Went really well on my first project, a set of shelves to have in my study. They need to be pretty strong, I will be putting 24kg coffee grinder and/or a 12kg espresso machine occasionally when swapping stuff around in the kitchen.

The smaller 1/4” with a plunge base was the right choice, found it easy to use and it just needs painting and the backing board putting on now.

If you can give it a week or two between the woodwork being painted and carpets fitted, let’s the paint harden as carpet fitters are generally not known for being delicate with stuff…

How are your floorboards, any squeaky bits or sagging if chipboard? If they aren’t perfect then getting someone to lift the carpets first before decorating gives you time to have them fixed or any water/electric work done.

My house is much older though, meant I used cardboard temporary flooring as a stop gap whilst decorating and getting the bits sorted ahead of carpeting. Made it really easy to clean up and stopped dirt/dust being tracked to the rest of the house.

https://www.toolstation.com/x-board-recyclable-surface-protection/p20471

As mentioned above, Swiss Water or CO2 de-caffeination are the most common methods for fancier coffees.

Try to avoid the solvent based mass market ones aren’t great that use dichloromethane. Sugarcane process uses a different solvent, getting more popular and some people quite like them.

I’ve had nice ones from Black Cat Coffee, they also offer a half caff blend.

https://www.blackcatcoffee.co.uk/collections/decaf/products/copy-of-lazy-afternoon-half-caff-coffee-blend

I have one of these, improvement on previous cheaper one. Still some false positives but scans deeper, auto calibrates and doesn’t have separate modes for metal, studs and electricity.

Won’t be any good going deep enough into concrete floors for ground anchors though. Definitely check the routing as other people have mentioned already. You can get second hand or display models a fair bit cheaper.

Bosch GMS 120 Pro Multi Detector-Live Cables,Metal,Wood-9v Battery&Case inc.-New https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353231932084

@swedishmatt Ta – I will check them out.

Set of saw horses to put them on.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/toughbuilt-tb-c550-xes-sawhorse-twinpack/770HH?tc=QA2&ds_kid=92700055262507126&ds_rl=1244066&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpbPXrc747AIVB-3tCh01BQ1sEAQYFSABEgK5d_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I’m pretty handy but will 100% be out sourcing replacing all the squint doors in our old house to a professional…

@globalti – If this is long term, have you considered getting a hand truck or cart that can climb stairs?

It could make it easier getting the fridge up the stairs and prove useful for other stuff down the road, along with some ratchet straps to tie it down?

My other half struggles with gripping larger objects like fridges or wardrobes where you have to push in from the sides. Using a sack truck or straps under larger items really helped a lot when I had a chest injury a few years back.

https://cpc.farnell.com/stanley/ft521/folding-stairclimber/dp/TL20841

https://www.sacktrucksdirect.co.uk/2-in-1-stair-climber-sack-truck-150kg-capacity/

My vote goes for a Henry, cheap, pretty much indestructible (a mate had a super expensive one for their cleaner and a Henry they let the builders use 😂). You can easily buy spares for the Henrys as well.

Also a spinning brush attachment is available that does a great job on carpets.

I would prefer corded as it should last longer than cordless, also trying to avoid buying more kit with non-standard or proprietary internal batteries.

I have hobbit feet and really struggle with typical width running shoes, Mizuno used be my go to brand but they have changed to a more narrow last. I can’t wear Nike or Adidas as they just don’t fit.

If your feet are on the wide side I would heartily recommend these, fairly neutral support without a ridiculous amount of motion control and come in a wide fit. About £100 though, got mine in Sept and should be less than 25p per mile by the end of the year.

Please ignore my advice if you have incredibly narrow feet or run like a duck (over pronation) or pigeon (under pronation) 😉

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/asi9667/asics-gel~kayano-26-running-shoes-%282e-width%29-~-ss20/

Really like the both the standard pig for road based stuff and pro headsets for muddier things, the bigger bearings just last so much longer.

Bike discount DE has the pro for about £24, I would get two as whilst the lower bearing is crazy big you can’t remove it from the cup.

Not really a major issue though as I’m six years into using and the sealed bearings are still nice and smooth.

