BearBio
Member
Has anybody else noticed Lowe's screws and nails are *******?
How Many Trips to Home Store for Simple Project
- Thread starter VaTom
- Start date
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I did maintenance for 44 years so on my 12 year old condo, most projects are a single trip. On the 120 year old farm house most projects were 3 to 5 trips! On unusual parts I take a phone pic. That cut trips way down, but unusual parts ARE NOT AT HOME CENTERS! So they require a trip to a 9-5 plumbing or electrical supply!
Never take the word of a home center help desk! Their job is to sell you what they have, not what you need!
Ivan
PS, I think PEX is the greatest thing since the invention of running water!
ITB
Never take the word of a home center help desk! Their job is to sell you what they have, not what you need!
Ivan
PS, I think PEX is the greatest thing since the invention of running water!
ITB
DeathGrip
US Veteran
In my teens and twenties it took countless trips. In my thirties it took a few. In my forties it took a couple of three. In my fifties it took hours and still required additional trips to get what was forgotten. I turned sixty back in December and realized I have no business doing what I coulda done three or four times back in the day.
We tend to use the buddy system anymore. One guy does the work while the other one runs to the store for whatever else is needed. Generally, I break as much as I fix. The other thing I don't like about big box stores is the over confident do it yourselfer working there who has become a self proclaimed engineer . Back when we had to wear monkey suits to work I stopped at the local big box to get a reciprocating saw. I knew what I wanted and always buy professional grade tools. I am no expert, but we never had a repairman at the house growing up so I learned how to do home repair etc. We were having a bathroom remodeled and I was doing the tear out to save some $$. I needed the saw to remove a large soak tub and shower insert the easy way. The bozo sales guy finds the item I wanted, since there were none in the box on the floor and brings it out to me. As I am walking away toward the checkout, he says to me you sure you know how to use that safely ? I just grinned at him and told him that I was gonna learn this weekend. He says, now I am serious you be careful with that thing. I thanked him and went on my way. Tore the tub and shower out in about 2 hours the next morning. The reciprocating saw is one of the best tools ever made.
The deck screws in boxes are OK, but most of the stuff in blister pak, especially the "brass" screws, is made in China junk.
I saw the change in brass~10 years ago. Compare it to older brass screws, the current made in China brass is much paler than the Made in USA screws, and will snap off a head while sinking them in a heartbeat.
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I live 1.5 miles from Home Depot, 2 miles from Lowes. My first tile the bathroom job i did with no You tube, and very little instructions otherwise. Decided to take it one step at a time. I made 22 trips to Home Depot. It was a 4x5 bathroom.
Charlie
Charlie
I'm glad to hear that accomplished individuals need multiple trips. My first trip is to have someone explain which end of the screwdriver or hammer is the effective end. Subsequent multiple trips remind me of when I smoked cigarettes- 20 choices, none of which are clear to me. Epoxy or lacquer ? Flat or glossy ? Pan head or convex ? Is your thermothrocklin right or left handed ? Is your refrigerator running ? You'll need a ( insert never before heard word here ) which of course is right or left handed. My grandfather worked at the Ford factory and could fix or build just about anything but other than minor electrical repairs I'm flummoxed. Excuse me, I've got to go get some 1/4" X 3 mm reverse thread brass or was it zinc ( I've never heard that word before ), I'll be right back.
Regards,
turnerriver
Regards,
turnerriver
Ivan the Butcher
Member
My oldest son HAD to install a new hot water tank this week, and called for advice twice. My youngest son told his wife, and she insisted he install one this weekend. I got 2 calls for advise from him and he's a professional maintenance supervisor, but commercial, not residential! His house is 60 to 80 years old, and previous owners didn't care about right or wrong, they did it their way! In the installation of a new tank and a sediment filter, he removed 15 extra feet of water pipe that changed size from or to 1/2" and 3/4" EIGHT TIMES!!!
Hot water pressure is now 50% better and matching cold water pressure!
I hate living 8 hours away, and only helping over the phone. However it is comforting to know all 4 of my kids are capable of tackling any job in a house!
Ivan
Hot water pressure is now 50% better and matching cold water pressure!
I hate living 8 hours away, and only helping over the phone. However it is comforting to know all 4 of my kids are capable of tackling any job in a house!
