Repair - DIY at its best!

The other day I was on a DIY forum (outside permies) and I noticed how many people were participating.  It was incredibly popular with people wanting to repair things.  A lot of people in the world have broken stuff and they want to fx it instead of buying new stuff.  Cool.  

With the supply chain issues, economy whatever... fixing things is fashionable again.  

Then I noticed something else - the number one answer was "buy a new one" and "it's too hard to fix".  

This got me angry.  Many of these things are easy to fix.  So I went and wrote some replies.  And other people wrote some replies showing how to fix... but we broke the rules by telling people how to fix things and got deleted.  And banned.  And I missed my permies people because people here know the value of fixing things.  

We even have a forum all about repairing.  https://permies.com/f/255/repair

I dream of this repair forum becoming a gateway for people new to permaculture.  Or just a place people can ask questions without being told that it's too difficult, buy a new one.



What kind of stuff goes in repair?
There's the usual "how do I fix..." and "what part do I need to fix..." questions.  
There is also the awesome bragging threads like, "look, this is how I fixed..." "I made the broken thing better!"

What other kinds of threads would fit well in Repair?


I suspect the best way to get the Repair forum known to the world is win google love.  And to that, we need more activity.  

A few things we can do include posting more questions and answers.  With winter coming, it's a good time to mend things.  

I'm also thinking it would be fun to write some daily-ish emails about the best threads in the repair forum.  This seems to get a lot of attention.

We can improve the words at the top of the forum to help people know what it's about and gain more googlelove.

And, maybe a modified version of the 48-hour rule specifically for that forum?  If they don't get an answer in 48 hours, they can do something to get more attention?  

I think having an active Repair forum where people actually help instead of saying "buy a new one", would greatly improve the internet.  

Does anyone want to come on this adventure with me?  

One thing you could do that would help:  

1. Pick an item in your life you have been wanting to repair for ages.  
2. Make a thread about it, asking how or showing what you did.  
3. Post a link to that thread here.  

We can gather up these threads and write some daily-ish emails.  

R, I think that is a great idea!  I love fixing things.  If it turns I like it. I have a bunch of manuals for engines, trucks and tractors.  I can easily take a picture of a part in question and help out.  

Hi R. Repairing is one of my hobbies! I never thought of making photos and telling how I did it, until the SKIP BBs came here on Permies. And now a whole Repair Forum! WOW!

I’d already started this one, so not an ask but my solution:

Restore an Axe

I've just been thinking today that I need to learn how to make an "Apple Poll". This is because I had tried to replace the very old shut-off valve on a hose, and needed help from Hubby as I didn't have enough hand strength to get the  old one off, due to the bad design of the once replaced male coupler. Hubby decided that the old couplers might as well be replaced while we were at it, as he'd found a much better style that had proper surfaces for wrenches. He did that last night. I thanked him this morning and said I'd put it back in the storage area near the garden for next spring. He got upset because he thought I needed the hose this winter, and his words were, "I wouldn't have bothered fixing it now if I'd known you didn't need it until spring".

So my apple poll questions are:

1. Are you the type that would fix a broken thing now, so it was done, even if it wasn't going to be needed for at least several months?

2. Are you the type that would toss it in the shed broken figuring you will fix it when it's needed?

Can anyone think of better wording or other questions that would go with this concept?

I know it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, but in fact, that shutoff was leaking last spring and we were too busy to fix it then. I *really* didn't want it put away broken, but am I typical, or the exception?

But before I can learn how to make an "Apple Poll", I need to fix the duck nest box that's sitting waiting on my dining room table - so I'm off to do a repair job!

No pictures taken but when mowing the lawn a few weeks ago, I noticed the ground by the water meter was swampy and the meter box was full of water.

Steps:
1) Scoop out all of the water
2) Watch where the water was coming  from and hope it was on the city side
3) Alas, it was on my side
4) Turn off the water
5) Dig out the mud outside the box to find the pipe
6) Turn on the water and discover that the leak is right where the pipe exits the meter box.
7) Go the the hardware store to pickup a new section of pipe, a coupling and some band clamps
Dig some more to expose more pipe so I can manipulate it
9) Cut out a short section of the pipe to remove the damaged piece
10) Patch in a new piece and test it for leaks
11) Bury it again and go about my day

My cost: maybe $15
A plumber: ? but I am sure it would have been way more than $15

I am the type that will fix it when needed.  There usually is plenty of crappy weather days to get it done.  Right now there are about 10 projects waiting on bad weather.  4 wheeler governor broke, the planter hitch is broke, many hoes and shovels need fixed.... The other thing I learned years ago with engines is I might as well wait till spring to clean the carb.  They tend to plug up after sitting all winter anyway.

