File this under WTH?…

By blackmountaincycles,

Filed under: Industry commentary, Rant

So I need some more P-clamps. You know, those clamps that fit on bike frames with no rack braze-ons that allow a rack to be attached to the stay. They are common at auto part stores because they are also used to secure wiring harnesses to fender wells and firewalls. However, that means a 1/2 drive over the hill, so I usually order them from a bicycle distributor. Well, not any more.

Thanks to California Prop 65 legislation that limits the amount of toxic chemicals found in drinking water, it also seemingly applies to any products that may contain lead, I can now not purchase these P-clamps from my distributor. I was placing an on-line order this morning and entered the part number for the clamps, among other parts, hit the “submit” button and got a message that the clamps were “restricted.” WTH? A simple clamp restricted? I sent an e-mail asking why they were restricted and got a message back that it was due to the California Prop 65 settlement.

Wow, that is absolutely absurd! It’s clearly obvious that lawmakers have absolutely no common sense. Do I think that there should be a definite limit or elimination of toxic chemicals in anything that humans consume? Yes. Do I think that a simple P-clamp that may contain trace elements of a toxic chemical like lead should be restricted for sale? No. What do these lawmakers think folks are going to do with a handful of P-clamps – chew them up like they were tortilla chips? Fer cryin’ out loud people, have some common sense.

We can’t keep kids in high school past 9th grade, but we’ll do everything we can so they can’t be poisoned by toxic P-clamps. Priorities are hard to figure out.

(What’s playing: Buddy Holly Peggy Sue)

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0 responses to “File this under WTH?…”

  1. 59Romulus says:
    April 27, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    It is the same kids we can’t keep in high school past the 9th grade who are now our elected representatives, just to tie two of your threads together.

    Reply
  2. Tim says:
    April 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    It’s probably not the clamps themselves but the manufacture (think “smelter” and “blast furnace” and “chimney stack”) that is of the primary concern in these sorts of things. Although I’ve been using the same pair of P-clamps for about 25 years now; they seem pretty durable which makes this a less-than-urgent issue for me. My hardware store still has a bunch in different sizes.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    April 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Ahh. Just move to Texas. That way, when we secede you won’t have to worry about all those CA propositions…

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    April 28, 2009 at 12:29 am

    CA is the land of rules, regulations, and sky high taxes. We need less government, but alas, the majority wants more.

    Reply
  5. cyclofiend says:
    April 28, 2009 at 5:10 am

    You may want to take it up with them directly. It’s actually reasonably easy to package and label stuff for California distribution. Take a look in a fishing or hardware store and you’ll see both packaged and loose stuff with the requisite paragraph posted. PITA to be sure, but doable. Probably your out of state distributor doesn’t understand it and is just protecting itself.
    You probably just need a generic Prop 65 label for your shop.

    Reply
  6. Seth says:
    April 28, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    I’m sure you’ve checked out other products. I’ve been happy w/ P Clamps from McMasters.com. They have several strapping materials. Some are made of SS and others Nickel Plated Steel. Check out product # 3225T4.

    Reply

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