Repair Cafes and the return of the Repair ethos
When I was young most towns, villages, suburbs and such had "the repair guy"; a little shop with gaskets and parts for most household appliances and gadgets, vacuum tubes and a tube checker, refurbished small appliances for sale, and a Mr. Fixit type guy. When soemthing broke you took it to him to have it fixed unless you could fix it yourself. Even if you could, you might wind up at his place to get the parts that you couldn't get from the dealer, depatment store or hardware sore.
Beyond that, the males of the less well off learned young to fix, repurpose and modify stuff. They learned which repair persons and places to trust to fix the stuff that they couldn't handle themselves. They also learned the preferred parts supplier for parts for various categories of items, stoves, cars, washers and dryers, etc. Though not strictly a male thing, it was mostly guys. So were the shoe repair guys, whereas clothing repairs and alterations were mostly a female province. The kids I ran with didn't know that many clothing, glasses, or shoe brands, but we all knew Thorson, Proto, Craftsman, Crescent, Disston and other major tool makers. Many of us even knew who really made the current version of Craftsman, as well as the ones our dads owned.
Today, not so much. Many things entered into the demise of the build it, fix it, make it yourself culture. Planned obsolescence, including both the unavailability of parts and the astonishing shoddiness of the original items. There's no sense in installing a replacement part in something which is going to pretty much disintegrate in 6 months anyway was one. Mass produced stuff where the parts cost more than replacing the whole damn unit. Pot metal and Plastic, for those who know whereof I speak.
We became a disposable society except for pockets of strange cultists whose mantra of "reduce, re-use, recycle" included an implicit "repair and repurpose" embedded in the idea of "re-use". Those few had no material impact on the exponential growth of our waste, our garbage dumps and landfills and the amounts of heavy metals and other toxics leaching out nto the environment. Waste is just that, waste, of resources, energy, time, money, value, and yet nobody really gave a shit. It was far easier to toss shit, even if it improved the bottom line to repair and reuild. Besides, replacement stuff was shiny and new and cool.
We have of late seen the advent of the "Makers", those who tinker, invent, and fabricate as well as modify and repurpose. They are more often than not of an artisanal ilk and/or those who seek to control both the process and product to meet criteria and standards that they alone impose. Nonetheless, our runaway garbage generation persists. There is a "Maker" culture and they have their own magazine. They too haven't materially reduced our tendency to spawn prodigous amounts of garbage.
Suddenly, on the horizon, there is a new thing, in part motivated by the waste inherent in the disposable society. It was started by a Ms. Postma who created a "Repair café" in Amsterdam (naturally) in 2009. Fixers would meet with those having stuff in need of repair and a tiny bit of the disposable economy would die. The idea spread pretty rapidly. There is now a nonprofit "Repair Café Foundation" with about 1300 associated "Repair café" locales.
One stumbling block is the continued scarcity of parts and manuals. It benefits companies to foster disposability and or to lock in authorized repair sites. That this runs counter to sustainability is, after all, of no concern to the purely profit driven. The next step is to force manufactures to make parts, manuals and tools available for purchase by all. There is some movement on such goals not only in more progressive countries like France and Sweden, but even in some states here. There is also an advocacy and lobbying group here known as the "Repair Association" (https://repair.org/) which is fighting to create and enhance a competitive repair market and culture. I highly recomment a quick look at their web page, I can't do it justice here. The "Repair Café Foundation" (https://repaircafe.org/en/) will help you find or start a "Repair café", and I have no doubt that your local hardware store will glefully sell you tools materials and parts.
OK, that's it, go fix shit. We need to fix the country, the economy and the environment. What better way to get started than to learn how to fix your toaster oven, or at least have it fixed instead of trashed. Repairing things is a revolutionary act, as I'll explain at some later date.
Comments
I have to run out soon, but will be back to handle comments.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Can they fix minds too? - I want my old one back working...
What a beautiful essay. It's the best idea since "Apfelstrudel" ... I am going to have my coffee in the Repair Cafe, sounds like the best place to meet "tinkering handy men".
https://www.euronews.com/live
Hiya mimi. Probably is a good place to
meet tinkerers and such, but half of them are probably a bit long in the tooth.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
oh, my teeth are longer than theirs, I am sure ... :-)
thanks for making me look up a new expression and laugh.
https://www.euronews.com/live
My husband is one of these fixing guys . . .
