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> - Build something. A new workbench for your office. Fix up an old car. Build a pull-up bar in your garage. Use your hands, cut some wood and metal, and treat

• Tehchops 7y ago
  I always found the "idea" of that kind of work enticing. However, once I owned a house and had to do renovating/updating, I ultimately found it frustrating. Some jobs are incredibly frustrating if you don't have the exact tool to make it easier. The likelihood the angles and geometry of your home are square is, IME, near 0. Even measuring and re-measuring multiple times, I end up with a lot of wasted, mis-cut material. YMMV, but I always found when you add up the time spent and material cost, it's nearly a wash to just pay someone else to do it.
  • jader201 7y ago
    I think woodworking != home improvements. I would agree that often projects to fix up your home can be more frustrating than satisfying, unless, like you said, you have the right tools and some prior experience. Building things that sit in your home (furniture) is likely a bit less frustrating & rewarding, even without the perfect tools and experience.
    • brodouevencode 7y ago
      Agreed, carpentry and fine woodworking aren't the same thing, but a lot of the tools/practices/methods overlap. Start small and work your way up. Make a cutting board, fast forward a couple of years and you'll be building cabinets. Fast forward from that and you'll be shaving backs on a Windsor chair.
  • JshWright 7y ago
    > Even measuring and re-measuring multiple times, I end up with a lot of wasted, mis-cut material. In my experience, the only way to do less of that in the future is to do more of it now.
  • 49para 7y ago
    It usually is a wash to pay someone THE FIRST TIME, then after its more or less free. (Caveat : assuming your time is free)
  • tonyedgecombe 7y ago
    The problem I find is if you aren't doing it regularly everything takes three times as long as a it would take a contractor.
    • mattrp 7y ago
      just like writing code!
      • qorrect 7y ago
        It's almost like we have an interdependent society where we each specialize and use the money we make to pay other people to do their specialty!
  • marcosdumay 7y ago
    > YMMV, but I always found when you add up the time spent and material cost, it's nearly a wash to just pay someone else to do it. I dunno. For some tasks the time it takes to find somebody else to do it, be available to let the person in/out, and settle payment is much larger than doing it yourself; the lead time is orders of magnitude larger, and doing it yourself gets the bonus that you can do it whenever is best for you, instead of negotiating your agenda with a busy person.
    • bkjelden 7y ago
      This is why I've acquired most of the DIY home improvement skills I have. By the time I message 3 electricians, coordinate to let them in the house, get a bid and have someone do the job, and finally get it done, I could've just youtubed and googled my way to doing it myself. Maybe I have to pick up a tool or two along the way but eventually you reach an inflection point where you have the tools you need for multiple jobs. I think the biggest tool purchases I've made in the last 18 months are a brad nailer, a finish nailer, and a 4 ft level.
  • mattrp 7y ago
    >The likelihood the angles and geometry of your home are square This is true...it might be square on one plane and off on the other. That's what the 6 foot long levels are for by the way. It's good to find someone who has the tools and expertise to apprentice from -- either at a local cc or just hire them and ask if you can do some of the work. I went through several contractors before I found the guy I like to work with...I guess its the same in everything...but once you figure stuff out like that blasted little semi-hidden copper pin that's between you and a replacement shower valve, a lot of cost savings can be realized. The first time I replaced that thing, the plumber charged me $270. The second time I replaced it, I paid $19 for a part at home depot and did the rest myself.
• Pigo 7y ago
  I've started some woodworking projects. My first couple of attempts left a lot to be desired. It seems like a lot of it is just having the right tools. I mostly enjoy the sanding and staining part, or using a torch to weather proof it. The other thing is I can't find good plans. If I have a plan to follow, it makes all the difference, I don't know enough to figure it out as I go. Like right now, I've been wanting to build a pool stick holder. Probably one that is on the ground, not attached to the wall. Even the sites I look at that have plans you pay for, they don't seem that helpful.
  • mattrp 7y ago
    I agree that it does make the process go better if you have a reference. I found myself more and more looking at small details -- I cannot go into a room any more and not see the sheet rock screws underneath layers of tape and spackle designed to conceal them. I can't unsee poorly mitered joints. It's like coding...in the beginning, yes, its useful to modify someone else's similar project as you learn, but after awhile, its much easier and more engaging to start with a blank sheet and just start typing.
• amoorthy 7y ago
  Btw, not as satisfying as woodwork perhaps but you can do small electrical projects around your house and feel a sense of accomplishment. e.g. installing dimmer switches. Turn off mains and then easy to follow instructions that comes with the switch. Just screwdriver and pliers needed. Save energy and house looks warmer. :-)
• dahdum 7y ago
  > Be careful... my wife gave me a drill one year and I’ve since renovated two houses and now have a small fortune in tools. Started with a 3D printer for me, then a membership to Techshop. Few years later I have a garage filled with woodworking / metalworking, diy cnc machines, laser cutter, welding, and automotive tools. It’s a slippery slope.