HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Tizer]

The spring in the handle on our living room door has broken and the handle is only a few years old and wasn't cheap...I think it came from Bradford's. They don't make `em like they used to. Are the springs standard and easy to get replacements or is it the usual modern system of a different spring to fit every different handle, I wonder?

[Stanley]

Never thought of that one Maz. I suppose it makes sense if the spray is oil based.... The chemicals that kill the flies will soon evaporate.
Tiz, you may be on a hiding to nothing, in my experience they are all different. Find a similar scrap handle or bite the bullet and buy a replacement.... In olden days there would have been a box of assorted springs available but I doubt if that's the case now... In the old solid door handles the spring was inside the mortice lock but modern ones don't have that, they simply have a spring loaded detent in the roller or ball.

[Tizer]

I found a very useful and comprehensive web site selling door handle springs. It belongs to a business based in Ilkley and gives lots of advice as well as selling the goods. I've worked out, using their information, exactly what type I need and ordered a kit:
1 Door Handle Spring Repair Kit comprising:
Circlip Pliers
Six Circlips
Six 2.5-turn, 2.0mm thick, 27.5mm diameter Springs
Subtotal of Items: £9.95 Delivery & handling: £1.95
Total for this order: £11.90
Payments through their site are handled through Amazon. LINK

[plaques]

exactly what type I need and ordered a kit:

Not that long ago I bought a set of handles but only wanted to fit them to the inside of the bathroom and shower room doors. As a pair they are 'handed' in that the lever points in opposite directions on each side of the door. Making use of both of them meant dismantling one of the handles and relocating the spring. This brings me to the whole point of this advice. The handles are generally made of a soft zinc alloy which can be easily damaged if any leverage force is applied. Removing the circlip and holding the spring in place can easily close up the circlip location groove so that when you try to reassemble it the circlip doesn't sit fully in its groove. it goes without saying that anything with springs in it needs to be handled with care. Also, take note of the spring orientation and locations before you pull it apart.

[Stanley]

Glad you found that site Tiz. Isn't tinternetwebthingy wonderful.....
When I moved into this house 15 years ago I kept all the original pine doors and locks. There was a strange assortment of door handles but I had about my person a variety of old brass door knobs so I went through all the locks, put them in order, made new brass escutcheon plates for the knobs and fitted them all up. I think there are only two original wooden knobs left in place. I'm glad you have been able to rescue the door handles because no doubt thay match others in the house...

[Tizer]

... but I had about my person a variety of old brass door knobs...

That reminds me of Mrs Tiz's father. When walking in the countryside he would wear one of those anoraks that you have to put on over your head because there is no opening on the front, just a very big pocket for maps. It was very effective at keeping him dry but he liked also to carry a couple of oranges or apples with him and these were tucked into the front pocket. This caused much mirth for his two daughters, and probably other walkers too, as these two large objects jiggled about on his chest like something from a Les Dawson sketch!

[Stanley]

Also good for stowing away anything you might trip over on the way. I was in a flea market once and saw the brass knobs and some other door furniture on a stall. I pounced! Today's tip is if you ever see anything interesting like that, snap it up. You may not need them immediately but one of these days you'll be glad you did it! I have a shed full of stuff like that and it has all found its place over the years....

[Stanley]

It's quite amazing how we can get into habits and they become invisible, part of our lives. Today's tip is bleeding obvious and a biggie but sometimes we need a reminder. The biggest improvement in my circumstances in recent years came in 2007 when I suddenly realised that there was no need to own a car! For years it had been part of my life because of course I needed it to make a living but why did I still have it sat outside the house eating money seven years after I had retired?



John Swaine and his son Sam on the day they collected it. They got a good car and I got a good deal. The first thing I noticed after it had gone was that reports on the radio of rising fuel prices and more regulations, restrictions and penalties no longer bothered me. The next thing was the fact that my bank balance was so much healthier, not just because of the sale price but stopping the constant drain of money for fuel, insurance, road tax and repairs. Once I had got used to the fact it wasn't there it didn't worry me. Then there was another benefit, I started walking more! So win win all round and a bad habit cured! I know that not everyone can do it because they live in places where transport is essential but if you can, do it!
Oh, by the way, there was another benefit. My kids had watched another member of the extended family carry on driving long after he should have stopped, he was a danger to himself and others but refused to recognise it. When I announced I was stopping driving and chucking my licence into touch they were so pleased!

[Tizer]

A BV registration! BV and CB were so familiar to me as a child.