He was a city boy, but when I moved him to the country he really blossomed. Then with onset of the Internet and YouTube he really took off. I don't think he took any shop or ag classes in his metropolitan high school. He has taught himself everything . . . plumbing, electrical, welding, wood turning, metal turning, automotive and small engine repair. Amazing. The driving force was often . . . . hmmm . . . we can't afford to buy a new boat for $20,000 . . . but we can buy a $1200 boat and fix it up. Just as much fun as an expensive boat.
It's pretty handy to be able to go to him and say . . . "can you make this?"
Thanks for this essay. We all need a repair/repurpose mindset!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Sounds wonderful, getting a wealth of
things without needing wealth. Thanks for reading.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Wonderful!
Thank you for this essay. Small business is a whole subject we may start to discuss, I hope, and this important part of it is right in our homes and habits.
My pleasure, and yes,
small business and gardening need to be part of the revival.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
"The rent is too damn high" for repair shops.
So are labor costs. Meanwhile, the price of most items is not that high, as a percentage of income, thanks(?) often to imports from nations with cheap labor.
I'd love to see it change!
The sad fact (or not)
is that it costs nearly as much to repair a (microwave, whatever) than to run out and replace it with a new one. "How much to fix this (microwave)?" "A hundred bucks." "Thanks, I'll just go buy a new one... "
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
fix the microwave
I'm the fixit man in my world.
I had to concede to this reality when replacement magnetrons (the oftenest component in the microwave chain to fail) cost more than complete new microwave ovens do.
Not to mention the loss of Centennial Electronics, the local electronic component dealer of choice over the entire span of my life. It closed for the last time in 2006.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Looking through the lens of capitalism,
we have the profit/loss filter as the major determinant of whether we repair or replace. There are other considerations that are arguably more important in the long run: sustainability, environmentally responsible disposal and recyclability, and the energy footprint of replacing with new vs. replacing a part.
It seems to me that the capitalistic engine of growth has outlived its usefulness and needs to be replaced with an economic model that values the quality and diversity of life less in terms of the size of individual bank accounts or the number of our possessions and more in terms of our collective well being and the well being of our entire home planet. Less about me and more about we (and not just we humans).
What do you think? Are we intelligent enough to change and survive, or will we stick to our guns, goods and greed right to the bitter end?
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
One of the many ways in which capitalism sucks.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
In which direction has it been going?
Are people paying for repairs if a new replacement is cheaper? What is being done to reverse that direction?
Also. the concept of paying more to fix something when another part of it might break tomorrow is a tough sell to people who can barely afford the cheaper new item. And that's even if anyone were making a huge effort to sell the concept.
It's going to take a lot more than hoping people see it our way-and soon.
Still inordinately proud of the fact I built my own computer.
And also stoked by the fact that when something goes wrong, I open that sucker up and fix it myself.
It's officially "Out of Date" but at the same time, I understand it, can fix it easily, and it does almost everything I want a computer to do. (I don't NEED bleeding edge graphics and numerous other things that AAA gaming companies program for. Their shit sucks anyway. Indies and Retro forever, BABY!)
Now to learn to code... already know how to video edit, so I don't need to bother with MSM programming if I want to enjoy a show. Just got a script from somebody I admire and enjoy talking about the work with, who is an indie director in Canada... I'm not waiting around for others to make the things I want. Half the time they don't do it right anyway...
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
A serious accomplishment, dmw,
good luck on the coding.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
build your own computer
My desktop system is also of my own creation. Of course, I didn't make the component parts; but, like yourself, at least I got to choose them!
This attitude was also instrumental in my migration to POSIX operating systems (Linux/BSD). Once MicroShit started to require online activation of WinDoze, and then dropping support for older but still usable hardware on a daily basis, I decided I had had enough. As you probably know, I've been on Linux ever since.
Although it's a little hard to build one's own laptop, I also have self-built stuff in the miniaturized realms. My iPod is of my own construction, from parts I was able to assemble from various used sources. The iPod left the factory as a 30GB model; it's an 80GB today.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I have wanted to write a diary like this
...but I am glad you did and it is much better than I would have done.
