# Can you fix/build stuff? How handy are you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266 "2013-05-13T22:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/41 "2013-05-15T00:16:51Z")
> [@moldmonkey](#): > > Tripolar > > Metal spinning is neat. You can feel the metal flowing. It actually stretches/thins out under your tool. > > There is not much info out there. There are a couple threads on practical machinist and videos on youtube. Sorry I don’t know how to link from a phone. I have a book with some basic instructions. There’s also an episode of Woodturner’s Workshop where he tries to do some metal spinning. I figure I’ll start with some soft aluminum, I want to do stuff in copper though. I don’t why it seems so cool, it just does, and you make it sound even cooler. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/42 "2013-05-15T00:41:02Z")
Holy crap, people out there know what metal spinning is. I’m a general manager of a metal spinning shop. (nevermind we are a 2 man shop and the other guy is the owner…) He’s been doing it for 25+ years, was his grandfathers buisness. I’ve know the family since we were toddlers, how I landed there. I’m a machinist by training, first time I saw him on a lathe I was like what the hell are you doing to that poor piece of metal? You can’t do that! So I said how hard can this be? Ask me again in about 10 years. Wrinkled a lot of aluminium so far. Love working with brass, it’s harder but satisifing. As to the thread, I do a lot of antique refinishing, metalwork stuff related to the shop, specializing in brass lamps and the like. I’ll tear anything apart. I watch the restoration guys on the History channel and can do a lot of what they do. Our other philosophy is what are you gonna do, break it so it doesn’t work yet more still? last two days we dug into the timing chain of a diesel pickup engine, never saw a crankshaft from that angle before… ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/43 "2013-05-15T01:03:20Z")
My dad is (was, now retired) a contractor by trade. He can (and did) fix anything and everything around the house, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, you name it. If he didn’t know how to do it he could usually figure it out (or fake it pretty well). He once got a front entrance door from a job he was working on… it was being thrown out because it was warped. Well, he decided he could use it on our house… brought it home and built a deliberately warped door frame for this mutant door. Lots of people can build it right, but how many can build it wrong so that it ends up right? My brother followed in my dad’s footsteps and is pretty much the same. I feel relatively useless around the house compared to them, although I guess helping them out over the years has made me handier than average. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/44 "2013-05-15T01:47:12Z")
[quote=“Mr.Goob, post:42, topic:658266”] Holy crap, people out there know what metal spinning is. I’m a general manager of a metal spinning shop. (nevermind we are a 2 man shop and the other guy is the owner…) He’s been doing it for 25+ years, was his grandfathers buisness. I’ve know the family since we were toddlers, how I landed there. I’m a machinist by training, first time I saw him on a lathe I was like what the hell are you doing to that poor piece of metal? You can’t do that! Could you quote me a price on spinning me a 5 gallon version of a copper still I have a photo of. It will be about 10" at the base and about 20" tall. I could send you a detailed drawing, if need be I can make the mandril or form whatever it is called. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/45 "2013-05-15T01:48:35Z")
I built one still with seams and solder but not satisfied with the look, I love the spherical designs. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/46 "2013-05-15T02:03:36Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I’ve seen your work. You are pretty flippin’ handy. > > I can assemble IKEA furniture and that’s about it. Strangely, I know people who can’t even put together store-bought furniture. Sometimes the instructions can be cryptic as hell (like that dresser I bought from Target – WTF?), but with pictures and a general sense of how things go together, it’s not hard to figure out. So as terribly unhandy as I am, I can make myself feel better with the knowledge that there are people who suck even more at building things I do. I can also sew fairly well, if that counts as handiness. > > Dad is super handy. Stereotypical old school guy. Can build or fix anything, worked as a mechanic for a living, always helped me with my car issues, built our dollhouses by hand when we were kids. Funnily, when I was a kid I wanted no part of custom made, hand-built dollhouses because I wanted the flimsy assembly of plastic sold by Mattel that I saw on TV and that my best friend had. Kids are stupid. Thanks **SweetOldLady**. When it come to assembly instructions I usually turn to the French or Russian versions then follow the illustrations. It’s much easier without the descriptions confusing you. > [@turtlescanfly](#): > > My dad is (was, now retired) a contractor by trade. He can (and did) fix anything and everything around the house, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, you name it. If he didn’t know how to do it he could usually figure it out (or fake it pretty well). He once got a front entrance door from a job he was working on… it was being thrown out because it was warped. Well, he decided he could use it on our house.. brought it home and built a deliberately warped door frame for this mutant door. Lots of people can build it right, but how many can build it wrong so that it ends up right? > > My brother followed in my dad’s footsteps and is pretty much the same. I feel relatively useless around the house compared to them, although I guess helping them out over the years has made me handier than average. A large part of my job when it comes to mirrors or shower enclosures is building around other people shitty workmanship and make it look right. God how I appreciate a good tile setter. Plumb walls are a rare and wonderful thing. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/47 "2013-05-15T02:31:01Z")
