Any advice on rewires?

[Zerax]

Think I'd rather starve then do occupied rewires.

Same here... or listen to the entire back catalogue of Des O'Connor !

 

[Micktw68]

Think I'd rather starve then do occupied rewires.

After this week with trying to move their rubbish about and stopping the dog escaping so would I.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Because the rest of the install is below The boards and clipped direct T&E you’d end up with junction boxes at every drop to a point. Very rare to have a Domestic completely run in conduit .

Only in the UK no one else uses T&E, very rare outside the UK to have domestic "not" run in conduit, mostly flexible plastic though.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I often use a cable stand when pulling wires, but because of the use of single's I need a big stand to take five cable reels at times and that is b****y heavy and also cumbersome in place's. Below image is the one I have, but not fully loaded.

 

[Micktw68]

Only in the UK no one else uses T&E, very rare outside the UK to have domestic "not" run in conduit, mostly flexible plastic though.

ROI?

 

[Mike Johnson]

ROI = Return on Investment? Hmmm

 

[Mike Johnson]

And if you meant Republic of Ireland their regs changed in 2013, and the last chance to use the old stuff was a couple of years later.
The new regs issue in question was IS 201-4:2013.
Also the CPC is insulated and the same cross-section as the L and N, not reduced like the UK.
But I suppose it could still be classed as T&E but nothing like the UK version and has to be in Conduit.

 

[bigspark17]

I find it peculiar that so many chase and box before wiring? You cant alaways get the cable down where you want it might be a joist or an enexpected obstruction above.
@happyhippydad isnt there someone in your local community like a semi retired person that could just give you a day help here and there when needed? These jobs arent designed for one man teams, get it done pay your help and spend your evenings/weeknds with yoir family.
Im sure your apprehensive about getting help in but i have all sorts of people helping me from my local community and its great.

 

[suffolkspark]

I always try to smash in all the cables before doing and chasing and boxing, I find the Bosch spade bits with threaded tip best for drilling joists quickly, and use wall dogs in plasterboard, woodscrews straight in blocks, red plugs and inch screws for everything else, I dont cap or oval, I make sure my chaser is set deep enough that no plasterer should be dipping his tip in and touching my cables, and just clip them neat. Dont do lived in rewires. Use good white wiring accessories like click or hamilton so you dont have to fold or twist ends like on hager with square terminals, wagos for neutrals in switches. Jcc gu10 downlights again pushfit terminals. And rcbo boards.

All little things saving time really do add up.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I don’t think I have ever done a full complete rewire on my own , except when it was an empty property and I had several weeks to complete the job.
Normally you would rope at least some help in to get the job completed in 4-5 days. Mash out the chasing and boxes on day 1 , so you can crack on with wiring days 2 and 3. Second fix day 4.
testing day 5. Job done...

 

[suffolkspark]

Yea, you defo want a pair of hands for some of it, feeding in cables, r just reducing the burden of a house load of chasing in

 

[Dustydazzler]

No to mention , I’m only 42 and my knees , wrists and back are already giving my trouble...after an hour bent over doing feeding cables it takes me 5 minutes to get back up.
I don’t want to be a cripple by the time I reach 50.
there must be loads of youngsters out there looking for work experience, who would be ideal for bashing boxes & pulling cables etc

 

[7029 dave]

Most of the rewires I done have been occupied, there is an art to it unfortunately most electricians wont touch them these days.

 

[pc1966]

And if you meant Republic of Ireland their regs changed in 2013, and the last chance to use the old stuff was a couple of years later.
The new regs issue in question was IS 201-4:2013.
Also the CPC is insulated and the same cross-section as the L and N, not reduced like the UK.
But I suppose it could still be classed as T&E but nothing like the UK version and has to be in Conduit.

Romex in the USA/Canada?

