Posted: Tue 25 July 2006

Getting COOL… The Hard Way!

As everyone knows, the heat last week was extreme! The Studio at Eazytiger had reached 39.6°C with 54% humidity… well according to Paulian’s super digital thermometer anyway! Perspiration was at an all time high, so with fear of flooding approaching Gary had to take action.

On Wednesday morning the decision was reached, Gary bounded into the office with excitement and offered the news that Eazytiger was going to be cool… and by that he meant we were going to get AIR CONDITIONING!

Gary and I took off at pace to B&Q before the hard drives in the Studio melted, and upon arrival it was as if they had known we were coming. As just inside the door was a huge stack of different air conditioning units. Before long the trolley was loaded high with air conditioning for every room, but then brains were engaged and it was realised that there was no way we would fit all these in a convertible car, and we would have to return at another time!

Armed with a large, silver air conditioning unit and the tools suggested by B&Q to fit it we headed back to base, Eazytiger HQ in Syston. Once back we unloaded the new goods to a momentous cheer, well I think Tim and Daniel may have raised an eyebrow.

Now the operation had began in earnest, it was 1100 hours on Wednesday 19th July 2006, and according to the educational software (which by the way was extremely floored, they should have come to us instead!) in only half a day we would be reaping the benefits of air that has been thoroughly conditioned.

1130 hours, the measurements made, and marks left with precision accuracy (they gave us a measurement sheet…!) drilling was due to commence… This was the turning point in the whole operation, we hit Problem 1 as the masonary core boring unit (big thing drills massive holes in walls apparently) was wrong, the bloke in B&Q had given us the small one for amateur air conditioning. By 1145 hours I was back on my way to B&Q to swap the device! Upon my return we realised the drill we had bought ESPECIALLY for this job would not fit the new larger core borer, Problem 2… So back to B&Q to seek yet more advice!

By 1330 hours, not only was I becoming rather peckish but I was somewhat frustrated after discovering the entire workforce of B&Q Leicester was lacking anything grey between their ears… Now for Problem 3, B&Q don’t sell any of the tools necessary to fit their OWN BRAND air conditioning units… sensible! Large amounts of aggravation later, and me having to intervene between Gary and the B&Q “manager” we left with refunds on the drill and tools and some petrol money as a good will gesture from B&Q… probably just to make us leave and stop causing a scene.

By mid afternoon, 1500 hours approx, the hunt was on for a drill to plough 2 large holes through the walls of Eazy HQ in order to vent hot air out, and suck fresh air in! Once I had wasted my time calling in at numerous Tool Hire places, I found that we needed a specialist drill – to fit the tools provided with the “DIY” air conditioner which I suppose is Problem 4 (needing a specialist drill). By the end of the day I’d been given the location of a specialist tool hire outfit, and the following day my adventure we could continue in the wonderful world of tooling!

Thursday 20th July 2006, 0900 hours, feeling refreshed I set off to MF Hire hopeful of being greeted with what I now knew was a 16mm power chuck attached to a drill of at least 1050 BHP. Now although this tool stuff was becoming tedious, it is fair to say that saying things like “Alright mate have you got the Bosch 1050, with the 16mm power chuck for core boring a 162mil hole?”, makes you feel pretty cool!

This story is becoming as arduous as the actual event, so I will speed it up here! Basically I got back, started drilling the huge holes and burnt the drill out, Problem 5. Now we not only needed a new drill, but needed to go back and get a refund on this current hire item. Once the refund was settled getting on to 15 different calls were made to hire companies, before eventually finding one who sold a powerful enough drill with a big enough chuck…

Once the big drill was obtained the first large hole was successfully made, and an attempt on the second hole began! However Problem 6 occurred when one of the bricks fell out of the wall, meaning the rest of the hole needed to be hand chiselled out of the wall, which apparently annoyed the neighbours a great deal!

Friday 21st July 2006, 0900 hours, chiselling began and eventually the pipes were inserted into the wall, and stuck into place ready for the air conditioner to FINALLY go on the wall. Although not before Problem 7 which to be fair was a minor one, as the flanges (Yes…Flanges!) has to be stuck on the inside wall, before the unit could be fitted…

The critical moment however came at 1749 hours, 3 working days after the operation began, an operation described by B&Q educational software as a half day job! The unit was finally lifted into place, plugged in and switched on… although not without Problem 8, as the unit would not hang on the bracket! Finally this was sorted, and a pub visited at 1830 approx.

Nevertheless after much blood, sweat and beers the studio is now air conditioned and enjoying their new low temperature… whilst the rest of us still boil because I have officially retired from the air conditioning game!!!

Until Next Time...

By: Josh
http://www.eazytiger.net
Web design and ecommerce Leicester

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