work showed that the drain ran along the back of the building, then out to a little housing estate (presumably they'd sold of some of the grounds for development, and the developer just tapped into the existing drain). All the houses were on higher ground, so none had noticed the problem.
Continuing to follow the drain, I finally found a manhole that wasn't full, just before the sewer in the road, and a bit of inspection showed some roots blocking the inlet. Unfortunately the manhole was pretty deep, so although I had a hook around 6 feet long to try to move the roots, I still had to lean a fair way into the hole.
As I removed the blockage a tidal wave of backed up sewage started pouring into the manhole - it rose to within an inch of the top...
Fortunately I was younger and fitter then (and I had expected a fair bit to come through, I'd just underestimated), so I got out just in time, with only a bruise where I'd hit something in my hurry to get out.

[John Rumm]

On 15/05/2013 14:45, dochol...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:34:43 PM UTC+1, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
>> under running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every
>> single time.

> top... Fortunately I was younger and fitter then (and I had expected
> a fair bit to come through, I'd just underestimated), so I got out
> just in time, with only a bruise where I'd hit something in my hurry
> to get out.

Reminds me of a similar episode at my mum's place... she was complaining
of a blocked drain, so I went round with rods etc to help clear. We
finally established that most of the run down the side of the house was
clear, and so it must be the final few yards to the manhole. Alas there
was what they termed a "weaver" in this drain - a vented vertical drop
tube that intercepts the end of the drain and drops it about another 3
or 4 feet before it enters the manhole. This means you can't rod right
through from the top, and rodding down the weaver was not shifting it
either. So mother decides we need to go down the manhole and rod back up
the last bit of pipe. I was going to do the gallant thing, but she
insisted on going down since she was wearing old clothes already (and in
those days, enthusiasm often got the better of her)...

So there she is at the bottom of this probably 10 - 12' deep hole
banging away with a couple of rods against some blockage (I don't think
she had thought this one through to the logical conclusion!) Then after
a moment there was a loud gurgle, and a sound of rushing water.
Realisation rapidly downed that she was about to be in the shit
(literally). There are foot holds set into the wall, but they were not
quick to scale in a panic. There was a scream, and I saw this hand reach
into the air for assistance. So I reached down, grabbed it and pulled
hard. Fortunately the combination of 5' something diddy mother, and
somewhat larger me, meant she came out of the hole like a cork out of a
bottle - with nothing more than slightly damp shoes!

[John Rumm]

On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

I think the most powerfully dumb one must be sticking your hand into the
back of a planer thicknesser to sweep out some shavings, but forgetting
you have not turned it off!

[Man at B&Q]

On 14 May, 20:34, "Mentalguy2k8" <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Using a pipe cutter to cut the service valve (closed) off the end of
the cold feed to the wachine machine without checking that, however
tortuous the route would need to be, it might, just might, be
connected to the rising main.

MBQ

[harry]

Linklyfe? I remember it well.

[Lobster]

On 15/05/2013 11:53, polygonum wrote:
> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>
> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>
> Put it on the cooker at a low setting

Do bikers still do that, or is it one of these things that's confined to
history?

I used to do it regularly in my own motorcycling days about 30 years
ago, in my Mum's kitchen; she nearly had a fit every time, convinced it
was going to end badly one way ot another. Happy to report that it
*never* did!
--
David

[polygonum]

No idea...

http://www.putoline.com/en/products/catalogue/segp_offroad/pchmp/559/off-road/chain-maintenance-products/chain-wax/

--
Rod

[tim......]

"Graham." <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:r065p8lvsi488so9j...@4ax.com...

> On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"

> <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>>running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>
>

> Yesterday I needed an emergency shoe shine. Didn't have my glasses on.
> guess which one I used?
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/8738444589/in/photostream/lightbox/

so the "safety" cap wasn't a give-away then?

tim

[tim......]

"The Medway Handyman" <davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:u0ykt.42624$uG4....@fx11.fr7...

> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

> Can't call yourself a DIY plumber until you have done that. BTDTGTTS.
>

> Sawing through the top of your workmate.

isn't that what they're for?

[The Natural Philosopher]

No, generally they are there to fetch the tools ...

--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

[tim......]

"The Natural Philosopher" <t...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:kn0kfd$kls$3...@news.albasani.net...

