I question the timing of this post.
Posted on 08/07/2006 6:58:08 AM PDT by Hydroshock
I try with mine, but he'd much rather be playing computer games. I am managing to force-feed him a little, though. Most recently, we pulled Romex conductors from the panel to the outlet run in a large garage closet that I'm upgrading with a utility sink, workbench, cabinet storage, etc.
I removed the alternator from wife's car last week, and had grease in my hair, my legs, up to my shoulders..
As far as Monster Garage goes.. I think there's some clever editing work done there! =^)
True DIY requires patience and the willingness to use the internet and books to plan and carry out repairs and installation.
I did my own kitchen remodel, after I became disillusioned with the high prices and seemingly flaky work habits of contractors.
Buy your own tools. Don't skimp (at all) on tools or preparation and take your time. Most anyone can figure out how to do most things, including plumbing and electrical.
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
My dad did a lot of stuff on the house, including re-doing the basement.
Could I do the same? LOL!
I would not have a clue. I was a little kid and not interested in that type of stuff at all.
Frankly, I wish he forced me to help so I would have learned, but he didn't. I can hang drywall or paint the house, but that is frankly about it.
Hopefully, they have "Remodeling for Dummies" when I need it.
Thankfully, my girlfriend has built houses for Habitat and even wants to do that for her career, so she should know more than me even....which is kind of embarrassing, but a good thing, too.
This definitely is a widespread problem among people in their 20s and younger.
We were not required to take shop class, and it was considered a "lesser" class by the schools essentially, which demeaned its value. So, as students, we considered shop clas s inferior as well.
While one should not get through high school on shop class, it is not inferior to other courses and is just as vital to real life.
Too bad I didn't realize that when I could take it.
refuses to change a tire? Good grief.
nah you're an X'er
I was born in 1980 too.
I wasn't very good at repairing things before I bought a house, but that was because I'd never done it really.
Now I'm passable.
College keeps them from the real world for awhile.
Any beginners books you can recommend to both home repair and car repair?
>>"timing" the barrel so that the front sight aligns at "12:00" on the receiver is one big pain in the arse)
The problem there is that you really need a big box of different-thickness shims, to do it right, so that you can get the right timing.
I would suspect those with extensive computer skills would also prefer people call professionals rather than trying to upgrade their systems on their own, install some hacked security software, set up a home network or clean out those annoying cookies. I would say that when it comes to computers too we are in a period of DIY like never before. I think this too is a good thing.
On the other hand, when it comes to fixing automobiles, I have seen fewer and fewer Do It Yourselfers. Few people know what anything does under the hood these days as car engines have become so very complex.
So true. I bought my first house a little over a year ago. It's new construction, but I was surprised at all the little things that need to be done (i.e., blinds put up, lawn/landscaping put in, etc.). I've been stumbling my way through the process, making mistakes as I go, but I've learned that pretty much anything can be fixed. For the major stuff, I'll bring in the big guns, but otherwise I hope on the Internet and teach myself.
Even if young people today aren't as handy as their parents (which I tend to believe is true), we'll pick up what we need to.
But I bet you can get through the morning without one! :)
Yeah, any 12 year old can run a power tool and make conpound miter cuts on his own, fit it into place and then nail it without splitting the wood or maring the molding (sarc off)
Most of the newly-built houses/condos I've seen lately started out that way!
Why learn it when you can hire a Meji at Home Depot?
My Father-in-law built two lakefront cabins in Minnesota from materials he found at the city dump. (The entire two-story front of one cabin which overlooked the lake was made of triple thick glass panels he made from store shelving when Dayton's remodeled a store and threw the old 5' X 3' glass shelves away. 40 below outside and we were nice and toasty inside the front room. His garage was built from a Jim Beam billboard.)
I realized what I could do and what would be best left to others by being around both of them.
"Yeah, I've done some crappy work but then I've also had to pay for some crappy work to contactors who drive fancy new detailed F-350s. I suspect these contractors knew I didn't have the time or cash to chase them down with lawyers to get the job done right. "
You uncovered the second part to this Home Depot nation.
It isn't only homeowners that have come to believe they can do anything, now there is a large number of pickup truck, contractors that know about as much as a handy weekender (they shop at Home Depot too).
I have come to hate Home Depot and the cheap materials, and short cut, do it yourself methods.
One of the things I notice is tile work, compare tile work in tract homes from 1980 back to whenever it originated, then look at modern DIY tile jobs.
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