Surface clipping flat T and E

[Pete999]

Being a time served retired electrician, I was taught a lot of practical exercises during my apprenticeship, and I came to be, even though I say it myself, quite good at surface clipping and took pride in the final product, sadly though with the onset of the plastic type cable clips, a neat job is nowhere near as with buckle clips. Just thought it would be interesting to hear the Forums views on lost skills, I know a lot of the losses are down to the financial climate and short training courses. What are your thoughts?

 

[davesparks]

I wouldn't be handling bits of old lead !

It's no different to handling new lead

 

[Dave OCD]

It's no different to handling new lead

I avoid that as well.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

These days sadly it comes down to time. With pricing so competitive few clients want to spend the money for time spent clipping hidden cables in the old way.

 

[tomspark93]

Surface clipping is something I take particular pride in, straighted out properly and perfectly uniform spacing on the clips,double clips can be very handy too. You can make it look really good with some care and effort but nowadays it seems not to matter to many sadly. Does anyone else ever use 'nailing plugs' on extremely hard walls ? They're great but nobody seems to stock them.

I keep some in one of my organisers. They are so handy for external work where the cement is solid and the nails would otherwise bend.

 

[Pete999]

These days sadly it comes down to time. With pricing so competitive few clients want to spend the money for time spent clipping hidden cables in the old way.

Not talking about hidden cables WP

 

[Geordie Spark]

On a job today, 30 year old property, no buckle clips, no plastic cable clips....bent nails! Times never change, there are always bodgers.

Nowt wrong with bent nails - as long as ye shove a bit of cardboard in to stop the nail from chafing the cable.

 

[Marvo]

These days sadly it comes down to time. With pricing so competitive few clients want to spend the money for time spent clipping hidden cables in the old way.

I think times have just changed, simple as that. Nowadays nothing is put in with a view to it being there 5 or 10 years from now even. Fashions change and people rip apart their houses every few years to keep up with them so they don't see the value in beautifully installed cabling that's artwork in its own right.

I'll never forget as an apprentice, I spent several days installing SWA cabling in a plant room. I made templates and radiused every bend with them to perfection and every cable was installed with a straight edge and a spirit level, the clips were all equidistant and fell in perfect diagonal lines...... it looked beautiful. My journeyman arrived, took one look at it and told me to remove it all and reinstall it because the red lines on the cable sheaths didn't all line up.

 

[davesparks]

It is sad that we no longer get many chances to put such care and attention into a job.

I have just quoted on of those rare jobs where the customer is happy to pay for quality over quantity. And it's all in MICC so I should be able to turn out a rather nice looking job if I get it.

I'll be looking to get one of the trainees on here to come and work in that job.

 

[Englishman]

These days sadly it comes down to time. With pricing so competitive few clients want to spend the money for time spent clipping hidden cables in the old way.

I honestly don't think it's worthwhile clipping the cables perfectly under the floor or along a joist on a quick job where you're just running one cable or whatever.

On a decent size job though, it's hugely worthwhile imo, taking pride in your work is one reason, and standing back and looking at a neat job is something I value, even if other people (including customers sometimes) don't. I had to rewire the downstairs lights in a house a few months back and I had the apprentice clip every cable neatly, with clips all facing the same way and an equal distant apart, it took him virtually all day but it looked lovely, and I was trying to drill into him that even if it was getting covered, and nobody would see it or give you credit, it was important to do things properly.

 

[Barrie Patrick]

Surface clipping is something I take particular pride in, straighted out properly and perfectly uniform spacing on the clips,double clips can be very handy too. You can make it look really good with some care and effort but nowadays it seems not to matter to many sadly. Does anyone else ever use 'nailing plugs' on extremely hard walls ? They're great but nobody seems to stock them.

Last time I used nailing plugs? Cowley Road Tech, winter of 1972 ;-)

 

[Midwest]

Nowt wrong with bent nails - as long as ye shove a bit of cardboard in to stop the nail from chafing the cable.

Unfortunately, the installer hadn't upgraded the bent nails with piece of cardboard. I've removed several bits of tw&e with outer insulation worn away. Another thirty years, and it'll be down to the conductors. So the whole estate will be up for a rewire. Put it in your diary!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Surface clipping is something I take particular pride in, straighted out properly and perfectly uniform spacing on the clips,double clips can be very handy too. You can make it look really good with some care and effort but nowadays it seems not to matter to many sadly. Does anyone else ever use 'nailing plugs' on extremely hard walls ? They're great but nobody seems to stock them.

I generally use a mark on my hammer as the spacing guide for the clips. The hammers in my hand, so it makes sense to keep it in my hand rather than put it down and pick up something else to use.

I bought some of those nail plugs a year ago Dave as I was fed up with the clips buckling on hard walls. Haven't used any yet so I cant comment on them, but I know the day will come when I'll meet the wall from hell and be very pleased I've got them tucked away on the van. Have a look on e-bay Dave thats where I got them.

 

[HandySparks]

Also available at B&Q:

B&Q Cable Pin Plugs, Pack of 100 | Departments | DIY at B&Q

 

[telectrix]

Also available at B&Q:

B&Q Cable Pin Plugs, Pack of 100 | Departments | DIY at B&Q

and hopefully your local branch will have them in stock and the expert assistant will have some sort of clue what you're talking about and not send you to the plumbing aisle.

 

[Dave OCD]

I generally use a mark on my hammer as the spacing guide for the clips. The hammers in my hand, so it makes sense to keep it in my hand rather than put it down and pick up something else to use.

I bought some of those nail plugs a year ago Dave as I was fed up with the clips buckling on hard walls. Haven't used any yet so I cant comment on them, but I know the day will come when I'll meet the wall from hell and be very pleased I've got them tucked away on the van. Have a look on e-bay Dave thats where I got them.

In time you'll be able to do the spacings by eye mate, good idea using a mark on the hammer though, got my son marking the spacings with a steel rule to start with.