Ray Davies
As most of you probably know i went down to dons on his glazing course, so i thought i would let you know how i went on..... well first of all i had a great time, i was there for 3 days and we got through loads of jobs ranging from glazing/ d/g repairs and locks, i learned loads mostly the glazing and d/g repair side of things. i will now feel much more confident on all my glazing jobs in the future.don is very knowledgeable and explains things very well, some things i learned were all the different types of beading systems pvc and ali and how to remove patio doors to de-glaze, toeing and healing ( i had an idea of how to do this but actually seeing it done really made it sink in ), how to adjust tilt and turn windows, how to identify a rebated system, different measuring tips for ali , ect ect to many to mention, but what i did like about the course was all the tips don gave i know they will come in very handy. this course is a must for any would be glazier and i know of a company that is charging 4 times more than what don charges. i even came home with one of dons plates happy days
Rob Caldwell Well I survive my three days training with Don ! What a Guy! This man is "BLOODY MARVELLOUS" Went through everything possible in three days, Changing Patio wheels, Tilt and Turn, Tilt before turn, various beading systems , toeing and heeling, glazing,boarding, replacing broken down units, Hinges, etc. Sorry if I left anything out here Don but just about knackered now. Don explains everything so fully and gives countless advice/tips on problems that could occur and how to overcome these. Classroom work c/w all live on the job training. For anyone who wants to learn about upvc and feel confidence about applying these skills afterwards then I can't rate Don's training and guidance highly enough. This training is all hands on first class stuff and put across with such ease and knowledge of the subject is superb. Don really does give you great value, is truely passion about upvc and doesn't hold back in passing on his experience and knowledge gain over the years. So many thanks Don for your commitment, dedication and hospitality over the three days, It was much appreciated !
Alan Stewart
I was on the course along with Bob and would like to thank Don for his time and effort. The course was a good balance of practical in his workshop and then live training on the job with plenty of practical tips & advice. It is very rare to find a person so passionate about his training and this shows in the high standard of the course Nothing was to much trouble,all your questions were answered honestly & frankly. If you were thinking of maybe doing his course, I would say that it is one of the must do courses.
Bernard Brown
Attended Don's training 23rd 24th April and had a great time Don and his lovely family made me most welcome and the b&b that I stayed at was very nice and to be recommended. It was interesting to see all the different methods of retaining the glass into the sash. I was shown many methods going right back to the early aluminium systems through to wedge gaskets and the most modern with all fir tree gaskets. We went through how to service, repair, replace, adjust tilt and turn gear new and old style. Toe and heel now means something to me (I thought it was a dance) I was shown how to measure for replacing glass and the pit falls to watch out for, also what to do if the replacement glass is measured wrongly and how to get over problems. We visited several jobs, fitted glass, including two doors which had to be toe and heeled, measured for glass and I was shown how to measure for leaded or Georgian glass, we changed window hinges, espags, measured for new windows and doors, we had to adjust two tilt and turn mecks on two different jobs. I do not know what I have left out but I am sure that we did more than that, just can not remember what. Don is passionate about his work and has a vast knowledge on the subject and I can not recommend this course highly enough. Of course after all the things that Don had taught me I had to show my appreciation and in the evening I gave him a lesson in snooker and pool. Thanks Don.
Geriant Jones
The course was fantastic, it really opened my eyes to how easy some aspects of upvc are, such as de-glazing a window and toe and healing a door. I would not have had the confidence to even touch these jobs before your help, and you really made repairing tilt and turn windows seem quite user friendly.
It was clear that you are very passionate about your work and it was fantastic that you really took the time and patience to fully explain the function of the parts and the common and not so common problems that might be encountered along the way.
I feel you would have been happy to keep teaching us well into the early hours if we needed it. It was the best course I have ever taken and I really appreciate the fact that alot of the course was on site encountering real problems that could not have been explained in a classroom environment.
You really are a great person to be taught by, you are kind, generous and incredibly patient. And not once did my enthusiasm drop as there was always something you were teaching us even between jobs, just randomly coming out with little tips and tricks all day. You really were trying to share as much of your knowledge as you could possibly squeeze into the two days.
Thanks alot Don I really do appreciate your help and will en devour to give what I can back to the forum, the good jobs and the bad.
PS. By the way is it possible to plate open a tilt and slide door just like we did with your window ?
Gerry
First feedback on the course. It was brilliant. I learned so much and I am really glad that you covered the glazing as well as the mechanical repairs although, as you know, I had reservations about glazing before I started. But these were because I didn't really understand what was involved. I am going to practice on my own house next week as I have 4 windows that have broken hinges and an espag that is very stiff. It is an old shuffle bead system so I will take the glass out as well to make removing the hinges easier. I'll post my "experience" on the forum when I've done it.
I have also given some feedback on the course in my first "Introduce yourself" post for others to see.
I'd like to thank you again for all the stuff you gave us at the end of the course. That was very generous of you and much appreciated. Also, thanks for getting us such good discounts from your supplier.
Thanks again and best wishes.
Ian
I really really enjoyed my 3 days on your course in Swansea, you are like a talking encyclopedia on UPVC a wealth of information on every aspect of the job. Beading systems from early ones to the latest models, tilt and turns, old and new. Door mechanisms old and new espags hinges, glazing allowances and toeing and healing. Every aspect was covered with the greatest of passion in the workshop and with the hands on work which was invaluable. To actually do the work yourself with your supervision and all the tips and tricks you pass on as you try to cram as much as you can into the days work.
I now feel confident to take on any UPVC job that comes my way. Excellent value for money. A must do course for anyone involved with UPVC.
Thanks Don for your time and patience.
Matthew McClaren Hi Don, thank-you for a really good training course, your expertise and knowledge was used to great effect, too explain the technics and products to me.I'm just going to buy a catapult and smash some windows, only joking!I will sign onto your forum tomorrow,once again thank you very much for your course .You can put your feet up and relax, i'm saying to you, "you did a great job and it was a pleasure to know you"
Matthew McClaren I attended Dons course last Friday & Saturday(14&15 November 2008). Don was great and informantive, the faster I asked the questions, the more information he gave out.He explained in detail all the different types of beading systems and Glazing.Don made the teaching fun and went through things over and over again if I could get the hang of it.We went on at least 10 jobs, tilt and turns, reglazing, deglazing,cups of tea, repaneling Doors, side hinge, top hinges , boarding up,more tea,problem solving, ideas on marketing etc, etc I would recommend anyone to go on this course if they want to know about double glazing,upvc
Steve Hi,Well just come back from Dons UPVC course,I would like to thank Don and his family for making me welcome I felt at home straight away.I had read that done does not hang around when he is training you and by the second day he had me fitting almost a full housefull of glass(I must admit to breaking out into a little sweat)but found it a really positive expierence having never attempted it before.Don taught me how to change espages,hinges,beads the lot,Don has a real flare for teaching and I am looking forward to returning for some more whenever I can.I feel the course offers a good balance of theory and practical and would recommened the course to anyone.I really enjoyed it.Thanks for the icecream Don !.
Stephanie Atkinson. Don,Many thanks for the great tuition and plenty of tea. Back from your course 3 days and have a couple of jobs booked in already. I know you did a good job teaching, because not only do i have the knowledge now, i also feel confident after the good variety of situations i saw on the training. Many thanks mate, look forward to seeing you again.steph.