Humbling expierience

[lanemaux]

In the course of my life I have done a bit of assembling of things (shipped tools, a mini-bike many kits of all types), I have stripped or dissassembled things and then reassembled them ( motorcycles , cars and in my youth alarm clocks and of course tools like an old salvaged Uni-mat). Not once have I gotten angry at the item though... til today. Have you ever tried to put a budget propane BBQ together???
To call the hyroglyphs they include instructions is an insult to technical writing.
When lining up hole 1 with hole 2 and fastening with screw 5K , the sound of my grinding teeth was distracting...the precision engineering of a macaroni portrait by a toddler. And once the fastener was in place there was no room for any type of tool to tighten it in more than an eighth of a turn at once.
There were tools provided (a celery stalk screwdriver and a pressed "metal" wrench. Harbour Frieght would not have these over their threshold for fear of laughter from customers.
Presently I am in the midst of theraputic alchahol consumption to bring a better perspective . No doubt I will laugh about it someday ... but not today!!!

 

[Mike.S]

I sense your frustration could be cured by extravagant purchases of specialised hand tools e.g. a 'cranked 5K screw rotator' - in preparation for assembling the replacement for this BBQ

I think it's beholden of everyone to look for suitable opporunities to justify tool purchases!

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I feel your pain old son

I think the problems start with the translation from the far Eastern origins. Couple that with almost no engineering quality and.....boom, you have a piece of metallic excrement on your hands

I've found that if you have a selection box of machine screws and equally of nuts, bolts and washers with a decent drill ( note the carefully built in requirement for tool purchase) then just make your own holes as you go. Grind any excess bits of thread off (tool purchase required of course)

 

[bugbear]

In the course of my life I have done a bit of assembling of things (shipped tools, a mini-bike many kits of all types), I have stripped or dissassembled things and then reassembled them ( motorcycles , cars and in my youth alarm clocks and of course tools like an old salvaged Uni-mat). Not once have I gotten angry at the item though... til today. Have you ever tried to put a budget propane BBQ together???
To call the hyroglyphs they include instructions is an insult to technical writing.
When lining up hole 1 with hole 2 and fastening with screw 5K , the sound of my grinding teeth was distracting...the precision engineering of a macaroni portrait by a toddler. And once the fastener was in place there was no room for any type of tool to tighten it in more than an eighth of a turn at once.
There were tools provided (a celery stalk screwdriver and a pressed "metal" wrench. Harbour Frieght would not have these over their threshold for fear of laughter from customers.
Presently I am in the midst of theraputic alchahol consumption to bring a better perspective . No doubt I will laugh about it someday ... but not today!!!

Your problems doubtless stem from trying to use a godless propane BBQ, as opposed to an honest charcoal fire.



BugBear

 

[Racers]

+1

How the hell can you harden a plane blade in a gas BBQ?

Pete

 

[woodaxed]

+1
you might as well cook indoors and bring the food out real charcoal is best

+1

How the hell can you harden a plane blade in a gas BBQ?

Pete

 

[Jonzjob]

I agree about a gas BBQ.

I was always told that the learning curve for BBQ experteese was that you start off cooking over wood, then, when you have mastered that you can go to doing the cooking over charcoal, then and only then should you go to gas, but only after you are too old to be trusted with anything as dangerous as wood or charcoal :mrgreen:

I like to cook over vine wood. It's free and available and I'm a tight git :twisted: :twisted: Can't cook without a drinky-winky either :mrgreen:

 

[lanemaux]

First off , I agree totally about the benefits of charcoal as opposed to bottled gases. However I also have strong feelings about a calm and ordered living enviroment. My wife brought home a BBQ of which she was enamoured (it really is rather pretty), so assembled it must be. She is an easygoing type , and I like to keep it that way.
We won't be using the BBQ for heat treatments as my nearest nieghbour works metal as a hobby (sculptural , you should see his mailbox!) and I hope to conspire with him on some projects.
To tell the truth , most of my pique regarding that blasted box of ill-fitting metal was about how little it would have taken to make it easier and more user friendly. If the bolts and screws had featured the Robertson head fastener alone it would have cut half the frustration. If some WORDS had accompanied the very confusing pictures (line drawn and poorly at that) which passed as instructions another chunk of angst would be averted. If the bleeding holes had just lined up , oh heavenly day , what an improvement. But , it is together now, this last of the new BBQ's. It will no doubt outlast me , and I'm glad of that. So , now as promised , I can laugh about it.
P.S. My frustration won't go to waste. Herself also likes peace and harmony and knows that tools help calm me. Thinking a biscuit jointer might just get my smile back.

 

[Jonzjob]

Was Robertsons head fixed on any diffeently to everyone elses :? :?

I could see a square drive screw head being about as user friendly as an allan screw and the next time I have to drill one of those out won't be the first (hammer) (hammer)

Now, Torxs and Bristol screws are bullet proof. Give me those any/every day...

You could always get your mate to weld the thing together. Then if it did fall to bits you would know it was getting too hot and would burn yer dinns :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[JakeS]

Was Robertsons head fixed on any diffeently to everyone elses :? :?

I had no idea the little square-head one had a name at all!




Last time I had to assemble a barbecue (a charcoal one!) I had to cut new threads on... pretty much everything on the thing which was supposed to be threaded.

 

[DrPhill]

Have you ever tried to put a budget propane BBQ together???
To call the hyroglyphs they include instructions is an insult to technical writing.
When lining up hole 1 with hole 2 and fastening with screw 5K , the sound of my grinding teeth was distracting...the precision engineering of a macaroni portrait by a toddler. And once the fastener was in place there was no room for any type of tool to tighten it in more than an eighth of a turn at once.

You will be needing one of these then.

Available in kit form to assemble at home..........