Screwfix trunking Woes

Dartlec · Sep 2, 2022

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!

Dartlec · Sep 2, 2022

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

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!

Dustydazzler · Sep 2, 2022

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

nicebutdim · Sep 3, 2022

davesparks said:
Isn't that a CEF own-brand? In which case you are better off chucking it in the skip

Sometimes (and thankfully those occasions are few and far between) it's what you have to work with.

nicebutdim · Sep 3, 2022

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

I'm tempted to try their 'no nonsense' wipes. Good reviews and 3x more for the same price as 'leading' brands.

davesparks · Sep 3, 2022

Dustydazzler said:
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

If you're in Guildford I woukd thoroughky recommend Wilsons on Middleton industrial estate.

GBDamo · Sep 3, 2022

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.

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.

Vortigern · Sep 3, 2022

Yeh and don't bother with screwedfix 20mm conduit. The inner diameter is larger than your pipe spring and kinks on the bend due to this. Waste of money.

Dustydazzler · Sep 3, 2022

Someone from Screwfix technical once told me Screwfix pvc electrical conduit is 22 mm pipe

timhoward · Sep 3, 2022

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.

nicebutdim · Sep 3, 2022

Dustydazzler said:
Someone from Screwfix technical once told me Screwfix pvc electrical conduit is 22 mm pipe

Good stuff for drops to switches and sockets as their bulk prices are competitive now that everything has shot up in price. Not much use for folks in GB who don't drop cables in conduit

Dartlec · Sep 3, 2022

timhoward said:
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.

As it happens since I was at Toolstation today I bought a 3m length of their 38mm x 25 to compare.

Just from carrying in the van with the slight bend necessary to fit it inside, the sides creased:

[ElectriciansForums.net] Screwfix trunking Woes

The lid at least did still fit though, so ended up using a length of that to replace one of the screwfix that I could not get the lid on at all. The TS stuff was a much whiter colour too - still wouldn't use it by choice though. Will have to scope out the local wholesalers.

Not my finest work, but a vast improvement on what was there and with the conduit clips in place secure even if the lids come off...

Not great when you have to fix something done 5 years ago by a registered DI, even before we get to the water bonding that wasn't there despite the tick on the certificate!