i married into a non-DIY family.

[Rusty Heap]

I refuse, to just DO THE WORK for a family member or neighbor, I show them how, teach them, learn them up on........tasks.

This is how a Carb works. This is your Hot Water Tank, This is how to hook up a HDMI cable to your TV. No I just won't do it for you........learn it, do it...........

the old "give the man a fish for the day, or teach him to fish for a lifetime"


Here's the friggin manual, read it.........pretty simple if you ask me, but 85% of the people have no gumption or "the knack"


This is friggin funny as heck but to the point: "THE KNACK"

I'm sorry ma'm but your son has the knack Video by Spider - Got sKiLLz? - Myspace Video

[uncle_scott]

I grew up in a family of DIYers. If you wanted the basement finished, you get out your tools and go to work. My dad never paid anyone to do anything, and he instilled the same DIY spirit in me. My wife and I bought a condo at 23 years old, and I gutted the place down to the studs in some areas to rebuild it. Total cost for 1,000 square feet came to around $10,000, and the only labor I paid in the whole place was the carpet installers. We had a chance to walk through a neighbors condo who had spent nearly $50,000 over the previous 3 years paying people to do upgrades and work. I couldn't believe how expensive it was for them!

With the internet, helpful people at the big/box stores, and countless other resources at your fingertips, I have a hard time not giving something new a try.

Everyone has their own boundaries, limits, and capabilities though.

[oldE]

I think I sort of charmed my (then) future Father In Law by offering to go up a ladder and fasten down some steel on his barn roof. Pride made him go up and I got to hold the ladder, that time.

Since then, I've built our home, barn, garage and a new mini-barn at the In Laws. FIL was pretty handy, but one slows down a bit in their 90th year.

Somebody in the family has gotta do it.

Best
Les

[LWJ]

Funny. I am a DIYer - I think most of us are here. My respect for folks who are not DIYers is usually low. All it takes is info, tools, and research. Most people don't have the initiative to jump in and do things. It is the beginning of the end for our culture.

Larry

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Funny. I am a DIYer - I think most of us are here. My respect for folks who are not DIYers is usually low. All it takes is info, tools, and research. Most people don't have the initiative to jump in and do things. It is the beginning of the end for our culture.

Larry

It depends on the type of work involve? When it comes to computer or car repairs (simple stuff I still do myself), I pay for it. No question about it there. I have had my general contractor and cabinet makers's lic since college. I think I paid my dues.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you forgot to mention that they use $30k worth of machines to do $300 worth of work...

What 30k machine? They show some really terrible construction methods. DIYs all right, especially some of the finish work like building book cases and head boards.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I almost have to leave the room whenever they walk the homeowner wife over to the chop saw when she's never used one before.

My wife called me one day to check out this woman using a chop saw on TV for the first time. She was afraid and was on tip toes with a grin on her face. She screamed after the cut and let go of the stock completely. I scream after that. Fooking crazy. That's bad tv. Somebody's gooing to get hurt by trying that stun without holding the stock up against the fence.

[KaptKaos]

My friend Howard, God rest his soul, joked that he had one tool in his tool box; a check book. With it, he could fix anything. He had paid his dues too, and didn't want to wrench anymore.

As for me, all of the neighbors know to come to me when they need something fixed. Mostly, it's the women that come by with their issues, and not the men. I think the husbands send their wives over. I don't mind helping them, but find it so odd that people don't care to learn how to fix things. It used to be that all appliances sold from Sears came with complete manuals and diagrams. Not so much anymore, as the expectation on the part of the consumers has changed.

Without making this too political, I don't see how we can become a greener (i.e. more environmentally friendly) nation if we refuse to fix the crap we already have and just buy new stuff. I do it because I am a CSOB, but there are lots of parallels between being a cheap skate like me, and being environmentally conscious.

