George
-
Posts
234 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by George
-
-
hi Woody
Me too and I didn't notice the credit card bit. It's a long while since I looked at these, but think I just checked the rates on the tax demands I had received. Will have another go when I get the next lot in the coming months. -
hi Cowoman
This is not strictly an answer, but you might find the site of interest
http://www.taxe.com/rwtax/DMN~0_QueryID~87_QueryTXT~haute-vienne_step~2.htm
This page shows percentage increases over the years, but if you then click on your commune below it will show percentage ratesYou will of course then need further info to be able to apply it, but I can't help any further with that
Hope it's of some help. -
hi Rich
Just to say I agree within reason. In the previous thread "Old Oak beam" http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1292909/ShowPost.aspx I attempted to show how bad the existing was. In fact the reverse of the beam was slightly worse, rather resembling a honeycombe. I never thought that I would be able to or indeed want to remove all of it. I just want to make it more presentable and still rustic. The previous owners just boxed it in, probably untreated, which has made it worse. Part of their overall attempt to modernise a lovely old stone cottage into one of those modern bungalows.
-
As promised an update....
Before:-
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/grussuk/P1000232mod.jpg[/IMG]
After:-
I doubt that I got the same section, but as you can see, some progress was made - the Arbortech blade worked a treat until it became a little blunt and need to sharpen it before having another go. It managed quite well to start with although the guard was very much restrictive and think I will try again with just the normal angle grinder guard next time. The axe though Dave got me nowhere, perhaps I'm a bit of a wimp or it wasn't sharp enough, either way I just couldn't make any headway.
The amount of dust and chips once piled up was quite spectacular and may use this to fill some of the remaining insect holes after treating it of course.
What to mix it with is my next question - pva?I hope this follow up is of some use and thanks once again to you all.
-
No problem and thanks for the input - I'm not back over until 3rd week of August. I have now bought the Arbortech blade to have a go with. I picked up the single handed Adze whilst in Axminster and tried to visualise using it. The action would seem to be most awkward, but whilst not ruling it out, quite honestly didn't fancy trying that. The full, two handed Adze would seem to be out of the question with the beam in situ. If it's sharp enough I do have an Axe in reserve.
The spokeshave idea as John said and much like a drawknife would not work on the vertical faces, but think I'm going to end up with a combination of several things. Certainly the wood is extremely hard below the rotted stuff and quite amazing how those ants or woodworm manage to get in.I'm looking forward to having another go at this, armed with several types of discs and brushes as well as a metal finder for odd nails. If I get anywhere will glady take another picture to show how it turns out.
Many thanks to you all
-
Thanks John - I'm lucky in that when in the UK, I'm not too far from their Sittingbourne depot. Though in this case nobody seemed to know anything about it. Probably unfair to assume they would, they can't all know everything and I too generally like the way they operate.
This may sound a stupid question to Fridgeman, but is it possible to drag this horizontally backwards and avoid the possibility of digging in too deeply?
Arbortech are an Australian Company and they do have a short video on their web site, but much of it is cutting a channel the other bit carving a wooden horse, which miraculously appears.
http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking-information/pro-4_woodcarver_20070412135206One other possibility that I thought of, now that I've seen one close up, is to use an adze and club hammer together, holding the adze handle in the left hand horizontally while striking the back of the head with the hammer - not unlike the idea of pushing the axe head along and similar to a mallet and wide chisel.
Anyway all help has been much appreciated. I can't wait to have a go now, probably going to go back armed to the teeth, Rambo style[:)]
-
Thanks Fridgeman
The Arbortech does look an interesting tool, it might be worth a try as well - have a few weeks to make my mind up. -
hi Dave
Never thought of an Axe, I did consider an adze, but never having used used one I thought at high level it might be awkward. I'll give the axe a try next time there in August, certainly looks effective in your picture. Still suffering with the dust, only had those white ones available and didn't notice until too late. I already bought the Xylophene before exposing the beam, not realising it was going to be quite so bad and a while before I could use it.Many thanks
-
Wow that looks a bit special - not sure I like the sound of the last line "Lancelot can be unforgiving if you make a mistake."
Thanks Pierre I might have to pluck up a bit of courage for this one though. -
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/grussuk/P1000232mod.jpg[/IMG]
As you can see this is in a bit of a state, but is fairly substantial and I don't think compromised yet. What I've already tried to do to clean it up is plane, sand, chisel, scrape or sand with a grinder and flat type flap wheel - this latter the most successful but the ant/woodworm holes though not particularly deep just don't come out easily and it's going to cost a lot by the time I get there.
My question is has anybody tried an Arbortech woodcarvers blade in an angle grinder. Not much of an artist, so I don't want to do a sculpture just end up with a reasonably rustic beam. Axminster supply these and cost around £34. -
Not sure if this will be of any help, but we have 2 houses on 3 parcles of land - it may be the way it was registered, not too sure and there may be advantages for planning apps calculated separately - either way, for the last 5 years we have received one Fonciere and two d'Habitation bills.
