john@AEC

Still 65c/litre ($2.60/gal) at the pool shop, but up to 80c/l ($3.20/gal) at the hardware shop, while diesel is "only" $1.55 ish. John

One of the mechanics I know got in trouble recently by not putting the dip-stick in properley. By the time the owner got home and parked the car the sump was empty and the underside of the car was covered in oil that fell onto the concrete floor. This is the before I clean it, but still 3 weeks after the incident and the owner soaking up the surface oil and degreasing the remainder... plus all the old oil stains. And this is after. Of course this is inside the garage/storage area which is full of cardboard boxes and stuff.... so after moving some stuff I had enough room to walk around the stain without tripping over, but certainly not enough room to get the pressure washer out (even if I did bring the vacuum). My initial information was, of course, that the stain was on the "driveway". At least I didn't have to clean the whole driveway. This was simply cleaned with ReKrete CAAPS - mix up a strong batch and scrub into the stain, keeping it wet for 10 minutes, then squeegee off the mess and repeat several times. For lasting effect I left it damp with the CAAPS. Probably spent no more than an hour on site including explaining the process to the owner and chatting about bikes & mud, paintless dent repair, vehicle reliability... Another happy customer.

Hi Greg, sorry about the delay in responding…. yes I remember, how's the late night mall cleaning? John

And the same mechanic makes more work for me…. Same story - dipstick doesn't replace dipstick properly and underside of car gets covered in oil on trip home, oil then drips onto the garage floor. This one was worse as the owner did nothing to clean it up - not even news paper over the top, and it was a couple of weeks before he could arrange a time for me to clean it. I didn't bring the vacuum this time as it is in pieces for (pre-sale) maintenance, so it was out with the bucket and broom. It'll look a lot better when the concrete dries. The owner was very happy, which will make the mechanic/service manager happy which makes me happy (and paid).

One thing I like about this job is the ever changing view from the office. Here's a recent view Bowen Hills, Brisbane - looking over the CBD How's the view from your office? John

Mine are both UDOR as my local supplier is the importer - so great back-up (they changed to UDOR because the boss was impressed when he visited the factory and the parts are more reasonably priced than some). And as Jerry mentioned LOTS OF WATER - PREFERABLY TWIN FEED. John

I just had a screw on fitting fail. That's one of each in 10 years. J

G'day Tom Do you pull the injector apart to find the problem? I've had problems with the "O" ring either deteriorating due to the chemicals and have changed to the green and brown "O" rings (viton and teflon, but I can't remember which is which), or being unseated. What is the ball made from? some cheap ones will corrode (they are chrome), but the s/steel and ceramic last forever. Is the spring still OK? not bent or off-centre. And as the others had said - flush the system daily - until all the suds have stopped and then some more. Cheers John

Every month I have to clean this boat ramp - worse than the view is being interrupted by people wanting to use the ramp, I just have to stare wistfully as they sail off into the sunset. I should charge more for the pain and suffering :playful: John

G'day Shane, yes, there's been a bit of wicked weather over the last few years, but nothing like your twisters - they are mind blowing, gotta feel for those affected by the randomness of the destruction. No typhoons/hurricanes/cyclones - a couple of months too late. John

G'day folks I use the screw on/re-usable fittings for on the job & home repairs, but get the crimp on fittings done professionally for new hoses and repairs if i am in the neighbourhood of my hose supplier (a local hydraulics specialist). There has never been a problem with the screw on fittings, but they MUST be the correct ones for that hose (there can be quit a difference in OD between brands), and they are hard work to fit (I find filling the edges/corners helps, plus lots of silicone spray, and holding it in the vice) and as Scott mentioned - they are quite hot to touch because of the friction. John

G'day Scott, thanks. It would have been a great job if it was the whole 4 bay garage as there are a lot of old oil and rust stains, but alas, it was just clean up the oil spill. Plus, as mentioned, we don't get the job specific acid cleaners that you have, so make do with oxalic, hydrochloric, automotive rust converters, aluminium & s/steel brighteners and even h/duty bathroom cleaners. John

While washing a house & granny flat today.... Granny flat on left, pool in middle & house at rear and on right If you look closely at the dark red wall... you can see an exterior power point (good) and a small sandstone tile vertical against the wall... Sandstone paving and timber deck, with small tile mounted vertically Do you see the gap at the top of the small vertical tile? What is under the tiled area? This is what is under the deck Pool on left, rainwater tanks at rear What is under the tiled area? Storage at the rear of the garage. Storage under paved area, pool on right

G'day Folks Technically the power-box was under cover so it would have been legal, just the other side of the wall was exposed.... and there was a space in the vertical tile edging that appeared to let water into the wall cavity... then crackle, crackle, burn.... The electrician spent 10 hours the next day installing a new powerbox well away from external walls - where it should have gone first time. Sure was scary - certainly my worst experience with electricity and water. It's been 2 months now and their insurance company haven't come knocking on my door.... so should be good, the owners new it was their problem and said as much several times. Still haven't bought any lottery tickets! John

Hi Grahams, it sure could, if I was at the other end of the main house I wouldn't have seen, smelt, heard anything, and if the elderly couple weren't home... I was on the roof over the deck, next to the pool and heard the faint chirping of the fire alarm (which I assumed was an alarm that was set off by the dog, as it didn't sound like the alarms I have at home), on getting off the roof I then saw smoke coming out from the garage (underground) and heard the sparking/shorting. On opening the garage door we were greeted with a cloud of black smoke and sparks in the distance. These sparks then became flames, but there wasn't enough light to see what it was.... I didn't bother with lottery tickets as my luck was all used that day! John

G'day Mick I'm still going with "only" $5 million, but my broker is keen for me to go to $10 (for an extra $500+). Cheers

Thanks Adrian, they have insurance and didn't even argue the point. The son showed me the loose tile suspected of letting the water in. I wouldn't have given it a second look as I thought it was on the ground, but the tiles were actually over the storage area at the back of the in-ground pool (so the pool wasn't actually "in-ground"). They were all quite thankful that I was there to get the parents (in their late 70's/early 80's) out and put the fire out (2 small powder fire extinguishers plus garden hose). The fire brigade were called, plus the police and ambulance arrived, then the electricity supplier sent a couple of technicians as the fuse at the mains also blew. The electrician arrived soon after to get power back to the parents part of the house, then spent 10 hours the next day replacing (and moving) the power box. Eventually the wall will have to be re-built. I came back the day after to complete the job, plus they forced a new fire extinguisher on me. Great people. Is there a lesson? A disclaimer? Switch the power off? Get a bigger fire extinguisher?..... :crushed:

Remember that small tile at the base of the red wall? the one starting to fall off the wall... above the storage area behind the pool... OOPS There's a power box in that wall, well there WAS a power box. And from behind :nightmare:

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