Donate to Remove ads

Got a credit card? use our Credit Card & Finance Calculators

Thanks to johnstevens77,Bhoddhisatva,scotia,Anonymous,Cornytiv34, for Donating to support the site

Fixing this Blind

Does what it says on the tin
neversay
Lemon Slice
Posts: 628
Joined: January 27th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Has thanked: 1152 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Fixing this Blind

#119484

Postby neversay » February 21st, 2018, 1:33 pm

This 6-year-old white main bay window blind is snagging and stopping the blinds being tilted. I have tried re-winding the string in case it was overlapped, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. My guess is that the plastic that is meant to rotate the steel bar has worn and no-longer biting enough to turn it. So, before it goes to landfill, along with the working side windows, would anyone here have blind expertise (or blind faith) that could get it working?

Image

TIA,

N.

Meatyfool
Lemon Slice
Posts: 313
Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:43 am
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 55 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119492

Postby Meatyfool » February 21st, 2018, 2:41 pm

Neversay,

If no advice forthcoming, perhaps you should contact the retailer. If you make it known that you consider 6 years unacceptable for the lifetime of a blind and would never make another purchase through them, perhaps they may take actions?

Meatyfool..

neversay
Lemon Slice
Posts: 628
Joined: January 27th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Has thanked: 1152 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119493

Postby neversay » February 21st, 2018, 2:48 pm

Meatyfool wrote:Neversay,

If no advice forthcoming, perhaps you should contact the retailer. If you make it known that you consider 6 years unacceptable for the lifetime of a blind and would never make another purchase through them, perhaps they may take actions?

Meatyfool..


Thanks Meatyfool. At the time it was a good but cost-effective solution through Tesco Direct but the product seems to have vapourised from their range now... unfortunately.

bungeejumper
Lemon Half
Posts: 8064
Joined: November 8th, 2016, 2:30 pm
Has thanked: 2846 times
Been thanked: 3939 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119517

Postby bungeejumper » February 21st, 2018, 6:16 pm

In all the 45 years that I've been tangling with fabric blinds, I don't think I've ever known one to last as long as six years. There's something about the physics of the thing that invariably applies heavily leveraged force to the parts that are least able to withstand it - and if the cord doesn't wear through, the plastic parts bits will. :(

It's not so very different with curtain rails, where we recently said goodbye to twenty years of cursing the cruddy plastic rails from Mr Swish and spent £250 instead on a proper draw-pull set made from solid steel. Admittedly, this is because the Missus insists on insulating our curtains until they weigh 100 pounds each. (We aren't allowed to have double glazing in our listed house, so it's the only way to keep the heat in, but don't start me off on that one.) The point is, the expensive stuff is effing wonderful, and what's more, it's a joy to use.

Anyway, back to the point. Any cheap/mid market blind manufacturer who offers a six year guarantee is trading on thin financial ice, because they just don't take the daily wear. Curse your fate, trade up to a higher level, or buy another one of the same manufacture and hope that the next one will be better. ;)

BJ

neversay
Lemon Slice
Posts: 628
Joined: January 27th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Has thanked: 1152 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119631

Postby neversay » February 22nd, 2018, 10:26 am

That's the perfect answer @bungeejumper - thank you!

twotwo22
Lemon Pip
Posts: 54
Joined: November 5th, 2016, 8:20 am
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119689

Postby twotwo22 » February 22nd, 2018, 2:07 pm

If you are going to replace I have had great success with on-line suppliers.
Measure the gap, pick material. Surface mount etc, lots of options.
Found them all to be very good value and usually very fast.

neversay
Lemon Slice
Posts: 628
Joined: January 27th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Has thanked: 1152 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119690

Postby neversay » February 22nd, 2018, 2:14 pm

twotwo22 wrote:If you are going to replace I have had great success with on-line suppliers.
Measure the gap, pick material. Surface mount etc, lots of options.
Found them all to be very good value and usually very fast.


Thanks @twotwo22. (Any recommendations on specific suppliers?)

N.

Maroochydore
Lemon Slice
Posts: 478
Joined: May 11th, 2017, 8:33 pm
Has thanked: 91 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119729

Postby Maroochydore » February 22nd, 2018, 5:49 pm

I had exactly the same problem. In desperation I squirted some WD40 over the area and then yanked the cords a few times (figuring I had nothing to lose).
Somehow it worked and is still going strong a couple of years later.

twotwo22
Lemon Pip
Posts: 54
Joined: November 5th, 2016, 8:20 am
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119790

Postby twotwo22 » February 23rd, 2018, 7:27 am

neversay wrote:
twotwo22 wrote:If you are going to replace I have had great success with on-line suppliers.
Measure the gap, pick material. Surface mount etc, lots of options.
Found them all to be very good value and usually very fast.


Thanks @twotwo22. (Any recommendations on specific suppliers?)

N.


I have used these quite a few times

https://www.blinds-direct.co.uk/

kempiejon
Lemon Quarter
Posts: 3488
Joined: November 5th, 2016, 10:30 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1145 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119822

Postby kempiejon » February 23rd, 2018, 8:48 am

I used these guys https://www.directblinds.co.uk/ and was pleased with thier product but only 2 years in to ownership

neversay
Lemon Slice
Posts: 628
Joined: January 27th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Has thanked: 1152 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Re: Fixing this Blind

#119852

Postby neversay » February 23rd, 2018, 10:05 am

Thanks all. I'm going to try a last-ditch WD40 shot before heading to order online. Thanks for all your suggestions!


Return to “Building and DIY”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests