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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft
tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? |
#2
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
1) I'm all for fixing stuff that is fixable and worth fixing - no sense throwing away something valuable ...however 2) Having saiid that, one needs to keep constantly in mind that the single most valuable thing one has is ones life, and that it is made up only of time. It was a bit heartbreaking to hear how you fooled around with a ceiling fan switch for most of a day, and at the end of it all, all you had was a ceiling fan switch. This was an entire day in your one-and-only life... 3) Here's what I think is the problem: a) Work is naturally made for a man and a man is made for work, but not for its own sake - useless work is an empty life. b) The hardest work is not the labor itself, but rather the comprehensive prioritizing of what to do in context of overall life goals, and then the consistent follow-through on those priorities - all in consideration of the shortness of life and the limits of ones personal energy. c) The reason so many men end up puttering in essentially useless projects is because: they feel the need to work, but haven't done the hard work of analyzing their overall objectives. An empty life gnaws at them, and the "comfort-food" they seek in response is what amounts to essentially meaningless activity as distraction. The result is that one decides to waste a day of ones one-and-only life to tear down and overhaul the $2 valve or the $3 switch. 4) I'd say: do some heavy lifting what you want your life to account for in the end. You already know you need to do this, the indicator of which is that you "feel bad" in response to the innate knowledge that a day in your life traded for a $3 switch was a tragic waste. ...Or maybe this is just obsessive-compulsive disorder that expresses itself in compulsive fixing and puttering...... |
#3
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
The other day my wife and I were at Office Max where she wanted to look at a
tape dispenser. The one that held the larger rolls of tape cost $40. She balked at the price, and I said that I would make her one. The next day a frame was procured from some surplus aluminum sheet from an obsolete piece of hospital equipment. Bent in the brake, shaped and filed, the pieces were then TIG welded into a box. The wheel for the tape was the end cap from an old motor complete with ball bearing. The axle was turned from a piece of 1" round bar and then the ends were turned down to ride in the slots in the box. It was pressed into the bearing. A piece of fine tooth hacksaw blade pinched between the frame and another chunk of aluminum became the cutter. She was tickled to death and I got to see the big smile on her face. For my part, I got to bend, weld, machine and think while I tinkered. This took half a day off. I can't create work for myself on days off, so I figure my time is worthless in terms of money but priceless in terms of doing fun stuff like this. -- Larry Bailey Illegitimi non carborundum "jim" wrote in message ... couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? |
#4
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
For the past 125 years we manufactured wire brushes that mostly went into
the Do-it-yourself market. People don't fix stuff anymore and we have had to shift to food service and heavy industrial. The whole cultural lifestyle has changed, products don't lend themselves to home repair, products aren't made to last very long and new-better-cheaper import replacements are just a trip to Wall-Mart away. "jim" wrote in message ... couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? |
#5
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 12:49:20 GMT, jim wrote:
===couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft ===tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was ===good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the ===bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it ===was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old ===is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you ===think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time ===and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as ===easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, ===which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing ===and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... ===kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... ===kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i ===figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores ===and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch ===apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back ===together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the ===shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... ===took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these ===switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad ===after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like ===this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to ===them???? There is nothing much more that I like doing than making items thatw ere deemed unserviceable serviceable or turing junk into useable items. Its called being frugal. Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com Opinions expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy. |
#6
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
"jim" wrote in message ...
