The Death of DIY??
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Er, Mr Navigator, whilst I am neither an engineer nor a scientist, (and I have enormous respect for them) one of the things that Dad did teach me was to plan a project. Er, isn't having enough screws a part of the plan?
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Originally Posted by ShyTorque
Most of us DIYers end up with all the screws having cross head drive heads - except the last one, which will be slotted head.
Avoid imitations
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That reminded me about the dreaded MFI flat pack furniture days. I bought an entire set of bedroom furniture in flat pack form. I built two sets of drawers, two bedside cabinets with drawers and a large wardrobe.
Because the quality of the MFI chipboard was really poor and other stuff I'd built was therefore flimsy, I used PVA glue on every joint and dowel, rather than merely relying on the factory dowels and screw fastenings to hold it all together, I PVA'd the fronts, backs, sides of all the drawers and outer cabinets to their bases, etc.
One the second day of the build I checked the strength of the finished items. The PVA had set like iron - perfect; there was now no chance of them ever coming apart.
When I came to build the last chest of drawers, the last side panel didn't look at all right. I quickly realised that I had been given two left handed ends in the box, rather than a left and a right. I got in touch with MFI who told me the pattern was now obsolete (it certainly wasn't when I bought it the week before) and the only way they could help me now was for me to return every item in the original boxes for a full refund!
I played absolute hell with them until they found an identical unit at another branch and gave me the right handed panel - it took weeks for them to find one. I never bought another item from that company.
Because the quality of the MFI chipboard was really poor and other stuff I'd built was therefore flimsy, I used PVA glue on every joint and dowel, rather than merely relying on the factory dowels and screw fastenings to hold it all together, I PVA'd the fronts, backs, sides of all the drawers and outer cabinets to their bases, etc.
One the second day of the build I checked the strength of the finished items. The PVA had set like iron - perfect; there was now no chance of them ever coming apart.
When I came to build the last chest of drawers, the last side panel didn't look at all right. I quickly realised that I had been given two left handed ends in the box, rather than a left and a right. I got in touch with MFI who told me the pattern was now obsolete (it certainly wasn't when I bought it the week before) and the only way they could help me now was for me to return every item in the original boxes for a full refund!
I played absolute hell with them until they found an identical unit at another branch and gave me the right handed panel - it took weeks for them to find one. I never bought another item from that company.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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Originally Posted by Ancient Observer
Er, Mr Navigator, whilst I am neither an engineer nor a scientist, (and I have enormous respect for them) one of the things that Dad did teach me was to plan a project. Er, isn't having enough screws a part of the plan?
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Based on the number of Home Depots and Lowes doing a brisk business and the countless auto parts stores doing a brisk business here, I'd say DIY is still very much alive and well in the USofA
Avoid imitations
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Originally Posted by KenV
.........countless auto parts stores doing a brisk business here, I'd say DIY is still very much alive and well in the USofA
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(Of course, that skill would not be so needed if wimyn would stop putting potato peels down the disposer.)
https://www.finder.com.au/safe-as-ho...et-west-hobart
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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Originally Posted by ShyTorque
Most of us DIYers end up with all the screws having cross head drive heads - except the last one, which will be slotted head.
Two new blinds were delivered including enough of the aforementioned screws to replenish my stock. They were of course cross slot screws but without the subtle Pozidrive mark. Confidently I chose the appropriate Philips blade. I then tried the next size. Best fit was of course pozidrive.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by KenV
Based on the number of Home Depots and Lowes doing a brisk business and the countless auto parts stores doing a brisk business here, I'd say DIY is still very much alive and well in the USofA
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One thing about DIY you do the work and then have to clean up any mess. In my household no matter how fantastic the finished DIY job is if there is so much as one speck of dust on the carpet or dirt in the sink the aggravation is more than not doing the job in the first place!
Avoid imitations
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Originally Posted by N707ZS
One thing about DIY you do the work and then have to clean up any mess. In my household no matter how fantastic the finished DIY job is if there is so much as one speck of dust on the carpet or dirt in the sink the aggravation is more than not doing the job in the first place!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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N707ZS, our local tradesman is so messy my wife has banned him. He replaced some radon vents before we bought the house. Later our new puppy found where he had concealed the ones he removed.
However, SUCCESS, outfitted the pantry and returned everything to the right place. Clearly cleaned to Mrs PN's satisfaction as she was delighted.
However, SUCCESS, outfitted the pantry and returned everything to the right place. Clearly cleaned to Mrs PN's satisfaction as she was delighted.
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Originally Posted by KenV
Based on the number of Home Depots and Lowes doing a brisk business and the countless auto parts stores doing a brisk business here, I'd say DIY is still very much alive and well in the USofA
I had lunch with some of my former co-workers a couple days ago and the whole DYI thing come up in the discussions. It's true the younger generation is less into DYI (those under 40 often look in awe when I tell them about my latest project), but they are quick studies and when they figure out there is a youtube video that will show them how to do something in less than an hour with $20 worth of parts, that the 'pro' would charge a few hundred and couldn't get to it until next week - they decide DYI isn't a bad deal.
BTW, the only people I know who routinely change oil every 3,000 miles are the ones with older 'classic' cars - often 1960s or 1970s vintage. Hard to argue with the wisdom of changing the oil and filter ever 3,000 miles when they have over a quarter million miles on the odometer and the engine is still original...
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Originally Posted by tdracer
youtube video that will show them how to do something in less than an hour
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BTW, the only people I know who routinely change oil every 3,000 miles are the ones with older 'classic' cars - often 1960s or 1970s vintage.
The 3 auto parts stores by me seem to do a good business. I always have to wait for my turn at the counter.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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IFMU, yes they do just buy new cars. The car dealers discovered a magic money tree. What I haven't worked out yet is what happens to all the 3 year old cars.
My previous car, 15 years, was burning oil. The change interval was 9,000 but I reckoned I had a running change in that time. I was also advised to go for higher viscosity synthetic oil. I could check the level electronically or via dipstick. The newer, 12 year old, model does not have a dipstick. In fact you don't need to lift the bonnet as the computer monitors everything for you (but not the tyre pressure).
My previous car, 15 years, was burning oil. The change interval was 9,000 but I reckoned I had a running change in that time. I was also advised to go for higher viscosity synthetic oil. I could check the level electronically or via dipstick. The newer, 12 year old, model does not have a dipstick. In fact you don't need to lift the bonnet as the computer monitors everything for you (but not the tyre pressure).
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I was also advised to go for higher viscosity synthetic oil.
I've just done my bit for DIY and replaced the handle on my washing machine door for a fiver and a trip to the spares department. Took around 15 minutes. As stated in earlier posts, plenty of videos on YouTube showing how to do it and the saving over calling out a repair man was considerable.