> On 15/05/13 19:23, tim...... wrote:
>>
>> "The Medway Handyman" <davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:u0ykt.42624$uG4....@fx11.fr7...
>>> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>>>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>>>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>>>
>>> Can't call yourself a DIY plumber until you have done that. BTDTGTTS.
>>>
>>> Sawing through the top of your workmate.
>>
>> isn't that what they're for?
>>
>>
> No, generally they are there to fetch the tools ...

Oh

I thought that sort were just there to sit in the van, ready to move it when
a warden comes along

:-)

[Bob Eager]

I used to have to do it on a Primus in the garden.



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
My posts (including this one) are my copyright and if @diy_forums on
Twitter wish to tweet them they can pay me £30 a post
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Dis Manibus]

"Bob Eager" <news...@eager.cx> wrote in message
news:avi4lh...@mid.individual.net...

> On Wed, 15 May 2013 18:51:59 +0100, Lobster wrote:
>
>> On 15/05/2013 11:53, polygonum wrote:
>>> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>>>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
>>>> under running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single
>>>> time.
>>>
>>> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>>>
>>> Put it on the cooker at a low setting
>>
>> Do bikers still do that, or is it one of these things that's confined to
>> history?
>>
>> I used to do it regularly in my own motorcycling days about 30 years
>> ago, in my Mum's kitchen; she nearly had a fit every time, convinced it
>> was going to end badly one way ot another. Happy to report that it
>> *never* did!
>
> I used to have to do it on a Primus in the garden.

Also used to roast copper head gaskets on one. Not sure if that actually did
anything, though.

[polygonum]

On 15/05/2013 20:06, Bob Eager wrote:
> On Wed, 15 May 2013 18:51:59 +0100, Lobster wrote:
>
>> On 15/05/2013 11:53, polygonum wrote:
>>> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>>>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
>>>> under running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single
>>>> time.
>>>
>>> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>>>
>>> Put it on the cooker at a low setting
>>
>> Do bikers still do that, or is it one of these things that's confined to
>> history?
>>
>> I used to do it regularly in my own motorcycling days about 30 years
>> ago, in my Mum's kitchen; she nearly had a fit every time, convinced it
>> was going to end badly one way ot another. Happy to report that it
>> *never* did!
>
> I used to have to do it on a Primus in the garden.
>
>
>

I wished I had done something like that! Especially as we actually had a
Camping Gaz stove that would have done the job easily.

--
Rod

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 7:34 a.m., Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Not mine, a friend's (honest! he told me about it yesterday). He was 8m
up a ladder trimming branches. A branch fell and knocked the ladder out
from under him. He was incredibly lucky, falling on the ladder which
was on top of branches, cushioning his fall. Only bad bruising.

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 9:32 a.m., fred wrote:
> In article <kmu3dh$o7g$1...@dont-email.me>, Mentalguy2k8
> <Mental...@gmail.com> writes

>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>>

> Mentioning this group in another, resulting in a well known poster there
> thinking it was acceptable to include this group in their
> socio-political ramblings.

It's anthropological.

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 10:47 a.m., Ericp wrote:
> On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
> <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

> Draining the blocked sink into a bucket by removing the pipe from the
> underneath of the sink and then happily standing up and emptying the
> bucket into the sink and thinking NOOOOOOoooo as the water washed over
> my feet.
>

I think we've all done something very like that. A variation is taking
the waste pipe off then washing the muck off your hands in the sink.

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 7:46 p.m., sm_jamieson wrote:

> On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:34:43 PM UTC+1, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>>
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

> I didn't make that mistake.
> I remembered to put the plug in - thinking "ooh, close one" !
> Then when I'd finished cleaning the waste pipe I pulled out the plug !
>
> Simon.
>

LOL!

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 7:34 a.m., Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Most stupid and life-threatening..

I was working on a concrete balcony, with a wooden railing on steel
posts, which at the bottom are welded to horizontal steel pegs (hollow,
as it turns out) embedded in the concrete. I had disconnected the
railing sections from each other to repair and paint them, and the
section I was working on was about 1m long. I was leaning all my weight
on it, trying to reach a bit of the post near the bottom on the outside,
when the whole thing started to give way. The pegs, probably weakened
by rust under the paint, were bending surprisingly willingly. Somehow I
managed to pull myself back before crashing head-first onto the concrete
below. The sturdiness of the posts was very misleading.

[Alexander Lamaison]

She sounds fun. Swap?

