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Dartlec

Dartlec

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Spent a good hour tonight fighting crappy 38x25mm trunking - surely it can't all be this badly made?!

My fault for getting it from Screwfix so that it came in 2m lengths, I guess. (Tower brand).

I've not had issues with their smaller trunking before, but this stuff was a nightmare. Felt fairly sturdy initially, but once the lid was peeled off, it curled up because it was so thin. Then when the trunking was on the wall, I spent a good 45 minutes trying to get the damn lid back on - one side would go, but the other simply would not.

Didn't help that the slightest tap with a hammer cracked the plastic either - argggghhh.

I assume there's not some skill to putting the lid on trunking that I've missed out on in my training that is only imparted to those considered worthy?

What brands are worth getting for the larger trunking, and what else should I be avoiding in future?

Since I used dline trunking clips, I might end up leaving this install lidless as 'plastic cable tray' and start a new fashion!
 
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For the large stuff (50x50 and up) I tend to use Marshall Tufflex from my local independent wholesaler. I've used quite a bit of trunking from ScrewFix and for the most part it's been alright but recently... not so much... last lot I used I found similar to what you've described, utter garbage.
 
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My wholesaler stocks Marshall tuflexx so that is what I use on the odd occasion I use PVC and have not had any issues with it. The lid goes on easy enough with the careful application of a soft faced hammer.

I've used PVC trunking from screwfix once or twice and have found it to be brittle, off-white and a bit nasty generally.

I can recommend a thor hammer with the replaceable faces, mine has a soft rubber face for plastic trunking lid and a nylon face for dressing MICC.
 
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SparkyChick said:
For the large stuff (50x50 and up) I tend to use Marshall Tufflex from my local independent wholesaler. I've used quite a bit of trunking from ScrewFix and for the most part it's been alright but recently... not so much... last lot I used I found similar to what you've described, utter garbage.
Click to expand...
Good to know it's not just me being incompetent then!

Maybe trying to cut costs somewhere rather than raise prices - and using less plastic.

I have some 100 x 50 I bought from TLC recently and didn't end up using - egatube, apparently an MK/Honeywell company, which seemed very sturdy, but way too big for this job, sorting out an EICR that was fully rewired like this 5 years ago....

[ElectriciansForums.net] Screwfix trunking Woes
[ElectriciansForums.net] Screwfix trunking Woes
 
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nicebutdim said:
Must be up there with Centaur for quality.

Out of interest; has anyone ever managed to fit an end cap to 100x100 centaur trunking, without modifcation? I'd really love to how it's supposed to be done.
Click to expand...
Centaur dado trunking has to be the worst trunking I have ever used
 
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I ordered 10 lengths of non stick MT2 off Ebay the other week as it was on the cheap , and the stuff was horrific. It was brittle as ----. When you tried to cut it , it would crack and split and when you tried to tap the lid back on it would just shatter.
I emailed the supplier via Ebay returns , sent some photo(s) of the rubbish trunking and they refunded me the entire purchase price without even wanting any of the stuff back.
They must have know it was garbage
 
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Dustydazzler said:
I ordered 10 lengths of non stick MT2 off Ebay the other week as it was on the cheap , and the stuff was horrific. It was brittle as ----. When you tried to cut it , it would crack and split and when you tried to tap the lid back on it would just shatter.
I emailed the supplier via Ebay returns , sent some photo(s) of the rubbish trunking and they refunded me the entire purchase price without even wanting any of the stuff back.
They must have know it was garbage
Click to expand...
Just sent Screwfix a complaint email, so we'll see what they say. Seems to be a trend of late of cutting costs on some of their stuff rather than putting the price up - and they are likely squeezing their suppliers for every penny, but it's pointless if the stuff isn't fit for purpose!
 
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Dartlec said:
Just sent Screwfix a complaint email, so we'll see what they say. Seems to be a trend of late of cutting costs on some of their stuff rather than putting the price up - and they are likely squeezing their suppliers for every penny, but it's pointless if the stuff isn't fit for purpose!
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I paid £24.98 inc shipping for 10 x 3m lenghths of MT2 off Ebay.
At £2 a length it might have been a good bargain and gone up on the wall okay.
But after trying to fit 2 lengths I gave up , took some photo(s) and threw the whole lot in the skip.
I will buy Marshall Tufflex next week

The only 3 things I buy from Screwfix now on a regular basis is LAP accessories , Twin and Earth cable and LED GU10s
 
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Dustydazzler said:
I paid £24.98 inc shipping for 10 x 3m lenghths of MT2 off Ebay.
At £2 a length it might have been a good bargain and gone up on the wall okay.
But after trying to fit 2 lengths I gave up , took some photo(s) and threw the whole lot in the skip.
I will buy Marshall Tufflex next week

The only 3 things I buy from Screwfix now on a regular basis is LAP accessories , Twin and Earth cable and LED GU10s
Click to expand...
Their LED GU10s are the only ones I use these days - had very few issues with them, even with the older stock, and so much cheaper than alternatives that do have problems cough Philips cough

Prysmian T&E is also my preferred cable too, though the moment anyone else gets their hands on it they ruin the box it comes in 😡 while I manage to use the whole reel with no issue.