There are a few things such as starter ropes that need done right away so the next time you need it in a hurry it is ready.  I call that PM (preventative maintenance).

Jay Angler wrote:...
So my apple poll questions are:

1. Are you the type that would fix a broken thing now, so it was done, even if it wasn't going to be needed for at least several months?

2. Are you the type that would toss it in the shed broken figuring you will fix it when it's needed?

Can anyone think of better wording or other questions that would go with this concept?

I know it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, but in fact, that shutoff was leaking last spring and we were too busy to fix it then. I *really* didn't want it put away broken, but am I typical, or the exception?

I *used* to be the fix it now type, but as life got more complicated and my energy more limited, many things had to be put off until absolutely necessary. Doesn't help that my partner is definitely the better late or even better never type.  (Opposites attract. Opposites attract. opposites...)  I am trying, however, to get back to that repair-in-advance-of-need approach - it's much more calming, and allows me time to figure out thriftier, perhaps more durable solutions.

Another good resource for repair how-to is www.ifixit.com/.

Jay Angler wrote:...

So my apple poll questions are:

1. Are you the type that would fix a broken thing now, so it was done, even if it wasn't going to be needed for at least several months?

2. Are you the type that would toss it in the shed broken figuring you will fix it when it's needed?

Without 'Apple Poll' I can answer these questions too. I'm both types. It depends. Sometimes I want to fix something right away. Even though it is not needed. Sometimes I wait until the last moment before it's needed.

"... and "it's too hard to fix".  "

I have to tell ya that the issue of fix vs new starts at the beginning -- when you decide to make the purchase. I say that because if you look at how many products are made these days, they are assembled primarily with glue. I have nothing against glue, its good tech and does make products cheaper. It also makes many products hard or impossible to repair. Bottom line, if you are comparing two drills, one glued and one assembled with screws you know which one to buy.

One other point. Parts. Storing parts for repair is an overhead item and why many cheap products do not have parts lists or parts for order. That is another consideration in your purchase matrix, can you get parts? If you can't then what do you do? Myself, I model a copy of it in 3D and print out a new copy on a FDM printer. These printers are cheap now, under $400 for a decent one. The process to do it does have a high barrier of training to make it work. However the effort to learn the skill and tooling in 3D is worth it if your aim is to be the ultimate tinkerer in your community.

Chris Tully wrote:No pictures taken but when mowing the lawn a few weeks ago, I noticed the ground by the water meter was swampy and the meter box was full of water.

Steps:
1) Scoop out all of the water
2) Watch where the water was coming  from and hope it was on the city side
3) Alas, it was on my side
4) Turn off the water
5) Dig out the mud outside the box to find the pipe
6) Turn on the water and discover that the leak is right where the pipe exits the meter box.
7) Go the the hardware store to pickup a new section of pipe, a coupling and some band clamps
Dig some more to expose more pipe so I can manipulate it
9) Cut out a short section of the pipe to remove the damaged piece
10) Patch in a new piece and test it for leaks
11) Bury it again and go about my day

My cost: maybe $15
A plumber: ? but I am sure it would have been way more than $15

Thanks to a county mowing crew breaking the pipe to the meter I can give you the number -- $760. That is what I billed the county and they paid it.

Chris Tully wrote:No pictures taken but when mowing the lawn a few weeks ago, I noticed the ground by the water meter was swampy and the meter box was full of water.