Alex

[Gib Bogle]

On 15/05/2013 10:53 p.m., polygonum wrote:

> On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>

> Put it on the cooker at a low setting, went outside to undo another nut
> which was stuck fast. Eventually heard an odd popping/bubbling noise.
> Kitchen black. Air black. Me black.
>

I did that! It was a saucepan full of grease. Everything in the
kitchen was blackened with greasy soot. That was 46 years ago..

[Scion]

Huge put finger to keyboard:

> Nikwax burns nicely. Don't ask me how I know.

After a particularly wet camping holiday, my Mum decided the next time to
Nikwax everything she could get her hands on. Including towels.

[David P]

On Wed, 15 May 2013 00:18:47 -0700, harry wrote:

> On May 14, 8:34 pm, "Mentalguy2k8" <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under

>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.Ads
>> not by this site
>
> Lay concrete, then absentmindedly walk across it a few minutes later.
>
> Try to construct a thermal heat store.

Taking the top instead of the bottom off a door to go over a carpet.

David

[ARW]

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
> under running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single
> time.

Mine was when my parents chest freezer failed and to remove it also required
the sink in the utility room to be removed. I took off the sink trap and
passed it to my Dad. He emptied it down the sink whilst I was still
underneath it.


--
Adam

[ARW]

harry wrote:

> On May 14, 8:34 pm, "Mentalguy2k8" <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it
>> under
>> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single

>> time.Ads not by this site
>
> Lay concrete, then absentmindedly walk across it a few
> minutes later.

Walking on wet concrete is a job for your cat/dog.

--
Adam

[Adam Funk]

On 2013-05-14, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

Leave a bowl under the trap all the time?

[Jim K]

On May 14, 11:47 pm, Ericp <er...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
>

> <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> >running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>

> Draining the blocked sink into a bucket by removing the pipe from the
> underneath of the sink and then happily standing up and emptying the
> bucket into the sink and thinking NOOOOOOoooo as the water washed over
> my feet.

draining old oil - 5+litres - from old tractor, the refilling with
more than 5 litres new expensive oil - without having replaced drain
plug..... bastard ;>))

Jim K

[alan]

On 14/05/2013 20:34, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
> Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.

First ever car Mk3 Cortina and around 6 years old when bought.

I thought it was a good idea to fit an after market oil pressure gauge.
After fitting, the gauge took about 30 seconds to register so I
concluded that I had a problem with oil pressure.

Removed the gauge adapter and asked a friend to start the car while I
checked under the bonnet. As the car started the contents of the sump
shot out of the hole in the adapter, missed my ear by a few inches, hit
the underside bonnet and descended again covering everything within a 3
foot radius.

--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <avh7os...@mid.individual.net>,

polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> writes:
> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>

> Put it on the cooker at a low setting, went outside to undo another nut
> which was stuck fast. Eventually heard an odd popping/bubbling noise.
> Kitchen black. Air black. Me black.
>

> Called fire brigade but, luckily, it was all disgusting mess rather than
> burning building.

Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to
caramel. This requires remembering to return to the saucepan
periodically, to check and top up the water level. Should you forget
to do this for some reason, you are reminded by the bang from the
kitchen as a can of caramel explodes on the stove. There were
caramel stalactites hanging from the ceiling over 20' away from
the cooker...

Nowadays, you can buy the caramel ready-made, but back then, you
had to make it yourself.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <gcudndaOaJnKBA7M...@brightview.co.uk>,

John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> writes:
> Reminds me of a similar episode at my mum's place... she was complaining
> of a blocked drain, so I went round with rods etc to help clear. We
> finally established that most of the run down the side of the house was
> clear, and so it must be the final few yards to the manhole. Alas there
> was what they termed a "weaver" in this drain - a vented vertical drop
> tube that intercepts the end of the drain and drops it about another 3
> or 4 feet before it enters the manhole. This means you can't rod right
> through from the top, and rodding down the weaver was not shifting it
> either. So mother decides we need to go down the manhole and rod back up
> the last bit of pipe. I was going to do the gallant thing, but she
> insisted on going down since she was wearing old clothes already (and in
> those days, enthusiasm often got the better of her)...
>
> So there she is at the bottom of this probably 10 - 12' deep hole
> banging away with a couple of rods against some blockage (I don't think
> she had thought this one through to the logical conclusion!) Then after
> a moment there was a loud gurgle, and a sound of rushing water.
> Realisation rapidly downed that she was about to be in the shit
> (literally). There are foot holds set into the wall, but they were not
> quick to scale in a panic. There was a scream, and I saw this hand reach
> into the air for assistance. So I reached down, grabbed it and pulled
> hard. Fortunately the combination of 5' something diddy mother, and
> somewhat larger me, meant she came out of the hole like a cork out of a
> bottle - with nothing more than slightly damp shoes!

