Author Topic: Fixing not replacing  (Read 5864 times)

esmith2039

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Fixing not replacing
« on: July 19, 2019, 11:11:00 AM »
Got to thinking this week I've pretty much fixed everything in our house at least once, tools, appliances everything. The cars/RV are in the same category. This week it was the 1.5 year 4k Westinghouse TV that needed a new main board ($44), the power strip that wouldn't grip the prongs(10 min to bend the prongs back), patching a inflatable kayak, .. Next week rebuilding the Escape's suspension, sealing the RV roof is on the list but it might get added to. The washer (clutch and waterpump) and couch (handle, cables and reclining bolts numerous of times) is the winner of fixes, I could take them apart in my sleep.

Some days I get to thinking it would be nice not having to repair something or maybe pay someone but parts are cheap and really don't have much else to do. Anyone else in the same boat? 

socaso

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2019, 11:16:01 AM »
Yes, I'm not quite as handy as you but I've been sewing for years and can fix any of our clothes or upholstery items, make curtains, etc. My husband just asked me for blackout curtains in the bedroom so I lined our existing curtains with blackout lining for only $7. I have also replaced faucets, toilet seats, fixed the kitchen faucet, etc. Sometimes things sit around for a while before I get to them but parts are cheap, as you say, and if I can figure out how to do it I can't stand to spend the money on a pro.

esmith2039

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2019, 08:11:22 PM »
I’d say your doing pretty good for doing all those tasks! Sewing is one thing I need to do more of. Haven't touched the sewing machine ore needle in years.

sparkytheop

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2019, 08:42:52 PM »
I'm pretty handy, so have fixed all kinds of things.  I had an old dryer with all kinds of home repairs-- replaced the felt and sliders, had a fan held on with a zip tie, and something else was being held together with a hose clamp.  Eventually, the heating elements went out, and it would have cost more money to replace them than to buy a new dryer. 

I've also limped my Central Air/Furnace along for the last few years.  I've replaced the control board, the igniter (a few times), the heat sensor (along with sanding off the corrosion every couple years), and the blower motor.  I've had someone to come in and charge it three times (once this year, once four years ago, and once five or six years ago).  It's an early 90s unit, so probably would have been replaced years ago by most people.  I'll have to replace it next time it needs a refrigerant charge though, since the refrigerant will no longer be available.  Saving up for that newer unit now.

It's nice being able to do my own repairs for various things.  The problem is that it always seems to break at the most inconvenient time (when I'm busy or on a weekend when I can't buy parts locally).

soccerluvof4

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2019, 03:51:14 AM »
I have remodeled about 90% of every aspect of my house going on nearly 5 years now but the other 10% just seems to never end! :-)

onward19

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2019, 07:19:43 PM »
The washing machine in this house is 17 years old (we found the original manual). It broke last month and we had it repaired for $150. Turns out the broken part itself only cost $15, the rest of the cost was diagnostics and labor. Neither DH or I had the experience or time to try messing with taking apart a washing machine, but realizing that it could have only cost us 10% of the amount we paid to fix made me feel a little queasy.  Next time we'll try a repair ourselves!

  Also, after yet another costly oil change at a quick shop (it never matches the coupon price) I bought oil from Amazon super cheap ($10!) on a Prime day deal and DH will do the next oil changes.

Syonyk

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2019, 10:03:31 AM »
Some days I get to thinking it would be nice not having to repair something or maybe pay someone but parts are cheap and really don't have much else to do. Anyone else in the same boat?

Time, Money, Energy.  In most stages of life, you've got two of the three.

If you don't have the money to replace things, fixing them is a good use of the time!

I've definitely lived the "I don't think I own anything more complex than a spoon that I haven't been inside..." thing for years before.  It's a useful set of skills, though I'm at a point in life now where I don't have to fix quite as many things - we have a newer home, a car from this decade (nothing else is from this decade, most of that isn't even from this century), and stuff more or less works.  It's nice, though I'll still absolutely whip out the hot air rework station to repair stuff.

Also, after yet another costly oil change at a quick shop (it never matches the coupon price) I bought oil from Amazon super cheap ($10!) on a Prime day deal and DH will do the next oil changes.

Keep an eye out for your local car parts store specials - for a typical car (4-5qt of oil), you can usually get oil and filter for $15-$20 locally.  Shipping oil via Amazon Prime just sounds silly.

acepedro45

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2019, 08:58:50 AM »
I keep a spreadsheet of all these types of fixes and what each one cost me. It's a helpful confidence builder when I'm hemming and hawing about attempting a new home improvement or car repair job that intimidates me. I just look over my list and say, hey, if you can do all those things, you can definitely do Project X.