LAP I used to use for some things, but switched to Click - which means I have to pop to Toolstation too. Just as well that it's a law that there is never more than 2 minutes between their stores....

Still use LAP shaver sockets on 'price sensitive' jobs though...
 
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Dustydazzler said:
I paid £24.98 inc shipping for 10 x 3m lenghths of MT2 off Ebay.
At £2 a length it might have been a good bargain and gone up on the wall okay.
But after trying to fit 2 lengths I gave up , took some photo(s) and threw the whole lot in the skip.
I will buy Marshall Tufflex next week

The only 3 things I buy from Screwfix now on a regular basis is LAP accessories , Twin and Earth cable and LED GU10s
Click to expand...

£2/length is a bargain? Its a while since I bought any but I'd swear blind it used to be a lot less than that!
 
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davesparks said:
£2/length is a bargain? Its a while since I bought any but I'd swear blind it used to be a lot less than that!
Click to expand...
Walk into any CEF next week and they will try to charge you £4+Vat for a single length of MT2 ,and about £7 if you want it sticky backed
 
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Dustydazzler said:
Walk into any CEF next week and they will try to charge you £4+Vat for a single length of MT2 ,and about £7 if you want it sticky backed
Click to expand...

Yeah but that's CEF, you have to expect them to charge through the nose.

I've had many arguments at the trade counter of a CEF when working for companies daft enough to use them.

Personally I use Wilson's in guildford, they are independant with an ever growing number of branches and have always been good to me.
 
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davesparks said:
Yeah but that's CEF, you have to expect them to charge through the nose.

I've had many arguments at the trade counter of a CEF when working for companies daft enough to use them.
Click to expand...
There was an episode on the Nick Bundy YouTube channel when he sent his young trainee to buy plastic mini trunking from CEF and the lad came back with 1 length of plastic trunking and a bill for £88 😂
 
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Dustydazzler said:
There was an episode on the Nick Bundy YouTube channel when he sent his young trainee to buy plastic mini trunking from CEF and the lad came back with 1 length of plastic trunking and a bill for £88 😂
Click to expand...
Was that the wholesaler he fell out with over prices, or was that another one.

David Saverey's visits to CEF are always worth a laugh - he records every one and replays them verbatim! 😉
 
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I think I have been into Guildford CEF like once in the last 10 years and that day they tried charging me £14 for one MK MCB

Never been back since
 
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Dustydazzler said:
I paid £24.98 inc shipping for 10 x 3m lenghths of MT2 off Ebay.
At £2 a length it might have been a good bargain and gone up on the wall okay.
But after trying to fit 2 lengths I gave up , took some photo(s) and threw the whole lot in the skip.
I will buy Marshall Tufflex next week

The only 3 things I buy from Screwfix now on a regular basis is LAP accessories , Twin and Earth cable and LED GU10s
Click to expand...

I'm tempted to try their 'no nonsense' wipes. Good reviews and 3x more for the same price as 'leading' brands.
 
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davesparks said:
Yeah but that's CEF, you have to expect them to charge through the nose.

I've had many arguments at the trade counter of a CEF when working for companies daft enough to use them.

Personally I use Wilson's in guildford, they are independant with an ever growing number of branches and have always been good to me.
Click to expand...
Exactly. CEF are an unashamed corner shop for electrical parts. They are invariably the nearest when I'm on the road and you pay for that convenience, or well the customer does. Either that or pay my time to go shopping around.

We have multiple accounts but as a rule its CEF when on the road and Rexel for quoted jobs.

For pretty much all my trunking I buy Newlec stuff from Rexel, it all MK stuff and very good.
 
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I had a moment of weakness a few months ago and tried the Toolstation 25 x 16 trade pack (42731).
Big mistake. At first it seems ok, then you try and fit the lid. Oh my....if you sneeze it comes off until about 80% of it is clipped in.
I still have most of a pack of 20 of this rubbish.

On the plus side, I found one of the lids really good for unblocking a drain, it nicely bends around the U-bend.
 
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