Two QUICK Shop TIPS:

[BentonTool]

Bentontool - is that a real corn-cob pipe I see? My (other) grandad smoked one for a while! His was very dark looking though, not bright yellow!

Yes indeed! A real USA-made corn cob pipe (Missouri Meerschaum- https://corncobpipe.com/). It is my "secondary" shop pipe. The "primary" one is black with use! They last a long time, and smoke very nicely. The stems need replacement often, but are inexpensive.
I stopped taking my good pipes out whilst working, ever since I ran over one with my truck!

 

[throbscottle]

Wow - brings back warm fuzzy memories! Thanks for the link!

 

[John Brown]

What sort of amateur was he to have part bottles of tonic water?

Good point!
Actually he was the volunteer bar manager at the tennis club I used to belong to.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Actually the landlord of my old local used to sell mixers in screw top bottles - 250ml, iirc - to locals who put their name on them if unfinished, it was cheaper pro rata for him and them to buy. He reckoned he sold more shorts that way.

 

[John Brown]

Actually the landlord of my old local used to sell mixers in screw top bottles - 250ml, iirc - to locals who put their name on them if unfinished, it was cheaper pro rata for him and them to buy. He reckoned he sold more shorts that way.

These were 1 litre plastic bottles.

 

[Chubber]

Another thing that benefits from 'fridge storage is coffee, both instant (dust of the devil) and ground.
The volatile oils that impart much of the odour/flavour evaporate at room temperature so it is worth keeping it cool.

I'd go without beer for my morning Colombian cafetiere.

 

[TRITON]

With the 1ltr pva bottles, i found the twist top to be a royal pain in the behind, especially gluing up large jobs like doors or bookcases. Found it easier to cut that top off, so it flows a lot quicker and easier.

Of course thats in industry where you go through glue pretty quickly,and theres no real point to sealing the bottle, as you're going to be using it the next day, but in hobby setting then just close over the top with a bit of duct tape.

 

[throbscottle]

I have to disagree about putting coffee in the fridge. I kept ground coffee in the fridge for years and eventually stopped doing it for some reason I can't remember. Couldn't tell the difference. If you're storing it in an open topped container it might be another story. Also you risk your coffee picking up smells from other things in the fridge.

Like you, I have to have my morning cafetière...

 

[Cabinetman]

With the 1ltr pva bottles, i found the twist top to be a royal pain in the behind, especially gluing up large jobs like doors or bookcases. Found it easier to cut that top off, so it flows a lot quicker and easier.

Of course thats in industry where you go through glue pretty quickly,and theres no real point to sealing the bottle, as you're going to be using it the next day, but in hobby setting then just close over the top with a bit of duct tape.

Know what you mean about the large glue bottles with a screw top, really difficult to squeeze it out, I bought a couple of the small hobby size glue bottles which are so much easier to use, then refill from the big ones.
It’s Evostick that I use.

 

[Tris]

Cleaned out an old squeezy sauce bottle and used that for PVA, stands upside down easily.
Just remember not to leave it anywhere it can be mistaken for mayonnaise

 

[GuitardoctorW7]

Done this for a few years since reading the tip somewhere, and yes, it does work.
Another tip? Tap the nozzle with your fingernail a few times after use, before you screw the top on. It seems to make any liquid glue that was just about to emerge and concrete the cap, fall back down the spout.
Also, try to keep the tube/bottle upright in the fridge....

I've stopped doing this, as some manufacturers claim it spoils the glue due to water condensing in the bottle with the cooler atmosphere. TBH I've not noticed any difference in longevity.

 

[stuart little]

My father used to top up some of his photography chemicals with glass marbles in order to keep the air out.
An acquaintance of mine used to squeeze the air out of plastic tonic water bottles, believing that it would stop the contents going flat, I doubted the effectiveness this tactic, believing it would have the opposite result, but he wasn't swayed.

I must admit to doing that with 'mixer' bottles, i think it worked to a degree!

 

[John Brown]

I must admit to doing that with 'mixer' bottles, i think it worked to a degree!

How? Doesn't the bottle's tendency to relax into its original shape reduce the pressure in the bottle, making it easier for the carbon dioxide to come out of solution?
I can see how it might help if you squeezed the air out and kept it squeezed with a cable tie or something...

 

[throbscottle]

Agreed, considering you can get gadgets to pressurise part used pop bottles! (Lids with a little pump on top)

 

[Chubber]

I would love a device with which to replace the screw top of a 1ltr soda water bottle fitted with a long tube and a button or trigger to dispense just a splash of soda for my post-prandial Scotch.

I have Googled it, but with 16,000 answers offered in 0.8secs I gave up.

 

[BentonTool]

I would love a device with which to replace the screw top of a 1ltr soda water bottle fitted with a long tube and a button or trigger to dispense just a splash of soda for my post-prandial Scotch.

I have Googled it, but with 16,000 answers offered in 0.8secs I gave up.

