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Topic:
Employee quote of the day
This thread has 26 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 27.
Post 16 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 14:31
Mac Burks (39)
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On August 18, 2015 at 11:11, Richie Rich said...
HAHAHAHA!

Embarrassed to say I did something similar once. Was cutting a hole and was like "what the heck is in this wall that is so difficult to cut". Yup, pocket door.

In my defense the contractor doing the remodel had capped the door frame and abandoned the door inside the wall. So 20 years from now when the house is remodeled again, somebody will probably pry the molding off and try to re-use the pocket door only to find it won't move "because some idiot drilled a hole in it and pulled wire through".

I mounted a TV on a wall with a pocket door. My bracket lag bolt went right through it. Stud-liar was giving me trouble and i could see wood on the tip of my drill bit so i went for it :).

Client had a door leaning against the wall 1 foot from the opening to the bath that was attached to the room i was working in. I just assumed that there was no bathroom door because it was leaning right next to it.

Customer walks in and goes to open the pocket door and thats when i realized what i had done. I fixed the lag bolt hole by spraying expanding foam into the hole and waiting a couple days. Then i uses a razor to cut it even with the wood and then bondo on each side. Luckily they were in the process of painting so i was able to touch it up. When the client asked me about it a week later i was able to show him that it was as good as new.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 17 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 14:35
highfigh
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I helped a dealer do some installs between '01-'04 and one morning, we went to a house that was undergoing a remodel. Since I was only part time, the other guy was lead an after we got there, he walked around with the blueprints fro twenty minutes and after getting tired of him just ignoring me and anything else that was happening, I asked "What's up?". He replied "I have no idea where to start". He had been doing installs for years and his mind was absolutely blank WRT head end and how to get the speaker wires to their destinations.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 18 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 14:36
Mac Burks (39)
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On August 18, 2015 at 14:31, highfigh said...
Butt spices take more time, but the connection with those and crimp caps is stronger than wire nuts- I demonstrated this to an installer when I did car audio. Crimped incorrectly or with the wrong crimper, yeah, they suck.

What i find is that most people don't know how to use wire nuts. They twist the wire together then put the wire nut on it and spin it. This isn't how they are designed to be used and often leads to a weak or loose connection. Put the wire in straight and push it as far as it will go and then use the wire nut to twist the wires together and lock them into place.

Butt splices might be good when done perfectly but there is a lot of room for error. The last time i used them was when i was on the very top of an 8' ladder and i had a butt splice loaded into my crimpers. I put the wire in and before i had it crimped i swayed a little and it slid off the wire. With wire nuts you don't need a tool, you don't have to worry about cutting through the butt splice or the speaker wire. And if you ever need to service the splice/connection you don't have to cut and strip again.

I used them for 10 years but never again. These days i use wagos. If wagos vanished today i would go back to wire nuts.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 19 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 14:55
highfigh
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On August 18, 2015 at 14:36, Mac Burks (39) said...
Butt splices might be good when done perfectly but there is a lot of room for error. The last time i used them was when i was on the very top of an 8' ladder and i had a butt splice loaded into my crimpers. I put the wire in and before i had it crimped i swayed a little and it slid off the wire. With wire nuts you don't need a tool, you don't have to worry about cutting through the butt splice or the speaker wire. And if you ever need to service the splice/connection you don't have to cut and strip again.

I used them for 10 years but never again. These days i use wagos. If wagos vanished today i would go back to wire nuts.

Making most terminations on a ladder sucks and I agree about the fact that butts can't be undone but if there's any danger of cutting through the splice or the wire, a better crimper is needed and we all know- dykes aren't crimpers.

You use Wagos for everything that doesn't need to be weather-proof?

After doing over 7000 12V installations with crimp caps, butt splices and other crimped terminals, I don't see the time or stripping as a problem because it doesn't take long, but when one wire in a bundle ends up being short and there's no way to make them even, anyone with a little OCD will be irritated.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 20 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 15:11
King of typos
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When I was a slot tech, I've used Pick-A-Bonds a lot to splice wires together.

Granted, the tool cost a pretty penny or two. But worth it.

KOT
Post 21 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 15:11
Mac Burks (39)
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On August 18, 2015 at 14:55, highfigh said...
Making most terminations on a ladder sucks and I agree about the fact that butts can't be undone but if there's any danger of cutting through the splice or the wire, a better crimper is needed and we all know- dykes aren't crimpers.

You use Wagos for everything that doesn't need to be weather-proof?

Pretty much. Anything stranded yes. If i have a Cat5 thats getting used for something other than phone or ethernet (trigger/relay/IR whatever) yes. If i am working with solid wire and phones i will use UR2 scotchlocks (red cap).

I don't use butt splices or "beanies" (dolphins) for anything because 1 out of 3 fall off when i find them in the field and touch the wire.

For weather resistant i use wire nuts for anything stranded with silicon in the wire nut. For burial i use a resin kit. I don't really have a favorite. I just order from amazon when i need them and i always pick something different. Scotchcast is probably one of the easier to use.

After doing over 7000 12V installations with crimp caps, butt splices and other crimped terminals, I don't see the time or stripping as a problem because it doesn't take long, but when one wire in a bundle ends up being short and there's no way to make them even, anyone with a little OCD will be irritated.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 22 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 15:26
Mac Burks (39)
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On August 18, 2015 at 15:11, King of typos said...
When I was a slot tech, I've used Pick-A-Bonds a lot to splice wires together.

Granted, the tool cost a pretty penny or two. But worth it.

KOT

I have never used picabond because the UR2 scotchlocks were the first thing i learned to use and they work well for phone. I dont use the crimper in the video. I have UR2 needlenose pliers from klien [Link: amazon.com]

" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

For larger wires i never used picabond because i had butt splices which i always hated so there was no reason to try something so similar.

I found out about Wagos in Holland and i will never look back.

" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 23 made on Tuesday August 18, 2015 at 20:30
highfigh
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On August 18, 2015 at 15:26, Mac Burks (39) said...
I have never used picabond because the UR2 scotchlocks were the first thing i learned to use and they work well for phone. I dont use the crimper in the video. I have UR2 needlenose pliers from klien [Link: amazon.com]

I hate those Scotch Loks with Silicone. I either need to move them to someplace cool or put them in a styrofoam cooler so the silicone doesn't melt and get all over the connectors and the inside of the bag.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 24 made on Wednesday August 19, 2015 at 10:05
Richie Rich
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Wagos…. Where have these things been all my life?

Also: where is the best place to get some?
I am a trained professional..... Do not attempt this stunt at home.
Post 25 made on Wednesday August 19, 2015 at 10:23
Duct Tape
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On August 19, 2015 at 10:05, Richie Rich said...
Wagos…. Where have these things been all my life?

Also: where is the best place to get some?

[Link: amazon.com]
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 26 made on Wednesday August 19, 2015 at 11:12
Richie Rich
Senior Member
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On August 19, 2015 at 10:23, Duct Tape said...
[Link: amazon.com]

Thanks! Much cheaper then I expected.
I am a trained professional..... Do not attempt this stunt at home.
Post 27 made on Wednesday August 19, 2015 at 15:49
Stryker
Long Time Member
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Ever since Mac posted about Wago years ago on this site
We use them all the time.!!
"If they give you ruled paper, write the other way"
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