Also like the Loveramics, but the egg range. Not that spendy either.

Chunky porcelain, mix and match saucers, plus you can get a 60g shot in one and still have room for crema as well.

https://www.loveramics.co.uk/products/egg-espresso-cup

I had the nanopresso and barista kit, sold it on as it is a lot of faff even in the house and it had too many parts to clean easily.

Also agree with James Hoffman in his review, I prefer a larger warming mug of something for camping or climbing trips.

Switched to an Aeropress instead, even got a nifty little Scottish made hand grinder that fits inside the body of it. Tidier clean up as it compresses the grounds to get rid of easily.

http://www.madebyknock.com/store/p52/Aergrind.html

Ah, the 80s are further away than I remembered! 😢

Agree that getting new wheels makes sense unless the hubs are some fancy vintage super record ones that are in great condition.

Are you 100% sure they are 700c and not 27” for an 80s bike?

From SJS – Rims – 700c – 622 – The most common larger wheel size now, superceded the 27″ (630) size

You need to know the ERD (effective rim diameter) or distance between the nipples to confirm the new rims are compatible with your current spokes. If they aren’t then you need to replace them as well and work out the lengths required.

If you want to build your own wheels in the future then go for it, but it takes time if DIY or money to get the kit. You will need a stand/dishing tool/nipple driver (bought or home made), 4 sided spoke key and ideally a spoke tension gauge. As a one off £50 isn’t that bad to be honest if it is parts and labour.

@trail_rat Wera also do 1.2-3.0 nm straight torque 1/4” screwdrivers, so you would have the full range basically.

Had to buy one annoyingly this year after getting a fancy coffee grinder of all things that needs the face plate screws tightening evenly to 3nm in steps.

@bigginge – Might make it less likely to be pinched! 😉

SJS also sell disc specific Ryde Andras which are also bomb proof and wide enough, don’t look too bad in black actually come in 32-36 as well.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-tape/32-ryde-andra-321-700c-622-rim-black/

According to Sheldon if the XM421s are 25mm inner / 30 mm outer then the minimum recommended tyre size is 44mm which could be a bit big for the frame if you are using mudguards.

Not disc specific but 36 hole rear / 32 hole front Rigida Sputnik would be my recommendation.

Practically indestructible and if you are running discs should last almost indefinitely even if you are 120kg.

£25 a pop from Spa, just about to change my rims this winter after 5+ years of commuting and the odd loses tour on them with V-brakes. If it’s a hub they stock, then they are happy to give you the spoke lengths if you are getting the bits from them.

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s116p4235/RIGIDA-Sputnik-700c

@finishthat – Thanks, I will bear that in mind and have a few test runs first!

@joshvegas – After getting my wrist whipped using a corded drill and a big auger bit, not that keen on having the cutter catch if I went too fast… 😢

@dyna-ti – The 1/2” ones look huge, sure you get the hang of them after a while though. Can’t you check for motor run out or spindle misalignment problems by doing some test cuts, turning the tool 180 and seeing if it follows the same path?

Saw a good deal on the Makita RTO700 so might give that a go after all.

Thanks for all your inputs. Looks like I’m going for the Katsu palm router with a separate Makita plunge base off eBay as it looks to be finished better than the bundled set I found. Next step is a set of bits for it.

Bosch one looked nice but I couldn’t see a plunge base that was included.

Hopefully some more fun stuff to play around with if we get more restrictions over the winter etc.

@kayak23

Was it this Katsu one?

Katsu Trimmer w/ Tilt and Plunge Base with 6&8&10MM collet chuck Europe Plug
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143730008041

Cheers everyone, that is a good bit to think about!

I will have a Google on the other brands that have been recommended as I haven’t heard of some before.

Not going to be fitting any sinks or worktops any time soon. Plus our doors are old non-standard sizes, we need them replacing but definitely getting a carpenter in as it’s an old house with slightly uneven floors/lintels.

Probably going to get a smaller one as long as it copes with 18mm sheets and look at a heavier duty model if I have a job which justifies it.

