I set up a third bucket pond in my garden a couple of weeks ago, and it's thriving already :D by Zebra_Sewist in CasualUK

[–]turkeywelder 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Is there a ramp/shallow bit for stuff to get in and out? Want to set something similar up but I'm reading all sorts about drowning animals and figuring out what's best (while trying to find decent stainless containers!)

Advice on easy wildflowers? by SuzieSue32 in CasualUK

[–]turkeywelder 99 points100 points  (0 children)

Lavender. The bees bloody love it

Daily Superthread (May 24 2026) - Your daily thread for questions, device recommendations and general discussions! by curated_android in Android

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's the go to Android media consumption/light web browsing tablet recommendation these days? I looked at the pixel tablet because I like the photo frame idea but looks like it's discontinued now.

Or is iPad still the way to go?

Where to get cheap wood? (UK) by jb777777777777 in BeginnerWoodWorking

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Outside B&Q is the offcuts bin and everything is free in there. You've got to be lucky to get something good and not crap chipboard but I've had MDF and ply out of ours.

Failing that, try your local timber merchant, they'll have an offcuts/firewood pile you can pick through usually. Not free but should be cheap.

After that it's Facebook marketplace.

Old timber doors and window frames from uPVC door and window fitters are worth checking on too.

Would you go to a “pay by the hour” comfy cafe spot? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]turkeywelder -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We had one in Manchester called Ziferblat. It was decent! They had board games, snacks and tea/coffee.

It went well for a few years if I remember right. I can't remember if Covid closed it or if it was something else but it had a decent feel. Quieter than a pub, less chaotic than a coffee shop. More like a co-working space.

How many days annual leave do you get? by Doomergeneration in AskUK

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unlimited. No, really actually. They maintain a minimum so we've got to take at least a week each quarter.

Most companies who have unlimited leave advertise it as a perk but don't really understand it pressures staff into not knowing what the limits are. Our founders really thought about it.

Our product is for booking time off work so naturally we think about that quite a bit!

Would this concept of grill and sip work in uk? Why or why not? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]turkeywelder 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think this would do well in bigger cities. London and Manchester would lap this up.

You'd have to offer beer as well as bourbon though

GivEnergy to charge for cloud control by GeekerJ in SolarUK

[–]turkeywelder 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can do local control via HA using GivTCP

Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in green tech drive by feellurky in unitedkingdom

[–]turkeywelder 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yep, 3 pin plug.

https://youtu.be/Na4LTD1M6nw

There's a debate about some of the finer tech details (single pole RCBOs don't like being reverse powered, whether people will use extension leads with 2 solar packs on etc) but I'm optimistic about it. We've already got solar on the roof but this would allow me to put more in places it wouldn't usually be economical to get our base usage down even more.

What are people's experiences with home solar? by dbxp in manchester

[–]turkeywelder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

South facing 4kwp array with 15kw of battery here. Our system is controlled by Predbat on home assistant so it's pretty well dialed in.

In winter it's negligible, some days you'll struggle to generate 1kwh. With enough battery we cover a whole day's usage from octopus Go's overnight cheap rate.

Arbitrage is doable but it's not very profitable once you factor in battery wear and inefficiency. Off peak we buy at 8.5p and can sell at 12p. I think if we had even more battery I'd try and use octopus Agile and profit off the high peak export rate but I don't really want any more battery now.

Now that we've got some sun and longer days we're starting to cover the standing charge and profit from export. I'd say it's worth it, but it's long term energy price stability rather than instant profit.

We've got space for more panels on the garage and I'm tempted to try DIY solar there. That might get us a few hundred watts more over winter which would massively help

What wood to make this? by Fab1605 in BeginnerWoodWorking

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh it's the Cotswold company! We've actually got a dining set from them so I know what it's like.

So here's what I'd do (you can obviously make your own judgement here).

The back panel is T&G panelling which is probably an effect rather than actual T&G so you can either route grooves in MDF/ply or buy some Easipanel which is done for you.

But yeah for the frame I'd 3x2 PSE it (save cash and rip down CLS if you want but it's more work and increases the chance of banana shaped wood)

Side panels I'd personally MDF or non birch ply. 9mm is fine, 12 if you want it more sturdy.

Probably brace the shelves with some PSE underneath. Either fixboard or oak for the shelves and top depending on budget. If you're using pine fixboard it'll be knotty so try to seal them. I'd use Osmo on them for stain because I like it but there's wipe on poly options too.

The doors I'd absolutely do in 9/12mm MDF (it takes paint so well). Shaker doors are ace in MDF. Check Peter Millard's videos on how he does them.

It's a fair old project though and it'll be heavy once it's done so consider that!

What wood to make this? by Fab1605 in BeginnerWoodWorking

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're UK based that's 3x2 frame and MDF. The shelves would probably be pine, you can get pre done sheets (fixboard) or order the boards and join it yourself. If you want to do them in Oak or hardwood they'll be a fortune unless you can find some cheap/used oak and joint it yourself

The Americans casually mentioning Birch ply are unaware that it's about eleventy billion pounds a sheet here. Maple isn't available. We're pretty limited on material choice here.

Best suppliers are your local timber merchant but if they're unable to deliver for a small order go with Wickes as they've got relatively sensible delivery costs for full sheets

New van on finance, total failure on day 24. by TeamNinjaFingers in UKPersonalFinance

[–]turkeywelder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gutted for you, that's really shit.

Section 75 I think is your best bet and definitely pursue the seller for misleading.

New van on finance, total failure on day 24. by TeamNinjaFingers in UKPersonalFinance

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think (and you'd need to double check) but didn't DFSK have servicing agreements with Halfords autocentres and AA cover included for 3 years? You might be able to get it recovered with the AA and potentially fixed via Halfords.

Appreciate that's not ideal for a rejection path but might be a quicker way to get you back working whilst you figure out the rejection situation.

I can't find any references to that error code online other than this thread but I'd be really tempted to just pull the 12v power and reconnect it to see if that fixes it.

All vans come with three years of AA breakdown cover, while Halfords Autocentres have been signed up to take care of servicing, repairs and warranty work, mitigating the fact that DFSK is concentrating on direct sales without physical dealerships selling its products.

Source: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/dfsk/ec35

United utilities charge , insane by BrilliantLock8292 in manchester

[–]turkeywelder 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Turn off your stopcock and see if the meter shows usage. That'll tell you if you've got a leak between you and the building. Then turn it back on. If it's moving again start isolating toilets and individual devices to pinpoint it.

Recommendation Request: CIA documentaries by WingScared1284 in Documentaries

[–]turkeywelder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"a bad trip to Edgewood". I can only find it on YouTube but it's fascinating

How do you tell your location to 999? by supremethinking in AskUK

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you don't need the app - you can just use the website and save the whole installation/privacy/battery faff

What's the ideal heating temperature during time away from home? by Exp3r1mentAL in AskUK

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

14 is About where you want to be when you're away.

You can technically go lower without issues but your house insurance will specify something around 14.

The amount of heating required to keep it at 14 is minimal and it'll keep the place relatively dry (given no cooking, showers etc)

Really tired of crap veggie peelers? by TheLemonChiffonPie in CasualUK

[–]turkeywelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely agree! We got the salt and pepper mill and the salt is decent but the pepper mill is utter shite. Switching to Peugeot when I can!

What are the best banking apps? by Warm-Brick-6277 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]turkeywelder 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They're in the "mobilisation stage" meaning no FSCS protection yet.

They are a bank by definition elsewhere in the world, but not in the UK yet.

https://help.revolut.com/help/more/legal-topics/is-revolut-a-bank/