Dog-amoto Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Yes, the thing that makes us the manliest of all men (and the ladies) Some of us are really good at it, some can't even wire a plug. Personally, I'm somewhere toward the bottom end of the food chain. I'm not totally hopeless - I can wire a light fitting, plaster a wall, build a fence, put up shelves, perform a basic service of an older car. But anything more complicated than that, I need to call in the pros, or ask my dad. Speaking of my dad, I think he's the reason I'm not as good at DIY as I should be as he never let me just have a try and make my own mistakes. So now I don't feel too confident attempting anything too hard. But hey ho. So where do you stand? Are you a super DIY master or a total disaster?
Mr_Odwin Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 I detest it and place a ridiculously high value on my free time. That means I pay other people to do it, or my wife does it. I just feel no satisfaction from it.
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 I am completely and utterly incompetent in all practical matters.
MoogleViper Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Personally, I'm somewhere toward the bottom end of the food chain. I'm not totally hopeless - I can wire a light fitting, plaster a wall, build a fence, put up shelves, perform a basic service of an older car. But anything more complicated than that, I need to call in the pros, or ask my dad. That sounds like you're further away from the bottom than you make out. I can do all the things you mentioned other than plaster a wall. That's even worse when you realise that me dad was a plasterer. He did once try to teach me to do it. I say once, because I had one go at it (on a customer's wall) and he never let me try again. (To be fair, I was never really interested in trying again.) I used to help him out when I was off work, and did everything other than plastering (bonding, clearing walls, putting up dry walls and false ceilings etc.), so I have some skill. I was also a welder's assistant for a short while. I tend to be better at the knowledge side of things. I often know what needs to be done and how to do it, but anything requiring even the most minor deftness of hands is where I fall down. It's not easy when you have massive hands, but stubby fingers.
jayseven Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Not that I have an extensive experience of trying to fix anything (mostly because I don#t own my property or furnishings), but I do think it's the lack of appropriate tools that would stop me -- more than effort or knowledge. You can google/youtube HowTo just about anything. I fixed dishwashers and washing machines in the past; blocked windows and pipes and all that shit - but if you have to makeshift the tools then you're already a step closer to failure. So I like to think, anyway.
drahkon Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 You can google/youtube HowTo just about anything. Yeah, this really helps. My laptop was broken so I searched for help on youtube. Anyway, I have to agree with @Mr_Odwin
EEVILMURRAY Posted September 5, 2013 Posted September 5, 2013 So long as there are adequate instructions I can build some stuff. I assembled the chair I'm sitting on. Not perfectly though, the left arm wobbles. Not too damaging as I lean to the right to type anyway.
nightwolf Posted September 5, 2013 Posted September 5, 2013 I will regularly try to fix anything I can. My housemate and I have both fixed up the house we currently live in so its of a much better standard. This includes: 1. Putting up curtain fixtures Sanding the floors and revarnishing Sanding doors and repainting them Landscaping the whole garden and place down new grass Wallpapering There's other things to, but its getting a rather long list. Mostly, I'll try to do anything that isn't electrical or to do with my car. Not because I won't give it a go, but because I'm so fearful of it going wrong. Its easier to fix a paint job than fix my car.
Shorty Posted September 5, 2013 Posted September 5, 2013 Personally, I'm somewhere toward the bottom end of the food chain. I'm not totally hopeless - I can wire a light fitting, plaster a wall, build a fence, put up shelves, perform a basic service of an older car. How long is this food chain of yours?? One of my friends has bought and done up 4 houses in the last couple of years. Shelled them out, new electrics, new floors, new kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, new gardens - made them liveable/comfortable and rented two out. Even then, he doesn't do the plastering himself because it's a specialist task, and yet you just listed it along with putting up shelves as though they were the same difficulty. I think you underestimate yourself a bit!
Dog-amoto Posted September 5, 2013 Author Posted September 5, 2013 Well, I was using textured wallpaper over it rather than painting it so it was still a little rough. If I was painting it and needed a good finish, I wouldn't have even attempted it.
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