On 2007-06-30 13:09:07 +0100, ":Jerry:" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message
...
snip

DIY does not equate only to cheapness, or for that matter to
cheapness at all. The purpose is to achieve an outcome better than
a professional at the time and convenience for the individual. It
may also result in a cost saving depending on how one costs one's
time. In addition, it may be an enjoyed pastime.

Different strokes of the saw and all that, DIY is about what the
person doing it wants, the above is how *you* see DIY, to me it's
doing it *how I want it done* (for example, pipes run were I want
them, bends or elbows used not were it's easy or indeed best but were
they look 'right')

I would agree with and include that as well.

If I buy and use good quality tools, I can get a better result and I am
not likely to get fatigued because the ergonomics are poor. The
outcome is a pleasing and cost effective result.




, but for many it *will* be about saving money [1] -
if it means spending as much buying the tools as it would to get a
'man in' why bother?!

One would hope that the capex for the tool could be amortised over many
projects. The tool rental places are there for cases where those
economics don't add up.




[1] I don't know who old you are Andy but that is how 'Do It Yourself'
started in the UK, as anyone who remembers magazines like 'Practical
Householder' (what ever did happen to PH?) in the '60's & '70's will
remember, as a necessity rather than a hobby.

I certainly do, and would agree with you that for some people it is a
chore and necessity. In that era, I tended to use it as a learning
opportunity but soon realised that I could fairly easily do a better
job than a professional.

Fashions change though. People in general have more disposable
income as well.

I don't see any argument that equates DIY simply and only with saving
of money and especially for buying on price rather than value. That
is very limiting and not representative of the market of today.