took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? It's the affliction of most of the people here, I'll bet. I spent a whole morning building up worn hinges, with O/A and welding rod, on our kitchen cabinets. I think replacements would have cost me less than $5. g Ed Huntress |
#7
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
What a sad dissertation on the value of life. Pierre what do you do to
occupy the time that you are not out saving the world, or feeding the hungry? What do you say to the man who spends a day fishing, or surfing, or the gal who spends a day shopping and comes home with nothing. Damn you just wasted another day in your short life. Its not about the $2 switch, Its about challenging the mind. Can I do this. Sometimes I just sit on the front porch and watch the sun come up, sometimes I hike to the top of the hill and watch the whole valley come to life. Is that a waste of my time given here on earth? No its time doing what I want to do. An old saying my dad has..."God has given each man here so many days on earth, but he doesn't count the days he goes fishing." Now you can substitute whatever you want for fishing but it still rings true. You can't do 100% work and live a very good life. Take a bit of time to just watch the grass grow, or fix a $2 switch, its OK. lg no neat sig line "Pierre Bongo" wrote in message news:b3LXb.39032$yE5.139130@attbi_s54... 1) I'm all for fixing stuff that is fixable and worth fixing - no sense throwing away something valuable ...however 2) Having saiid that, one needs to keep constantly in mind that the single most valuable thing one has is ones life, and that it is made up only of time. It was a bit heartbreaking to hear how you fooled around with a ceiling fan switch for most of a day, and at the end of it all, all you had was a ceiling fan switch. This was an entire day in your one-and-only life... 3) Here's what I think is the problem: a) Work is naturally made for a man and a man is made for work, but not for its own sake - useless work is an empty life. b) The hardest work is not the labor itself, but rather the comprehensive prioritizing of what to do in context of overall life goals, and then the consistent follow-through on those priorities - all in consideration of the shortness of life and the limits of ones personal energy. c) The reason so many men end up puttering in essentially useless projects is because: they feel the need to work, but haven't done the hard work of analyzing their overall objectives. An empty life gnaws at them, and the "comfort-food" they seek in response is what amounts to essentially meaningless activity as distraction. The result is that one decides to waste a day of ones one-and-only life to tear down and overhaul the $2 valve or the $3 switch. 4) I'd say: do some heavy lifting what you want your life to account for in the end. You already know you need to do this, the indicator of which is that you "feel bad" in response to the innate knowledge that a day in your life traded for a $3 switch was a tragic waste. ..Or maybe this is just obsessive-compulsive disorder that expresses itself in compulsive fixing and puttering...... |
#8
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Pierre Bongo wrote: (clip)Having saiid that, one needs to keep constantly in mind that the single most valuable thing one has is ones life, and that it is made up only of time. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Your analysis is very rational, but it does not account for the differences in people's attitudes toward how they spend their time. I often spend more time on a "fixin'" project than the value of the project seems to justify. But, at the end I have the satisfaction of accomplishment, and the additional experience that I gained. Is the enjoyment one gets by working against the mental and physical challenges of a trivial repair job less valid than, say, the enjoyment one could get by skiing or golfing? |
#9
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
When I buy, the problem usually shows up again shortly. When I fix it, it
stays fixed because I also fix the basic problem rather than just getting another fresh one. You're talking to the few left that actually would consider repairing than replacing in this group. -- Bob May Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less. Works every time it is tried! |
#10
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
"jim" wrote in message ... couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? I'm with you. I have a "can do" "fix-it" mentality. Plus, often you're able to fix it into a better than new condition. Never to die again. I would much rather fix something than buy another one. Lane |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
In article ,
lane lane_nospam@copperaccents_dot_com wrote: "jim" wrote in message ... couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? I'm with you. I have a "can do" "fix-it" mentality. Plus, often you're able to fix it into a better than new condition. Never to die again. I would much rather fix something than buy another one. Lane Count me in for the "fix-it" crowd. I will often try to fix something rather than replace for a number of reasons. First of all is the challenge. Can I figure out what is wrong and figure out how to make it right. This step is free. Some people do crossword puzzles, I diagnose broke stuff... Second, depending on what you are starting with, sometimes the repair is at least as good, or better than the original. Stripped threads in that aluminum bit that lasted 30 years? The helicoil will make it go at least another 30. A new one won't last 5. Third, aesthetics. I like the aerodynamic toasters. Nicrome wire is cheap compared to finding anything close to the look of that old toaster. Sometimes, this plan fails as you get into the repair and the mica falls apart on you. Old hinges may just look right compared to new hinges. If all it takes is cleaning