Worst DIY purchase ever

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Worst DIY purchase ever
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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45704
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:39 pm Post subject: Worst DIY purchase ever
A few months ago I was early for a meeting that happened to be near a branch of Selco builders merchants, I popped in there and ended up buying a couple of Silverline clamps. Tried using them last week, what a total piece of junk, they are useless (I can't think of a use for them anyway).

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Worst DIY purchase ever

tahir wrote:

A few months ago I was early for a meeting that happened to be near a branch of Selco builders merchants, I popped in there and ended up buying a couple of Silverline clamps. Tried using them last week, what a total piece of junk, they are useless (I can't think of a use for them anyway).

Metal recycling.

Occasionally I can get away with Blackspur tools for my framing tasks but I've learnt not to buy Silverline

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:47 pm Post subject:
The old saying,Buy cheap ,buy twice, There is so much rubbish on the market.

frewen

Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 1:04 pm Post subject:
Disappointing though. When you buy something you expect it to be fit for purpose.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 2:13 pm Post subject:
I bought a silverline roofing slate cutter-total junk!

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:17 pm Post subject:

Sometimes I wonder WHY - they bother to make the crap tools which sort of look ok but fold up the first time you try them - or the screwdrivers where the ends just round off the first time you try them ?

I suppose as long as most people just don't bother taking them back and having a rant at the shopkeeper - they'll still keep taking the money !

Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45704
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:32 pm Post subject:

Falstaff wrote:

Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?

It was literally months ago, and I'm usually nowhere near a Selco. I've been in Screwfix almost every day recently....

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15438
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:33 pm Post subject:

frewen wrote:

Disappointing though. When you buy something you expect it to be fit for purpose.

The only reason that they sell things that are not fit for purpose is that people accept they are crap because they were cheap and do not take them back to the shop.

Perhaps we should have a concerted campaign of buying crap and taking it back...

But I have to speak up for Silverline: I have failed to break their garden fork, and their strimmer was not bad for the money.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15438
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:34 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Falstaff wrote:

Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?

It was literally months ago....

So?
Don't forget the bit in their returns policy that says "your statutory rights are not affected".

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:55 pm Post subject:

Generally I would say Silverline is rubbish.
OTOH there is sometimes a need for cheap tools.
I've owned Silverline cold chisels and were OK and I have a set of Silverline 'glass suckers' that have worked well (as long as you remember they are cheap and loose suction after a minute)

Cheap paint brushes are handy. However I opened a new pack of cheap brushes the other day ....... 3 inch brush handle snapped on first stroke

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 4:05 pm Post subject:
these sort are cheap and handy - can be used with one hand. I've got half a dozen. Some have ally heads, some have molten plastic heads (they're not ideal for welding ) I have broken a few over the years but generally they're fit for purpose despite price.

kGarden

Joined: 01 Dec 2014
Posts: 178
Location: Suffolk, UK

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 5:19 pm Post subject:

onemanband wrote:

these sort are cheap and handy - can be used with one hand.

I've got some of them, and they have worked well for me. I also have some of these

[img]https://s7g3.scene7.com/is/image/ae235?$p$&layer=0&size=281,281&layer=1&size=281,281&src=ae235/1964C_P[/img]
https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-spring-clamps-6-pack-of-2/1964c

the jaws are narrow, but I find them handy for small jobs, they can be applied with one hand and the clamp pads swivel which keeps them in good contact. 3-quid a pair.

EDIT: Something doesn't like the link to Screwfix's image, their loss for clickthroughs ...

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45704
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 5:21 pm Post subject:
I bought these to replace the Silverline: https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-spreader-clamp-920mm-36/6525d Not bad for the price

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 7:19 pm Post subject:
Forgesteel stuff does seem fit for purpose. One good thing about screwfix is returning defective or not fit for purpose items is really easy.

Bungo

Joined: 21 Dec 2011
Posts: 354
Location: Wye Valley

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 15 7:24 pm Post subject:
I avoid made in China.

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