Once common 'domestic' skills that are dying out

[rubbershoes]

Vibration white finger

You'll be pleased to know that not everything from the past is lost.

The tradition of vwf is being kept alive within companies that use vibrating tools but don't see the need for new fangled things like effective risk assessments

 

[Gromit]

(New) Plugs are all sealed now though, aren’t they? I think there’s been a deliberate move away from letting people wire plugs. Probably to make them buy a new one rather than rewire an old one.

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

Natural selection got us where we are today, seems foolish to turn our backs on it now.

 

[Oriole]

If anyone can tell me how to mend this, which happened today, that would be helpful.

I wouldn't mend that unless it was a quick emergency repair to get someone home.

Because if where it ripped and how it ripped the repair would be likely to make the seat smaller, make it uncomfortable where you would have to add fabric from added bulk (you can't repair it as is in a way that will last more than a wash without piercing something to it or you'll alter the shape significantly).

 

[mojo pixy]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

But you can only remove the cover of a plug by unscrewing it from the other side, where the pins are. You can't do that when it's plugged in.

I'm really not sure more than a handful of idiots have tried changing a fuse with the plug plugged in. And frankly, there's a good evolutionary reason not to stop people from trying.

 

[RevolutionSound]

Beatmixing records

 

[existentialist]

If anyone can tell me how to mend this, which happened today, that would be helpful.

My sister used to use beer towels as patches. Me, I'd probably regard those as beyond repair and make a note never to buy that brand again - it must be pretty poor denim to split all the way down a seam like that.

 

[AnnaKarpik]

Getting up to change the TV channel.

I still make people do that. Whenever I tidy the front room I put the remote in its place - next to the telly.

 

[existentialist]

Classic playground comment re the pudding basin

“Never let your mum cut your hair”

My mum always cut my hair. It was grim to the point that her discovery of those things you put a razor blade in was a huge improvement, and resulted in fewer snipped ears.

She was furious when, at about 17, I got more or less marched into a hairdresser's by some of the girls I worked with to get it done properly.

I've gone back to cutting my own again

 

[existentialist]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

It's quite possible that they were trying to stop people replacing their own plugs, but I'd be very surprised if it was for the reason you give. Miswiring, starting fires with loose connections, sure, but you have to go some to start wiring a plugged-in plug.

 

[bluescreen]

Recording a mixtape
Checking the pools

 

[Saul Goodman]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

I don't recall it ever being possible to change a fuse in a plug without unplugging it first.
Go on, admit it. You just made that up, didn't you

 

[keybored]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

You can still change the fuse on a sealed plug. You could never change the fuse on any plug while it's plugged in.

 

[wtfftw]

Videos in landscape.

 

[DaveCinzano]

You'll be pleased to know that not everything from the past is lost.

The tradition of vwf is being kept alive within companies that use vibrating tools but don't see the need for new fangled things like effective risk assessments

TAKING BACK CONTROL

 

[Chilli.s]

Buying a paper "magazine" from a shop to find out what bands are playing, then remembering it all so when people go out they know what place to go to

 

[RubyToogood]

Darning is making tiny niche comeback in some "slow fashion" circles. Someone brought back speedweve darning looms ( you can buy knock offs / unbranded ones on ebay and amazon) and there are workshops for visible mending and videos all over youtube.

So while most people will just buy a new pair the skill isn't dying.

I really want a spedeweve darning loom but I feel it would be against the spirit of sustainability to buy one new and they're insanely expensive second hand on ebay.

I don't think it's that niche - visible mending is quite a thing. There are some lovely books/Insta accounts on it.

I got into it for a bit but came to the conclusion that by the time my clothes need mending they're usually very worn and the mend will just go again. It's not like you often tear a garment in otherwise good condition. Also the sustainability problem is not so much with the clothes we wear to death as with the ones we wear a couple of times and get rid of.

Although I do mend where I can, specially because I've usually made the thing myself.

 

[friendofdorothy]

When you cut a bedsheet in half and sew the two bits back together so the seam is made of the original outside edges. Means if it's getting worn in the middle it lasts a bit longer. I remember my Nan doing it.

Meant you had an enormous seam under you. Not very comf

 

[friendofdorothy]

If anyone can tell me how to mend this, which happened today, that would be helpful.

Sew a zip over it. Add more zips for the full punk look.

Edited to add - sorry I thought that was a side seem. Any patch/ zip/ repair there would be a bit uncomfortable. Maybe consider making them into a skirt or a bag?

 

[Chilli.s]

I really want a spedeweve darning loom

Pardon our interruption...

This sort of thing? Iv not used anything like it but can see where it could be useful

 

[WouldBe]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

Not possible. You can change a fuse on a sealed plug, it's accessible when unplugged. Even with a changeable plug you can't change the fuse while it's plugged in as you have to unplug it to get to the screw to remove the cover.

 

[RubyToogood]

Pardon our interruption...

This sort of thing? Iv not used anything like it but can see where it could be useful

Yes but the second hand ones seem to go for upwards of £60.

 

[StoneRoad]

It was to stop people changing the fuses themselves.

Why?

Because some people were doing it while the plug was plugged into the mains.

because a significant number of people put in the wrong size/type of fuse or even just wire !
see also people who wired the plug connections wrongly ...

 

[xenon]

Texting, on a T9 keypad.

 

[Saul Goodman]

because a significant number of people put in the wrong size/type of fuse or even just wire !

But you can still do that with moulded plugs.
A 6mm bolt works well for high current situations

 

[cesare]

You'll be pleased to know that not everything from the past is lost.

The tradition of vwf is being kept alive within companies that use vibrating tools but don't see the need for new fangled things like effective risk assessments

Vibration White Finger is def still around, had a case recently at a client.

 

[xenon]

Surprised at the number of people who have direct experience of coal fires though. We had a coal bunker at our late victorian house, (until it was knocked down to build an extension ) but gas fires. One of which was an ancient relic eventually condemned by gas engineer.

 

[AnnaKarpik]

Surprised at the number of people who have direct experience of coal fires though. We had a coal bunker at our late victorian house, (until it was knocked down to build an extension ) but gas fires. One of which was an ancient relic eventually condemned by gas engineer.

In our first house, not only did we have coal fires, we still had a small coal oven in the kitchen. Didn't use it much. We left there in 1965.

 

[Sweet FA]

Cut the sealed plug off first.

Useful if you want to pass the cable through the side of a cabinet to reach a socket instead of cutting a plug sized hole in it.

fucksake, I'm such a tit





Yes I have a cabinet with a big fucked up hole in the back from when I decided a hammer and chisel was the best way to craft an opening for the tv plug.

 

[existentialist]

I don't recall it ever being possible to change a fuse in a plug without unplugging it first.
Go on, admit it. You just made that up, didn't you

I have known people plug a plug in without a back on, which is a really stupid thing to do, especially as it becomes very difficult to unplug, especially if you can't switch the power off.

TBF, I only ever did it the once. And with any decent plug, all it would do is push the pins out. This wasn't a decent plug.