[Jim Bremner]

Grew up with the "Do it right, do it your damn self" My Dad built our second story with help from the guy that he pitcrewed for. Made damn fine cabinets for our kitchen that lasted longer than 15 years with out looking like 15 years of wear and tare from the 6 of us.


5 years ago I broke my back. I'm not anywhere near the shape that I want/need to be in. Today I used a pickaxe for about 15' Yes, I caan do it. is it worth it? Some times yes, sometimes I'll spend the cash to get stuff done so that I can move the next day.

Now, how to get 10 sheets of plywood up in my new garage so that I can make a mezine to house my christmas lights and other need once a year or less stuff.

[chocolatelab]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

At the time in Jr high and high school, I didn't appreciate my dad and what he instilled in me as far as learning me up on mechanical things.........I'm a fairly a decent wrencher today.

My dad like many old school fathers had "a bent nail box"............Son, you want to build a tree house? Here you can straighten these nails they're fine.

thank you dad, you taught me well. there's a certain mechanical pride in fixing it yourself that is lost on the disposable generation of todays youth and adults.

Heck my dad soldered up his own HeathKit tube stereo. Now we have $20 DVD players that we toss and are disposable.

I still cut the cords off of old curling irons or electrical items, never know when you'll need a cord or plug in the future.....

grins.

As the father of an 8 year old son I really need to drive this point home. Thanks for reminding me.

looks like i need to change my signature, maybe i can call someone and get it done

[look 171]

Originally Posted by chocolatelab

As the father of an 8 year old son I really need to drive this point home. Thanks for reminding me.

looks like i need to change my signature, maybe i can call someone and get it done

My 6 year old loves come to my job site with me during his summer vacation. He's always been like that even at the age of 2 or 3. My little one, not so much. Must kids like mechanical things (boys). They love to be able to see the end result. Kids today do not get to see then end results anymore. Everything is done on the computer even their games.

[rnln]

Yes, you help him on one or two projects and show him "how to" on every step, so he can do other things himself. When I bought our home, I was the same as he was. Everyone who comes showed me a little bit of everything. Now, I can do a lot around the house.

Originally Posted by vash

my BIL got the keys to his new condo 10 days ago.

he has been puffed up like a peacock since the purchase. funny really. he as ZERO clue as to where to start. wife and i have been passing this flu thing between us for about 2 weeks, so going over to look at it has not been possible. BIL actually never told us he was in market...just "poof"! look, i got a place"!

i went yesterday. i would have not bought it, but the price was decent. a condo. BUT his HOA is $450 per month..! no pool, no gym. in 10 days, BIL has not even swept the place. no cleaning supplies, nothing.

yesterdays visit was funny. we moved about his place in the dark. he said he called PG&E, but cant get the lights to work. i had to flip the master to light then place up. he said, "hey, what did you do?"..(i honestly cannot find the fuse box..anywhere)

he needs to paint, re-do the floors with carpet/tile..and tear out the kitchen and downstairs bathroom. he has NO CLUE! i think he needs my help..

but spring turkey is end of march..and i do nothing during that time, even on my own home.

my MIL hires out everything i dont do for her. but she is a dynamo. she gets quotes, rides contractors..gets the work done. her husband and son are hopeless without her. i think her son is about to appreciate mom alot more!

[look 171]

Many of you guys missed the point. Here, many of all of us are, one way of another, DIY type. I discovered over the years, there are those who chose not to be DIYs, or simply can't. I wouldn't push it. Keep in mind, they are not the type. Most men want other male members of our families to be men and fix the house or the car. I found out about my BIL. I offer a use car to him for free to get him off his feet when he move here from Canada. It needed a tune up. Just plugs, wires, and a rotor. I was going to show him and help him with it one fine afternoon. Have someone change the oil and he's good to go. He simple said, "No thanks, that's not me. You can do it if you want". I was shock and had no words to say. Soon, I found out he is one of those guys that don't want to fix anything. F ing' puss*. I found out he paid a dirt bag painter from Craig's list to paint all the handrails on my sister's house because there was a little of peeling paint. He paid over 1000 bucks. My painter painted that whole place a few years as a favor to me for next to nothing. I was pissed to say the least. My sis. slipped up one day and let the cat out of the bag. The SOB doesn't work. He's looking for a job but refuse to paint a set of handrails on the porch. He's got money, but siht. This belong to the brother thread. Sorry I am going off again.