A Fella from Stella

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2019, 11:48:57 AM »
My doorknob is broken to the front porch, so we have to use the backdoor. I just got a text from my wife that she fixed it.

Cost is $0.00.

A Fella from Stella

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2019, 11:51:13 AM »
My Android and laptop batteries were holding a charge, so I just went and bought new batteries instead of new devices.

tomita

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2019, 05:07:39 AM »
I keep a spreadsheet of all these types of fixes and what each one cost me. It's a helpful confidence builder when I'm hemming and hawing about attempting a new home improvement or car repair job that intimidates me. I just look over my list and say, hey, if you can do all those things, you can definitely do Project X.
I like this idea, we should do it too

CatamaranSailor

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2019, 06:14:58 AM »
Just spent the weekend rebuilding the front end of my 4Runner. All new OEM parts. Not a fun job, but doable and probably saved a grand or more in labor.

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2019, 03:20:46 AM »
Sanded down and re-oiled a lovely chopping board, and also my rolling pin. Both were getting a bit fuzzy from scrubbing. Both now look band new. And, fyi, coconut oil is cheap as chips, food safe and won't go rancid if you need to oil kitchen stuff.

AMandM

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2019, 11:04:25 AM »
My doorknob is broken to the front porch, so we have to use the backdoor. I just got a text from my wife that she fixed it.

Cost is $0.00.

When I fix something I send my husband a fake bill for a service call, just so we can both enjoy the thought of saving that money.

esmith2039

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #14 on: August 25, 2019, 02:49:48 PM »
I keep a spreadsheet of all these types of fixes and what each one cost me. It's a helpful confidence builder when I'm hemming and hawing about attempting a new home improvement or car repair job that intimidates me. I just look over my list and say, hey, if you can do all those things, you can definitely do Project X.
I like this idea, we should do it too

Yeah that does sound like a good idea.. just have to remember to do it lol

Good job everyone on your fixes!

pecunia

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #15 on: August 25, 2019, 07:16:58 PM »
One thing to consider is that your time is worth something.  If you are working, the repairs rob you of your free time.  You can never get that time back.

I spent about six hours Saturday putting new brake pads on the car.  It was a dirty job and I've found I don't get up and down from the cold concrete like I used to.  Was it worth doing myself?  Most certainly.

Another thing to consider is that many times the repairs you do yourself are of higher quality.  It's your stuff.  You care about it.

Syonyk

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #16 on: August 26, 2019, 08:38:39 AM »
One thing to consider is that your time is worth something.  If you are working, the repairs rob you of your free time.  You can never get that time back.

True, but that's a slippery slope argument to being useless at just about everything except whatever your job is, which is a poor way to go through life.  Being good at fixing stuff, on the other hand, is often quite profitable.

People in Seattle thought I was literally nuts for doing my own work on things (I spent a halfway decent Saturday replacing the water pump, thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, and serpentine belt on my truck - I figure I saved $800 in labor costs).  I was also the only one at a tech company willing to dive into hardware level repairs on phones/laptops/etc.  That one confused me, but sure, I'll get out of the house for a few hours during a baby shower and make a couple hundred repairing a power inlet jack on a high end laptop that's out of warranty.

Back in grad school, I more or less kept myself in laptops by fixing/repairing/piecing together broken stuff.  Most people thought a broken laptop was worth nearly $0, vs their actual value in parts, and I wasn't going to correct them.

Quote
Another thing to consider is that many times the repairs you do yourself are of higher quality.  It's your stuff.  You care about it.

Yup.  I feel very much the same way.  I'm going to take the time to do things right, as opposed to just slapping it together and sending it out the door, which is what happens with a depressing number of places I've taken cars to over the years.  Paying a quick lube place an insane sum of money to change my oil and screw up my car... pass, thanks.  I had one place screw up reassembling the airbox so there was a post-air filter intake leak, and at the same time, they forgot the crush washer on the drain plug so I had a decent puddle under the car by the morning (it was winter, I didn't feel like doing it myself in the cold, and figured I'd try an oil change place).  Sorry, I can screw up my engine by myself for a lot more fun than paying an obscene amount of money for an oil change.

Car Jack

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2019, 12:03:38 PM »
Another thing to consider is that many times the repairs you do yourself are of higher quality.  It's your stuff.  You care about it.

