From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:13:20 -0000 (UTC), Jethro
<jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com> wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that many episodes in this
Norwegian series are in English, nor that a lot of people on the
street seem to speak English by default. The series might be a good
way to learn Norwegian. On the other hand it probably tells you that
you don't really need to.

Thanks for that,

Nick
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well
engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter
and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one, the business collapsed.

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:12:54 +0100
Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to
granddaughter and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one, the
business collapsed.

There are other factors: most people prioritise buy price over likely
length of life or maintenance needed i.e. will not generally pay more
for something more robust.

Also, the cheapest production methods do not allow for repair. A
control stalk on a car's steering column could usually be dismantled
and individual switches changed. Now there are no parts available
smaller than the entire stalk, and then it is likely to be a major job
to exchange it, as it will have been fitted before the surrounding
covers were riveted into place. And so on. The 'right to repair' is all
very well, but it will lead to more expensive products, which will not
sell easily against items with less repairability.
--
Joe

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:12:54 +0100, Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well >engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter
and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one, the business collapsed.

No, everybody else apart from the inheritance line bought a later
updated competitor's model that did an awful lot more.

My attic is full of 40 - 50 year old perfectly serviceable items that
no-one, not even me, would use in their right mind.
--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 12:04, Joe wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:12:54 +0100
Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well
engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to
granddaughter and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one, the
business collapsed.

There are other factors: most people prioritise buy price over likely
length of life or maintenance needed i.e. will not generally pay more
for something more robust.

Also, the cheapest production methods do not allow for repair. A
control stalk on a car's steering column could usually be dismantled
and individual switches changed. Now there are no parts available
smaller than the entire stalk, and then it is likely to be a major job
to exchange it, as it will have been fitted before the surrounding
covers were riveted into place. And so on. The 'right to repair' is all
very well, but it will lead to more expensive products, which will not
sell easily against items with less repairability.

The right to repair doesn't necessarily mean down the smallest
component, nor does it mean by the DIYer.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:23:50 +0100
alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

On 18/09/2026 12:04, Joe wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:12:54 +0100
Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well
engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to
granddaughter and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one,
the business collapsed.

There are other factors: most people prioritise buy price over
likely length of life or maintenance needed i.e. will not generally
pay more for something more robust.

Also, the cheapest production methods do not allow for repair. A
control stalk on a car's steering column could usually be dismantled
and individual switches changed. Now there are no parts available
smaller than the entire stalk, and then it is likely to be a major
job to exchange it, as it will have been fitted before the
surrounding covers were riveted into place. And so on. The 'right
to repair' is all very well, but it will lead to more expensive
products, which will not sell easily against items with less
repairability.

The right to repair doesn't necessarily mean down the smallest
component, nor does it mean by the DIYer.

No, but it means details like being able to dismantle the thing without damaging it, and if necessary the manufacturer making available
instructions as to how. Example: VTech make toy cars and other toys
that talk and do clever things. They can all be dismantled with at most,
a few screwdrivers, without damage. Everyone elses' plastic toys, no
matter how sophisticated, are assembled with glue or one-way plastic
clips.

I once had a Braun battery shaver in which the batteries got old and
died. The case of the shaver was deliberately designed to be impossible
to open, to comply with German battery disposal laws. People were
thought to be more likely to dispose of the entire shaver correctly, so
the waste of the shaver itself was seen as less important than not
throwing just the batteries in the bin. This was clearly before the EU
thought repair was a good idea.
--
Joe

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:32, Joe wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:23:50 +0100
alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

On 18/09/2026 12:04, Joe wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:12:54 +0100
Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@OMITTHISgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well
engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to
granddaughter and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one,
the business collapsed.

There are other factors: most people prioritise buy price over
likely length of life or maintenance needed i.e. will not generally
pay more for something more robust.

Also, the cheapest production methods do not allow for repair. A
control stalk on a car's steering column could usually be dismantled
and individual switches changed. Now there are no parts available
smaller than the entire stalk, and then it is likely to be a major
job to exchange it, as it will have been fitted before the
surrounding covers were riveted into place. And so on. The 'right
to repair' is all very well, but it will lead to more expensive
products, which will not sell easily against items with less
repairability.

The right to repair doesn't necessarily mean down the smallest
component, nor does it mean by the DIYer.

No, but it means details like being able to dismantle the thing without damaging it, and if necessary the manufacturer making available
instructions as to how. Example: VTech make toy cars and other toys
that talk and do clever things. They can all be dismantled with at most,
a few screwdrivers, without damage. Everyone elses' plastic toys, no
matter how sophisticated, are assembled with glue or one-way plastic
clips.

Because its fast and lowers labour costs

I had a freelander that got water into its light cluster and some of the lights no longer worked

I removed the cluster and discovered the edge connector on a PCB was
eaten away with corrosion. Both the board, and the connector that went
on it.

Total replacement loom with connector loom and cluster and labour around -u1000

I couldn't get just the connector. anywhere.

Neither could I understand why there was a connector there at all, and I realised is was so they could fit the loom first and then spend 5 secs plugging the cluster in and one more clicking it into place...


I removed the connector and soldered the wires onto the PCB

Took 20 minutes and 5p of solder

Worked perfectly forever as far as I know
--
"An intellectual is a person knowledgeable in one field who speaks out
only in others...rCY

Tom Wolfe

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Because its fast and lowers labour costs

I had a freelander that got water into its light cluster and some of the lights no longer worked

I removed the cluster and discovered the edge connector on a PCB was
eaten away with corrosion. Both the board, and the connector that went
on it.