Reminds me of a post here many years ago from a farmer (IIRC) who
had a campsite on his land, and the pipe to the septic tank had
blocked. Had to go into the manhole to rod it from downstream of
the blockage. He had thought to put wellies on, but had not
thought through how much shit a campsite generates, and the
ensueing gush overtopped his wellies before he could get out.

[Frank Erskine]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 14:44:40 -0700 (PDT), Jim K <jk98...@gmail.com>
wrote:

Hee hee - been there, with front fork oil for a motorbike. On a Sunday
in the days before such as Half Frauds were open on such days. I think
I had to resort to trudging to one of those off-licence/motoristy sort
of shops (ca. 1980) to get more (at a rip-off price).

--
Frank Erskine

[Gib Bogle]

On 17/05/2013 10:36 a.m., Andrew Gabriel wrote:
> In article <avh7os...@mid.individual.net>,
> polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> writes:
>> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>>
>> Put it on the cooker at a low setting, went outside to undo another nut
>> which was stuck fast. Eventually heard an odd popping/bubbling noise.
>> Kitchen black. Air black. Me black.
>>
>> Called fire brigade but, luckily, it was all disgusting mess rather than
>> burning building.
>
> Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
> Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
> a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to
> caramel. This requires remembering to return to the saucepan
> periodically, to check and top up the water level. Should you forget
> to do this for some reason, you are reminded by the bang from the
> kitchen as a can of caramel explodes on the stove. There were
> caramel stalactites hanging from the ceiling over 20' away from
> the cooker...

I had to laugh at that mental image..

[george - dicegeorge]

On 15/05/13 14:21, F Murtz wrote:
xxxxxxxx
>>
>
> In the days before asbestos was dangerous, cutting a hole in the
> asbestos sheeted wall with a circular saw with abrasive blade in it and
> cutting through all circuits to the rear of the house, the last one
> being the one the saw was on.

terrible,
[g]

[Apellation Controlee]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 22:36:55 +0000 (UTC), and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk
(Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

----------------8><

>Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
>Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
>a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to
>caramel. This requires remembering to return to the saucepan
>periodically, to check and top up the water level. Should you forget
>to do this for some reason, you are reminded by the bang from the
>kitchen as a can of caramel explodes on the stove. There were
>caramel stalactites hanging from the ceiling over 20' away from
>the cooker...
>
>Nowadays, you can buy the caramel ready-made, but back then, you
>had to make it yourself.

The most significant thing to learn from an event like that is that,
no matter how much heat you push in the bottom, the temperature of the
water itself won't rise above boiling point. [1] The excess energy
gets vented as steam.
The objective, therefore, can be achieved with a gentle simmer (you
can then leave the lid on, and save even more energy).

[1] For all intent and purpose.

[harry]

On May 17, 12:08 am, Frank Erskine <frank.ersk...@btinternet.com>
wrote:
> On Thu, 16 May 2013 14:44:40 -0700 (PDT), Jim K <jk989...@gmail.com>

> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >On May 14, 11:47 pm, Ericp <er...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >> On Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:43 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
>
> >> <Mentalguy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >Mine has to be taking the waste pipe off the sink and cleaning it under
> >> >running water in the same sink without a plug in. Every single time.
>
> >> Draining the blocked sink into a bucket by removing the pipe from the
> >> underneath of the sink and then happily standing up and emptying the
> >> bucket into the sink and thinking NOOOOOOoooo as the water washed over
> >> my feet.
>
> >draining old oil - 5+litres - from old tractor, the refilling with
> >more than 5 litres new expensive oil - without having replaced drain
> >plug..... bastard ;>))

A highly intelligent person I know thought he'd change the oil in his
MR4. He looked in the manual and found how much oil he needed and
bought it.

Then he goes under the car and drains the oil. Replaces plug puts in
measured amount of engine oil and drives off. (Never checks dipstick)
Ten miles later, big bang lots of smoke.
He had drained the gearbox.
So he needed new engine and gear box.

This fellow was an RAF pilot.