them up and maybe reaming and fitting new pins it can be well worth it. People with more money than we have pay big bucks for this sort of service... refiting antiques to working order for use in their new houses. Fourth, cost. Sometimes it is very worth it to rebuild/repair/replace the ailing part than to get a new one. Most people won't even look into a repair any more. Heck, I know people that buy new cars instead of replacing the clutch. I have gotten many very good higher-quality-than-you-can-get-now items from people because they were "broke" and a few simple repairs brought them back to life. Fifth, servicability. If I could fix it before, I can fix it again. Ok, some of these are kinda strange and may be null arguments, but that is the thought here. Now, a $3 switch, I would have just replaced that... -- Joe -- Joseph M. Krzeszewski Mechanical Engineering and stuff Jack of All Trades, Master of None... Yet |
#12
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
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#13
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
A half an hour spent fixing a part that only costs $5 versus $5 for the part
and a half hour drive to the hardware store plus gas and wear and tear on the vehicle. ??? I think I will stay at home in my nice warm shop; fix the problem and keep my $5.. DL |
#14
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
jim wrote:
couple of months back i was replacing a gate.. cedar 1 by 6 in. 6 ft tall. i had some hardware on there that was about 30 yrs. old. it was good quality stuff but the rust kinda messed up the threads on the bolts and nuts.. i got out the taps and dies and told my wife that it was goona be a bitch to get all this rust off... she then said.. how old is the stuff: about 30 yrs.. she then said: well how many times do you think you gonna have to do this again??? i realized that for the time and energy that i was gonna put into this job that i could have just as easily walked to the hardware store and for a few bucks got new stuff, which i did.... i just have it in my mind that something needs fixing and i can do it, so why buy new if the old stuff still works......... kinda hard to get off of this way of thinking...... kinda like the time a ceiling fan switch lost its chain pull... i figured i would get a new switch... went to three local hardware stores and none thad them... i then drilled out the rivets to take the switch apart.. then had to make some screws long enough to put the switch back together..... took a long time do do with the screws(finally used the shafts of the rivets that i put in the die to put on some threads..... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? thanks for all the replies about being cheap/fixing stuff.. i posted this on the honda automobile newsgroup by mistake and just about every answer i got was why waste your time, some said old people would do this but not them??? i guess they are younger??? me in my late 50's.. but would like to be in my 20's again so i can refer to someone as old people..... friend who is a doctor said his dad was a mechanic and had his own shop/business. he said that he can thank his dad for being a doctor today as when he was a kid he worked in the shop and he was always given the crap jobs like cleaning something or taking it apart but he never would get to assemble something and get it working again..he did not ever get the satisfaction of fixing anything....and hated every minute that he was in that shop... |
#15
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Mike, I agree with you on every point. One of the pleasures in owning
something is "beating the system." |
#16
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
I'm with you. I have a "can do" "fix-it" mentality. Plus, often you're able to fix it into a better than new condition. Never to die again. I would much rather fix something than buy another one. I have a saying "I won't own anything I can't fix myself" which is getting harder to do in today's disposable world. |
#17
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 17:54:34 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
brought forth from the murky depths: Pierre Bongo wrote: (clip)Having saiid that, one needs to keep constantly in mind that the single most valuable thing one has is ones life, and that it is made up only of time. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Your analysis is very rational, but it does not account for the differences in people's attitudes toward how they spend their time. I often spend more time on a "fixin'" project than the value of the project seems to justify. But, at the end I have the satisfaction of accomplishment, and the additional experience that I gained. Is the enjoyment one gets by working against the mental and physical challenges of a trivial repair job less valid than, say, the enjoyment one could get by skiing or golfing? I much prefer the challenge of building/fixing something to that of sports. I'm not real competitive so it works out. There's also the time/money factor. A person with one usually doesn't have much of the other. Unfortunately, I usually have too much time on my hands. :-( -- Impeach 'em ALL! ---------------------------------------------------- http://diversify.com Website Application Programming |
#18
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
I have a saying "I won't own anything I can't fix myself" which is
getting harder to do in today's disposable world. Pretty much impossible these days. I can think of several things I own that I wouldn't know how or have the equipment to fix; most electronic type stuff like the TV, stereo, telephone, DVD player, and refrigeration items like the refrigerator, freezer and house heat pump. One other thing that I have paid for in the past that I could have done, was paint the exterior of our house at the time. Number one, I hate painting houses, and number two it was a two story house and I hate being at the top of tall ladders. And most importantly I got a very reasonable bid from someone who does very good work. Lane |