Ivan
If I can complete a "quick little job" in less than 5 trips to the store for exchanges,
additions or deletions, I'm very proud and happy !!
additions or deletions, I'm very proud and happy !!
Multiple trips are the norm for me.
And you are right about Blowes and Home Creapo. They are NOT hardware stores. They are HOME IMPROVEMENT stores. In other words, if it isn't something a woman would buy to beautify the home, they probably don't sell it, and definitely don't carry it in the store.
Ace is the closest thing to a real hardware store in my area. Over in Seattle area there is a small, family owned chain of half a dozen real hardware stores called McClendons. Picture an Ace hardware only about 4-6 times bigger with 4-6 times the quantity and variety of inventory.
We had one about a mile from my house in Kent. Man do I ever miss that store...
And you are right about Blowes and Home Creapo. They are NOT hardware stores. They are HOME IMPROVEMENT stores. In other words, if it isn't something a woman would buy to beautify the home, they probably don't sell it, and definitely don't carry it in the store.
Ace is the closest thing to a real hardware store in my area. Over in Seattle area there is a small, family owned chain of half a dozen real hardware stores called McClendons. Picture an Ace hardware only about 4-6 times bigger with 4-6 times the quantity and variety of inventory.
We had one about a mile from my house in Kent. Man do I ever miss that store...
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The last project I tackled was replacing a single 8 foot x 6 foot high section of wooden picket fence. Only took one trip to Lowes, but it was a small project and only took about 15 minutes to complete once I got home with the ready built section of fencing. Unscrew the old one and hang the new one on the same brackets on the same steel posts. I even reused the lag bolts from the old one.
The one before that was replacing an air handler fan motor. That one took several trips to several different stores. After disassembly I discovered that I couldn't remove the squirrel cage from the motor shaft without a specialized puller. That necessitated trips to not one, not two, but three hardware and tool stores - none of which had the tool I needed. Finally got wise and googled it. Found the at the local Grainger. Ordered online and picked it up. Then a quick trip to Consolidated Electrical Supply for a new motor and capacitor. After that the job was fairly easy. I probably spent nearly as much as it would have cost to have it done professionally, but I enjoy figuring out how to do things I've never done before. There's a sense of accomplishment gained from doing something yourself.
The one before that was replacing an air handler fan motor. That one took several trips to several different stores. After disassembly I discovered that I couldn't remove the squirrel cage from the motor shaft without a specialized puller. That necessitated trips to not one, not two, but three hardware and tool stores - none of which had the tool I needed. Finally got wise and googled it. Found the at the local Grainger. Ordered online and picked it up. Then a quick trip to Consolidated Electrical Supply for a new motor and capacitor. After that the job was fairly easy. I probably spent nearly as much as it would have cost to have it done professionally, but I enjoy figuring out how to do things I've never done before. There's a sense of accomplishment gained from doing something yourself.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Ivan the Butcher
Member
If you can get a cut off wheel in to the motor shaft to cut it off the fan propeller or squirrel cage, drill a hole in the shaft and work up in size to about 3/8 or 7/16", The shaft will usually drive right out!
Ivan
Ivan
RobertJ.
Member
I'm thankful for this thread. Now I know I'm not the only one!
Among other things, we manage the apartment complex we live in. I do most of the light maintenance, and it seems like nothing is ever as easy as I imagine it will be. Home Depot is 15 minutes away, and Ace is about 2 minutes away. I go to HD when I need a load of stuff.
Among other things, we manage the apartment complex we live in. I do most of the light maintenance, and it seems like nothing is ever as easy as I imagine it will be. Home Depot is 15 minutes away, and Ace is about 2 minutes away. I go to HD when I need a load of stuff.
"Light maintenance" for me is searching the iPhone contacts for "Plummer", "electrician," "carpenter," or "handyman."
I think I generally average about three trips. More if the project is much more complicated than changing a light bulb.
mckenney99
Member
Timely topic. I was helping a friend to plumb in a new compressor in his barn and we both brought this topic up. We came to the consensus that if the work involves ANY type of plumbing, it's going to require AT LEAST 3 trips to the hardware store. Electrical work will require 1 initial trip to get what you need and then at least 1 additional trip to get or replace something that you lost/screwed up.