[plaques]

My kids had watched another member of the extended family carry on driving long after he should have stopped,

I saw exactly the same problem with a pal of mine. Fortunately, his wife refused point blank to travel with him and made him give up the car. This was one of the background reasons for my recent eyesight checks. I've always thought that when you are in charge of two tons of metal you need to be on the top of your game. One of the odd things about the checks were that they said I needed some long distance glasses. That was Ok by me so I ordered a pair even though I had always considered myself better than average in this department. The first trial with the specs was a disaster so much so I asked for a reexamination. This second check showed I was well above the legal requirement and didn't need any correction. What went wrong I don't know but converted the long distance ones into an extra pair of readers. All's well that ends well.

[Stanley]

Sensible thinking P. That was what was on my mind but also the fact that after millions of miles on the road I realised I was frightened because of the unpredictability of other drivers. I once heard a car referred to as 'A womb with a view' and I think that's right. Modern vehicles insulate you from the road and are so full of possible distractions that concentration on the road and other traffic is far lower than it used to be.....

[Tizer]

I ordered the door springs online from Northern DIY on Sunday afternoon and they arrived on Tuesday morning - I call that good service. Job done now and handles back to normal.

Plaques, thanks for the advice. Our handles seem sturdy but I did find one more difficult to fit back together. Each time I got everything in place and tried to fit the circlip the spring would jump out. I tried other springs and circlips but it was the handle that was odd. Eventually persistence won the day!

[Stanley]

Don't you just hate it when springs and circlips escape and fly across the room and you have to spend half an hour looking for them. Always a good thing to have a variety of special circlip pliers and do the assembly either under a cloth to restrain any escapees or in some sort of walled container. Anything to stop them flying!

[Tizer]

That was the benefit of buying the pliers from the supplier of springs and circlips - a robust pair of Amtech circlip pliers of exactly the right size for the job!

[Stanley]

They make all the difference, I have quite a collection for different types and sizes of circlips. Don't they travel a long way when they decide to fly!
We were discussing kids buying houses on another topic. One thing I have learned over the years is that the standard obligatory survey ordered by the mortgage provider is just about useless. You may be forced to have him or her in but reinforce this by getting a local builder, if possible someone who has worked on the house for the previous owners and get him to advise you. If you have a contact with someone who is an experienced Quantity Surveyor, get them in, I found while I was doing Ellenroad that they were a far better source of advice than the Structural Engineer we were forced to employ by the funding authorities. I was lucky to have access to Coates' QS from Sheffield and he was brilliant, he saved me from some really serious mistakes.

[Stanley]

I was reminded of this tip this morning. The best way to soften leather is to brush Neat's Foot Oil on the exterior with a small paint brush. You don't see much of this sold nowadays but it can still be found on the web. Any shop that sells tack for horses will have hoof oil, this is usually mainly Neat's Foot Oil... Have a good read of the label. These natural oils were once common, Oil of Wintergreen, Oil of Terebinth (natural turpentine). They are all as useful and effective as they were a hundred years ago....

[Stanley]

It's quite amazing what the effect of a small tin of anchovies and a teaspoonful of Marmite can do for a winter stew!

[LizG]

Agreed but I use vegemite of course, a far superior product to marmite!!

[Cathy]

Absolutely Liz , thumbs up to that!!

[Stanley]

Cathy and Liz, did you catch THIS August report that Vegemite was being used in 'dry' communities to make moonshine?

[Cathy]

Amazing the lengths some people will go to. If it is banned (which I very much doubt), those involved will just find another way.

[Stanley]

You're right Cathy. Personally I think it suited Vegemite to get the publicity!

[Stanley]

If you like butter on your toast, look out for Whey Cream Butter. Thin on the ground but nicer than ordinary butter because it has a subtle taste. It's made by separating the whey that runs of curds during cheese-making which is rich in fat but it has been modified by the cheese making process. You'll love it!

[Stanley]

I have almost reached the end of my stone ground medium oatmeal. I bought a 25lb bag years ago and will be getting another. It keeps for ever if you have it in a dry place and is way cheaper than buying it in packets from the supermarket.

[Stanley]

I am often struck by the number of people in the supermarket early in the morning obviously shopping for their breakfast, sometimes the most peculiar things! I suppose this is a consequence of the dreadful 'Eat, don't cook!' campaign where the cupboard at home is permanently empty of any significant food. I am afraid I was brought up totally differently, my cupboards always have enough food to last me for a long time. I find it's cheaper and far more convenient and that's today's tip. Always have enough food about to keep you going if for some reason you can't go shopping.