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Shortening blind chains

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Tim Lamb

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Dec 22, 2012, 1:00:06 PM12/22/12
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ISTR someone put forward a method for reducing the length of *chain*
used on window blinds. (bead necklace type).

John Lewis have supplied cleats but the overlong chain would still be
within reach and attractive to young children.

There doesn't seem to be a visible joint section.
--
Tim Lamb

Frank Erskine

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Dec 22, 2012, 1:59:51 PM12/22/12
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Angle grinder.

--
Frank Erskine

Andrew Mawson

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Dec 22, 2012, 2:20:15 PM12/22/12
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"Tim Lamb" wrote in message
news:J5Ryb4dm...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk...
There is usually one bead that is oval and actually comprises a metal shell
that crimps round the two end beads of an unjoined length to make a loop.

AWEM

Brian Gaff

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Dec 22, 2012, 2:42:36 PM12/22/12
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When I first read this, I was going to say chains don't have eyes in the
first place, but that would be just silly. Are these the beaded things that
engage in a mechanism at the top. Its my experience that if you want the
full pull down of the blind, you cannot shorten them. The connector that is
at the join is also the stop, so if there is less chain, it will only open
or close part way according to which end you chop and reconnect.
Would it not be simpler to simply hook it over a hook out of childrens
reach when you adjust it?

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Tim Lamb" <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:J5Ryb4dm...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk...

polygonum

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Dec 22, 2012, 2:47:54 PM12/22/12
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Can't for the life of me remember the details, but there most definitely
*is* a way of undoing and re-doing them. Some sort of connector link?
Sorry - but am NOT going out the pissing down rain and darkness to the
summer house to check! (Yes - they are JL inexpensive ones and fairly
recent.)

--
Rod

Tim Lamb

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Dec 22, 2012, 3:41:33 PM12/22/12
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In message <kb52fc$fl7$1...@dont-email.me>, Brian Gaff
<Bri...@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>When I first read this, I was going to say chains don't have eyes in the
>first place, but that would be just silly. Are these the beaded things that
>engage in a mechanism at the top. Its my experience that if you want the
>full pull down of the blind, you cannot shorten them. The connector that is
>at the join is also the stop, so if there is less chain, it will only open
>or close part way according to which end you chop and reconnect.
> Would it not be simpler to simply hook it over a hook out of childrens
>reach when you adjust it?

There is definitely no visible connector or end stop.

On close examination, each bead shows a join where the two halves of the
sphere have been brought together. I hope there is not a Chinese girl
with a miniature fly press whacking these together:-)

In the absence of knowledgeable advice I intend to form a hollow in a
block of wood (I value my fingers) and prise one open with my trusty
Swiss Army knife.

--
Tim Lamb

chrisj.doran%...@gtempaccount.com

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Dec 22, 2012, 5:03:14 PM12/22/12
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On Saturday, 22 December 2012 20:41:33 UTC, Tim Lamb wrote:
> In message <kb52fc$fl7$1...@dont-email.me>, Brian Gaff
>
> <Bri...@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>
> >When I first read this, I was going to say chains don't have eyes in the
>
> >first place, but that would be just silly. Are these the beaded things that
>
> >engage in a mechanism at the top. Its my experience that if you want the
>
> >full pull down of the blind, you cannot shorten them. The connector that is
>
> >at the join is also the stop, so if there is less chain, it will only open
>
> >or close part way according to which end you chop and reconnect.
>
> > Would it not be simpler to simply hook it over a hook out of childrens
>
> >reach when you adjust it?

Some do use connector blocks but often ...

> There is definitely no visible connector or end stop.
>
>
>
> On close examination, each bead shows a join where the two halves of the
>
> sphere have been brought together. I hope there is not a Chinese girl
>
> with a miniature fly press whacking these together:-)
>
>
>
> In the absence of knowledgeable advice I intend to form a hollow in a
>
> block of wood (I value my fingers) and prise one open with my trusty
>
> Swiss Army knife.

That's the way I do it. When you open the sphere, you'll find a little dumbbell that joins them together. You can get special pliers to re-close the spheres, but it can be done with ordinary small pliers -- you'll have plenty of spheres to practice on.

Chris

Dave Liquorice

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Dec 22, 2012, 6:33:07 PM12/22/12
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On Sat, 22 Dec 2012 19:20:15 -0000, Andrew Mawson wrote:

> There is usually one bead that is oval and actually comprises a metal
> shell that crimps round the two end beads of an unjoined length to make
> a loop.

