Seeking someone to make a component (spacer)

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

Hi. I hope this post is kosher.

If I cannot source any spacers that I need, then I'll have to try to get some made.

I attach a picture of the spacer, with dimentions. Originals are porcelain and are used to hold the meter board to the wall. I thought nylon would be a good substitute.

If anyone is interested in making a dozen for me, then please inbox me. I was thinking to pay £1 per spacer. So, you would get £12.

I'm near Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Nice if a local would make them.

 

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 06/05/2015 09:40:17

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 06/05/2015 09:41:35

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Hi Richard,

Just a hint but I think you may need to consider the cost of 1" nylon rod…

**LINK**

Even in God's Own County it's not that cheap.

Jon

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Do not try to do anything with the meter it is the responsibility of the supplier electricity network operator (the company you pay your bills to is responsible for the meter and the isolation device/s is down to the electricity network operator) , if the board is falling to bits or has come away from the wall then contact your supplier. If you want it moved, again it is a job for the supplier electricity network operator, I know this as I recently had my meter moved from what used to be the kitchen to an external box.

Spacers are available from electrical wholesalers like CEF.

Bob

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

why is it when you own a machine people always want you to make something for nothing, I am often reading on forums "ask a retired engineer or hang around outside a factory and ask someone to make something in there lunch break" and in return there is the offer of a drink. I have just put a note on my gate saying I no longer make or repair anything. is it just me that gets fed up with doing things for nothing, and when you ask a favour in return and offer good money they just say they do not have the time.

also if you tell anyone that wants something made to go and buy the materials they come back and say that is more than what they want to pay for the finished job.

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Nylon also has the ability to absorb moisture

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

I've installed dozens of pieces of plywood and chipboard as backing for consumer units and meter positions just using screws and Rawl plugs. Never used any kind of insulator and never had an electric board query the fixings.

I think the porcelain spacers were from the sixteenth century . What purpose do they serve anyway?

I'm sure you'd be ok just mounting the boards with modern day fixings Richard.

Ed.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Ed Duffner on 06/05/2015 14:24:12:

What purpose do they serve anyway?

.

They gave an air gap between the wall for ventilation. This stopped the timber getting damp and eventually rotting away.

Of course this is not such a problem now, but in years gone by it was in some locations. e.g. in cellars of Victorian dwellings which was always a popular location for such. Farm yards and barns also spring to mind.

Nick

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

In the past some switchboards were mounted on marble sheet fairly safe if it is dry and pure white,,, Trouble is some marble has veins of colour. possibly metallic or other conductive material. I know this for a fact as in my childhood our house had one and yes it did give a nasty shock if you touched it. it was replaced. The fuses were different too; screw on ceramic caps over two screwed conductors, no pull out fuses then. These were the bad old days.

Regards
John

[VicParticipant @vic]

I made a board for the Sparks to mount a new consumer unit in my shed. I made some plastic stand offs for it but they were much simpler than that.

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

If it's just a spacer which won't absorb moisture then how about these…

**LINK**

10 for £1.20.

Jon

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Yes, if the wall is damp you need spacers to stop the board getting wet. I used 4 rubber door stops, the round rubber things with a hole thru'.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> I was thinking to pay £1 per spacer.

To include fitting, presumably

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Jon Gibbs on 06/05/2015 16:01:46:

… then how about these…

10 for £1.20.

.

That puts the ingenuity back into engineering.

… especially if you can persuade the customer to revise his spec a little.

MichaelG.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by Jon Gibbs on 06/05/2015 11:10:52:

Hi Richard,

Just a hint but I think you may need to consider the cost of 1" nylon rod…

**LINK**

Even in God's Own County it's not that cheap.

Jon

You need to buy plastic from a plastics supplier: LINK Works out at three quid for half a metre. Buy £50 and it's free shipping or I just collect as I am going past.

graham.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by paul 1950 on 06/05/2015 13:10:52:

why is it when you own a machine people always want you to make something for nothing

I would suggest you go back and read the chap's post Paul. He is not asking for them to be done for nothing, he is offering to pay and frankly £12 (plus a bit – little bit- of postage) works out at about £23 an hour if you dither. Material cost is about a pound. Doesn't sound like nothing to me. (oh, and 6p for the jiffy bag).

I don't work for nothing but little jobs like this put a bit of cash in the slush fund and I usually use it to buy tooling. Works out fine to be honest.

"Nylon absorbing moisture" – Really? It is that Mission Critical we are even going to consider this? Give me a break. It isn't worth considering and if we are going to consider electrocution, again, really? We have an earth I take it?

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 06/05/2015 17:22:42

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 06/05/2015 17:08:45:

You need to buy plastic from a plastics supplier: LINK Works out at three quid for half a metre. Buy £50 and it's free shipping or I just collect as I am going past.

graham.

Thanks Graham – I stand corrected. Stored away for the next time I need plastic for a job.

Jon

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I suppose that not everyone can just pick it up when they are passing or don't really want another £47 worth of material sitting around collecting dust which would take it back upto £9 or10 worth of material with their £6 postage. So £2 left to pay labour and postage to customer. comes back down to a couple of quid for an hours work.

Can't see whats wrong with cutting a few rings of the nearest bit of plastic pipe thats knocking around myself, makes an ideal standoff when slipped over a screw.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 06/05/2015 17:22:02:

Posted by paul 1950 on 06/05/2015 13:10:52:

why is it when you own a machine people always want you to make something for nothing

I would suggest you go back and read the chap's post Paul. He is not asking for them to be done for nothing, he is offering to pay and frankly £12 (plus a bit – little bit- of postage) works out at about £23 an hour if you dither. Material cost is about a pound. Doesn't sound like nothing to me. (oh, and 6p for the jiffy bag).

I don't work for nothing but little jobs like this put a bit of cash in the slush fund and I usually use it to buy tooling. Works out fine to be honest.

"Nylon absorbing moisture" – Really? It is that Mission Critical we are even going to consider this? Give me a break. It isn't worth considering and if we are going to consider electrocution, again, really? We have an earth I take it?

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 06/05/2015 17:22:42

well make them for him or shut up, simples

[VicParticipant @vic]

Nice one!

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Make items from Nylon and then boil them and they will not absorb moisture or swell!

Clive

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

Hi. I'm wanting the consumer unit on a suitable board above the DNO's board. And I'm wanting to achieve a sort of "match", Ahem. I know, I'm a bit finicky. . Anyway, someone can always make me an offer.

Tempted actually to get myself a lathe. I could make them myself then, and do other useful things.

Wonder how much I might have to spend to get some lathe that would have spindle bore of 1".

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 06/05/2015 19:51:49

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 06/05/2015 19:53:24

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

A lot more than the cost of a hacksaw to chop the rod into say 3" lengths that would fit into the chuck body.

[Alex CollinsParticipant @alexcollins55045]

1" Spindle Bore ? Probably lots, and then you'd have to move it !

As Jason suggested. Cut the bar in to short lengths…

A New small Chinese lathe start at about £300 new from places like amadeal. Will it deal well with 1" Steel bar (Cut up or otherwise) . um – debatable but it'll certainly hack it about well.

If you are going to buy a lathe look out on various auction and for sale sites. Boxford, Colchester, Myford amongst others are good names to go for.
If it looks rough it probably is. Make sure it's single phase ( 240 volt) or comes with a converter. .

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Cheapest option, probably a 16" bed mini-lathe with a fixed steady, then you can use the whole length of the bar.

Neil

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