Steps:
1) Scoop out all of the water
2) Watch where the water was coming  from and hope it was on the city side
3) Alas, it was on my side
4) Turn off the water
5) Dig out the mud outside the box to find the pipe
6) Turn on the water and discover that the leak is right where the pipe exits the meter box.
7) Go the the hardware store to pickup a new section of pipe, a coupling and some band clamps
Dig some more to expose more pipe so I can manipulate it
9) Cut out a short section of the pipe to remove the damaged piece
10) Patch in a new piece and test it for leaks
11) Bury it again and go about my day

My cost: maybe $15
A plumber: ? but I am sure it would have been way more than $15

Sounds like you'd something for posting this as an Odd Ball Badge Bit

john mcginnis wrote:

Chris Tully wrote:...
My cost: maybe $15
A plumber: ? but I am sure it would have been way more than $15

Thanks to a county mowing crew breaking the pipe to the meter I can give you the number -- $760. That is what I billed the county and they paid it.

Do they pay it when you don't have proof (a receipt) that you paid that amount?

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:

john mcginnis wrote:

Chris Tully wrote:...
My cost: maybe $15
A plumber: ? but I am sure it would have been way more than $15

Thanks to a county mowing crew breaking the pipe to the meter I can give you the number -- $760. That is what I billed the county and they paid it.

Do they pay it when you don't have proof (a receipt) that you paid that amount?

No, you have to have a paid invoice and one of their silly little forms completed.

i am ALL OVER repairing stuff - i am getting to the point of trying to do it on principal == less garbage

so i am already on your adventure.. how do i help?

We attempt to repair everything ... this started with my coffee pot, because, as everyone well knows, life comes to a grinding halt w/o coffee! It's also essential to all other repairs, so keep a backup machine or three on hand ... the second pot comes out while the first is getting repaired!

We do have a methodology for diy repair ... if the manufacturers' manuals and such don't yield the troubleshooting necessary to overcome the problem, and warranty is long gone or impossible to pursue, then we move to the surgery phase ... we "open it up" and peek inside to start ... we get these rates of return for our effort:

- 1/3 of the time, I see something I can fix (loose wire, fuse, etc.); saves a complete new purchase. It gets a good cleaning as well.
- 1/3 of the time, I see the smoking gun of failure (a smoked component on an electronic board with charring around it, etc.); decide if you'll buy the same unit again.
- final 1/3 of the time, I cannot determine the fault at all (could be too complex or need very specialized equipment, to diagnose further), so I know to write this unit off and finish recycling it. Goes into choosing a different vendor next time.

Recycle it completely by taking apart and unscrewing every major component (aluminum shell, plastics, electronic boards, wires/cables/plugs). When these are in piles, send everything to its recycling waste stream (metals, plastics, wires, etc.). All parts streams go into a box of your choice, and when full, get taken to the vendor of that stream. Metals go to a metal harvester (in every city). Electronic boards go into a separate box ... when full, get them to an electronics board recycler, who will usually take it off your hands for free (they harvest all kinds of components and materials off of these boards).

Anything not recyclable goes into the garbage, but at this point it is much smaller, and less of a load on the dump (plus, hopefully, no dangerous/leaking electronic boards get into the dump).

This recycling also fills my screws/electronics/motors and other bins, which themselves go on to new life in other projects ... no more $5.00 bags of 4 little screws

Simple tools to recycle anything? Screwdrivers, wire cutters, etc. Every once in a while, I drag out my "specialty bit" kit, because vendor uses a "star" screw, instead of philips- or flat-head.

Most of this is done early in the morning, when the rest of the household is sleeping ... then it's on to all the *other* stuff outside that is awaiting repairs on the homestead!

Hope this helps ... and inspires you to do surgery ... on the toaster that is, not your sleeping spouse ... why they won't get up early is not fixable with surgery!

Youtube is one hell of a resource for how to on repairs.

Automotive, appliances, whatever.

An example - I'm high level skill on vehicle repair, but I often save hours of diagnostic and repair time checking Youtube vids first, because usually someone has already been through the problem and knows the fix or figured out a very clever way to get it done. You just can't beat "been there, done that, here's how."

Some are wrong info, of course, but if whatever you're going to repair has more than one vid on it you can usually disqualify the incorrect info, and some are just self promoting fluff,  but you'll get good at sorting them for value after a while..

Online forums specific to what you're fixing are quite valuable this way too. Particularly older things where long past conversations still live in the forum. My girlfriend has an ancient Honda car and some of those forums saved me a ton of frustration on weird problems there.
Google will take you to those.

Dave Bross wrote:You just can't beat "been there, done that, here's how."

Agreed , though you have to be skeptical of opinions vs. knowledge, and that takes a bit of life experience IMO.