There it is right there.

Those times I do have someone else do it, I kick myself later when I have to redo the screw ups they did.

Suelavie

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #18 on: September 05, 2019, 05:54:21 AM »
I am not good at repairing but I would gladly pay someone to repair broken things if I had this type of service available nearby. I will look for it and stop whining about i(example my wall clock died this week. No ot is not just the battery, I am not that bad :-) )Thanks. (Any reference for this type of service in Montreal, Canada anyone?

Nightwatchman9270

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2019, 10:27:42 AM »
I have NO handyman skills BUT today I was going to throw out my running shoes because in padding inside was completely compressed and it hurt when I ran or did my p90x3 workout.  Rather than pay $50-120 for new shoes I bought a $15 pair of Dr. Scholl's gel inserts.  Problem solved.  I'll just keep doing that until I wear out the soles!  SCORE!

CatamaranSailor

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2019, 08:26:59 PM »
Alas...I must report a fixing failure. After 10 years of operation, along with battery and headphone jack replacements, my iPod Classic may have finally reached the point of no return. I may despise Apple as a company, but that iPod was trusted companion on many many adventures. I know everyone just uses their phone these days, but I liked the interface, I liked having 120 gb of storage.(Deep sigh). I'm thinking of giving it a Viking funeral. A small raft of kindling and a fond fiery farewell in the dog's pool in the back yard. Farewell, little iPod. The halls of Valhalla await.

FamilyGuy

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #21 on: September 08, 2019, 07:46:13 AM »
I am not a very mechanical person. Even for drilling holes for curtains I look for help.
I call for help for home issues or repairs. I don’t know how to get better at it. I have been always like this. I see some of friends even installing ceiling fans. I am proud of them but also shamed I cannot  do that kind of stuff by myself.

pecunia

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #22 on: September 08, 2019, 09:13:56 AM »
I am not a very mechanical person. Even for drilling holes for curtains I look for help.
I call for help for home issues or repairs. I don’t know how to get better at it. I have been always like this. I see some of friends even installing ceiling fans. I am proud of them but also shamed I cannot  do that kind of stuff by myself.

I know what you mean.  I have to read the instructions.  It's sad.  It's unmanly.  I also look at You Tube videos.  I guess that is more acceptable.

FamilyGuy

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #23 on: September 08, 2019, 05:35:16 PM »
I am not a very mechanical person. Even for drilling holes for curtains I look for help.
I call for help for home issues or repairs. I don’t know how to get better at it. I have been always like this. I see some of friends even installing ceiling fans. I am proud of them but also shamed I cannot  do that kind of stuff by myself.

I know what you mean.  I have to read the instructions.  It's sad.  It's unmanly.  I also look at You Tube videos.  I guess that is more acceptable.
Thanks. Yes, youtube videos are the savior when manual instructions are blunt.

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #24 on: September 10, 2019, 04:14:42 PM »
I've been getting some grief about my work desk chair. It's completely functional but the arm foam padding is starting to flake off. It's the most comfortable chair I've had and in every functional aspect it's perfect. Why throw away all the casters, molded parts, cushion upholstery, and adjustment systems just because a few inches of foam are flaking? I don't get it.

Any better suggestions than to bring in a couple of black socks to slide over the top of the arms?

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #25 on: September 10, 2019, 06:14:07 PM »
I've been getting some grief about my work desk chair. It's completely functional but the arm foam padding is starting to flake off. It's the most comfortable chair I've had and in every functional aspect it's perfect. Why throw away all the casters, molded parts, cushion upholstery, and adjustment systems just because a few inches of foam are flaking? I don't get it.

Any better suggestions than to bring in a couple of black socks to slide over the top of the arms?

Get someone you know to crochet or knit a couple of arm covers

sparkytheop

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #26 on: September 14, 2019, 04:55:01 PM »
I've been getting some grief about my work desk chair. It's completely functional but the arm foam padding is starting to flake off. It's the most comfortable chair I've had and in every functional aspect it's perfect. Why throw away all the casters, molded parts, cushion upholstery, and adjustment systems just because a few inches of foam are flaking? I don't get it.

Any better suggestions than to bring in a couple of black socks to slide over the top of the arms?

Argyle socks?  Seasonal themed socks?

