Construction Terminology

[SailingHome]

Hi, all. I went to the shop to price out some supplies but had a hard time asking for what I need. Can I get the names in Thai for the following from someone, please?

1) Rebar

2) Cement

3) Hog rings (a staple used with pliers that forms a tight ring holding 2 or more pieces of metal together)

4) staples

5) welded wire mesh (like chicken wire, but square and welded at each intersection)

6) Galvanized (the word in general as it applies to a lot of things like chain, bolts, wire mesh, ...)

That should get me started

Thanks!

[Korv]

You could use "Google Image Search", then find large and clear pictures if the items you need.

Print them and show them to the store clerks.

Supposedly that will minimize the confusion and possible mistakes in ordering.

[Rsquared]

You are in Thailand....think like a Thai.

Everything can be made from bamboo, fencing wire, plastic string and cement....just use your imagination.

But as Korv mentioned the easiest is to take photocopies of the items you require, "a picture is worth a thousand words".

Have Fun.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Even better a bag of samples.

[planemad]

I have no wish to direct TV users to a different forum but you could try coolthaihouse.com they deal almost exclusively with all things to do with house building. Could also try google translate, for an example, I tried rebar then copied the Thai word back and asked for an English translation, hey ho! rebar, anyway, just a thought.

Good Luck

PM

[SimonD]

There is a book titled 'How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand'. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of house building and ends with an English translation of all the relevant Thai words for tools and materials. Very useful book. Got mine in Pattaya, from Bookazine I think.

You should be able to get it from larger bookshops or via the internet. Can't remember the name of the author, sorry.

edit: Author is Philip Bryce, available from Amazon.

[arthurwait]

I bought this book a few weeks back in I think Se-ed book shops (the Bang Saen Big C/ex Carrefour branch) for 90 Baht. It covers automotive, tools, construction, science, technology etc. The Thai translation is in Thai. Some of the words you want are in it:

Cement : ปุนซ๊เมนต์ Bpun seemendt

Hog is in the book, whether this is hog rings I've no idea: โค้งหลังเตา kohng lahng dtoaw

Galvanized: ชุบหรืออาบสังกะสี chub ruah ahb sang gasee

Mesh : ตะแกรง I read that as either dta gair rong or dta gr(air)ng air being one vowel.

chuam is to join things and steel is lehg. Chuam lehg is general steel welding not specifying whether it's tig, mig, arc, gas etc.

Chuam al-lu-mi-nee-am is aluminium welding.

Chuam mahi is to join wood. (I think)

Chuam : เชื่อม

Lehg : เหล้ก

Someone may need to correct me on my Thai reading, but I hope it's ok.

I can't find staples, but I have some that might have the Thai written on them.

From some of the above you can see it's always worth trying the English word if it's technical or something they didn't have years ago in Thailand when the language was written, but say it like a foreigner reading the word for the first time.

Sorry if you know this already. If it's some thing that begins with an 'S' say Sa. As in Sa-taple. If the English word for staple is used ( I haven't checked) it's maybe Sa-ta-ban or sa-ta-bun.

[arthurwait]

The book. Paperback, about A5 size.

[SailingHome]

I bought this book a few weeks back in I think Se-ed book shops (the Bang Saen Big C/ex Carrefour branch) for 90 Baht. It covers automotive, tools, construction, science, technology etc. The Thai translation is in Thai. Some of the words you want are in it:

Cement : ปุนซ๊เมนต์ Bpun seemendt

Hog is in the book, whether this is hog rings I've no idea: โค้งหลังเตา kohng lahng dtoaw

Galvanized: ชุบหรืออาบสังกะสี chub ruah ahb sang gasee

Mesh : ตะแกรง I read that as either dta gair rong or dta gr(air)ng air being one vowel.

chuam is to join things and steel is lehg. Chuam lehg is general steel welding not specifying whether it's tig, mig, arc, gas etc.

Chuam al-lu-mi-nee-am is aluminium welding.

Chuam mahi is to join wood. (I think)

Chuam : เชื่อม

Lehg : เหล้ก

Someone may need to correct me on my Thai reading, but I hope it's ok.

I can't find staples, but I have some that might have the Thai written on them.

From some of the above you can see it's always worth trying the English word if it's technical or something they didn't have years ago in Thailand when the language was written, but say it like a foreigner reading the word for the first time.

Sorry if you know this already. If it's some thing that begins with an 'S' say Sa. As in Sa-taple. If the English word for staple is used ( I haven't checked) it's maybe Sa-ta-ban or sa-ta-bun.

All of the above are great ideas. This book and examples helps a lot! Thanks all ;-)