Here's my example: My cell phone suddenly had no audio. Except it did with headphones, and the mic was fine. A quick duckduckgo search revealed a known problem with that model, and the fix was literally to squeeze the case together where the earpiece is. There's a simple connector that goes dodgy. I think I have done the squeeze fix twice, and got another year out of that phone.

This recycling also fills my screws/electronics/motors and other bins, which themselves go on to new life in other projects ... no more $5.00 bags of 4 little screws

No kidding!! I have cans and jars filled with all sorts of fasteners taken from defunct objects. I find Fastenal is a goto resource if I need a boatload of X fastener. It will be a bag of 50 or 100 but I will use it all over time.

As to recycling, whenever I see something mechanical out for trash (dryer, treadmill, etc) I pick it up and disassemble it for what is usable and recycle the rest. I have not tossed copper wire in ages, it all goes to the recycler.

Along the same lines, a good way to  occupy youngsters wanting to ‘help’ with the repair job is to ask them to do a very important job to find a specific nut/bolt/screw from your storage pots of spares - could keep them happy for hours! 😀

r ranson wrote:One thing you could do that would help:  

1. Pick an item in your life you have been wanting to repair for ages.  
2. Make a thread about it, asking how or showing what you did.  
3. Post a link to that thread here.  

We can gather up these threads and write some daily-ish emails.  

That is a great idea to help get more topics added to the repair forum.

I have seen a few posted already that have been reported on this thread with a link.

I hope some folks will post some awesome threads that will be candidates for the daily-ish.

Although I love doing repairs on clothes and other textiles, I am so glad I don't have to do all repairs myself! There's a 'Repair Café' in town. As far as I know it's open once a month on a Saturday. Volunteers there help repairing all kind of stuff, even electronic devices! And then you can put some money in a box, as much or as little as you can (or want to) pay!

Do we have a thread about repair cafes?

What are they?
Why are they?
Where are they?
Who can go (just people who need repairing or know-it-alls like me who know how to fix stuff)?
what do you need to know before going?
What to expect when you get there?

I hear about having one in town but I'm always too nervous to go.

https://permies.com/t/170264/ungarbage/Repair-Cafe

Jay: YES,YES, YES! Perhaps divide it into categories (plumbing electrical, textile, machinery, etc.  

As an addition, perhaps a DIY section for oddball stuff? I am embarking on making Hummingbird feeder Heaters....not sure which forum I should post it in (mine cost under $20 bucks compared to $60, locally). I know, first world problem or WHAT; but when it turns out your feeders are being used year round by at least a dozen (plus their regularly arriving twins, ALL year long) you are already responsible.

r ranson wrote:Do we have a thread about repair cafes?

What are they?
Why are they?
Where are they?
Who can go (just people who need repairing or know-it-alls like me who know how to fix stuff)?
what do you need to know before going?
What to expect when you get there?

I hear about having one in town but I'm always too nervous to go.

Hi R. There's no reason to be nervous to go tot a repair Café. If there is one in your region, just visit it, have a look, ask your questions there.
It seems they are not all the same. So I can't tell you what to expect. Here it's only once a month (or at least it was until 2020) and it's all run by volunteers. The reasons why it's there: 1. to repair things, so they can be used for a longer time, no need to buy new, 2. to help people with less money, who can not afford a professional to repair it, or who cannot afford buying new.

About (Was it Anne's?) question if a digital repair café would be interesting ... No, not for me. If I can not fix it that's because my eyes and/or hands can not do the work. Written advice or video tutorials would not help me.

Here's my example: My cell phone suddenly had no audio. Except it did with headphones, and the mic was fine. A quick duckduckgo search revealed a known problem with that model, and the fix was literally to squeeze the case together where the earpiece is. There's a simple connector that goes dodgy. I think I have done the squeeze fix twice, and got another year out of that phone.

Funny! Years ago I had an older model candy bar phone that would no longer turn on. It was out of warranty and I was unemployed at the time so I had more time than money... I patiently disassembled the phone and found that the power switch had broken free of the circuit board. Five minutes later (waiting for my soldering iron to heat up) I had a working cell phone again!

Good stuff, Chris! I have a pile of solder fixes waiting for me -- good mojo in the cold of a long winter.