Do it yourselfers

[mstng86]

Are "do it yourselfers" becoming a rare thing? I find it hard to believe with the popularity of Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, etc. But I really started questioning it last night.

I was at a couple we knows house and the husband was totally perplexed why a little floating shelf fell off the wall. I explained to him the holes he drilled for the anchors were too big and the anchors weren't snug. He then tells me he didn't drill the holes, his wife did. I told him no big deal, get a smaller bit and it should be fine. Well he starts looking for some drill bits and then goes to the wife asking where they were and she said "oh, I sold my drill bits in the last garage sale."

Please tell me this is not the norm these days? I haven't gotten to hang out with too many couples or guys in the last 3-5 years.

End of my story is I hung the shelf.

[BMCSean]

I DIY everything, I only pay someone to do things that you have to be licensed for.

[Mysticcobrakilla]

I DIY everything, I only pay someone to do things that you have to be licensed for.

This!

[Matt]

I DIY unless I can make more money at work in the time it takes to do the job.

That's how I justify whether i do it or not.

[BLAKE]

Please tell me this is not the norm these days?

That is not the norm these days. That guy is just worthless around the house. It happens.

[Captain Crawfish]

I try to do most of my own stuff. Too many crooks out there nowadays.

[bird_dog0347]

We gave my cousin-in-law a washer dryer set when we got a new one a few months back. She was staying here with her parents and just moved up to Kansas to be with her husband who is currently deployed but returning soon and took them up there with her this past weekend.

She texted me yesterday asking why the water wouldn't drain from it, tons of questions, created a facebook post, etc. I tried to help her with basic troubleshooting and explained that we never had any problems with it before but it was like 8 years old and you just moved it 1k miles after sitting in your parent's garage for 6+ months. I told her to check the drain line and the connections... she was just like "what's the drain line, how do I do that?" and was bugging me about what kind of washer it is. I wanted to reply "the free kind" but just said, I don't even remember... find the sticker with the SN on it and google it. She didn't even know it would have a serial number on it. She's early 20's, but still.

[Strychnine]

That is not the norm these days. That guy is just worthless around the house. It happens.

Mostly that. I've met guys who don't know how to put on a spare, would likely never touch any sort of power tool, and generally don't know how anything works. These are people I tend to not associate with.

[mstng86]

Mostly that. I've met guys who don't know how to put on a spare, would likely never touch any sort of power tool, and generally don't know how anything works. These are people I tend to not associate with.

That is what really baffled me. how do you walk through life not wondering how things work? At least make an effort to understand how it works. that doesn't necessarily mean you have to do the job, but it is always good to know the tools and what it takes.

[Strychnine]

That is what really baffled me. how do you walk through life not wondering how things work? At least make an effort to understand how it works. that doesn't necessarily mean you have to do the job, but it is always good to know the tools and what it takes.

I had a neighbor once who brought home a '66 Caddy. At first glance I noticed it had some coolant puddling on the manifold from a loose rad hose clamp, could use a new alternator belt, and something else. His solution? Drive to a mechanic the next day.

But then again, his garage had a couch, ping pong table, a flatscreen but not one toolbox to be found.

[juiceweezl]

Mostly that. I've met guys who don't know how to put on a spare, would likely never touch any sort of power tool, and generally don't know how anything works. These are people I tend to not associate with.

Solid advice. Sadly, there are more and more people like this out there. I'm trying to make sure my kids know how to do shit. They help me change oil, brakes, plugs, etc. whenever I need to do it. Now, I get to tell my 12 year old what to do and let him do it. I hope there are others doing the same so kids don't grow up to be worthless.

[AdRock]

That is what really baffled me. how do you walk through life not wondering how things work? At least make an effort to understand how it works. that doesn't necessarily mean you have to do the job, but it is always good to know the tools and what it takes.

I meet people like this quite frequently. If it doesn't pertain to their job or anything they like to do outside their job, they have no inclination to know anything about it.

I was with a friend over at one of his coworkers house one day and the guy was putting up a shelf in his garage to store some heavy boxes on. So he had borrowed some tools from his neighbor. He proceeded to drill some 1/2in. holes in the sheet rock, put the shelf brackets up there and try to just screw in some 1/2 in. bolts. I just stood there trying not to laugh. I didn't say a word and we left before he finished.

I watched a guy that I used to work with snap all the studs on one wheel on his car. He was trying to change a flat and had no concept of lefty loosy righty tighty. He borrowed a breaker bar from another employee and sat in the parking lots snapping those things by standing on the bar.

[KBScobravert]

I have to try. If I find I can do it myself, I learned a lesson and a skill. If I fuck it up, I learned a lesson and get the extra practice trying to fix my fuck up. If I try and just can't get it, I'll then hiresomeone. Those lessons are a little more expensive.

My garage, as you saw Matt, may be a little disorganized but it's favorite room in my house.

[46Tbird]

There are a few things I don't, or won't, tackle on my own. But for the most part I just do shit and don't give it a second thought. Sometimes I even learn something in the process.

[CexMashean]

But then again, his garage had a couch, ping pong table, a flatscreen but not one toolbox to be found.

Sounds fun to party with at least.