#19
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Gunluvver2 wrote:
A half an hour spent fixing a part that only costs $5 versus $5 for the part and a half hour drive to the hardware store plus gas and wear and tear on the vehicle. ??? I think I will stay at home in my nice warm shop; fix the problem and keep my $5.. Then again... I've got a breadmaker, it's on its third replacement. However, it came with a 3 year warranty, cost very little, and I go to the shop I bought it in every week. The design seems to fail after around 3 sacks of flour. It has an agitator on the bottom, which has a teflon labyrinth seal protecting a sleeve bearing. This is heated to around 170C every time. For the first 40 loaves or so, it works fine. After that, you can't use timer mode, as the water all drains out. (but I never use that mode anyway). Then it gets gradually worse until the agitator starts hitting the bottom of the pan, due to the horrible slop in the bearing. Certainly a POS, but at least I get the satisfaction of maybe convincing the maker a little bit to upgrade the bearing. Plus nice warm bread every day, that I know exactly what's in. And I can't actually work out how I could make a seal that lasts "forever". (say 5000 loaves, not 200) |
#20
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
... Then again... I've got a breadmaker, it's on its third replacement. However, it came with a 3 year warranty, cost very little, and I go to the shop I bought it in every week. The design seems to fail after around 3 sacks of flour. It has an agitator on the bottom, which has a teflon labyrinth seal protecting a sleeve bearing. This is heated to around 170C every time. For the first 40 loaves or so, it works fine. I've got a thing for the first-generation Hitachi bread machines. Way over-built. In 15 years I've made a couple thousand loaves. Mostly baked in the machine, sometimes just mixed and then baked in the wood stove. Around $.25 per loaf. I've never even tried any of the (cheap) new machines. The Hitachi pans last for maybe 500-1000 loaves before the bearing siezes. Have never had one leak. You can buy a new bread machine for less than Hitachi gets for a replacement pan. So I find good used machines at thrift stores and ebay and typically get a good machine and pan for $25. Figure most of these ever sold just don't get used. One of these days I'll study the exotic plastics at McMaster and will try making a new bearing. Bob |
#21
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Pierre Bongo wrote:
1) I'm all for fixing stuff that is fixable and worth fixing - no sense throwing away something valuable ...however 2) Having saiid that, one needs to keep constantly in mind that the single most valuable thing one has is ones life, and that it is made up only of time. It was a bit heartbreaking to hear how you fooled around with a ceiling fan switch for most of a day, and at the end of it all, all you had was a ceiling fan switch. This was an entire day in your one-and-only life... 3) Here's what I think is the problem: a) Work is naturally made for a man and a man is made for work, but not for its own sake - useless work is an empty life. b) The hardest work is not the labor itself, but rather the comprehensive prioritizing of what to do in context of overall life goals, and then the consistent follow-through on those priorities - all in consideration of the shortness of life and the limits of ones personal energy. c) The reason so many men end up puttering in essentially useless projects is because: they feel the need to work, but haven't done the hard work of analyzing their overall objectives. An empty life gnaws at them, and the "comfort-food" they seek in response is what amounts to essentially meaningless activity as distraction. The result is that one decides to waste a day of ones one-and-only life to tear down and overhaul the $2 valve or the $3 switch. 4) I'd say: do some heavy lifting what you want your life to account for in the end. You already know you need to do this, the indicator of which is that you "feel bad" in response to the innate knowledge that a day in your life traded for a $3 switch was a tragic waste. ..Or maybe this is just obsessive-compulsive disorder that expresses itself in compulsive fixing and puttering...... What a bunch of psycho-babble BS. Talk about wasting time. How long did it take you to write it. ff |
#22
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Ed Huntress wrote:
"jim" wrote in message ... took all this time and one day out at home depot find a wall of these switches for fans for about $3.00 each.... kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch.... is anyone out there feels like this???? sometimes does too much to fix junk that it only seems right to them???? It's the affliction of most of the people here, I'll bet. I spent a whole morning building up worn hinges, with O/A and welding rod, on our kitchen cabinets. I think replacements would have cost me less than $5. g Ed Huntress And you attempt to come across as a rational man? You are certifiable. And if I was there at the time, I woulda been glad to help! Maybe added some nice bearings. Those things would swing so well they would beat the crap out of anything in range. michael |
#23
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
In article ,
"lane" lane_nospam@copperaccents_dot_com wrote: I'm with you. I have a "can do" "fix-it" mentality. Plus, often you're able to fix it into a better than new condition. Never to die again. I would much rather fix something than buy another one. There is another dimention to this. I have no problem affording new hardware but it will cost me 1/2 day to drive into town and find it. If I can fix it myself I save that time, and if it was a rust problem I put on anti-sieze so it won't be rusted next time. -- free men own guns - slaves don't www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/ |
