I and some others on here suffer from verbal diarrhoea going into depth about processes of how to do things. For some reason i dont want to share anything with you mas.
I suppose this forum is like any other......if it was a car tuning forum and you asked 'I've changed the odd spark plug, topped up the coolants, fitted new alloys in my time but not so great at changing exhausts....I'd like some tips as I'm gonna drop a bigger engine in my car myself'. 'If you all could take the time to explain in detail how exactly to do it that'd be great'. Then when someone wisely says 'better off taking it to a garage mate' you get all defensive as if its everyone's job here to share they're knowledge, tricks & secrets gained through experience both up and down over time with you.
I guess that in that scenario, rather than just suck my teeth and say 'Oh, you can't do that!', I'd give some sort of reasoning why.
Explain that it isn't just about the physical drop in of the engine and matching up the mounts, but that you'd also need to sort out the interaction with the ECU and sensors; ensure adequate fuel and air flow; possibly need a bespoke bellhousing; cooling; driveshaft/gearbox torque limits; the need for matching brake and suspension upgrades; the legal issues with DVLA and insurance; cost of necessary tools; etc, etc. and I'd suggest places that the OP could go to get more info.
In essence, show them why it might not be a good idea to pile in, because they probably don't appreciate the complexity of the task they are contemplating.
For what its worth, in my area of expertise I regularly give free detailed advice and point people to resources and competing suppliers. I take the approach I've detailed above - give an indication of what the issues are - rather than be dismissive or abusive.
Can't you see that there's a big difference between watching something be done and practically doing it. This is a plastering forum where mostly plasterers talk to other plasterers about plastering stuff. Yes, there are lots of beginners and inexperienced people who come on asking how best to go about doing this and that. Most relish sharing some knowledge and guidance with keen folk who knock themselves back and are eager to learn.
Of course. I fully appreciate that most trades depend on experience and most importantly skill. That applies for things from plastering to dentistry.
Unfortunately, you do get jumped up m***** f****** with no experience armed with a load of reading & vids basically saying 'can someone nurse me through the whole process of how to do this & that but I'm so amazing that i don't care if it took you 5 yrs to master that, I'll do it overnight'. Arrogant, antagonistic and above all just plain disrespectful.
Good luck. Then again, I don't suppose you'll need any as it'll be a masterpiece. I mean how hard can it be......
I do know that some EWI installs are terrible and fail quickly. As a non-expert, I don't (yet) have the knowledge to evaluate the systems and their drawbacks. Like going to a dentist, I have no idea how good they are or the benefits of say different crown systems.
I like to have an understanding of something rather then just buy on price. If it *is* so difficult then why is that? Europeans have been slapping EWI up for years, and I've spoken to a german installer who tells me that it isn't difficult or particularly complex beyond detailing.
So I asked what I thought would be a fairly uncontroversial question about the systems - I know that manufacturers will not go through the issues with their systems on their web sites, lots of skills come down to knowing where things don't work and how to get round that.
This is a plastering forum, but there seem to be few topics on EWI. EWI should be a growing sector for retrofit as well as new build and the experience of those who have used different systems is valuable to other experts as well as members of the general public.
I've been surprised that the initial responses were dismissive and unhelpful, so I went on to say that I can actually plaster and render to a reasonable standard and I do have some experience, allbeit that I'm no pro - thinking that we could move on from the teeth sucking and maybe get some useful info on the render systems.
There is a lack of info in the UK and much contradictory info. eg I've seen foil backed boards used as EWI and rendered onto - don't know the system used, but it is done, maybe it will all fall off next winter, maybe not. I've had one installer swear that EPS should never be used, while others recommend it. Frankly, I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that a lot of installers don't actually understand what they're doing - they just do what they've been shown. I'm sure that there are many different ways to achieve the end result, and different people will have their own preferences wrt techniques and materials, but I would like to understand the reasoning behind those choices.
In general I've always found that the people who are most secretive & defensive of their 'knowledge, tricks & secrets' are those where things are not actually very difficult or where people don't actually have an understanding of why they do things the way that they do.
Thanks to those who were helpful. :RpS_thumbup:
