July 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Yes, I would definitely consider myself a DIYer. However, I'm not sure that's a good thing. I typically refuse to pay someone else large amounts of money when I know I am perfectly capable of doing something myself. This means that things often take longer to fix than they might otherwise. It also means that things I don't particularly like doing get put off more since I don't want to do it but I can't bring myself to pay to have it done.
Figuring things out and doing things myself has always been a part of me and I think it is one of the major reasons I started as a software developer / DBA. Tinkering has always been fun, the computer simply has a lot more features than most other things I could tinker with.
July 11, 2008 at 1:29 am
I must admit I don't like labels, so I'm not going to call myself a DIYer (or deny it either). I have no problem with paying someone to do things that need to be done, but similarly am happy (with limits) to get stuck in myself. Where the crossover point lies I'm not sure, but I definitely take a look at the value of my time when calculating whether I think getting in a professional is worthwhile.
For instance, I'm like Steve in that I detest plumbing with a passion and am no good at it either. When I'm backed into a corner and have to do something plumbing, my wife takes my kids out somewhere since she knows I'll be swearing before the first joint's undone. So if plumbing work's needed, I'll happily get a plumber in and enjoy the time out with my wife and kids instead.
In contrast, I love working with wood, and have made several pieces of useful furniture that are properly made using (the correct) traditional joints and, I like to think, look good too. That gives me a good deal of satisfaction, so I'd avoid getting a chippy in wherever possible, even if factoring my time in makes my doing it myself entirely uneconomic.
So I'd call myself practical. I'll roll up my sleeves when necessary, but I don't get hung up about feeling I've got to do everything personally.
Semper in excretia, suus solum profundum variat
July 11, 2008 at 1:41 am
My wife and I moved into our house a couple of years ago, and since it had previously been rented out to students it needed gutting and putting back together again. Though I'd done a bit of tinkering before, this was on another level and so got thrown well and truly into the DIY deep end. But I've loved it!
Having said that, there are 3 things I won't touch - electrics, plumbing and plastering. The first because I haven't spent the time to understand how electrics work, and so am a bit paranoid that every time I go near a wire I'm going to get my hair standing on end. The second because I'm fearful of flooding the house (and have in my time already put the odd nail through the waterworks when nailing down floorborads!). And the third because I just can't get the damn stuff smooth. But I am willing to spend the time to learn more about this stuff, and so maybe for our next project...
July 11, 2008 at 2:36 am
For those of us UK side, I am not sure what bush hog blades are (is hog still a pig and is there still a corn-hog cycle in the USA?), nor the lawnmover tie rod (something to do with the blades?).
July 11, 2008 at 3:14 am
No, my partner would be insulted to be called a DIYer - he's a professional builder, having served his years of apprenticeship and many years since in the construction industry.
You only have to compare DIY painting and professional painting to see the difference. DIYers wave a bit of sandpaper over the woodwork then slap on the paint with a cheap brush from the DIY sheds leaving bristles in the paint. A professional will spend 50-60% of the time sanding, filling, priming, fine filling, sanding again and generally preparing the woodwork before painting with a quality brush, in the same way as we spend time on design and the database and server side code with professional tools before completing the user interface web page!
DIYers are the bodgers of the world, creating nightmares for those that follow. Non-regulation installations, wiring or plumbing with incorrect components which is positively dangerous. Just look at those DIY nightmare TV shows! It's just like saying anyone unqualified off the street could do your job as a software professional or DBA. We wouldn't put up with it at work so why do it at home?
Would you let the cleaner shove any old board from PC World into your production server or would you employ a specialist engineer with a correct specifiction part and a warranty?
July 11, 2008 at 3:19 am
In places like Australia I believe only professionals are allowed to touch, say, plumbing, by law.
July 11, 2008 at 3:53 am
I'll have a go at anything and everything - and regularly do. Wanted to be a cabinetmaker when I was at school (I too love wood) but went instead into Electrical & Electronic Engineering, then computing. Happy with electrics, electronics, plumbing, cars, bikes, anything - I guess its the engineer in me.
I love the feeling of achievement and satisfaction when I complete something.
Word of advice for window cleaners - never stand back to admire your work 🙂
July 11, 2008 at 4:25 am
Definately a DIY'er.... I've done everything from built sheds, electrical, plumbing, fix the car, tile work... these days though I'm doing less stuff like that and sticking to SQL server. Still change my own oil in the car though. and I could tear down the engine and put it back and have it work if I needed to, but I think these days I'll leave that to the pros.
Did some cabinetmaking work in my 20s but don't have room for a shop now. Not as good at the finishing work.. need more patience I guess.
Steve - what's a loafing shed?
Mark
July 11, 2008 at 4:27 am
Phil Melling (7/11/2008)
My wife and I moved into our house a couple of years ago, and since it had previously been rented out to students it needed gutting and putting back together again. Though I'd done a bit of tinkering before, this was on another level and so got thrown well and truly into the DIY deep end. But I've loved it!Having said that, there are 3 things I won't touch - electrics, plumbing and plastering. The first because I haven't spent the time to understand how electrics work, and so am a bit paranoid that every time I go near a wire I'm going to get my hair standing on end. The second because I'm fearful of flooding the house (and have in my time already put the odd nail through the waterworks when nailing down floorborads!). And the third because I just can't get the damn stuff smooth. But I am willing to spend the time to learn more about this stuff, and so maybe for our next project...
Ahh plastering. there's an art. I tried but it always ends up looking awful! Don't know what the trick is, but plastering and taping drywall and getting it to look right afterwards has always been tough for me... and my wife has hidden the caulking gun from me...
July 11, 2008 at 4:30 am
I am a definite DIY. I grew up on a farm, currently live on a small farm, and anyone else who has done so knows that farmers learn to do almost anything. I'm not the fastest, and will not hesitate to call experienced professionals when I'm out of my league or need the quick turnaround.
I will do electrical, plumbing, mechanical, welding, etc. Last year I built my own backhoe from scratch. Current projects (worked on within the last week) include replacing a mouse-eaten electric line in the barn that was shorting out, removing the ice maker so as to untangle a bread wrapper that was caught in it, replacing a blown engine on my riding lawn mower, tracking down parts for the old engine for an eventual rebuild, and cutting two more pickup loads of wood for this winter's heat.
July 11, 2008 at 5:10 am
I am definitely not a DIYer. For anything other than computers I am absolutely lazy. Very very very lazy. Any physical work for me to do and you can hear me groaning in America. :w00t: Unless its an emergency I would do no physical work of any sort. Ideas and thinking and computers (software only, a little bit hardware) are my forte. Contrarily I love to exercise a lot even though it is physical labor, I love to pump Iron. In fact I have my own gym.
How many techies here do bodybuilding exercises?
July 11, 2008 at 5:20 am
umailedit (7/11/2008)
Contrarily I love to exercise a lot even though it is physical labor, I love to pump Iron. In fact I have my own gym.How many techies here do bodybuilding exercises?
I think you'd find quite a few! this is probably a subject to itself, I hit the gym and pump iron 3x a week, and do Kempo (martial arts) 3x a week...
July 11, 2008 at 5:25 am
DIY, all the way. I have built a whole new roof on my house, after drawing the plans and getting them approved with the city building department, tried to extend the fireplace chimney before asking a professional to finish it (about the same as plastering), complete rebuild of my truck engine, etc. My most recent fun project was converting a timer from a discarded microwave oven into a stand-alone timer that I use to time the cooking with my George Forman Grill. Works great! As for software, I'm actually a Microsoft Access DB developer that was asked to convert a large Access DB to use SQL Server as the BE. This has been a great learning experence and fun to see how fast SQL Server has made the Access FE. One operation that used to take in pure Access 45 to 75 seconds, now requires about 1.5 seconds to complete and refresh the screen. I love SQL Server!
[font="Comic Sans MS"]Vic[/font]
www.vicrauch.com
July 11, 2008 at 5:49 am
I'll try anything... and if I can save a few dollars in the doing, so much the better. I have to admit, however, that my learning curve causes me to take what is probably more trips to the depot than necessary, parts that I don't need (but will never throw away... might need them SOMEday.) and sometimes a job that doesn't look quite as good as it could. Still, I enjoy the doing, and especially the learning.
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