Forum Topic

BRAG Restart Party - see front page

I noticed this on the WLWA website too late to flag it up.  In fact it is such an important event that I was still actually considering flagging it up as something everybody had missed - that is of course if they didn't go...So good to see that it was a success and that they will hold another in the new year - so why not hang onto that favourite gadget until then.  Hillingdon have held these in the past.  I had also been wondering whether BRAG and WLWA couldn't offer some support for those living in small terraces who are struggling with their recycling.WLWA events are here:  http://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/events/Remember that Repair and Reuse come before Recycle in the waste hierarchy!

Philippa Bond ● 2818d14 Comments

I personally haven't tried to YET although I have thought about it.  The biggest thing putting me off was that the instructions are to turn the electricity off - understandably - but the freezer at the moment is full and you can't turn them off separately!You need to find someone who isn't more interested in selling you a new one first.You can find lots of seals on the internet including ones which are supposed to fit several types of machine.Do let me know if you find someone.  The oven was a complete doddle though. I may yet have a go when life quietens down.Sometimes the problem is that the hinges need adjusting.

Philippa Bond ● 2795d

How difficult is it to replace the seals on the frig and freezer doors of a Zanussi?  Not sure you can find these.

Jennifer Selig ● 2797d

I adapted a microwave controller so that it had a pointer on it so that 2 min and 4 min could easily be found for a very elderly very poorly sighted relation.  I first contacted the manufacturers to see whether they produced anything to make it easier to use.  They didn't.  I used some wonderful stuff a bit like plasticine called Sugru. This was suggested by a forum reader and I've used it for mending quite a few things that I'd had problems with sticking back together.  It is very good for modifications to suit individuals' needs.

Philippa Bond ● 2800d

That's really interesting, Philippa. I think it would be a good idea for BRAG to put this kind of tip on the website - I will mention it at tomorrow's meeting, and will also bring up some of the issues raised in this thread.

Virginia Fassnidge ● 2812d

I've also replaced the rubber seal in my oven and the lightbulb after cooking in the dark for many years!  Getting the cover off the light bulb was tough work and took many days of having another go and giving up.  The rubber seal was a complete doddle.  If I'd have realised it was so easy I would have done it years ago long before it was desperate situation.  It is much easier to replace parts when a machine is younger and the model details are easier to read!  There is lots of internet info to show that lots of other people do this too.  So I don't have to just get another one.I've still got several others things I want to fix - or at least find out that I really can't fix.  This is sometimes something that I'd like help with and wish that rather than giving me "stuff" for Christmas my family would offer to help me to find some solutions to the more challenging fixes! 

Philippa Bond ● 2813d

Thank you for joining in Virginia. I think that Raymond might have been complaining about me!  I only got round to making the first reply. I had another look at the calendar on this website and it looks as though BRAG meets once a month - is that right?Re the Dyson - those are all very expensive machines aren't they - and I feel that they should be approached for a better solution. As you say - the more people who approach them for a better solution and a replacement small part the better.  Although surely somebody is eventually bound to come up with a hack.   

Philippa Bond ● 2815d

Interesting about the simple fix for the Peugeot's indicator stalk, Raymond. The internet's good for that sort of thing and for sources of replacement parts and instructions. A Brentford Recycling Action Group mewmber recently replaced a faulty keyless drill chuck with an alternative much better one at £6 (£24 less), using information from a Google search and a Youtube video for the repair procedure.

Virginia Fassnidge ● 2815d

I am sorry that you were irritated by the abbreviations in the article, Raymond. It was taken from a piece I did for the Brentford Recycling Action Group's website, where the full title appears.I agree with you about the correct way of introducing abbreviations, and in fact the article gives the full wording before the abbreviation used: Portable Appliance Test (PAT), Waste Electris/Electronic Equipment (WEEE); I don't think I used WLWA but did refer to West London Waste. So I don't think you can accuse me of bad use of grammar or a barrage of irrelevant abbreviations.I take your point regarding the difficulty in repairing items and it's something that Brentford Recycling Action Group (BRAG) is concerned about. I hope you contacted Dyson about the turbo brush part and why you won't be buying any of their products again. Consumer pressure can work if there's enough of it.

Virginia Fassnidge ● 2815d

I did take this further.The problem is that the manufacturers, Dyson in this case simply do not make small but important parts available as spares.To take a Dyson Turbo Head apart takes 5 mins. Is as easy as a beginners airfix kit.The part takes less than 30 seconds to replace. But you simply cannot get the part .So Dyson like several others ( usually car manufacturers) will only sell the entire unit as a spare.The component in question is almost certainly manufactured to have a short life.The rubber loses its suppleness and thus the suction and torque on the rotating head is reduced.  I train a few tests and could restore the performance for about 10 mins, but the 20p component is bespoke and theres not really a suitable alternative.Like the Indicator stalk on Peugeots. Fails and the easy to replace unit costs a small fortune.But someone has posted on You Tube a simple fix which involves no more than a ladies emery board for nails. Takes about 20 m ins to do start to finish and fixed.

Raymond Havelock ● 2815d

Have you tried? BRAG are the people to contact as they will know who in Brentford does do this.There is a vacuum cleaner mender in Mattock Lane W5.  Apparently masses of vacuum cleaners are thrown away just because the bag is full.  I've replaced the belt on my Hoover and on my FIL's several times.  It is easy to buy many spares now online.  Can't get your paper vacuum cleaner bags any more?  And if you can't get the original make then compatible ones are listed as with so many makes and models it has become difficult for any high street shop to stock everything.  Lost the instructions leaflet for something?  Try online.  Dyson I thought had good troubleshooting info online.  I'm surprised that Raymond didn't manage to mend his.  If I was him I'd have taken it further.  How about Which?There used to be a electrical/electronics mending shop called Fuselodge in Acton.  I've yet to use it.I've replaced the limescale filters in several kettles with ones bought online. 

Philippa Bond ● 2817d

Try and get a dvd player or phone repaired! I'm affraid the throw away society is here to stay.

Nicholas Beard ● 2817d

Philippa Bond ● 2817d

Apologies Raymond:  This post is on BRAGYou would really need someone who belongs to them to explain more about them and all they have done and been involved in. I've been aware of them for a long time. They used to have an absolutely brilliant Recycling A-Z Guide up on the web long before these new contracts.  It gave info on where to take various things and also which charities would collect.  I notice that they now have a Facebook group.Their meetings are I think on the calendar of this website.https://bragonline.org.uk/

Philippa Bond ● 2817d

maybe it's just me but all these abbreviations are beginning to get really irritatingWhat is BRAG ?  What is WEEE?  What is WLWA ? SPECTRE? SMERSH?Yes I accept that I like many, will know what some stand for, but this is meant to be a means of communicating and informing and not putting the full name of the abbreviation first before then using it is really bad use of grammar.No wonder people are indifferent, it's barrage of irrelevant abbreviations.As for repair and reuse. If only.In our Dyson vacuum, one tiny easy to remove rubber component has lost its flexibility. It is a small cheap moulded part. Is it replaceable ?  Yes. Takes 5 mins to do.As the part available NO. You have to replace the entire turbo brush from Dyson.£50 and a perfectly good unit goes into the bin.Same with a vast array of consumer products that ought to last 15-20 years easily.We will never by another Dyson Product, a closer look shows they provide very few spares indeed for what is a very modular and easy to repair range...if you could purchase the parts.Oddly enough our 45 year old hand me down Hoover has just had a new belt brush and carbon brushes easily found online for a fiver. But it works well and is quite than the Dyson if not as funky looking.

Raymond Havelock ● 2818d