Total replacement loom with connector loom and cluster and labour around -u1000

I couldn't get just the connector. anywhere.

Neither could I understand why there was a connector there at all, and I realised is was so they could fit the loom first and then spend 5 secs plugging the cluster in and one more clicking it into place...

I removed the connector and soldered the wires onto the PCB

Took 20 minutes and 5p of solder

Worked perfectly forever as far as I know

So much on $%&! cars is quick to install at the factory and a PITA when
it's 20 years old and you need to get it off. Plastic clips are the new pingfuckits - so much trim, undertrays etc are held on with clips that are
in theory reusable, but the head snaps off and you then get to spend half an hour digging out the remainder of the clip that stops your trim dragging on
the ground or launching across the carriageway when it fails. I've resorted
to ordering new OEM clips from Japan as they might last some years...
Amazon's finest Chinesium are effectively single use.

(I asked here about it a while ago, the other sources turned out to be not
a great deal cheaper than $1/clip from Japan)

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

(I asked here about it a while ago, the other sources turned out to be not
a great deal cheaper than $1/clip from Japan)

Theo

No luck tracking down that box of goodies from Lidl then ? and ....
did you speak to a human at Woolies ?
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:12:54 +1000, Indy Jess John <bathwatchdog@omitthisgooglemail.com> wrote:

On 17/09/2026 16:13, Jethro wrote:

https://youtu.be/d6SPV4GZp-U

The classic example was the Singer sewing machine. It was so well engineered that it passed from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter
and so on. Once everybody who wanted one had one, the business
collapsed.

Its much more complicated than that, particularly with
the more fancy stuff which could be done with no skill
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

Abandoned Trolley <that.bloke@microsoft.com> wrote:

(I asked here about it a while ago, the other sources turned out to be not a great deal cheaper than $1/clip from Japan)

Theo

No luck tracking down that box of goodies from Lidl then ? and ....
did you speak to a human at Woolies ?

Lidl didn't any available at the time, and I expect they're not going to
last.. Woolies offerings were about 30 years too old for my era, I didn't
see the point in asking. One of the other suppliers in that thread had
better stock, but it was something like 65p per fastener from them against
$1 OEM, and if I'm ordering other OEM parts the carriage is already paid. (although I do feel cheated when the price is always exactly $1.00 no matter what small fastener it is)

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:47:20 +0100
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:32, Joe wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:23:50 +0100
alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

The right to repair doesn't necessarily mean down the smallest
component, nor does it mean by the DIYer.

No, but it means details like being able to dismantle the thing
without damaging it, and if necessary the manufacturer making
available instructions as to how. Example: VTech make toy cars and
other toys that talk and do clever things. They can all be
dismantled with at most, a few screwdrivers, without damage.
Everyone elses' plastic toys, no matter how sophisticated, are
assembled with glue or one-way plastic clips.

Because its fast and lowers labour costs

Which was exactly the point I was making: building things to be
repairable increases the price, and not many people will pay the extra,
given that there's no way to tell how long anything will last.
All our grandchildrens' VTech stuff came from charity shops, and were
two or three pounds each then. They're about -u15--u20 new. Being battery operated, many didn't work as someone had left old batteries in them,
but new battery contacts solved that. That was a practical proposition
because the cars came apart easily and without damage.
--
Joe
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:58:22 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

[quoted text muted]

So much on $%&! cars is quick to install at the factory and a PITA when
it's 20 years old and you need to get it off.

I am convinced that they build cars around the loom and the heater
matrix. I have visions of them being held in place in the factory as the panels are welded around them
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 19/09/2026 16:04, Jethro wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:58:22 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

[quoted text muted]

So much on $%&! cars is quick to install at the factory and a PITA when
it's 20 years old and you need to get it off.

I am convinced that they build cars around the loom and the heater
matrix. I have visions of them being held in place in the factory as the panels are welded around them

No, the wiring loom is wound separately and fed through holes in the
bodywork.
--
Max Demian
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sat, 19 Sep 2026 16:58:19 +0100, Max Demian wrote:

On 19/09/2026 16:04, Jethro wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:58:22 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

[quoted text muted]

So much on $%&! cars is quick to install at the factory and a PITA
when it's 20 years old and you need to get it off.

I am convinced that they build cars around the loom and the heater
matrix. I have visions of them being held in place in the factory as
the panels are welded around them

No, the wiring loom is wound separately and fed through holes in the bodywork.

Sigh, it was a leaden attempt at humour. Or maybe humor.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 19/09/2026 16:58, Max Demian wrote:

On 19/09/2026 16:04, Jethro wrote:

On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:58:22 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

[quoted text muted]

So much on $%&!-a cars is quick to install at the factory and a PITA when >>> it's 20 years old and you need to get it off.

I am convinced that they build cars around the loom and the heater
matrix. I have visions of them being held in place in the factory as the
panels are welded around them

No, the wiring loom is wound separately and fed through holes in the bodywork.

I used to know a bloke at a bodyshop who had a bit of a sideline of
buying written off cars from salvage dealers, and then buying a complete replacement body shell and swapping everything over.

Obviously odd bits of trim / headlights and other parts had to be
sourced as well.

I was quite surprised when he told me that the single most troublesome
item was the business of getting the wiring loom back in the right
position - closely followed by the headlining nightmare
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