As someone who knits, sews, and crochets, using socks is brilliant!  If you get some with a long enough cuff, you could cut off the foot and stitch up the ends (or staple if you don't sew...)  But really, it's a very practical solution.

draco44

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #27 on: September 15, 2019, 09:57:59 PM »
I love repairing stuff myself. I'd say my primary motivation at this point in life is environmental (keeping things out of the landfill), but the frugality angle is a wonderful bonus.

One of my favorite easy repairs is fixing umbrellas when the fabric portion separates from the end of the metal spokes.  You can sew the fabric back on using thread, or for added durability and water resistance, dental floss.

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #28 on: September 24, 2019, 03:34:57 PM »
Get someone you know to crochet or knit a couple of arm covers

Argyle socks?  Seasonal themed socks?

As someone who knits, sews, and crochets, using socks is brilliant!  If you get some with a long enough cuff, you could cut off the foot and stitch up the ends (or staple if you don't sew...)  But really, it's a very practical solution.


This lead to a palm-to-forehead moment: I knit. And I've been meaning to do more of it.
Looks like I have my next project picked out for me.  Thanks for the support and reminder!

sparkytheop

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #29 on: September 24, 2019, 04:11:59 PM »
Get someone you know to crochet or knit a couple of arm covers

Argyle socks?  Seasonal themed socks?

As someone who knits, sews, and crochets, using socks is brilliant!  If you get some with a long enough cuff, you could cut off the foot and stitch up the ends (or staple if you don't sew...)  But really, it's a very practical solution.


This lead to a palm-to-forehead moment: I knit. And I've been meaning to do more of it.
Looks like I have my next project picked out for me.  Thanks for the support and reminder!

That's awesome!  I'm a fairly new knitter (I went from 0 to knitting socks because that's what I wanted to learn, so that's what my mom taught me).  I've since knitted handle covers for my cast iron skillet, and have found that straight "tubes" are incredibly easy.

Glad you found a solution :)

Boll weevil

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #30 on: October 21, 2019, 04:09:38 PM »
Managed to fix my sewing machine over the weekend. I purchased it used for $60 several years ago with the intention of making a camera bag (a project still nowhere near completion).

Last week I pulled it out to make a pencil case.

I don’t remember the condition I got the machine in, but as I made the case I found out that the stitch length adjusting wheel wouldn’t budge while the pattern selector wheel and zig zag width wheel spun with no affect to the machine. So I had a machine that could straight stitch only with a single stitch length.

The zig zag width ended up being a loose set screw, but tightening it up exposed a pretty big crack in the wheel. So a little bit of superglue, grind out the excess superglue that prevented the wheel from going back onto the shaft, and tighten the setscrew... 1 problem solved.

The other 2 problems were basically caused by parts stuck together, probably from old oil having solidified. Careful application of WD-40, a lot of wheel turning, and a some selective prodding and everything seemed to be working again. Re-oiled where the manual said to (at least I think I did... the photocopy reproduction isn’t the best) and closed it up and I’m ready to move on to the next project.

pecunia

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #31 on: October 25, 2019, 06:35:44 PM »
Last night the engine light came on in my car.  I have a code reader and received the code.  Internet search revealed the most likely cause, an obscure valve venting the gas tank and exhaust or some such.  Obtained replacement part for most likely cause.  It was a $35 dollar part.  Wish me luck!

Note:  I do wish it was easier to obtain schematics / flow diagrams / whatever to help troubleshoot these things.  If they have the tech to give you this code, they have to tech to tell you this, this or this right from the dash.

TomTX

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #32 on: October 26, 2019, 06:22:04 AM »
Last night the engine light came on in my car.  I have a code reader and received the code.  Internet search revealed the most likely cause, an obscure valve venting the gas tank and exhaust or some such.  Obtained replacement part for most likely cause.  It was a $35 dollar part.  Wish me luck!

Note:  I do wish it was easier to obtain schematics / flow diagrams / whatever to help troubleshoot these things.  If they have the tech to give you this code, they have to tech to tell you this, this or this right from the dash.
EGR valve? Had that issue regularly on my old Saturn. Found that I could pull it out and clean it with carb cleaner spray to get out the gunk, then reinstall.

pecunia

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #33 on: October 26, 2019, 10:01:56 AM »
Not this one.

AnxietyFly

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Re: Fixing not replacing
« Reply #34 on: October 26, 2019, 10:07:44 PM »
I consider any project like a hobby of mine. I carefully plan each aspect. There have been times I have outsourced some of the work such as cutting my granite. For the most part, I do most of my mechanical and electrical work. My wife hates the idea of me working on the house because of the noise and dust.