A 3rd rate rant about screws (warning dissapointing)

[Prof Beard]

Last night the fking curtain rail in our lounge bay fell down. I can't complain really it was up when we bought the house in 1991.

So, off I go to our local Ballsitup & Quickly to buy a new flexible but suitable for heavy curtains rail. Found the same.

Get home and remove old fixings. Start to put up the new fixings to find that the fking screws were made of metal that made an Austin Maestro door handle look durable, with cross-heads that defeated every single bit in my "millions of bits including ones you have never seen set". When back to Ballsitup & Quickly and bought proper screws made of METAL...

Why whenever you buy anything then involves screws, do they supply the nastiest cheapest most fking useless screws imaginable? This job involved 12 fking screws, I would have gladly paid 50p more for it to come with screws that actually fking screwed.

(Apoligies for lightweight rant)

Edited by Prof Beard on Monday 22 December 18:16

[Balmoral Green]

Heinz Wolf you ain't.

[DollarTheif]

Ballsitup & Quickly

[andy43]

Anything I buy that comes with screws, the screws get binned.
They're too short, too fat, too cheap, too big, they are NEVER EVER right.

Have you tried NoNails?

[anonymous-user]

Prof I would recommend a small box of assorted sized screws, from Screwfix of all people, as they do actually sell decent screws. I make fitted bedroom and office furniture for a living and I can tell you there's some firms out there that make screws from cheese.

[B17NNS]

excel789 said:

Prof I would recommend a small box of assorted sized screws, from Screwfix

Absolutely. Whatever fixings are supplied with anything go immediately into the bin.

Screwfix screws are very good. Also, the correct bit makes all the difference.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96880/Screws/Exterio...

[DrTre]

Disappointing?!

Not at all.

I was scared this was going to be a thread about some very personal issues...

ETA when I say "scared" I mean "excited", of course.

Edited by DrTre on Monday 22 December 18:43

[Prof Beard]

B17NNS said:

excel789 said:

Prof I would recommend a small box of assorted sized screws, from Screwfix

Absolutely. Whatever fixings are supplied with anything go immediately into the bin.

Screwfix screws are very good. Also, the correct bit makes all the difference.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96880/Screws/Exterio...

I think I will invest in a "screw stash" - bit-wise I have a mega set of bits which DID come from Screwfix. The ones that came with Ballsitup & Quickly's curtain rail were so crap that none of my bits fitted the screws properly...

[Balmoral Green]

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

[Prof Beard]

Balmoral Green said:

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

You are right - I've got several jars (and tins) of assorted screws - trouble is they are SO assorted that if you need 12 the same you lose the will to live I can ALWAYS find ONE screw for anything

[mechsympathy]

Balmoral Green said:

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

I thought everyone did.

[Nick_F]

Prof Beard said:

Balmoral Green said:

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

You are right - I've got several jars (and tins) of assorted screws - trouble is they are SO assorted that if you need 12 the same you lose the will to live I can ALWAYS find ONE screw for anything

You know those funny little storage units you can get, with all the natty little drawers that can be divided-up internally? They're for people like you, they are.

[Prof Beard]

Nick_F said:

Prof Beard said:

Balmoral Green said:

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

You are right - I've got several jars (and tins) of assorted screws - trouble is they are SO assorted that if you need 12 the same you lose the will to live I can ALWAYS find ONE screw for anything

You know those funny little storage units you can get, with all the natty little drawers that can be divided-up internally? They're for people like you, they are.

No they are for people who anal enough to sort their jars of screws/nails/washers/springs out

[Wings]

excel789 said:

Prof I would recommend a small box of assorted sized screws, from Screwfix of all people, as they do actually sell decent screws. I make fitted bedroom and office furniture for a living and I can tell you there's some firms out there that make screws from cheese.

+1, or Lidl

[Alfa_75_Steve]

My dad used to save jam-jars.

He screwed the lids to the roof beams in his shed and kept all his screws in them.

He had a screw or nut and bolt for every use imaginable.

I re-discovered our local proper hardware store today. Just popped in because I was in the village and remembered I need to re-seal the bath. Cost me half what it did last time I needed to do it, when I bought the stuff from B&Q.

[eharding]

Prof Beard said:

Nick_F said:

Prof Beard said:

Balmoral Green said:

Funny though, I always had you down as the sort of chap who might have the odd tin, or jar, of assorted screws kicking about the place

You are right - I've got several jars (and tins) of assorted screws - trouble is they are SO assorted that if you need 12 the same you lose the will to live I can ALWAYS find ONE screw for anything

You know those funny little storage units you can get, with all the natty little drawers that can be divided-up internally? They're for people like you, they are.

No they are for people who anal enough to sort their jars of screws/nails/washers/springs out

What, you mean you don't file your screws/nails/washers and springs in alphabetical order? (after you've given them all individual names, obviously...I remember the time when I mixed up Kevin the Countersunk Slotted with Wanda the Woodscrew...sheer mayhem, I tell you!...ah, crazy, crazy times.)

[mik.ross]

The golden rule with anything that comes with "complimentary fixings", (screws wallplugs etc) is bin them and use your own. Even if it means a trip to Wickes, B&Q, Homebase, screwfix etc. the only problem is when you buy from Ikea then you need to hit their "clearance section" for appropriate bits.

[groomi]

A bad workman always blames his tools...