Does anyone fix things anymore? I was wondering. In the last week I've repaired a DVD player (cost, about 20 mins labour and a blob of solder).
I've been given a £150 electric trike for little peeps that wasn't working, a £4 switch later and David is zooming around the garden like a mad thing (a proper biker in the making).
Have we reached the stage where a little ability is the difference between an ecologically sound repair and a big expensive piece of land-fill?

ozzy72 wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2012 at 2:06pm:


..my 160 GB Western Digital Hard Drive is in the post, Mark...
...for Mr. Fixit......!

Paul... ... ...!

A well times question Mark;

This last week I started with the dishwasher. It did not heat up at all. I Googled the make and the symptom and got a hit. Two items could have been at fault. It involved the removal and strip of the door and removal of the side panels and water tank to get to a part that becomes gummed up with fat over time. Mrs Ex-Pat came home to find the dishwasher in a thousand parts all over the kitchen. Well I can report it now works like new and being duty hero it was my lucky weekend.....

Next it was on to my two chainsaws that decided to give up the ghost at the same time. One electrical the other mechanical. Both stripped, parts replaced and now both are full functional.

Then it was onto a Wii controller. A plug in part that enhances the movement, upon unplugging it from the controller, my oldest had a hand full of parts. A strip down, a spot of glue and all was fine again.

Then hoover was so full of (20 years worth) fluff, dust and hair wrapped around the beater bar it was only tickling the carpet. Strip, clean, reassembly and function was restored.

Lastly, the screen on our Canon Ixus 70 point and shoot camera was full of dust. Went to Youtube and typed in Canon Ixus 70 disassembly. There was a video covering this very camera. An hour later, it is back together, dust free and fully functional.

I saved myself around €500 in parts and labour on doing these tasks myself. I also had fun to boot doing said tasks I also think I have earned break from stuff breaking in my house, but somehow I doubt it

Matt

Me too:
My headset: Broken 5 times, fixed 5 times.
My cellphone: dropped it in the water, fixed a few days later.
My old computer's screen died so I opened it up and re-soldered a connection that was loose and it worked again.
Most of my RC planes and a few other things...

I tell you, there's no feeling like the one you get when you're successful at fixing things. I only give up when I can't find any other way around the problem, or when the solution is more expensive than buying a new product.

Well the only thing in my old main computer that I haven't upgraded or replaced myself was the motherboard. And that finally crapped out last week. Found one on eBay and I'm back up and running. I guess when the paint on the old case goes bad I'll just repaint it. 

Changing the switch to fix the bike took about 10 mins to get it out, 2 mins to order the replacement of the correct size on the internet, about 10 mins to connect it up and re-assemble the trike.
Wow 22 minutes of my life used up there for hours of joy for Wee Man.
I think some people really just have their head up their bum or more likely are just plain lazy.

I fix everything, if i can. 
Just fixed my wife, then i were allowed to go fishing

Bud Greene wrote on Jun 5^th, 2012 at 9:30am:


Is that not a hard on to fix? 

I fix stuff. All day, everyday. I'm in the auto collision industry. It's what I do


Mike......Are you in good hands? (Just one of my partners in this crazy job)

Problem with fixing things is that some of us (like me) HATE gadgets and machines and and we ENJOY dumping them instead of trying to fix them ourselves, or have 'em repaired!
For example when my printer packed up it FELT GOOD to heartlessly leave it out in the cold damp street in a bin bag for the rubbish men to pick up, then next day i nipped down the shop and bought a brand new one!

I also HATE AND DESPISE computers, I signed up for a free computer class at the Jobcentre once but all the talk of spreadsheets and databases and stuff began sending me insane so I tried to sneak out after 20 minutes but the tutor came running after me and asked me where I was going "Um...to the toilet" I said and went in but I could hear him waiting for me outside, it was like being trapped in Colditz!
He eventually p*ssed off and I was able to sneak out and do a home run..

Mike.. wrote on Jun 5^th, 2012 at 7:58pm:



Thinking about it, last night I fixed;

A coffee maker
A built in cupboard
A three seat sofa.....
A video player
A radio
A hand microphone
And
Replaced a bit of carpet.

Boeing really should get their act together...........

Matt

multiprops wrote on Jun 5^th, 2012 at 8:26pm:

How about the economy?

I think it was actually 'tools' who got us into this predicament in the first place though 

We don't fix alot,usualy because it doesn't get broken quick...

expat wrote on Jun 13^th, 2012 at 6:23pm:

I am a child.

Fozzer wrote on Jun 14^th, 2012 at 3:30am:

Thats only because that paticular version of damage and wear on the baron is a bit unrealistic with engine behaviour,if you have the throttle above 80% for a longer time it will burn one or both of your engines.

Hey Viper, it is a good calling, the Wright Brothers didn't do too badly out of it

H wrote on Jun 15^th, 2012 at 4:27pm:

Stop it! You're making my head spin!

Totally off topic, but, I just want to mention that I replaced the brake pads, rotors and calipers on my chevy van this week. I am not a mechanic and I didn't use a book to help. Now I need to get a bumper sticker that says "I do my own brake jobs so don't cut me off"   

H wrote on Jun 15^th, 2012 at 4:49pm:


I really cant get a handle on this, before a visit to the bar for some liquid refreshment!

Paul... ....!

Reading these posts have made me tired.

Bud Greene wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 12:51am:



Said the bishop to the actress 

Matt