Tag: top

Inside The Real Repair Shop 14

Find out what skips, parking wars and fondue all have in common.

It’s that time of year again, and I know what you’re thinking; Matt’s going to have a Christmas-themed moan about buying new things you don’t need, broken items too good to throw away and if you’ve been paying attention to my monologues these past few months, rubbish items that shouldn’t have been made in the first place. I’m just so predictable! Well, it is the season to be jolly, so in addition to all that, I’m going to spread a bit of much-needed festive cheer which could make you just about the best present giver… ever!

Campaigns telling us to ‘stock up in time for the big day’ and ‘show you care by buying something glittery and expensive for a loved one’ seem to start in summer, and while it’s lovely to give someone close a meaningful gift, don’t be sucked-in by the fluffy, snowy adverts. All the big retailers, even M&S, are really only interested in the bottom line, not you. And anyway, a lot of things we buy will be headed for landfill soon after the big day so, instead of following the crowd this year, follow my top 5 tips for a more eco-friendly, cheaper and cheerier Christmas.

Top Tip One

I’m no stranger to skip-surfing and neither should you be.  West Worthing isn’t dripping in money, yet I regularly see good quality toys, bikes, lamps, (I could go on), left in skips, in front of driveways and by the sides of bins. If it’s left out, obviously for rubbish collection, then surely, it’s fair gain?  One should be careful though as sane people don’t always chuck out items in mint condition, so choose your gold carefully and if you’re in any doubt about just taking something, please do seek permission first.  No letters of complaint, please.

Top Tip Two

Our little street in is full of (mainly) lovely people and there is the almost obligatory WhatsApp group keeping a weather eye on things. We’re quite a tame old bunch really and generally, the chatter is about offers of and requests for help, shared produce and old things no longer needed.  I’ve lost count of the items we’ve given away or have accepted through a mutual swap-shop on this forum.  Yes, like almost all of modern Britain, parking wars occasionally break out on the chat, but it soon reverts to more helpful conversation! The point here is that that book, painting or scarf no longer needed, may just make an ideal gift.  So, stay tuned in to the items right under your nose but remember, the system only works best, when you pay back in.  De-clutter after you’ve received your pressies this year and get posting on your local group.

Top Tip Three

Talking of clutter, with the weather on the turn and the days getting shorter at this time of year, it’s a great time to re-discover what you already have.  Many reading this, including me, will have forgotten about some of the things at the backs of cupboards, in attics and under the stairs – delete as appropriate. So, dig out those classic games, clothes, books and pictures gathering dust and spiders’ webs, and either use them again, sell them, or give them to someone who will enjoy them.  I’m actually really guilty of this and tend to hang on to things, just in case. But, in reality, I’m only causing more of a headache for the others around me, if I’m snuffed out by the No.9 bus in an untimely manner. If you don’t use it, move it on.

Top Tip Four

Make it yourself. Everyone loves a home-made gift that’s, well, good. I don’t have the confidence to make baked gifts to give as presents, but I do know someone at work who makes the finest biscuits I’ve ever tasted. I’m sure you do too, so instead of buying the usual Christmas assortment, why not reuse an old Quality Street tin, fill it with home-baked goodies and give it as a gift.  And if you’re a rubbish baker, contract the task out and bung someone you know a few quid to make some for you. You’ll be glad you did.

Top Tip Five

Home-knitted, crocheted and stitched items of clothing and decoration make personal gifts to be enjoyed for years.  Old-fashioned maybe, but important, certainly.  Making things yourself this way improves skills, promotes re-use and discourages waste, and the experience gained can be passed down through the generations.  I’ve always loved sewing machines (all those knobs, dials and lights) and I learned how to drive one from my mum, who learned from my nan. Indeed, my 8-year-old daughter is currently learning how to use a sewing machine, and is already churning-out all manor of creations on an almost industrial level. I can’t wait to see what she’s made us all for the big day.