Ball chain joiner.

http://bronnrocks.com/catalog/images/clf516

But these won't pass through the drive mechanisium. It might not need to,
I thought ball chains only adjusted the angle of the blinds slats
(vertical or horizontal) so not much chain needs to pass through the
mech. The actual opening/closeing (raising/lowering) was done by a much
stronger string drive.

--
Cheers
Dave.



polygonum

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Dec 22, 2012, 6:47:27 PM12/22/12
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These ones (if like ours, which I think they are) raise and lower the
blinds. We wanted ours not to hang as low as they did - so removed a
chunk. It was very, very easy - but as I said in my other response, I
cannot remember the details.

--
Rod

Frank Erskine

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Dec 22, 2012, 7:11:30 PM12/22/12
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Anyone remember "poppet beads" from the 1950s?

--
Frank Erskine

Graham.

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Dec 22, 2012, 9:31:19 PM12/22/12
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Those DIY pearl necklace kits in the dressing up box at Grandma's
house?

No Frank, I don't remember those ;-)


--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Tim Lamb

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Dec 23, 2012, 3:29:00 AM12/23/12
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In message <nyyfbegfubjuvyypb...@srv1.howhill.co.uk>, Dave
Liquorice <allsortsn...@howhill.com> writes
I checked and found that, once shortened, any connector would need to
pass over the drive sprocket:-(

Otherwise, just the job.
>

--
Tim Lamb

harry

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Dec 23, 2012, 4:59:40 AM12/23/12
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You don't say whether it is a roller blind or Venetian/vertical

On the roller blind there is a joint section. One of the "beads" is a
tube instead of a sphere. The whole length of the chain is needed to
work the roller. The join bead provides a stop to prevent overrun. It
can't be shortened as the blind wouldn'tf ully open/close

One the Vertical/venetian blind the chain (that rotates the slats) is
endless.
But only a short length of it is in use so you can cut the chain and
there is then no dangerous loop. You could fit a "bobble" of some sort
on the ends so you can catch them more easily.
The real danger arises from the string (which moves the slats) which
is used full length and so can't be cut.
The only thing you can do is shorten the loop so it is well out of
reach. The ends of the string are located in the first part of the
blind to move when you pull it.


Tim Lamb

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Dec 23, 2012, 5:56:30 AM12/23/12
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In message
<a11e1ed8-cf67-44e5...@f8g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>,
harry <harry...@btinternet.com> writes
>On Dec 22, 6:00�pm, Tim Lamb <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> ISTR someone put forward a method for reducing the length of *chain*
>> used on window blinds. (bead necklace type).
>>
>> John Lewis have supplied cleats but the overlong chain would still be
>> within reach and attractive to young children.
>>
>> There doesn't seem to be a visible joint section.
>> --
>> Tim Lamb
>
>You don't say whether it is a roller blind or Venetian/vertical
>
>On the roller blind there is a joint section. One of the "beads" is a
>tube instead of a sphere. The whole length of the chain is needed to
>work the roller. The join bead provides a stop to prevent overrun. It
>can't be shortened as the blind wouldn'tf ully open/close

They are actually *Roman* blinds where the chain drives a hexagonal
horizontal rod which shortens tapes attached to the curtain. This causes
the curtain to fold although still covering too much window in my
opinion.

Triumph of sales/engineering over the two bits of string that the Romans
used successfully:-(

--
Tim Lamb

The Medway Handyman

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Dec 23, 2012, 6:20:09 AM12/23/12
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On 22/12/2012 18:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
A lot of blinds these days come with a sort of hook for the bottom loop
of chain to run around, so there is no free loop for a kids head to get
stuck in.

Are you concerned about the kids safety or do you just want to stop them
fiddling?


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

Tim Lamb

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Dec 23, 2012, 7:26:25 AM12/23/12
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In message <FNBBs.693759$nB6.2...@fx21.am4>, The Medway Handyman
<davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
Safety and appearance.

For an adult to use, these particular chains are too long.
>
>

--
Tim Lamb

Tim+

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Dec 23, 2012, 8:46:45 AM12/23/12
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You want to DIY some sort of motor drive then. ;-). How about those battery
powered barbecue rotisserie motors?

Tim
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