@eyestwice – Agree with you on the prices being a bit crazy if you aren’t into a hobby to that extent.

The rule of diminishing returns applies to coffee as well as bikes, you would be hard pressed to explain to a non-hobbyist why the custom tuned suspension unit, n+1 bikes, cranks imperceptibly stiffer to the average user justified all the costs.

Back on topic, I was looking for a “Deore” level pepper mill last week and stumped for a wooden Mason and Cole precision one with steel burrs. Hopefully I won’t be in a rush to buy another in the near future and had pretty good reviews. 🤞

@eyestwice – You should see what people would pay for high end coffee grinders, it is astronomical. A home single dose grinder for 4K makes a 300 pepper mill appear quite reasonable…

Lyn Webber Moulin Pepper Mill, made by the same company which makes ultra high precision coffee grinders which are even more pricey!

Uses a miniaturised grind adjustment mechanism based on their fancy coffee ones.

Should last for a lifetime, but you would hope so for $300 😂

https://weberworkshops.com/products/moulin

@jonwe – Aprt from burn your budget and recommend a separate espresso machine and grinder? 😉

I’m a big coffee fan and have picked it up as a hobby really, but on the coffee forum I’m a member of the Melitta bean 2 cups seem well regarded whilst other brands get slated. They are a proper established coffee company more famous recently for their drippers.

Maybe up your budget a bit, for something like this? External milk tank as well.

https://www.melitta.co.uk/products/gift-ideas/sale/caffeo-ci-fully-automatic-coffee-machine-black/

@footflaps – I couldn’t do 100 in one go, I space them like 10 sets of 10. Park the bell in between, worked out like 20 seconds of work with 10 seconds of recovery.

@lotto – No worries, I wrote it in an odd way. I’m 78kg so the Sinister goal is a bit on the aspirational side, I would be very pleased if I could get one 48kg TGU in!

A bit off topic, but if buying kit is a problem then home made is worth considering. I made some parallettes for me and my mates during lockdown for core and push training. Have a spare 40mm holesaw if anyone can get a dowel and wants to borrow it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/185305281@N02/shares/86bE2F

@lotto – Good advice on the bells, cool that you are going for the cert! Are you 100% sure on the timings just being 10 mins total as it doesn’t match my book or online?

It takes me 30s do do a heavy weight nice form TGU, if you only had 5 mins then that is pretty much a continuous TGU with 32kg for 5 minutes, you must be a monster if you can do that… 😢

– Men 32kg, women 16kg/24kg
– 100 x 1-HS (1-Handed Swings) 10 reps every 30 seconds for 5 minutes
REST 1 minute
– 10 x GU (Get-Up) 1 rep on the minute

@earl – I do like home made gym equipment👍

@soobalias – Strength Shop have some of the iron hard style ones showing as available, not crippling in terms of cost and I have got one of their 48s which isn’t bad for the money.

https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/kettlebells/powder-coated-kettlebells/kettlebell-16kg-powder-coated.html

@Ro5ey – I’m also a fan of the SFG Simple & Sinister take on program minimum.

A couple of years back before I got into rock climbing I achieved the “Simple” goal of 100 single handed 32kg swings and 10 Turkish get ups in 15 minutes. Not that strong now though or ever getting to the Sinister 48kg! 😉

Do think people should buy the best kettle bells they can, avoid chrome super slippery handles or plastic. Generally if you have done weights before get a 16kg as your first one, you will soon out grow it though. A 16, 20, 24 would get you pretty far.

Bit old now but the previous SFG standards vid gives a good summary on the teaching queues for some of the basics.

Thanks for the sizing feedback.

@n0b0dy – Hadn’t thought of them. I do have a pair of XC50N Nordic ones which need replacing (multiple strap splits sewn shut) for winter so they look worth a punt!

The other Planetx ones seem better suited for summer, hard call though as I’ve had mixed experiences with them shall we say. Is it still a bit like flipping a coin when ordering or has it gotten better? 😂

Thanks, they look good and like there are some OK offers with a bit of web trawling.

Did you find them true to size?

I got a 44 last time so 9 on the Madison chart.
https://www.madison.co.uk/shoesize