 

[pirate]

Plenty of retired folks out there who are fit and willing-I do such stuff sometimes. You will find that retired folks don't expect hefty pay-packets, will turn up on time, won't spend time on their mobile phones nor insist on having a site radio at full blast all day long. Maybe less keen to work a 10 hour shift, but happy to turn up for a few hours just when you need a hand. You might be surprised how many older folks out there have a bit of experience too. If you have a local branch of The Men's Shed charity, ask them if they have any suitable members. My branch has electricians, decorators, wetpants, CCTV and alarm experts, engineers and metalworkers, woodworkers and plasterers and many other skills. The Shed often has tools and machinery which may be of help if you need some welding or repairs, or just need your chisels sharpened. Tons of experience for not much money.

 

[7029 dave]

I did a lot of them on my own, OMG rooms full of furniture , move all in the middle of the room pull up carpets, then cut through 100 layers of lino, lifted minimal floor boards fish wires with my unwound metal coat hanger taped to oval conduit (before all the fancy mech aids you get now lol), repeat same in other rooms, hard bloody work.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Conduit clips mean the oval stands out a bit far @happyhippydad, not much and anything that do t need to chased us a bonus, as per @Leesparkykent i just drill in behind at an angle plug it and then pinch the oval with a screw keeps it tight till the biding goes over ?

I am intending to try it with wall dog and no plugs just to speed things up a bit more ?

Just updating this thread..

I've purchased the metabo wall chaser with triple blade and used it on a few jobs now.

Metabo Metabo MFE40 240V 40mm 2x125mm Wall Chaser Kit | ffx

Buy Metabo Metabo MFE40 240V 40mm 2x125mm Wall Chaser Kit online at ffx. Next day delivery available.

www.ffx.co.uk

I LOVE IT!

It takes out the entire chase, without any problem. One member mentioned that he was unsure about buying the triple blade as it may not cut through hard surfaces. It has gone through every surface I have tried it on so far, including red brick. Obviously the depth would make a difference, but I have it set to around 20 (I think), maybe 25mm) which is fine for capping and oval conduit.

The width that the triple blade cuts is perfect for 25mm oval conduit. It fit snuggly in with perhaps 2 mm left to drill a 5mm hole and screw in some concrete screws, no need for wall plugs. I use the pan head concrete screws and the conduit is completely firm.

I cant find the wall dogs @Baddegg, screwfix have sold out. I'm using these from screwfix Easydrive Countersunk Concrete Screws 7.5 x 50mm 100 Pack - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/easydrive-countersunk-concrete-screws-7-5-x-50mm-100-pack/1066h
but they've sold out too! It's great not putting in a wall plug.

 

[ruston]

All you need to do now as a sideline is hire yourself out with it and get your money back.
Mind you I have no idea how much replacement blades are.

 

[Baddegg]

I cant find the wall dogs @Baddegg, screwfix have sold out. I'm using these from screwfix Easydrive Countersunk Concrete Screws 7.5 x 50mm 100 Pack - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/easydrive-countersunk-concrete-screws-7-5-x-50mm-100-pack/1066h
but they've sold out too! It's great not putting in a wall plug.

try a double glazing wholesalers for those screws @happyhippydad, window fitters use em every where....

 

[mattg4321]

Making me want to upgrade my MFE30 to the 40 now!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I should add, I've only been using it for a month, so I've no idea of the longevity of the triple blade. Still worth a try though.

 

[suffolkspark]

I cant find the wall dogs @Baddegg, screwfix have sold out. I'm using these from screwfix Easydrive Countersunk Concrete Screws 7.5 x 50mm 100 Pack - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/easydrive-countersunk-concrete-screws-7-5-x-50mm-100-pack/1066h
but they've sold out too! It's great not putting in a wall plug.

try a double glazing wholesalers for those screws @happyhippydad, window fitters use em every where....

Screwfix stock has gone to ---- lately, toolstation had wall digs though when I last got them, luckily my local stores are directly next to each other

 

[Mike Johnson]

Aren't all Toolstations and Screwfix next to each other?

 

[JBW175]

Aren't all Toolstations and Screwfix next to each other?

They are in Havant, but I can’t speak for the rest of Portsmouth, the south coast, or indeed, the rest of the UK ??

 

[Mike Johnson]

They are in Maidstone and Sittingbourne, both in Kent, I think it's a bit like Aldi and Lidl once one arrives the others follow on, Oh also like bus's use to be when I travelled by them, can't remember the last time though.