The news is all doom and gloom, the economy’s going for a burton and the climate is on the blink, and we’re told to ‘just stop oil’ and think about our warming world.  In reality, unless we all want to live like we did when Henry VIII was on the throne, it’s going to be quite hard to balance all of the above without having some kind of negative impact.  I’m not going to give up central heating, my car or roast turkey just yet, but what I am doing is taking control of the things I can do by making the most of the items that have already been made.

Going around in circles!

We hear about a circular economy which combines production, consumption, recycling and repair and in an ideal world, it sounds great.  But, to make that all that work relies on perfect production processes, a high-level of education in the population and political consensus with a 50-year plan.  Back in reality, if you really want to do your bit keep it simple, buy less rubbish, re-use and re-gift where you can.

On a funnier note, I wanted to share with you that I have a mental bucket list of things I’d like to own.  A sort of ‘fantasy design-classic’ wish list that I am either too stingy to part with actual money for or I am waiting for a broken one to appear out of thin air, for me to breathe life into. 

There’s probably a named syndrome for what I have, but recently I ticked-off one such item. Christmas and birthday all at once. Let me explain. There I was, waking past a skip, when I saw a little bit of brushed aluminium poking out between a load of wires. It’s funny how these things catch my eye. And there it was, a 1970s table-top Salton Hot Plate, with a metal frame, wooden handles and a glass top.  Safety first, you know back then.  It was like seeing a diamond in a coal mine.  I can only assume that the previous owner didn’t know what it was or didn’t care. Anyway, I did the right thing and brought it home to the workshop.  Turns out, that there wasn’t anything really wrong with it and all it needed was a clean-up and a new flex. It could have been crushed, but instead, this quality English-made kitchen appliance will live to see another day.  The trouble is, that it only works for fondue and quiche Lorraine!

PS, don’t forget to check out Retro Electro Workshop on UKTV Play.

Inside The Real Repair Shop 12

Matt shares his opinions on what he deems to be ‘pointless products’.

Pointless Products?

Hello once again from the workshop, and hasn’t it been a busy time?  Lots of interesting customer repair jobs to be getting on with; from cherished toys, kitchen appliances to printed circuit boards, all needing a little help.  Dividing my time between family, my main job and the workshop is always a careful balancing act, but somehow, I manage to keep on going. See the greying hair.

Since offering my repair skills to the charming people of Worthing and beyond, I’ve had to develop a quick-fire set of triage questions when trying to ascertain what the fault is and whether something is truly worth repairing.  Yes, not everything is worth saving, there, I’ve said it.  You weren’t expecting that, were you!

Sometimes, my repair skills are only worth investing in something, if the item has spare parts available.  It happens all the time.  And, when dealing with repair enquiries, I usually have to sensitively tread a careful line between diagnosing a fault on, say, an abused Shark vacuum cleaner which has been used to suck up paint, with the reality that not all spare parts are available for certain models. Yes, some new spares are available and yes, there’s always good-old eBay, but I hate to break it to anyone who loves their Shark vacuum cleaner (and I know that’s a few of you) that they are only really intended to last as long as the warranty.  Built with longevity and a sound back up network, they are not.  If you want a quality vacuum cleaner that can be repaired, buy the vacuum with the smiley face!

This all got me thinking about some of the other things that you might have been persuaded to buy for your home, but now probably regret.  This might be because the thing was too much of a faff to use, or, it didn’t last long or maybe that the cost didn’t justify the performance. So, I thought it might be fun to compile a list of rubbish items, that should have stayed on the drawing board, because quite frankly, life’s too short.

Maybe you have one of these five useless items, languishing in your home, gathering dust.

5. Popcorn makers

Honestly, what’s the point in an electric popcorn maker? Popcorn machines on the pier or at the cinema I get, but these diy-home-install pieces of junk shouldn’t be a thing.  “Relive that authentic cinematic experience with a freshly made bag of popcorn, all yours for around £20”.  Christmas Secret Santa present, check. Last minute, hastily-purchased gift for the wedding of a couple that don’t really like anyway, who only invited you to the evening do, check.  The reality is that they take ages to work, are very small and are very difficult to repair. And let’s face it, a ready-made bag of the stuff from Asda, tastes better.  If you must have the cook at home experience, use a lidded saucepan, a little oil and some kernels from the health food aisle.