I could build a house from scratch without any trouble. I haven’t done a complete install on central air units but I’ve got the basics down and could probably do it. I won’t rebuild automatic transmissions and I really hate working under the hood of front wheel drive cars. I’d rather pull the motor out than dig through to replace something buried in the engine bay. But I’ll do it if I have to. I’ve gotten pretty good at doing stuff myself. I built a garage and installed all the trusses myself from the ground up. I’m terrible with a sewing machine although I did do a partial recovering of car seats once. That is an area that would probably benefit from a mentor. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/48 "2013-05-15T02:35:12Z")
Aaaagggh, I never make username/post combination remarks, but I can’t resist this time. Great username/post combo! ---
**Author:** ![Sehmket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Sehmket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sehmket)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/49 "2013-05-15T13:48:46Z")
Since buying a home last fall, I’ve discovered the handy-woman inside me. I’m terrified of anything electrical or plumbing, and I just don’t know anything about hvac, but I’m pretty decent with woodworking and yardwork type stuff. I’ve refinished several pieces of furniture, repaired some chairs, and painted. In the near future, I’m going to do some trim work. I’m currently working on digging out a garden and totally redesigning the (terrible) landscaping. There might be a deck and other yard improvements in the works. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/50 "2013-05-15T13:54:06Z")
I can assemble IKEA furniture. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/51 "2013-05-15T14:18:08Z")
Carpentry: I’ll tackle simple building projects but won’t tear into existing structures. I built a large patio arbor and had neighbors call wanting to hire my contractor. Built nice Adirondack chairs, replica antique cupboards, [bookshelves](https://dumpyourphoto.com/photo/ijTNVB62w3) and have done framing for Habitat For Humanity. Any repair to our house though and I call a trusted contractor. Electrical: Almost anything other than what can be fixed via the fuse box I call someone in. I’ll install switches and dimmers and stuff but nothing major whatsoever. Plumbing: I’ll replace hardware and at least try to fix leaks but anything big and I make a call. Pool: Don’t wanna mess with it. A guy maintains it and replaces motors, leaks, the lights, etc. HVAC: Call my cousin, the pro. Automotive: Porsche so it’s straight to the shop. Landscaping: I do it all, that’s what I really enjoy. Now when I have the pool rock replaced or a large fireplace feature built I’ll let a specialist come in, but design and plants and all the upkeep I want to do myself. That’s what I find relaxing and cathartic. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/52 "2013-05-15T14:23:40Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Landscaping: I do it all, that’s what I really enjoy. Now when I have the pool rock replaced or a large fireplace feature built I’ll let a specialist come in, but design and plants and all the upkeep I want to do myself. That’s what I find relaxing and cathartic. You can come relax and cathartize at my house any time you like. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/53 "2013-05-15T14:37:04Z")
Did I mention that I pay myself very handsomely? ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/54 "2013-05-15T23:52:30Z")
I am capable of fixing most things around the house, but lately I’ve realized that it’s usually not worth the time. I have to work 6 days a week most of the time, so if I fix something it eats the entire day I have off. During the couple longer holidays I have during the year, chores like that might take up half the time I get off. Totally not worth it if I have a choice. Sometimes, there isn’t really a good option to doing it myself. For example, I couldn’t find any place around that would install a security screen on a casement window. It wasn’t a matter of price, no one would undertake the job at all. Considering the sunk time spent looking for parts to do it, having a metal screen custom cut to fit, and the actual installation and adjustment time, I know I’ve spent far more than I’d be willing to just pay to have it done. I would gladly have thrown a few hundred $US at the problem as long as it was someone else’s problem. Other things I’ve made or done because I couldn’t find a product that fits, or a service to have it done: a stand-alone dish rack for counter-top dish storage, doweled shelves for plates, a wine rack that fits inside an Ikea cabinet, routing cables for Apple TV and Xbox, replacing a ceiling light fixture, building two sets of shelves. A few weeks ago in a blog post ([“If Time is Money”](http://shindoisshin.net/2013/4/10/if-time-is-money)) I pointed out that people waste a lot of time thinking about things that aren’t worth the time of consideration. Each of those projects cost me between half a day to a couple of days worth of work to do; more if you count planning, hardware and tool shopping, prep, and clean up. Given the line of reasoning I laid out in that blog post, the ONLY time doing one of these projects was even remotely worth it was if it wasn’t possible to pay someone to do it. The bookcases I made were slightly better than a kit from Ikea or somewhere like that, but the cost of the materials equaled or surpassed the price of pre-made, and I easily sank double that cost in time. That makes those bookcases worth about US$500 in time and materials, vs. maybe $200 for Ikea + self assembly - aggravation and planning. And I actually like making things. I generally create my own plans so that I make exactly what I want. The stand-alone dish rack, for example, is made without nails or screws, all wood joints only. It was fun, and turned out pretty decent, but oh, was it so _not_ worth it from a cost standpoint. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/55 "2013-05-16T00:05:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I try to do just about anything, and usually succeed. But I’m getting old and more likely to pay people to do it these days. Especially stuff that’s hard my knees. This is me, exactly. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/56 "2013-05-16T14:16:48Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I can assemble IKEA furniture. No! Use full size fonts for that, it’s part of the question. Why AREN’T you more handy? My boss can work a light switch and possibly a toaster, but apart from that she doesn’t even cook or mow her own lawn. But professionally I can’t think of a more formidable asset to the company. She does management, organization, motivation and the legal subtleties of insurance like nobody I know and she’s [del]smokin’ hot for almost 60[/del] extremely personable, so she’s good at something but I still can’t see her even fueling her own car without considerable effort. Not everyone can carve a working television out of a solid hunk of white granite, but there are different reasons for that ranging from “tried but can’t grasp it” to “not interested, I don’t find that sort of thing satisfying.” What is it that makes you keep your hands clean? ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/57 "2013-05-16T17:22:43Z")
