No More Small Tasks!

Ted W

I started a thread a while back about working odd hours. Well, today, Sunday, on a Memorial day weekend, I found myself up under a utility sink pulling apart and replacing the drain. It started out as just going to rod it out, but the damn thing fell apart as I was taking it apart. Then the parts I got to replace it didn't fit. So I had to go back to the hardware store and get some copper fittings to replace the rusted out galvanized, which was too short. I soldered it all together, went to put in the p-trap assembly, and the tail piece is too short. I told them I'll be back tomorrow - yes, Memorial day - with a longer tail piece.

This is the way things go every time I work on a weekend. Nothing seems to go right. And if I try to do this stuff during the week it seriously cuts into my time getting my main jobs done. So, I figure the best thing for me is to only handle the miscelaneous tasks when I'm there doing larger projects. All my tools in one place, and when something doesn't go quite right I can just put it aside till later, when I have the right parts, since I'm going to be there anyway, with all my tools.

Darnit, I'm Tired!

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Carpentry and Woodworking - Chicago / North Shore - Ted's Carpentry

"I don't know everything but at least I think I do, and that's what really matters."

Bummie

Yep... Murphy shows up at every weekend job!!

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North Country

Sooo, you charge them a service rate for holiday work. Should adequately compensate your time. Do you think a plumber would've charged any different?

mdshunk

I hope he didn't. A plumber would have had a properly stocked truck or have known the proper materials to run for in the first place. This is the sort of thing you run into when you operate outside of your area of expertise. I'm puzzled why a person calls a carpenter for a plumbing job? May have even been illegal work performed, based upon the OP's reported location.

JamesNLA

LOL, I just had this vision of a guy with a framers square in his back pocket, cussing under his breath in the "plumbing" isle at Bum Depot.

We all have our days....I guess

dirt diggler

i hope you're bringin the bucks

Tom R

He got called to snake a sink.

I've never met a plumber yet that didn't run out to the store minutes after he got to the job.

Maybe they already have the parts, - - that I don't really know.

People call me all the time (well at least my regular customers) for handiwork jobs like that.

They know 9 times out of 10 the plumber's only gonna do a partial job anyway, and say "you need to call a carpenter for that part". When they call a carpenter/handyman the whole job gets done through one person, - - one that they're already familiar with and know they can trust to be fair.

I can't imagine an inspector anywhere busting somebody for changing out a sink trap when he went there to snake it, - - around my way you can do those type of repairs all day long.

It's far from rocket science.

JamesNLA

Actually there is a lot of potential to do a tremendous amount of damage. No, one doesn't need a permit to snake a line, that is silly, one should have SOME training on do's and don't on snaking a line. Not saying the OP can't do it, just saying one can do a lot of damage.

"They know 9 times out of 10 the plumber's only gonna do a partial job anyway"

That is absurd.....



I must be that 1 out of 10, no?

Tom R

Nice job there, James.

Actually, - - I was gonna give it an 0-for-ten, - - but I knew some of you guys weren't from around here . . .

I stand by what I said, - - at least in my area . . .

JamesNLA

LOL! OK bud

Tom R

Seriously, - - I wish I could even count how many times I've been called through the years to see a job left by the plumber that looks like your first picture, - - and the plumber just tells 'em, - - "you'll have to call a carpenter to finish that part, - - OK, now, - - that'll be $950.00"

I just tell 'em I can't believe you paid a guy to rip it up and not fix it. If he isn't capable of doing the job you called him for you obviously called a wrong number.

Had one just last year where the plumber got called in to change out a shower diverter. He actually BUSTED OUT twelve 4 X 4 tiles to get to it, - - then charged them $1150 and told them they need a carpenter.

Although I told them I was too busy to mess with it, - - I said I'd swing by and take a look-see at it.

After viewing the pile of broken (60's color) tiles just left in a pile on the bathroom floor, - - I opened the linen closet door from the hallway, - - moved a few items off one of the shelves, - - and showed the homeowner the nice little access door they never even knew they had.

It just doesn't get any more ignorant than that . . .

Celtic

You forget to mud those screw heads on the left there?

LOL



Even ther one on the right looks like all it got was a coat of paint.

Rich Turley

I'm with ya Tom. So often the little jobs are the worst by far. I spent the entire weekend with my family and dogs and it was great!

My plumber doesn't do drywall or tile. I also have two other plumbers who give my card to the customer for the repair.

Rich

JamesNLA

LOL!! That is so funny!!

Yes, I did not mud the screws. It was 9 at night, and I repiped 2 showers, and 2 baths that day. She (my HO) had some lame ass $85/hr handy man, that charged her 350 to change 2 gate latches, and did a piss poor job. I wasn't gonna let her call them back.

But thanks for the reminder bout the mud!!

Celtic

Hurray for me !!!

This might very well be THE first time I have picked up up on some tiny imperfection in a pic that has been posted....and I've looked at PLENTY of "What's Wrong Here" type pic posts. LOL

No new glasses or monitor for me

Tom R

Funny, - - although I saw them, - - I wasn't really sure what they were, - - so I didn't say anything.

I always seem to regret bein' polite, - - luckily it don't happen that often, anyway.

JamesNLA

All right you old men, It's on!!!

We shall see:

Please tell me the error or mistake made in this repair job. I was nice, and gave you a higher rez photo



After

Driftwood

You do great work James . We are carp. that do all the trades under our Gen B lic in N ca. We do the same level of work. I'm amazed at the hack full time plumbers out there

Tom R

Old men, uh??

I may be 51, - - but I've been told I don't look a day over 50 1/2!!

Nice work . . .

JamesNLA

Thanks. I like to venture out of my box every now and then!

So did you happen to notice anything odd in the pic (second one)?

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock