I build things (usually a weekend thing) and get a whole lot of enjoyment from it because it often takes me out of my comfort zone, and I have the need to learn new skills and to research along the way. It's not just the final destination, the end result, that's enjoyable but the entire journey.
Sometimes it's a motorbike or car, such as this old-as-fuck Toyota Landcruiser, and sometimes it's furniture, landscaping in my garden, building complicated Lego Technic and lots of other things as well. I'm gearing up to get into model jet aircraft flying in the next year or two and will be building my aircraft myself, all six feet of it...yep, big, somewhat challenging and daunting...but it'll be a lot of fun I think.
I don't always get it right of course but the mistakes help with the learning process and while they can be frustrating, costly and time-consuming I always emerge better for it and the next time? Well, there's less mistakes and certainly not the same ones.
What experiences have you had with building things and do-it-yourself projects? Have you had success or failure and was it the destination or the journey that was the most enjoyable? Feel free to comment below.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
I helped the Mother Thing secure a greenhouse with my bulk 1" nylon webbing and some plastic fittings. It's supposed to be staked into dirt, but she has space on a wood deck, so the straps slid between boards and around the joists.
I cut 4' lengths, singed the ends with a lighter to prevent unraveling, and used a combination of cinches and cammed locking buckles to make something which should hold up to winds and other weather.
It might have been better to cut the straps at an angle, but I only had my pocket knife instead of scissors/shears. It still worked OK.
Edit: My photo isn't appearing in the comment or preview. Let me know if it's also broken for you.
That sounds like a nifty solution, nice work. Isn't it a good feeling to do some DIY then stand back and think, yep, I did that.
Also, the image works when I click into your comment from the notifications, it's broken on the post though. I think there's some sort of glitch going on in the background though.
Yup, I see it here now. And yes, even minor accomplishments matter.
I reckon the minor accomplishments are so important as they are things that can usually be done easily and more often; those things are a good momentum-builder.
I like a man who's good with his hands. 😉
Becca 🌷
😉
Oh wow from the picture it seems quite old! But Toyota has reliable stuff, if you sort it out it will last with you for long
Usually I'm not a DIY guy, rather a burocrat or papers one as I deal with all that stuff at home... The most I've done was building some forniture but with instructions 😂
I like doing DIY as it's different to what I do for a job, my skills-set. It's a challenge sometimes and some of the time I choose not to go ahead - Fixing my fuck ups is sometimes more costly so I get a professional to do it.
Well ye, some plumbering advanced stuff is better be done by a plumber for example
For sure...I don't fuck around with electricity much either. Too much can go wrong.
When it comes to doing home décor, I have no problem at all; most of the time it turns out well, especially festive decorations or when I want to give something a makeover. On these occasions, I enjoy both the process and the result.
But, for example, when I had to sand and restore the old cedar doors in my house, that took a lot of effort and didn’t look right at first. I decided to change my plan, because I wasn’t getting anywhere that way, and I was able to finish the job. In that case, I enjoyed the result even more.
Have you ever got it wrong and have it cost you money to get it fixed up?
Of course, especially when I was fixing the ceilings in my house: just when I thought I’d finished painting the kitchen ceiling, I removed the masking tape I’d used as a guide. The ceiling was four metres high, and the whole edge started to flake off. I was in tears of frustration after all that effort, and I had to buy more materials, but I did it again, and the second time it turned out much better.
Oh yeah, that's never a good sign. It could have been worse though I suppose.
Old roofs... a 77-year old house, completely restored, it took me many years, but I di
Is that relic a current project or a past one?
I just have my project that I'm glacially doing (it's stalled again). I'm currently "building" a garden does that count XD Oh also mending I guess, I have patchwork projects but they also stalled because money.
The journey for both is fun and I am enjoying both and I'm seeing results a lot quicker with the gardening. I would dearly love to see any kind of "destination" with the project though, I feel like I've been treading water for decades -_-
It's been a long-term project and continues but is almost done. I don't get a lot of time to spend on it and don't want to rush. Someday I'll get to drive it around.
Gardening is a good one, enjoyable with a beginning, middle and end and certainly something that keeps on giving.
Will driving it around be the ultimate triumph? :D
I donno if my gardening will have an end, cottage garden was the aesthetic apparently and from what I've read so far those things settle but don't seem to stop XD
That reminds me of my buddy's old Willy's truck that he has. I love how it's only half together but the radio and speakers look brand new. Gotta focus on the improtant things! :)
There's a few Willy's here too, a fairly decent following.
They are cool vehicles.