#24
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
In article ,
"Bob May" wrote: When I buy, the problem usually shows up again shortly. When I fix it, it stays fixed because I also fix the basic problem rather than just getting another fresh one. You're talking to the few left that actually would consider repairing than replacing in this group. I use a 3-step process for fixing things: I fix what broke, I make it stronger or better, and I fix the cause. -- free men own guns - slaves don't www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/ |
#25
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
What a sad dissertation on the value of life. Pierre what do you do to
occupy the time that you are not out saving the world, or feeding the hungry? What do you say to the man who spends a day fishing, or surfing, or the gal who spends a day shopping and comes home with nothing. Damn you just wasted another day in your short life. Its not about the $2 switch, Its about challenging the mind. Can I do this. Look pal, he's the one who said he felt bad about ditsing around with a switch all day. Apparently he realizes what you do not: that a $2 switch is not, relatively speaking, a mental challenge, or a useful activity.. |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
Is the enjoyment one gets by working
against the mental and physical challenges of a trivial repair job less valid than, say, the enjoyment one could get by skiing or golfing? Again, I didn't say he should feel bad - he said that for me. Skiing and golfing are great social activities that get out out in the fresh air and bond people together. Sitting alone all day with a $2 switch and feeling bad about it is not simply not productive, and apparently wasn't satisfying to him. |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
She was tickled to death and I got to see the big smile on her face. For
my part, I got to bend, weld, machine and think while I tinkered. This is a fundamentally different situation than was originally described: "kinda made me feel bad after messing with the old switch...." |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
On 15 Feb 2004 14:59:04 -0500, wrote: SNIP This makes me think of my bosses riding lawnmower. I repaired a couple of problems with it but it was older and stuff kept wearing out so he went out and bought a new one. A couple weeks later he asked me if I wanted to buy it. I said no because I already had one although not as nice as his old one. Couple weeks later he got tired of having it take up space in the garage and asked me to just come and take it away. I did and after rebuilding all the worn parts on the cutting deck and filling up the hydro-static drive with oil and ended up with a great running machine. -- Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG |
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On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:02:04 GMT, jim wrote:
wrote: I have just finished a repair job on my battery Philishave. Batteries died after about 12 years continuous use, so I replaced it with a mains version ($69) which is dying after about a year, so I looked at a new battery job. $350+ no bloody way I am going to pay that, the original only cost about $25 or about $120 in depreciated dollars. I went to a battery shop, bought 2 x 2/3 sub-C replacements for $20.15, soldered them in, charged them and now the shaver is running as good as new, just in time for my trip to Japan. is that batteries for a shave( for your face)??? Yes i got an old norellco shave and the batteries are bad.. its about 30 yrs. old but i always liked it..... the batteries you suggested are C size batteries but shorter???? if so that is probably what i need.... Yes, Philips is Norelco in N America. Mine is model # HP1337, dual voltage - 110/240 Fortunately I have not disposed of old cells. Dimensions are 25mm/1" long x 22mm/7/8" with thin solder tags, I had to trim the replacements to fit in PCB slots. Batteries are 2/3 length sub-C size, anything longer will not fit in. C and sub-C are different sizes. I think C are larger diameter. They are installed with both negative ends to the bottom of the case as there is a diagonal PCB track from + on one to - on the other.. You may have to bend the spring wipers on the switch as mine were flattened and not making proper contact, or PCB did not fit in exactly as originally installed. I have learnt so much from this newsgroup and it is so nice to be able to put something back and help you I can take a photo of the shaver and send it to you. Change "oz" to "au" in email address for direct reply Alan |
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jim wrote:
snip thanks for all the replies about being cheap/fixing stuff.. i posted this on the honda automobile newsgroup by mistake and just about every answer i got was why waste your time, some said old people would do this but not them??? i guess they are younger??? me in my late 50's.. but would like to be in my 20's again so i can refer to someone as old people..... friend who is a doctor said his dad was a mechanic and had his own shop/business. he said that he can thank his dad for being a doctor today as when he was a kid he worked in the shop and he was always given the crap jobs like cleaning something or taking it apart but he never would get to assemble something and get it working again..he did not ever get the satisfaction of fixing anything....and hated every minute that he was in that shop... I'm more of a lurker than anything on this group, but I just thought I'd throw my $0.02 in here. I just turned 28 last week and I'm definitely in the "fix it if possible" group, as well as the "fix it to learn how it works" group too. Case in point would be when I broke the tool rest on an old wood lathe of mine, and proceeded to weld up a new one from scratch (self-taught