[Andy Champ]

On 17/05/2013 07:59, harry wrote:
> A highly intelligent person I know thought he'd change the oil in his
> MR4. He looked in the manual and found how much oil he needed and
> bought it.
>

What's an MR4?

<snip>

>
> This fellow was an RAF pilot.

Ah - right. I have it :)

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Nimrod_MRA4>

Andy

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 17/05/13 07:18, Apellation Controlee wrote:
> On Thu, 16 May 2013 22:36:55 +0000 (UTC), and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk
> (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
>
> ----------------8><
>> Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
>> Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
>> a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to
>> caramel. This requires remembering to return to the saucepan
>> periodically, to check and top up the water level. Should you forget
>> to do this for some reason, you are reminded by the bang from the
>> kitchen as a can of caramel explodes on the stove. There were
>> caramel stalactites hanging from the ceiling over 20' away from
>> the cooker...
>>
>> Nowadays, you can buy the caramel ready-made, but back then, you
>> had to make it yourself.
> The most significant thing to learn from an event like that is that,
> no matter how much heat you push in the bottom, the temperature of the
> water itself won't rise above boiling point. [1] The excess energy
> gets vented as steam.

er no. under pressure the boiling point can rise quite substantiall.
Pressure cooker.

So te point to learn is that it is extremely dangerous to release
pressure on superheated 'boiling' water, since io all then boils
instantaneously and turns to steam.

> The objective, therefore, can be achieved with a gentle simmer (you
> can then leave the lid on, and save even more energy).
>
> [1] For all intent and purpose.

--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

[Dave Liquorice]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 23:59:01 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

>>> draining old oil - 5+litres - from old tractor, the refilling with
>>> more than 5 litres new expensive oil - without having replaced drain
>>> plug..... bastard ;>))

So 5 l of oil all over the yard as well?

If it had gone into the empty but not cleaned out drain container I'd
have just bunged it back in, hopefully after putting the drain plug in. A
little bit of "contamination" of the new oil wouldn't hurt, what about
all the old oil still in the oilways and clinging to surafces in the
engine....

> He had drained the gearbox.
> So he needed new engine and gear box.
>
> This fellow was an RAF pilot.

Pilots fly 'em, they don't fix 'em...

--
Cheers
Dave.

[polygonum]

No, no, no. The important point is that banoffee is simply a means of
consuming vast amounts of sugar with, unfortunately, very little nice
flavour. It would be very close to the bottom of my list of desserts -
only a little ahead of the ones which are positively horrible. Anything
with marmalade or most forms of cooked orange!

--
Rod

[Lobster]

Mainly depends if you like banana I suppose.

I do, and am indeed quite partial to the occasional slice of banoffee
pie. And I also well remember my mum boiling up tins of Nestle's, which
even as a kid struck me as a rather odd and dangerous thing to be doing.

However, I have to say my life-long love affair with bananas took a
somewhat downward turn when I visited a beer festival recently, and
spotted 'banana beer' on offer.

Well, you've got to try it, haven't you?

Sadly it proved to be probably the most disgusting stuff I've ever had
the misfortune to put in my mouth. Who'd have guessed, eh?

--
David

[polygonum]

On 17/05/2013 12:33, Huge wrote:

> On 2013-05-17, Lobster <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> However, I have to say my life-long love affair with bananas took a
>> somewhat downward turn when I visited a beer festival recently, and
>> spotted 'banana beer' on offer.
>>
>> Well, you've got to try it, haven't you?
>>
>> Sadly it proved to be probably the most disgusting stuff I've ever had
>> the misfortune to put in my mouth. Who'd have guessed, eh?
>

> Never had "Dr. Peppers root beer", eh?
>
>
I used to have a soft spot for some forms of root beer! But like so many
things, they seem so much sweeter these days than when I were lad...

I *do* like bananas - but not in that concoction. Any decent banana is
more than sweet enough already...

(Mind, I do find "dollar" bananas seem to be somewhat starchy and very
much less pleasant than our traditional Caribbean sources.)

--
Rod

[Bob Eager]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 23:59:01 -0700, harry wrote:


> A highly intelligent person I know thought he'd change the oil in his
> MR4. He looked in the manual and found how much oil he needed and
> bought it.
>
> Then he goes under the car and drains the oil. Replaces plug puts in
> measured amount of engine oil and drives off. (Never checks dipstick)
> Ten miles later, big bang lots of smoke.
> He had drained the gearbox.
> So he needed new engine and gear box.
>
> This fellow was an RAF pilot.