 

[Baddegg]

They are in Havant, but I can’t speak for the rest of Portsmouth, the south coast, or indeed, the rest of the UK ??

Not on the island @JBW175 bloody miles apart....

 

[Mike Johnson]

Is that the Island of England or the Freezer food outlet.

 

[JBW175]

Not on the island @JBW175 bloody miles apart....

That’a absolutely disgraceful planning mate, just to rub in, we’ve got Wall Dogs in stock....?

although I still miss going out on Albert & Palmy road, so you win that one. ?

 

[JBW175]

Is that the Island of England or the Freezer food outlet.

I’m pretty sure that he’s on about the isle of Portsea, and not to be confused with those 6 fingered webbed feet people from the IOW.

EDIT, no offence meant for any 6 fingered banjo players from the Isle of Wight that dabble in electrics.

 

[nicebutdim]

Toolstation only exists online in NI.

Aldi can be found across the Irish Sea or south of the border.

Fortunately we do have internet access, so can see all the nice stuff we can't have.

 

[Baddegg]

I’m pretty sure that he’s on about the isle of Portsea, and not to be confused with those 6 fingered webbed feet people from the IOW.

EDIT, no offence meant for any 6 fingered banjo players from the Isle of Wight that dabble in electrics.

The colloquial term for them is caulkheads mate.......don’t ask me why ?‍?

 

[JBW175]

The colloquial term for them is caulkheads mate.......don’t ask me why ?‍?

I never knew this, but I’ve got a couple of mates off the island so will start using it as a term of endearment for them. ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Another update to this thread, regarding the longevity of the metabo triple blade.
It's done a further 3 rewires now. The triple blade is removing the chases just as well as when I first started using it. Not entirely sure but I would guess at 5 rewires in total so far over the 1.5 years I've had it.

It is awesome. A standard chase for a socket (approx 2m), takes around 15 - 20 seconds, leaving a perfect chase.

 

[nicebutdim]

Hard to believe it was so long ago that you bought this. Seems like only a few months.

 

[mattg4321]

Anyone know if the triple blade fits the MFE30?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Anyone know if the triple blade fits the MFE30?

I'm almost certain it doesn't I'm afraid.

 

[nicebutdim]

Both use 125mm blades, with 22.23mm centre.

I've looked into this a few times, but never found a definitive answer..

 

[123]

Another update to this thread, regarding the longevity of the metabo triple blade.
It's done a further 3 rewires now. The triple blade is removing the chases just as well as when I first started using it. Not entirely sure but I would guess at 5 rewires in total so far over the 1.5 years I've had it.

It is awesome. A standard chase for a socket (approx 2m), takes around 15 - 20 seconds, leaving a perfect chase.

How hard are the walls you have been using it on?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

How hard are the walls you have been using it on?

They have all been either red brick or stone. They do have a varying depth of plaster on them though, so you are not just going through the brick or stone at full depth. I set the depth to 20mm, this is perfect for 25mm oval conduit which sits snuggly into it and only needs 2 or 3 screws to keep it secure.

So far it does seem to have gone through anything. If the surface is a bit harder, you just go more slowly.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Both use 125mm blades, with 22.23mm centre.

I've looked into this a few times, but never found a definitive answer..

I was certain I'd read a reply from metabo saying you can't use it on the mfe30, but I may be wrong. Best thing for @mattg4321 to do is to contact metabo to be sure.

 

[Petej999]

Make sure your Apprentice/Mate/Helper knows what you want of him, set yourself a target for the days work the last thing you want especially in an occupied house is panicking towards the end of the day, trying to get the place liveable until the next day some days you may finish your allotted tasks early, some you may have to work longer hours, that's a rewire for you. Three working days for me and a Mate, when I was doing it, two fairly easy days and 1 day of hard graft. You may require a 4th day for testing and snagging this was for a 3 bed occupied council house, nil chasing all surface, all cable drops clipped using buckle clips, it was a while ago mind you.

 

[Simon47]

Aren't all Toolstations and Screwfix next to each other?