Would like to know if this is a good or bad thing and if it can ever be changed anyway?
-
Thanks GS - why didn't I think of that - Driveway Alarm
Some interesting things there - never had much luck with PIR - they work for a while then just seem to die - lightning seems to take it's toll on anything I've had before, but looks like that ones a good option. Always a glutton for punishment.
-
For want of a better description - I'm looking for something that can help warn me of someone approaching. Not that I'm completely unsociable, but if there's only one of us around and doing something, our remote location can be a little worrying - particularly when concentrating.
When a little younger I remember these rubber cables draped across garage forecourts linked to a bell and think somethink like that draped across our drive would be ideal - does anyone know if such a thing exists these days?
-
hi GS
Not the UK and maybe that this was a one off and too late now anyway - all said and done, sometime ago I was in a But store looking for cheap make do furniture and noticed a pile of these things in a corner. At the time I didn't know what they were for, but subsequently discovered.
Might be worth a try if you have a local one. As I say not sure if this was just a general clear out or something they often sell (this particular store was nr. Saumur - again not much good to you)Just ignore me I'll feel better later [B]
-
[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"]
I'm not a techy person at all and just can't work out how to use Elements!
I want to unlock some layers from some pics and then transport them into another pic, basically to pretend two people who were absent were really there for a group photo.
Has anybody any idea how I might do this![/quote]In the full version of Photoshop you can open another picture on the desktop, make sure you can see both and drag the layer from one to the other.
If that doesn't work can you save the layer as a picture and then drag it in?
I'm away now until after Easter, but if none of this works perhaps I can think of something else
-
Another idea would be to install the sockets under the wall cupboards if you have them of course. I have seen it done, literally fixed flat to the underside of the cupboard and thought it a clever idea. the cables then run in conduit inside the cupboards. One problem with that is if the cupboards aren't full length of the run, another is the trailing cables might not look too good, but a thought anyway.[:)]
-
[quote user="BJSLIV"]Dealing with little people with a few francs in their account was never their thing. The treatment handed out at their counters when the staff really do let you know they are doing you a favour even letting you through the doors stems from this history.[/quote]
It is something we were aware of and carefully explained to our UK bank when they set the account up for us. They obviously didn't pass it on or perhaps the staff changed. Anyway we have found a nice friendly little bank in the village now - a pleasure to visit
-
hi Ian
Have to say had much the same experience as Hagar with CCF/HSBC - nothing like the UK service, so much so that we have just closed the account with them at the Le Mans branch and all in all not had a pleasant experience. Although advertised as the Worlds local bank they certainly aren't trading like one and our Premier status in UK was reluctantly afforded us in France, but never amounted to anything. It may of course have been because we only kept small amounts in credit and used it to pay bills etc while we still live in UK. They seemed fine at first while trading as CCF but eventually service simply eroded.
It's long sorry saga, but whilst on my last branch visit there was a row with a French customer and although I couldn't make out what it was really about, the tone of the counter staff was not at all too pleasant. Was not too pleased myself when I discovered they had lost my pin number then subsequently charged me for applying for another etc etc.
-
[quote user="You can call me Betty"]
[quote user="George"]Unless I've missed this, how about a way to save worthwhile threads for future use?[/quote]
Have you tried Google note??? I find it really useful.......
[/quote]
Thanks Betty will give that a try - anything serious have been keeping in a database, but this will be handy for short term use and then save or not as necessary. [B]
-
Unless I've missed this, how about a way to save worthwhile threads for future use?
-
Not sure if this helps, but have only ever been able to use French card at Super U - not an extensive survey, but credit card elsewhere seems to be ok
-
[quote user="Will"]
....Also, after 5 years you can opt to have the liability reduced by a standard percentage rather than using artisans' bills. This is handy if you do not have receipts or you did the work yourself......[/quote]
hi Will
This may be a daft question, presumably this means you have to elect one or the other ie in my case there will be a big portion of Artisan work on the roof, but the rest will be DIY. A case of making a choice? -
Lucinda - OOPS there was I wondering why you hadn't tried my link (never actually posted it) Sorry
Thanks Baz[:$] -
If you have the original program disk, I would run re install in repair mode to repair previous installation.
If not, perhaps try Microsoft Office update web site, but will depend on which version you have as to support available. Some update sthough may still require original disk to complete
Renovating Beams: How Much Frass to Leave??
in Working with Wood
Posted
Thanks Rich - I do still have a bit more to do on this one, mostly the other side and forgot to say that after the Arbortech I went over it with Zirconium flap discs in this instance 40 grit. Without the Arbortech carver first, I think the flap discs would have worked out at quite a bit more expensive. I still have a few beams to do when I get around to the grenier, but nothing like as bad condition and those flap discs might just be adequate.