Murphy strikes again, or, making an ASS out of U and ME

**journeyman Mick** · 19th July 2007, 11:44 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!! I swear, every time I assume that something is as it should be, I get burnt.

I'm doing a love job for my aunty, a new kitchen, promised to her a few years back. Benchtops arrived yesterday and I went over today to fit the sink. Now of all the sinks I've fitted (probably hundreds) most of them didn't have templates, so I was pleasantly suprised to find that ther template was still present and intact on this one as it would save me 15 minutes or so. So I marked it out, and made the cut then dropped the sink in. Buggerbuggerbugger! The sink didn't cover the corners of the cut out. Double checked the template to the sink, and found that the radii (radiuss?) were different.

Ring supplier and tell them the problem, they (sounding sceptical) suggest I bring in the sink and template and they will supply a larger sink which will fix the problem. Get there and after three counter staff check it out they incredulously agree that the template is wrong (ie, I didn't stuff it up like they assumed I had

) So after a quick phone call to the distributor they send me on my way to the distributor's warehouse. Get there and have to repeat the whole process again (counter staff check it out and agree that it's not my stuff up

)

I drive around the back to the sink shed where I calculate how much time I've lost while the manager cuts the tap holes in the larger sink. I ask him if they carry tapware. He goes into sales mode, showing me some of their range. I suggest that he give me a new flickmixer to compensate me for all the time that I've lost (drive from Kuranda to Cairns & return, phone calls etc about 2 hours). He says that he can't but would consider selling me one for, say $25. I suggest that maybe I need to write someone out an invoice for my lost time and he agrees that he can give me a flick mixer after all.

Drive back, lengthen cutout by 100 mm and drop sink in.
AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

It's still not covering the cutout properly.

Double check everything and find that the previous sink cut out was 980 x 470, the new one was 1080 x 450.

Another call to the distributor and they find that the only sink that will cover now will be a 1200 x 500 cut out. They're delivering it this time.

When it arrives I'll be using my usual method: lay sink upside down on counter and trace around, then measure in apprpriate amount to find the cut line. Rub out original line to prevent expensive stuff up, voila!

Mick

**joe greiner** · 20th July 2007, 12:34 AM

Ouch! Ouch, ouch, ouch! I guess I've gotten paranoid, but for jigs and such using "stock" hardware, I don't do the final design until I actually have the parts in hand (similar to your "usual method") - just don't trust the published info.

Joe

**arms** · 20th July 2007, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by joe greiner

Ouch! Ouch, ouch, ouch! I guess I've gotten paranoid, but for jigs and such using "stock" hardware, I don't do the final design until I actually have the parts in hand (similar to your "usual method") - just don't trust the published info.

Joe

i too dont cut anything into a bench unless its right there in front of me ,and i never ever trust the templates they send ,always measure and mark then measure again then cut

**scooter** · 20th July 2007, 12:04 PM

What a mongrel, Mick.

It's the wasted time that's the biggest annoyence I reckon, I'm happy burning a day just fiddling around in the shed, but I loathe wasting even half an hour looking for something that isn't where it was supposed to be.

(thinks about looking for the car keys everywhere around the house a couple of days ago, only to find them in the car ignition where I'd left them

)

Cheers................Sean

**Wood Borer** · 20th July 2007, 12:23 PM

That is really bad luck Mick but your post might help the rest of us in the future.

This type of problem exists in all industries where they employ the services of overpaid non understanding technical writers and other half wits who have to massage the writings and advice of those who know the products.

The final drafts are innacurate and sometimes completely wrong but they look really presentable for the gullible consumer on glossy paper using all the beautiful words and diagrams which mean nothing in a practical sense.

It is depressing when you get paid less than the bullshyte artist who gets all the information from you and changes your text and diagrams to justify their scam.

**Bleedin Thumb** · 20th July 2007, 01:24 PM

Mick I had the same problem as you when I installed my sink...except I was lucky enough that the sink just covered the cutout so I had to stuff around with bits of ply so the fasteners had somethink to bite on - bodgey but works.

When I first went to fit it I thought...WHAT HAVE I DONE!

checked and sure enough the template was wrong.

Spoke to the large national plumbing supplies and they kind of shrug they're shoulders and say "thanks for bringing that to our attention we'll pass that on to the supplier".

I wouldn't be happy if I had an imported Italian marble bench and this happened.

**echnidna** · 20th July 2007, 06:03 PM

Send the manufacturers a bill and see what happens.
You should be able to tie them up in knots.
Just regard it as temporary fun activity.

**arms** · 20th July 2007, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by echnidna

Send the manufacturers a bill and see what happens.
You should be able to tie them up in knots.
Just regard it as temporary fun activity.

sorry to burst your collective bubbles here ,but on the back of ALL brochures and products there is a disclaimer stating that the manufacturer can change all or any sizes without notification ,this legally puts the emphasis back on the consumer to check first

**Metung** · 20th July 2007, 07:45 PM

Hey Arms, you should make Silentc aware of this thread, although I am sure he already is. Those damn manufacturer's instructoins!!!

**echnidna** · 20th July 2007, 07:46 PM

I don't think that would hold water in this case.
It might if they had only changed dimensions
But they have supplied the template for the product.

**MajorPanic** · 20th July 2007, 07:56 PM

Geeees Mick!

I thought a man of your experience would have chucked the template away, first up!

I've only cut out less than 10 holes for sinks & found that the templates for all of them only come in 2 sizes, either: TOO BIG or TOO SMALL

**arms** · 21st July 2007, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Metung

Hey Arms, you should make Silentc aware of this thread, although I am sure he already is. Those damn manufacturer's instructoins!!!

why bother ,they will only shoot me down anyway whichever way i go ,

**Glen** · 21st July 2007, 09:42 PM

I've only ever used the templates supplied on those oval shaped basins, only because its easier to make sure the cut out is even and the basin doesn't end up skew if (had to fix a couple that were done by others

). But I've never trusted them and always check against the actual basin going in before using. I think that if they supply it with a template the onus should be on them to supply it correctly. As already said, the time wasted is probably the biggest annoyance of all. Great thread, as it always comes back to bite you on the bum when we assume things

.

**silentC** · 23rd July 2007, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Metung

Hey Arms, you should make Silentc aware of this thread, although I am sure he already is. Those damn manufacturer's instructoins!!!

Only just came across it.

Yeah, well I didn't say that they don't make mistakes. If they stuff up, they have to fix it. If you stuff up, you have to fix it. Simple.

Doesn't change my basic point though.

why bother ,they will only shoot me down anyway whichever way i go

You poor, hard done by sod.

**arms** · 24th July 2007, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by silentC

Only just came across it.

You poor, hard done by sod.

Well i am certainly glad that we can BOTH agree on something

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