Until a year or two ago, nearest was the next town 10 miles away - next door to each other. Then Screwfix opened up in our own town (so only about a mile from home) - no Toolstation. I have to admit, as long as you know what you are after, being able to go online and (if they've got the stock in) pick it up a short time later, even on Sunday, is rather handy.

 

[cliffed]

Back in the 80’s me & my mate did a 3-4 bedroom house in a day.
It’s a bit different now, more lights etc.
Always hard work then, flushing boxes into the walls only wet plastering then, no dabbing.
My mate flushed & fixed the boxes then helped with some of the cabling, then started the sheathing, wouldn’t wanna do this now too Old.
Good luck

 

[UNG]

Back in the 80’s me & my mate did a 3-4 bedroom house in a day.
It’s a bit different now, more lights etc.
Always hard work then, flushing boxes into the walls only wet plastering then, no dabbing.
My mate flushed & fixed the boxes then helped with some of the cabling, then started the sheathing, wouldn’t wanna do this now too Old.
Good luck

About 3 times as many sockets is the killer these days

 

[pc1966]

About 3 times as many sockets is the killer these days

Not to mention half dozen ceiling lights in a room in place of a pendent or two.

 

[Dustydazzler]

A very basic 2 sockets and 1 pendant per room re-wire un-occupied carpet all pulled up 3 bed house, you could probably do in 1 long day between 2 experienced sparks. Bang test on the board and not a whiff of any paperwork thou.
8 til 8 shift. Sling a bit of muck in the chases if you get time.

 

[7029 dave]

A very basic 2 sockets and 1 pendant per room re-wire un-occupied carpet all pulled up 3 bed house, you could probably do in 1 long day between 2 experienced sparks. Bang test on the board and not a whiff of any paperwork thou.
8 til 8 shift. Sling a bit of muck in the chases if you get time.

Just the ticket

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I thought I become one of those fancy youtube electricians for a minute and video myself using the triple blade, so you could see it in action.

Just cant upload it though

It says "the uploaded file was not a video as expected". Ummm, yes it is!

Sussed it! Trimmed it a bit and it works. I love the triple blade!

Ps.. It takes longer than the previous 20 seconds I said. Looks like it's around 45 secs - 1 min for a chase to a light switch. Virtually no debris and a lovely, neat chase. This is into a standard load bearing wall in a house, not sure exactly what material it is I'm cutting into, but it's pretty hard.

pps.. No eye protection

 

[123]

I thought I become one of those fancy youtube electricians for a minute and video myself using the triple blade, so you could see it in action.

Just cant upload it though

It says "the uploaded file was not a video as expected". Ummm, yes it is!

Sussed it! Trimmed it a bit and it works. I love the triple blade!

Ps.. It takes longer than the previous 20 seconds I said. Looks like it's around 45 secs - 1 min for a chase to a light switch. Virtually no debris and a lovely, neat chase. This is into a standard load bearing wall in a house, not sure exactly what material it is I'm cutting into, but it's pretty hard.

pps.. No eye protection

I really must get my finger out and purchase one to try it...my MFE40 is over 3 years old now and all that's been used in it are the Metabo's standard blades. Trouble is in that time we've gone through over 30 pairs of blades, I just have this bad lingering doubt that the triple blade wouldn't be able to last any length of time when it's doing deeper tracks...we'd regularly be sinking some 25mm conduits in kitchen jobs for isolators all to go in tall housings etc...and we do that kind of work pretty regular.

I've a couple of big new builds starting soon but I get tracking companies in for that work

 

[Risteard]

I really must get my finger out and purchase one to try it...my MFE40 is over 3 years old now and all that's been used in it are the Metabo's standard blades. Trouble is in that time we've gone through over 30 pairs of blades, I just have this bad lingering doubt that the triple blade wouldn't be able to last any length of time when it's doing deeper tracks...we'd regularly be sinking some 25mm conduits in kitchen jobs for isolators all to go in tall housings etc...and we do that kind of work pretty regular.

I've a couple of big new builds starting soon but I get tracking companies in for that work

I have the MFE30 and find it sore enough on the blades. Would like to try the MFE40 though to avoid needing to knock the centre of the tracks out.