Pesky greenhouse nut/bolt thingies!

[jools]

Hi all,
New greenhouse is up (yipeee!) but not quite finished and the guy who put it up can't come back until after Christmas. I'm trying to get a few things sorted in there myself, like getting a shelf up and fitting the hanging basket braces, but I'm having a problem getting the little screw thingies that fit into the aluminium struts in. Some have gone in easily but others just won't seems to go in. My finger end as sore with all the pushing. Is there a knack? I'm wondering if it's because my frame is powder coated which has made the gaps a tiny bit thinner. I thought that just a little tap with a hammer ......................... maybe not!
Jools

[Mrs Dobby]

Congrats on getting the greenhouse up Jools! You must be glad that its now ready to be filled!

We didnt have too many problems with getting the nuts into ours, but the ones we did we used a little 3 in 1 oil and it helped to ease them in, have you tried that?

[jools]

Oh what a good idea! Will go and try that. Thanks Mrs D
Jools

[nick the grief]

Hi jools,

They can be a bit of a fiddle. If you look at them they are offset slightly so if you stick the bit that sticks out the most into the slot then straighten it upthey should go in. You may find it easier to do it in the middle of the channel peice rather than at the ends as it gives a bit sort of like this. You can always fill a bit of the side of the bolt anyway as it the ends that grip.

[Alice]

Hello Jools, I don't know what kind of nut things you have, but the ones we have, if you look at them, one side is slightly longer than the other ie they are not square, but there'e not a big difference. The trick is to put them in with the shortest edge horizontal then turn them through 90 degrees to lock them in. Hope that solves something for you.

[jools]

Thanks for all your ideas as to how to get the blighters in. Nothing worked but a trip down to the garden centre and a new packet of thingies did the trick. Slightly smaller so went in a treat. Shelves and hanging basket rails are now up. Greenhouse man has just got to come back to fit the pane of glass he broke (ho-hum), fix on the guttering pipes and put on the cresting stuff on the top. (Can't help but wonder whether he should have done that before the glass went in but I presume he knows what he's doing!). I already have a chair in there. DH said he had a giggle because he was watching me from the kitchen window sitting in my bit of peace and quiet. What bliss!!!!

[nick the grief]

It won't be long before you get a kettle in there Jools

[Mrs Dobby]

Wont be long either until you cant get the chair in there for all the plants growing too Jools!

[jools]

I know, can't wait.
Took the kids down to the local garden centre to see Santa. Tried on Saturday but there was a 3 hour wait so we were there at the crack of dawn this morning! They have got it sussed because you buy a ticket and then you have to go off and come back when its your turn. What a place to be stuck in for an hour or so. I was like a kid in a sweet shop. Only bought the nut/bolt thingies though but I have to go back tomorrow to get some more and no kids with me this time. They are selling fruit bushes/canes/trees with 25% off. Oh dear.

[Snadger]

There's a lot to be said for wooden framed greenhouses! If you want a shelf you just screw it into the frame, if you want to insulate it with bubble wrap you use drawing pins in frame! Woods warmer and in my view look better.

Having said all that, I've got an aluminium greenhouse! Just reminiscing!

[nick the grief]

There's a lot to be said for wooden framed greenhouses! If you want a shelf you just screw it into the frame, if you want to insulate it with bubble wrap you use drawing pins in frame! Woods warmer and in my view look better.

Having said all that, I've got an aluminium greenhouse! Just reminiscing!

At least they don't rot Snadger Both mine are Ally but I'd much prefer a wooden one if I could.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Congrats on the greenhouse Jools! Know you've got it sussed by my remedy for anything that wont work, is stuck etc etc is WD40 - or failing that rub a bit of vasaline around the awkward bits and hopefully that will do the trick and also stop them from going rusty! Dexterdog

[jools]

When the greenhouse man came back to finish it all off, he said that he had been complaining about the nut/bolt thingies to the suppliers for ages - so not just me!
Its all up and finished now and the staging is ordered. I just need an electrician to come and sort out power but I didn't have any power to my old grrenhouse so I can live without for a while. I can't wait until the time to start sowing begins.
I had a wooden greenhouse before Snadger and I agree that they look lovely but I think they take a lot of looking after. I'm chuffed to pieces with the one I have now!
Jools

[NOG]

Bit late now but my Greenhouse tip is to add extra bolts to the uprights when you are building it so they are there incase you forgot anything.