I haven't used either for some considerable time but I don't remember them having a noticeable smell. I think the mastic might be the least smelly of the two but I'd be interested to see whether others agree. When it cools down a bit I might go and have a whiff of the mastic if it hasn't gone completely hard in the tube.

Of course this is all subjective and you might be more susceptible to certain smells than me, and vice versa.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Ok, but what's the difference between this and the acrylic?  How do I choose between them?  Is one easier to apply?  Does one smell less than the other?

From memory, the last time I used acrylic sealant, it had a strong smell of 'vinegar', but that dissipated over a day or so once cured...

18 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

From memory, the last time I used acrylic sealant, it had a strong smell of 'vinegar', but that dissipated over a day or so once cured...

That's what I'm trying to avoid unfortunately.  It's a single room studio flat so I'm pretty much stuck in one room all day & night.

On the subject of windows, has anyone tried heat reflective film on a South facing window?  It's been relentlessly hot in here over the past week or so, 30c+, and they keep saying on the radio that the heatwave hasn't even started yet!

90cm x 2m dc fix HEAT & GLARE PROTECTION static cling window film | eBay UK

 Don't like going unconscious while eating my tea. Apparently I choked on some beef and then passed out slumped in my tea. . Woke up with my partner thumping me on the back being sick   with partner and her daughter stood over me. Cleaned the worst off and carried on with my tea🤣🤣

Good job they were sat nearby. 

7 minutes ago, iantt said:

 Don't like going unconscious while eating my tea. Apparently I choked on some beef and then passed out slumped in my tea. . Woke up with my partner thumping me on the back being sick   with partner and her daughter stood over me. Cleaned the worst off and carried on with my tea🤣🤣

Good job they were sat nearby. 

Joking aside It's frightening for those around you. After my mother caught Covid we had to do the Heimlich Manoeuvre nearly every time she ate anything for several months after, even when she was eating what was almost baby food. 

My partner said she was figuring out how to do the manoeuvre on me as I'm sat on sofa, and 18st of me to move. 

36 minutes ago, iantt said:

My partner said she was figuring out how to do the manoeuvre on me as I'm sat on sofa, and 18st of me to move. 

That would be hard, my mother was less than 5 foot and weighed nothing. Your instincts kick in in moments like that, I have never been taught any first aid but I instantly knew what to do at lightning speed.

On 6/18/2025 at 12:15 PM, TomsFocus said:

what's the difference between this and the acrylic?  How do I choose between them?  Is one easier to apply?  Does one smell less than the other?

Sorry Tom, I've only just got around to checking. Turns out my tube of mastic is fairly new. One good thing about it is it's much less prone to curing in the tube. I had to extrude some and get my nose right up to it before I could smell anything and even then it's only a very mild oily smell. Definitely not unpleasant and nothing like the acrid smell from silicone.

 

1 hour ago, mjt said:

Sorry Tom, I've only just got around to checking. Turns out my tube of mastic is fairly new. One good thing about it is it's much less prone to curing in the tube. I had to extrude some and get my nose right up to it before I could smell anything and even then it's only a very mild oily smell. Definitely not unpleasant and nothing like the acrid smell from silicone.

 

Thanks, I've added it to the list!

For now I've put down some more peppermint bug repellent.  Doesn't seem to stop them coming in but at least they have fresher breath now...

On 6/12/2025 at 9:12 AM, iantt said:

Amazon use all the parcel carriers now. I've had parcel force and DPD as lastest delivers . 

And RM from the looks of it!  Interestingly, I ordered this using Prime for next day delivery (1 month free trial) so will be interested to see which RM service they used.

For anyone interested, they used the Tracked24 RM service.

But strangely split the delivery into two, with one coming from an Amazon driver about 6 hours later!

No idea how they work out the logistics of this but I've had to order another few items urgently using Prime so no idea who will be delivering those yet.

Can anyone recommend the best/cheapest place online to buy a couple of espag window handles with 10mm spindles?

Bought a couple of generic handles with max length spindles to cut down but after half an hour with a hacksaw barely seem to have even made a dent in it!  Not worth the hassle if I can just buy a shorter pair for £10-£15 but online searches just keep giving generic ones.

11 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Can anyone recommend the best/cheapest place online to buy a couple of espag window handles with 10mm spindles?