[Rusty Heap]

Contractor Joke:

Two hired laborers were framing a house with hammer and nails. One watched the other tossing every 2nd or 3 nail to the ground so he went and asked what was wrong with those nails? He said "they're defective, the head is on the wrong end of those nails..............." to which the other hired hand said "no silly, those "head on the wrong end" nails are for using on the other side of the house........."

[jyl]

I fix some stuff myself. Partly because I have to justify having tools. Partly because I enjoy it. Partly to save the money required to hire someone. Partly because I want to know how right the job was done.

That said, I know more about fixing cars than about fixing houses, and nowadays it seems I have more need of the latter than the former (yaaay for Toyotas).

[rnln]

because he doesn't like that car. If you give him a car that he likes, an old 911?, and make him do it, He'll do it
Just j/k. I know what you meant.

Originally Posted by look 171

Many of you guys missed the point. Here, many of all of us are, one way of another, DIY type. I discovered over the years, there are those who chose not to be DIYs, or simply can't. I wouldn't push it. Keep in mind, they are not the type. Most men want other male members of our families to be men and fix the house or the car. I found out about my BIL. I offer a use car to him for free to get him off his feet when he move here from Canada. It needed a tune up. Just plugs, wires, and a rotor. I was going to show him and help him with it one fine afternoon. Have someone change the oil and he's good to go. He simple said, "No thanks, that's not me. You can do it if you want". I was shock and had no words to say. Soon, I found out he is one of those guys that don't want to fix anything. F ing' puss*. I found out he paid a dirt bag painter from Craig's list to paint all the handrails on my sister's house because there was a little of peeling paint. He paid over 1000 bucks. My painter painted that whole place a few years as a favor to me for next to nothing. I was pissed to say the least. My sis. slipped up one day and let the cat out of the bag. The SOB doesn't work. He's looking for a job but refuse to paint a set of handrails on the porch. He's got money, but siht. This belong to the brother thread. Sorry I am going off again.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Contractor Joke:

Two hired laborers were framing a house with hammer and nails. One watched the other tossing every 2nd or 3 nail to the ground so he went and asked what was wrong with those nails? He said "they're defective, the head is on the wrong end of those nails..............." to which the other hired hand said "no silly, those "head on the wrong end" nails are for using on the other side of the house........."

You have to use the left handed hammer or else it will get in the way. When I taught high school Woodshop, I use to mess with the left handed kids with the left handed hammer. Sometimes it take them a month to finally notice I was jerking their chain. One kid said, "How come he's using the left hand hammer with his right hand" I pissed in my pants trying to hold a straight face that day.

[azasadny]

My wife and I both come from DIY families, for most things but we know our limitations.

[911pcars]

Before property ownership. there's little need to learn about home repairs. However, the learning curve is fairly steep thereafter. Luckily that is usually sufficient motivation (or funds) to repair.

If I don't sew or bust atoms, there's little need to learn about the machinery or the technology. Maybe when I need a homebuilt thermonuclear device....

Sherwood

[Dantilla]

My in-laws simply have no mechanical aptitude. Understanding how a mechanical device works would be as difficult for them as trying to read the directions in Chinese. that's just how their minds are wired, they know it, and they are greatful for people who can figure things out.

My wife was absolutely amazed a couple years ago that I could put a new windshirld wiper motor in her Jeep. With the factory shop manual.

For most of us, take old part out, put new identical part in the same place. Not too tough. For some folks, it's just too tough.

I guess that's how tradespeople can generate an income. They are paid by the non-DIYers.