Is it time to mention expanding foam?

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
My posts (including this one) are my copyright and if @diy_forums on
Twitter wish to tweet them they can pay me £30 a post
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Mike Barnes]

Huge <Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid>:
>On 2013-05-17, Tim Streater <timst...@greenbee.net> wrote:
>> In article <avmit3...@mid.individual.net>,

>> Huge <Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2013-05-17, Lobster <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>

>>> > However, I have to say my life-long love affair with bananas took a
>>> > somewhat downward turn when I visited a beer festival recently, and
>>> > spotted 'banana beer' on offer.
>>> >
>>> > Well, you've got to try it, haven't you?
>>> >
>>> > Sadly it proved to be probably the most disgusting stuff I've ever had
>>> > the misfortune to put in my mouth. Who'd have guessed, eh?
>>>

>>> Never had "Dr. Peppers root beer", eh?
>>

>> It is the most revolting fizzy drink I've ever encountered.
>
><AOL> I spat the first mouthfull out and poured the rest down the toilet.

I quite liked it.

Which is more than I can say for methi (fenugreek) flavoured potato
crisps.

--
Mike Barnes

[harry]

Hah. You're right it's MR2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_mr2

[The Medway Handyman]

On 17/05/2013 12:33, Huge wrote:
> On 2013-05-17, Lobster <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>

>> However, I have to say my life-long love affair with bananas took a
>> somewhat downward turn when I visited a beer festival recently, and
>> spotted 'banana beer' on offer.
>>
>> Well, you've got to try it, haven't you?
>>
>> Sadly it proved to be probably the most disgusting stuff I've ever had
>> the misfortune to put in my mouth. Who'd have guessed, eh?
>

> Never had "Dr. Peppers root beer", eh?
>
>

Or Watneys Red Barrel...

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

[Bob Eager]

On Fri, 17 May 2013 21:50:19 +0000, Huge wrote:

> Believe you me, Dr.Peppers is nastier than Red Barrel. A lot nastier.

At least Red Barrel didn't taste much of...well, anything....when I last
drank it.

[harry]

On May 17, 10:50 pm, Huge <H...@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:

> On 2013-05-17, The Medway Handyman <davidl...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 17/05/2013 12:33, Huge wrote:

> >> On 2013-05-17, Lobster <davidlobsterpot...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> However, I have to say my life-long love affair with bananas took a
> >>> somewhat downward turn when I visited a beer festival recently, and
> >>> spotted 'banana beer' on offer.
>
> >>> Well, you've got to try it, haven't you?
>
> >>> Sadly it proved to be probably the most disgusting stuff I've ever had
> >>> the misfortune to put in my mouth.  Who'd have guessed, eh?
>
> >> Never had "Dr. Peppers root beer", eh?
>
> > Or Watneys Red Barrel...
>

> Believe you me, Dr.Peppers is nastier than Red Barrel. A lot nastier.
>

I tried Peppers. It is very nasty indeed.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 22:44:50 +0100, alan <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

>First ever car Mk3 Cortina and around 6 years old when bought.
>
>I thought it was a good idea to fit an after market oil pressure gauge.
>After fitting, the gauge took about 30 seconds to register so I
>concluded that I had a problem with oil pressure.
>
>Removed the gauge adapter and asked a friend to start the car while I
>checked under the bonnet. As the car started the contents of the sump
>shot out of the hole in the adapter, missed my ear by a few inches, hit
>the underside bonnet and descended again covering everything within a 3
>foot radius.

My mate did exactly that with a MkII or a Mini, don't recall which old
heap it was. An impressive amount of oil, indeed.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 22:36:55 +0000 (UTC), and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk
(Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

>> Called fire brigade but, luckily, it was all disgusting mess rather than
>> burning building.
>

>Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
>Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
>a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to
>caramel.

Kids should be introduced to kitchen appliances at an early age, but
under some degree of supervision.
My early experience of the Kenwood Chef involved sticking a knife into
the blade, snapping the blade of the knife (and the mixer), said
broken bits whirling past my ear with a deadly trumm noise and one of
them embedding itself in the doorpost.