Here you go, Brother... have a look at these...
however, some would consider the dilution of ardent spirits impiously irreverent!

https://www.amazon.com/Innovee-Soda...bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-44

https://www.amazon.com/iSi-Sodamake...bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-43

https://www.amazon.com/Smoky-Dog-St...bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-33

 

[Phil Pascoe]

According to a famous whisky writer years ago (I can't remember the name) the only thing other than another whisky that should be added to a whisky is water. This was in the days all whisky was bottled at 45%, and when asked how much he said it should be "as the dew upon a rose".

 

[Chubber]

Here you go, Brother... have a look at these...
however, some would consider the dilution of ardent spirits impiously irreverent!

https://www.amazon.com/Innovee-Soda-Siphon-Ultimate-book/dp/B01E3OJ7U2/ref=sr_1_44?crid=1SXJGMCWI60HN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pa6LEKJASir7jGavpNZOn8UfQKtCnLG_2UrM5IOvHdY6bJpR5IzuVYGXv-bINjfHlowweezkPBN17ilJUGKbn6yzBVeezkYTri3lJQp4mnPNeJ9UQY0tEWgo2veeTRVebdIOkA0bpcmHBqrRlEr9knRZqSy6UrF1RE822GTTiKeLyw_WWS5IoFcZuvaG6FLTBXH7q1WygziFhLF09GwnXGGcAFG8w_3dTixOZYId2qaH--e1v4LjnjVbHqd8UhAM554TtYj4EY-h3MIay8gW7aia1QAOJWDphNhnu_iNWUE.0jWsz4lEe4NNQCWwieXYaLKs98wZrSrIeLAPYEhd_cs&dib_tag=se&keywords=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle&qid=1726925970&sprefix=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-44

https://www.amazon.com/iSi-Sodamaker-Classic-Siphon-Bottle/dp/B01MAVUI17/ref=sr_1_43?crid=1SXJGMCWI60HN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pa6LEKJASir7jGavpNZOn8UfQKtCnLG_2UrM5IOvHdY6bJpR5IzuVYGXv-bINjfHlowweezkPBN17ilJUGKbn6yzBVeezkYTri3lJQp4mnPNeJ9UQY0tEWgo2veeTRVebdIOkA0bpcmHBqrRlEr9knRZqSy6UrF1RE822GTTiKeLyw_WWS5IoFcZuvaG6FLTBXH7q1WygziFhLF09GwnXGGcAFG8w_3dTixOZYId2qaH--e1v4LjnjVbHqd8UhAM554TtYj4EY-h3MIay8gW7aia1QAOJWDphNhnu_iNWUE.0jWsz4lEe4NNQCWwieXYaLKs98wZrSrIeLAPYEhd_cs&dib_tag=se&keywords=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle&qid=1726925970&sprefix=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-43

https://www.amazon.com/Smoky-Dog-Stainless-Carbonated-Cartridges/dp/B0BYTW78M4/ref=sr_1_33?crid=1SXJGMCWI60HN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pa6LEKJASir7jGavpNZOn8UfQKtCnLG_2UrM5IOvHdY6bJpR5IzuVYGXv-bINjfHlowweezkPBN17ilJUGKbn6yzBVeezkYTri3lJQp4mnPNeJ9UQY0tEWgo2veeTRVebdIOkA0bpcmHBqrRlEr9knRZqSy6UrF1RE822GTTiKeLyw_WWS5IoFcZuvaG6FLTBXH7q1WygziFhLF09GwnXGGcAFG8w_3dTixOZYId2qaH--e1v4LjnjVbHqd8UhAM554TtYj4EY-h3MIay8gW7aia1QAOJWDphNhnu_iNWUE.0jWsz4lEe4NNQCWwieXYaLKs98wZrSrIeLAPYEhd_cs&dib_tag=se&keywords=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle&qid=1726925970&sprefix=glass+bartop+soda-dispensing+bottle,aps,128&sr=8-33

Bless you, I was looking for something more basic, my cooking Scotch I splash quite generously, my sipping Scotch I treat more kindly. As Phil has posted, my Tomatin 12 Yr old gets a teaspoonful of boiled cooled water in a generous measure which will last me all evening. I am not a bibulous neophyte driven by advertising, but have had at least 40 years learning what I enjoy.

Don't get me started on rum, which has gone down the guff-ridden hype trail that gin has travelled in the last 10 years. Spiced, Light, Fruit, Cinnamon Cookie flavoured et al.

Plymouth Gin got it right in the days of sail, who needs rhubarb and aardvark pis& additives to convince you that a centuries-old spirit is eminently quaffable.

Rant over.

 

[JSW]

According to a famous whisky writer years ago (I can't remember the name) the only thing other than another whisky that should be added to a whisky is water. This was in the days all whisky was bottled at 45%, and when asked how much he said it should be "as the dew upon a rose".

And no bloody ice!!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Best value is Black Bush when it's down to £27 - £28 a litre on Amazon. No Scotch at that price can touch it. I have camelcamelcamel to warn me.