4. Ice cream makers

My personal favourite for “what’s the point”!? All you ‘kitchen show-offs’ can spend serious money on these things, and I’ve seen some models that can make ice cream in as little as 40 minutes.  Yes, 40 minutes -really.  Imagine the joy.  Kids party, going well. They’ve all eaten their sandwiches, all had their crisps, and all they now need is jelly. And ice cream. Well, the good news is that the jelly is all done, waiting in the fridge, but the ice cream maker, is still whirring away to its heart’s content for another forty bloody minutes, to produce a thimble full of substandard slop.  Sorry kids, you’ll just have to go without raspberry ripple today, but the good news is that there’s more carrot and celery sticks. Yay!

3. Bread makers

I actually bought one of these useless items back in the day, no doubt trying to impress a would-be lover with my fine artisan baking skills, using only the finest flours and grains from Lidl.  I even grew a beard to go with my new-found skills, but I quickly realised that the way to a girl’s heart, isn’t as a baker. Indeed, making baked treats this way, every day, isn’t that good for one’s love life.  4am starts in the kitchen to make biscuit-sized loafs is just plain annoying and ruins any notion of a romantic breakfast in bed.

2. George Foreman Grille (other slab meat counter-top grilles available)

Now, I know that this will divide opinion.  For some, George’s famous meat grille has changed lives.  One can cook burgers, steaks and, well, anything meaty without an oven or hob.  They’re also cheap to run and great if you have a small kitchen.  The downside is that all that grease leaks out, they’re virtually impossible to clean thoroughly. See the mould and scuzz, the next time you use it. Yuk.

1. Upright home carpet washers

Number one was a tough call, but if there’s one repair enquiry I receive too often, it’s for these hideous contraptions.  I don’t fix them now as they’re just too troublesome, and the manufacturers don’t really support any spares provision. We all know the brand that I’m talking about. (The one that rhymes with ‘axe’). Maybe you’ve bought one?  Maybe you’re thinking of buying one, maybe someone loves theirs ‘so much’ and has recommended that you can’t live without one too.  Just get a hold of yourself. Stop. You don’t need one.  You’ll pay around £300 for a machine that will spend most of its time in the downstairs cupboard, leaking, until you get it out after a year to mop up Fido’s latest accident, only to find that the over-complicated mechanism is seized and to add insult to injury, you’re just out of warranty, Sir.

Do the sensible thing.  If you must wash your carpets, hire a decent machine when you need it, or get a professional in to do the work.  It’ll be cheaper and you’ll get a better result.

Well, I feel much better now.  I’ve been meaning to get that lot off my chest for ages.  Time for a cuppa don’t you think?  

PS, don’t forget to tune into Retro Electro Workshop, on Yesterday Channel (27) and UKTV Play, from Tuesday 18th July at 9pm. I’m on it (correct as of July 2023 onwards).

Inside the Real Repair Shop 6

If it looks like it might come in handy, then it probably will…

Rubber bands, toothbrushes and cat food

This time in the workshop, I thought I’d give you a behind the scenes glimpse into just some of my repair world, by sharing some of the shed-tastic-things that I do regularly to save things from the dump.

Before we start and without meaning to sound pompous, repair is sometimes a bit of an art.  When manufacturers no longer make something, or the part you need never existed in the first place, it can sometimes mean getting creative in order to make something function again.  This takes time of course and can even lead nowhere, but it ain’t half-satisfying when it all works out.  Google a problem and there’ll be a link, video or picture explaining an appliances’ issue and maybe a quick-hack repair (if you’re lucky), but it’s often the humble tricks of the trade, which breathe new life back into something. 

Hanging on to ‘useful’ repair nick-nacks also requires almost concerning levels of organisation, which can mean more expense on things like containers and storage. I’m allergic to more cost.  But by using ‘free’ packaging that comes with many everyday consumables, one can save cash by repurposing. Still with me, thought so.