In the same kitchen, the following year, my first foray into home
brewing involved following a recipe on Blue Peter for ginger beer.
It all went swimmingly. Right up to the point where all the dozen
bottles exploded in rapid sequence, late one evening.
The recipe had said nothing about releasing the pressure every so
often...
The bits of glass embedded in the ceiling and woodwork were a mute
testimony to the charnel house that kitchen would have been if the
bottles had let go during a busy period.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

On 17 May 2013 21:50:19 GMT, Huge <Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:

> Or Watneys Red Barrel...
>
>Believe you me, Dr.Peppers is nastier than Red Barrel. A lot nastier.

Philistine; and you call yourself a Yank.


Irn Bru, Vimto, Cream Soda, all stuff to get you diabetic later.

[Bob Eager]

SWMBO says "washing machine is leaking". Sat in front of it and realised
the standpipe was no longer coping with the outflow.

Cleaned as much as I could reach, bunged drain cleaner down it, hot
water, etc. Twice. Each time flushed it through with a quick wash,
interrupt, and forced drain operation.

Went to flush it once more, go outside, watch drain. Nothing coming
through. Eventually go back insode and splash my way across the utility
room.

Yes, forgot to put the drain hose back in the standpipe.

That was 30 minutes ago.

[jgharston]

Painting the gable end of the off-shot kitchen. I managed to get all
the way up to about two inches below the top of the chimney. So, of
course, I balanced the step ladder on the wheelie bin to get the last
bit done. Just as I finished the wall started shooting upwards as the
wheelie bin went shooting into the garden.

Oooff!

JGH

[Andy Champ]

On 18/05/2013 14:56, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
> In the same kitchen, the following year, my first foray into home
> brewing involved following a recipe on Blue Peter for ginger beer.
> It all went swimmingly. Right up to the point where all the dozen
> bottles exploded in rapid sequence, late one evening.
> The recipe had said nothing about releasing the pressure every so
> often...
> The bits of glass embedded in the ceiling and woodwork were a mute
> testimony to the charnel house that kitchen would have been if the
> bottles had let go during a busy period.

Sounds like I got off lightly. My ginger beer made a good impression of
a foam fire extinguisher when I opened it. My mum was _not_ impressed by
the jet playing across the front of the cupboards.

Andy

[ARW]

jgharston wrote:
> So, of course, I balanced the step ladder on the wheelie bin to get the
> last
> bit done.

:-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


--
Adam

[Chris J Dixon]

Andy Champ wrote:

>Sounds like I got off lightly. My ginger beer made a good impression of
>a foam fire extinguisher when I opened it. My mum was _not_ impressed by
>the jet playing across the front of the cupboards.
>

Just reminded me about a demijohn full of damson wine. It was
placed to ferment in a corner of a newly decorated bedroom, but
frothed so vigorously that the foam made it through the air lock.
As each bubble burst, it spattered the wall. The colour nearly
matched the emulsion, but was a somewhat darker shade.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
ch...@cdixon.me.uk

Plant amazing Acers.

[Bill]

In message <kn3n27$jcv$1...@dont-email.me>, Andrew Gabriel
<and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> writes
>In article <avh7os...@mid.individual.net>,
> polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> writes:
>> Using a chain lubricant that required heating for my motorcycle chain.
>>
>> Put it on the cooker at a low setting, went outside to undo another nut
>> which was stuck fast. Eventually heard an odd popping/bubbling noise.
>> Kitchen black. Air black. Me black.

>>
>> Called fire brigade but, luckily, it was all disgusting mess rather than
>> burning building.
>
>Mum used to make banoffee pie quite often.
>Part of that involves cooking an unopened tin of condensed milk for
>a couple of hours in a saucepan of boiling water to turn it in to

>caramel. This requires remembering to return to the saucepan
>periodically, to check and top up the water level. Should you forget
>to do this for some reason, you are reminded by the bang from the
>kitchen as a can of caramel explodes on the stove. There were
>caramel stalactites hanging from the ceiling over 20' away from
>the cooker...
>
>Nowadays, you can buy the caramel ready-made, but back then, you
>had to make it yourself.

Many years ago my mother used to boil linseed in an open pan to make an
additive for the horse's feed, allegedly it improved their coat. Any
way, one day she had the bright idea of doing this in the pressure
cooker. Some where along the line she had forgotten that it increased in
volume quite a bit while being boiled.

The result was that the mass inside forced the little weight off the top
of the cooker that was the pressure regulator and a volcanic like
eruption of scalding hot linseed hit the ceiling. For sometime it was
impossible to get any where near the cooker to turn the power off.
Spectacular though :-)

She never tried this method again....................
>

--
Bill