O/A. I wouldn't hire me for any critical/structural welding, but this tool rest is holding up extremely nicely). Another case was when I bought a basket-case of a car (1978 Trans-Am 400ci 4sp BTW) in order to learn how everything worked, and to see if I could do it. Let me tell you that it's not the best thing on the road, but it is now at least 80% driveable (need to fix the brakes and suspension to get it to at least 95%, unless some other bugs get shaken out) and I did it all myself through desire and determination. You're right, there was a lot of satisfaction and pride the day that I turned the key and it started up with no hiccups, and there still is when something falls into place (now if this damnable winter will end, then maybe I can do something other than let it sit). Suffice it to say that I'm the opposite of your doctor friend - I sit in front of a computer all day for work and lately I've really come to *hate* it. I think that if I could get into a decent job where I get to work with my hands and get dirty I would jump at it in an instant (wood, metal, auto, machine - doesn't matter - just call me Jack). -- - Mike S. (definitely not part of the "let someone else do it" mentality) Natharias at lycos dot com |
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Toolbert wrote:
One of these days I'll study the exotic plastics at McMaster and will try making a new bearing. When the seal on my neighbour's went, we made a new one out of sheet silicone rubber and a fiber washer. This was a couple years ago and it's still going strong. Ted |
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Doug Arthurs wrote:
nice as his old one. Couple weeks later he got tired of having it take up space in the garage and asked me to just come and take it away. I did and after rebuilding all the worn parts on the cutting deck and filling up the hydro-static drive with oil and ended up with a great running machine. About ten years ago I had to repair a riding mower (parts were no longer available) or buy a new one for a couple grand. I felt I would rather buy a lathe than a mower and fix the mower. I'd been wanting my own lathe for a looooooong time. I mentioned this to my neighbour who pulled out an experimental/homebuilt airplane mag and showed me a Smithy add. This would give me a lathe AND a mill for about what I expected to pay for a lathe. My wife pointed out that if we got the Smithy, I could go to a proffesional machine shop for the odd job that was too big/fine/accurate/whatever for my own machine. If this happened more than a couple of times, I could always sell the Smithy and get something bigger/better. I bought the Smithy in '91 or '92 (forget which) - haven't been to the pro shop yet. Ted |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
wrote:
I have just finished a repair job on my battery Philishave. Batteries died after about 12 years continuous use, so I replaced it with a mains version ($69) which is dying after about a year, so I looked at a new battery job. $350+ no bloody way I am going to pay that, the original only cost about $25 or about $120 in depreciated dollars. I went to a battery shop, bought 2 x 2/3 sub-C replacements for $20.15, soldered them in, charged them and now the shaver is running as good as new, just in time for my trip to Japan. Batteries are 2/3 length sub-C size, anything longer will not fit in. C and sub-C are different sizes. I think C are larger diameter. They are installed with both negative ends to the bottom of the case as there is a diagonal PCB track from + on one to - on the Digi-key (http://www.digikey.com) carry quite an assortment of Panasonic NiMH and NiCd cells with solder tabs. I would go for NiMH in that app since they have much higher capacity. Ted |
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being cheap and fixing stuff????
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 06:59:17 -0500, Nick Hull
brought forth from the murky depths: In article , "Bob May" wrote: When I buy, the problem usually shows up again shortly. When I fix it, it stays fixed because I also fix the basic problem rather than just getting another fresh one. You're talking to the few left that actually would consider repairing than replacing in this group. I use a 3-step process for fixing things: I fix what broke, I make it stronger or better, and I fix the cause. EXCELLENT idea. I usually try for the same. (Of course, it helps to be so frugal that they can hear me squeak all the way over on the east coast.) -- Impeach 'em ALL! ---------------------------------------------------- http://diversify.com Website Application Programming |
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Doug Arthurs wrote: Couple weeks later he got tired of having it take up space in the garage and asked me to just come and take it away. I did and after rebuilding all the worn parts on the cutting deck and filling up the hydro-static drive with oil and ended up with a great running machine. Deja vu all over again...I was given my boss's Snapper riding mover almost 40 years ago after he overtorqued the spark plug and stripped the threads in the engine head. A new head was cheaper than the cost of a helicoil job (about $8 IIRC), so I just replaced it. I'm still using that Snapper every summer, though I did have to treat it to a new engine about ten years ago when the original one lost compression and wasn't really worth the effort to rebore and replace parts on. See it at: http://home.comcast.net/~jwisnia18/jeff/treegro.jpg My Airens snow thrower is about the same age. I bought it used for $50 from a guy who didn't know how to stick a new float in the carb. It's a real "widowmaker", no deadman safeties to speak of, and the front ends of the auger are exposed at the sides. Jeff -- Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) "If you can smile when things are going wrong, you've thought of someone to blame it on." |
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