The latest DIY projects
What DIY means to me
DIY to me is not about saving money. Neither is it about thinking I can do it better – sometimes I can’t. During my one-week stint as a professional carpenter, after I almost fell off a third-floor roof, I learned I was too slow for professional work, but my carpentry skills are decent, when I can take my time.
I think what motivates my DIY itch is the need for connection with the objects and processes in my life. Crazy as it might seem, I really like my 19-year-old VW Jetta, all the more because parts are now falling off and failing and requiring regular wrenching. I really understand that car. (I keep a roll of black duct tape as my DIY body shop.)
Another appeal of DIY is that I am often just too lazy to arrange for someone else to do a job. Oil changes, for example. You have to make an appointment and remember to take the car to the appointment. Then you hang out drinking dealership coffee and staring at your phone for an hour or more. Yech.
Otherwise, I can get out the ramps, the oil, the drain pan, the oil filter wrench, the filter, put on some already grossly dirty clothes. I’m not making a very good case here for the joy of DIY, but if you’re on my wavelength you understand.
The appeal here is DIY can be done on my schedule. While the oil is draining, I can be productive. You know, sweep the garage or rake dog poop. Of course I these things fulfilling, don’t you?
For more of my thoughts on DIY in general, check out Take That DIY Boy. Or, perhaps you’d like to rate yourself on my four-level scale of do-it-yourselfism? The other links on this page are to slide shows of my DIY approach to various tasks.
Everyone knows there is a You Tube video out there for just about anything you can think of doing. I even provide links to ones I have found useful. But I thought there may be others, like me, who get more out of a still picture to stare at while the brain comprehends what is going on over peating and repeating a movie shot. Thanks.