As you might have guessed by now, I dislike waste immensely and will always do my best to avoid it.  So, here is my random, if not weird, top five cash-saving, waste-busting, possibly ingenious ideas even, that might just serve you well too.  And remember, if you don’t use any of the following suggestions for repair, there’s nothing like doing a bit of junk modelling to pass the time on a cold winters’ night.

Five – old toothbrushes

We all (hopefully) use them, but I fear that far too many only hang around in bathrooms. So, stop throwing them in the dustbin, when it’s time for replacement.  Why?  Well, where do I start, quite frankly.  Dirt and corrosion are the curse of many a broken lamp, bike and dust sucker. Toothbrushes make excellent cleaning tools by using the brush in small crevices, on bike chains, on electrical switches, or on vacuum cleaners.  I could go on.  Cut the brush bit off, and you have an excellent scraper, again, ideal for cleaning. Toothbrushes are usually made from high-grade plastics and have excellent properties. Many a time have I fashioned a plastic part from an old toothbrush handle.

It’s not just me finding new life in old toothbrushes. My good friends and fixing supremos, Danny and Karen Ellis (aka @menditaussie) in Oz, have also come up with some very useful re-purposing ideas. See video below. Give them a follow.

FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022 – Featuring MendItAussie’s handiwork, with kind permission.
FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, Don’t forget your toothbrush.

Four – torn washing-up gloves

Stop sniggering at the back, old rubber gloves (the Marigold type) can be re-purposed for many useful things, where elasticity and waterproofness are two qualities needed.  I favour making rubber bands from them.  Yes, you heard correctly. The next time your favourite flowery rubber gloves spring a leak, why not cut the arm bit down into slices, and you have a healthy supply of rubber bands. I use rubber bands to neatly store appliance flexes, before customer hand-over, it’s just more professional. Neat eh?

FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, making rubber bands from old rubber gloves.

Three – take away pots and lids

Endless possibilities for these!  The plastic ones make excellent batch cooking meal containers for the freezer as many will know, but what you might not have considered is that plastic lids also make a really good base to cut out small plastic templates, brackets and covers for all sorts of small repair jobs.  Low-tech it may seem, but I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve made pretty decent replacement parts from old pots this way.  I’ve even made lamp shade brackets from shampoo bottles and cosmetic pots, which tend to be a bit thicker and can be used when a superior finish or strength is required.

Two – empty coffee tins

We’re all coffee aficionados these days, and manufacturers have responded to the market’s expertise and perhaps snobbiness with some very funky packaging. I love funky packaging and really enjoy the artwork and logos manufacturers have now put on these colourful tins.  They’re far to good to go in your recycling bin and can easily be rinsed out to make a handy storage container for all of those useful shed-trinkets. Many lids from Kenco and some of the supermarket-own coffee tins also fit regular tins of baked beans, tomatoes and cat food too, so save those lids to preserve a half-consumed tin of moggy grub. Waste packaging like this can even be educational! Coffee tins make excellent old-school string telephones for kids, teaching them how sound can be transmitted.  Cool eh?

  • FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, re-using old lids.
  • FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, handy screwdriver pot.
  • FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, simple fun- a tin pot telephone!

One – a drinks can

Hopefully you’re not disappointed by the number one slot. I have been known to walk the streets in search of an old beer can if I have non in stock, for a repair, they’re that good! They’re usually made from aluminum, so won’t rust, are strong, abundant and effectively free. 

Using a pair of scissors or sharp knife, spacers (shims) and washers can easily be fabricated on your kitchen table, but do take care as the metal edges are always sharp. I’ve often used a can in this way to make a scooter steer correctly or a lawn mower switch on again. Material is sometimes lost as moving parts wear.  Sounds familiar right?  Sometimes, a small trimming of can metal, in the right spot on a broken item, is all you need to make the difference between bin or box fresh.

FixItWorkshop, Worthing, January 2022, old tins can come on handy when repairing things like scooters.

Just remember: Cutting things out involved knives, scalpels and scissors and any sharp implement that might come to mind. Once the item you need is cut out, that might be sharp too. So, take care and take your time.