I've seen "universal" handles on Amazon, Ebay, etc which come with several spindles including 10mm. e.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D81HFS43/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0D81HFS43&pd_rd_w=nKM9r&content-id=amzn1.sym.7c2bff8e-4ce3-4cc7-b3f6-35ac6c74cf9b&pf_rd_p=7c2bff8e-4ce3-4cc7-b3f6-35ac6c74cf9b&pf_rd_r=YZBCTPVKYGN4GANGPAJV&pd_rd_wg=QAubF&pd_rd_r=6ec5318e-89ff-45cf-bcfa-0c26df6a9af5&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

2 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I've seen "universal" handles on Amazon, Ebay, etc which come with several spindles including 10mm. e.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D81HFS43/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0D81HFS43&pd_rd_w=nKM9r&content-id=amzn1.sym.7c2bff8e-4ce3-4cc7-b3f6-35ac6c74cf9b&pf_rd_p=7c2bff8e-4ce3-4cc7-b3f6-35ac6c74cf9b&pf_rd_r=YZBCTPVKYGN4GANGPAJV&pd_rd_wg=QAubF&pd_rd_r=6ec5318e-89ff-45cf-bcfa-0c26df6a9af5&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

Thanks.  Don't really like buying that type of thing where several parts are immediately discarded but that might end up being the least worst option.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Thanks.  Don't really like buying that type of thing where several parts are immediately discarded but that might end up being the least worst option.

Tell me about it. I've got loads of stuff like that in my "that might come in handy one day" box.

Or you could just carry on sawing. I've always managed to get through them eventually. Some of those lock spindles are pretty hard, though and decent hacksaw blades aren't cheap either.  😀

4 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Tell me about it. I've got loads of stuff like that in my "that might come in handy one day" box.

Or you could just carry on sawing. I've always managed to get through them eventually. Some of those lock spindles are pretty hard, though and decent hacksaw blades aren't cheap either.  😀

I've got two hacksaws but can't find any spare blades.  So the choice is either buying shorter spindles or buying a set of blades.  Either way I'll end up with a few extras that I don't need.

36 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I've got two hacksaws but can't find any spare blades.  So the choice is either buying shorter spindles or buying a set of blades.  Either way I'll end up with a few extras that I don't need.

If you have a 'dremmel' type tool, would that be suitable for cutting it?

11 hours ago, StephenFord said:

If you have a 'dremmel' type tool, would that be suitable for cutting it?

Good idea.  I do have one, and luckily it's one of few tools still stored in this tiny shithole.  Was bought to cut the security bolts off a Focus PCM 10 years ago and probably hasn't been used since...  However, having just looked at it, the pack of metal blades are still sealed.  They appear to use a different type of fitting to attach.  Not sure if I'm missing a part?  Can only assume I realised this is at the time and used a non-metal blade, but that was for a much smaller (and probably softer) job. 🤔

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

'''They appear to use a different type of fitting to attach.  Not sure if I'm missing a part?  Can only assume I realised this is at the time and used a non-metal blade, but that was for a much smaller (and probably softer) job. 🤔

Took me ages to work out how to attach the pesky things to my 'Lidl' tool. There is a pin type attachment with a small thread at one end. The stem is placed in the tool, then you place the disc over the small threaded end, then you screw on  like a nut to hold disc in place. No, I don't know why the don't make it simpler LOL

3 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Took me ages how to attach the pesky things to my 'Lidl' tool. There is a pin type attachment with a small thread at one end. The stem is placed in the tool, then you place the disc over the small threaded end, then you screw on  like a nut to hold disc in place. No, I don't know why the don't make it simpler LOL

The hole in these blades seems to be far too big for that though.  Perhaps something to do with the EZ Speed Clic written on them?  Doesn't seem all that EZ to me!

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

The hole in these blades seems to be far too big for that though.  Perhaps something to do with the EZ Speed Clic written on them?  Doesn't seem all that EZ to me!

 

Yep, that is nothing like mine! I think it's time to seek out the answer on YouTube 🤣

6 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Yep, that is nothing like mine! I think it's time to seek out the answer on YouTube 🤣

EZ SpeedClic Mandrel Collets/Mandrels/Miscellaneous | Dremel

It does require an additional part.  

So now the question is whether I spend £8 on that adapter to use the blades I already have.  Or spend £15 on a pack of 2x handles that are the correct size already...  I guess this could come in handy again in future, although I haven't used it in the last 10 years.  

Also...does a Dremel have an 'up'?  You could hold it either way, so writing 'this side up' on the disc seems a bit ambiguous!  

Dremel adapter ordered, so onto the next issue...of which there are now considerably more than last weekend.  

Does anyone know if a 'toilet fill silencer' exists, as Google isn't giving any results.  Had the valve replaced because it was vibrating through all the pipework in use.  But the new one makes a hell of a noise while filling and then keeps dripping for ages afterwards.  Been fobbed off with the usual BS 'they all do that' but I can see the problem.  My old valve had like a bag over the spout so there was no air gap between the spout & the water level to create a splash or drip.  The new one doesn't have that.  I'm wondering if I can just buy something like that to fit myself, but can't be using the correct term in searches if it does exist.  Any ideas?