I’m reasonably self-sufficient. I’ve built horse stalls by myself, hung gates, put up fencing, repaired what the horses broke. I can change a tire, change the belts on the lawnmower and vacuum and dryer. I’ve put furniture together, and repaired furniture. I can put up one of those 10 x 20 carport type tents with walls by myself (not the pop-up, the heavy duty kind). I also do a lot of my own veterinary work, (giving vaccinations, treating abscesses and wounds, removing sutures, doing IV injections and subQ fluids etc) I also tend to MacGyver a lot of things - god bless baling twine and duct tape! ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/58 "2013-05-16T19:02:48Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > I am capable of fixing most things around the house, but lately I’ve realized that it’s usually not worth the time. I have to work 6 days a week most of the time, so if I fix something it eats the entire day I have off. During the couple longer holidays I have during the year, chores like that might take up half the time I get off. Totally not worth it if I have a choice. > > Sometimes, there isn’t really a good option to doing it myself. For example, I couldn’t find any place around that would install a security screen on a casement window. It wasn’t a matter of price, no one would undertake the job at all. Considering the sunk time spent looking for parts to do it, having a metal screen custom cut to fit, and the actual installation and adjustment time, I know I’ve spent far more than I’d be willing to just pay to have it done. I would gladly have thrown a few hundred $US at the problem as long as it was someone else’s problem. > > Other things I’ve made or done because I couldn’t find a product that fits, or a service to have it done: a stand-alone dish rack for counter-top dish storage, doweled shelves for plates, a wine rack that fits inside an Ikea cabinet, routing cables for Apple TV and Xbox, replacing a ceiling light fixture, building two sets of shelves. > > A few weeks ago in a blog post ([“If Time is Money”](http://shindoisshin.net/2013/4/10/if-time-is-money)) I pointed out that people waste a lot of time thinking about things that aren’t worth the time of consideration. Each of those projects cost me between half a day to a couple of days worth of work to do; more if you count planning, hardware and tool shopping, prep, and clean up. Given the line of reasoning I laid out in that blog post, the ONLY time doing one of these projects was even remotely worth it was if it wasn’t possible to pay someone to do it. > > The bookcases I made were slightly better than a kit from Ikea or somewhere like that, but the cost of the materials equaled or surpassed the price of pre-made, and I easily sank double that cost in time. That makes those bookcases worth about US$500 in time and materials, vs. maybe $200 for Ikea + self assembly - aggravation and planning. And I actually like making things. I generally create my own plans so that I make exactly what I want. The stand-alone dish rack, for example, is made without nails or screws, all wood joints only. It was fun, and turned out pretty decent, but oh, was it so _not_ worth it from a cost standpoint. I wish it were that simple. I often have to redo the job that I hire out. When that happens, they cost me the time to either redo it, or the time to fight them to get them to do it right the 2nd or 3rd time. As Far as the security screen on a casement window problem. Was it for a bedroom? If so putting a security screen on it may be against fire code. In my area it is. I agree with you on the bookcases. Almost all of our many bookcases have been made by my wife/carpenter. I do almost all of my own auto repairs myself. I do a great job and I use quality parts. I have yet to find a local shop that consistently does a good job for me. I do not mind paying for a job well done, but I hate paying for a job well done, and then getting a crap job. One that was done with inferior parts and workmanship. A test drive would almost always show the mechanic the problems that I find with their work (water leaks due to loose hose clamps, oil leaks, rebuilt transmission slipping, Etc.). They either do not test drive the rig, or they just do not care. When I find the problems, thier responses tells me that they just do not care, nor do they do test drives. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/59 "2013-05-18T02:33:05Z")
I’m very handy. I do my own plumbing, electrical and carpentry. My brother and I built my Kansas City apartment from an empty basement after gut-rehabbing the rest of the house, completely re-plumbing and rewiring it. Installed the furnace and air conditioner. Did the design and carpentry - everything except the wallboard and plaster and the tile work. Those are two areas where “handy” doesn’t really cut it. I repair my electronics up to and including repairing iPhones, laptops and camcorders. I’m weak on electronics design, so while I can build circuit boards from a design, I can’t make a new circuit from scratch. I am utterly useless with anything to do with car engines, although I did help a friend build an RV from a MB Sprinter 2500, designing the whole electrical, solar and battery system. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266/60 "2013-05-18T03:44:44Z")
I am generally ingenious, have been known to fix the unfixable, and continue to respect my limitations no matter how incrementally they expand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-fix-build-stuff-how-handy-are-you/658266.md?page=4)