It's so frustrating to buy crap that lasts a short period of time rather than buying quality for twice as much and having it last 5 times longer. The reality is, the "free market" is no longer offering a choice.
I work for a company that makes electronics (a big one). They deliberately overcharge for replacement parts and have long wait times. Now some folks where I work say it is too expensive to inventory parts, market and distribute them, but that's just BS. They think people will buy another one. The truth is, folks may buy a replacement but it's not likely to be our brand.
I have to confess I have no desire to be a tinkerer. It is just not in my skill set. But we really need to be more frugal where we can and I often will buy rebuilds when/where possible.
cheap clothing
Okay, I find myself becoming a geezer as I am continually disappointed with the quality of consumer items these days. I live on a fixed income and I hate spending money unnecessarily on crap that's going to wear out or break quickly.
I confess I have shirts in my closet that I still occasionally wear that I purchased in the 1980's. The long sleeved casual dress shirts haven't gotten a lot of wear since my retirement and moving to the desert in 2000. They still look pretty good. My issue now is my short sleeved shirts. Those that I bought 10-15 years ago are wearing out. I need to buy new shirts but the stuff in retail stores appear thin and cheap and likely to lose their shape or come apart after just a couple of washes. Major department store prices are ridiculous for clothing that is IMPORTED. Wasn't the whole global trade thing supposed to make products less expensive? SOMEBODY's making money and it isn't the labor who made it.
Lesser department stores are cheaper in price but I don't even want to spend $20 on a shirt that won't last a season. My more durable shirts are from catalog companies. They were pricier but they lasted. Unfortunately, it appears now that even their clothing is becoming cheaper in material with long time customers complaining about the quality compared to previous purchases. Dare I spend twice the amount on a shirt that might a just a tad better in quality?Maybe just white t-shirts and shorts for the summer? (sigh)
I know, first world problems, right?
Thrift shops
There's a ton of good second hand clothing available, at least where I live, at prices so low I can clear brush in dress shirts and slacks for a fraction of the cost of "real work clothes". Styles and colors may not au courrant but the price is right and quality is often better than today's offerings.
I don't get out much, and when I do I don't need to impress anyone with my sartorial acumen.
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
@ovals49
I should try that. Ross and TJ Maxx certainly never seem to have anything appealing. I'm a small man so that usually makes things a bit more limiting.
I love that idea.
Cleaning up brush in dress clothes. What a stick in the eye to the clothing industry and fashion alike.
In the decaying part of decaying towns, find
stores catering to the trades, shops selling Carhartt work clothes, and check out the stuff they carry.
Alternatively - Uniform Stores - if you can stand the styles, colors and maybe fit, they'll often be seriously good quality.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I have found a few websites where a dress is $20 or so
I decided to upscale or laze out to dresses this hot summer. Currently 66F. Best-laid plans...
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
There is a lot of vintage clothing
on Ebay, some even new from many different eras I have found lots of good deals there on things you can no longer find in stores.
If my livelihood depended
on fixing things I would have been in a debtors prison (or dead) decades ago. Thank the gods I have a brother that knows how to do that $h!t, I couldn't tell ya a wrench from a screwdriver - or know how to use them. I once was invited to a "psychic reading" by a friend who needed a 5th person to meet the $$ requirements of the "psychic." "yeah, ok, might be good for a chuckle... " Well, the "psychic" was pretty spot on with the generalities ("pick up a guitar, put it down, pick up a guitar, put it down"), but he Nailed it when he said, "Do Not Attempt to Fix ANYTHING This Lifetime." (you totally suck at tools). Well, I had known that for a long time, having (nearly) failed at Metal Shop and Wood Shop in Jr. High, and left thinking "maybe that guy IS psychic!" And have taken that to heart. The most I "fix" is a burnt out lightbulb.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Just putting a new battery in my handy, old calculator
took some doing without destroying the plastic case.
But I got there in the end... and it'll plod on for another decade or so.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
Ah, but yu did it; good.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Yep!
Now I'm reminded of the time, a few years ago, when I was given a new watch with a metal strap far too large.
A jeweler was going to charge me $30 to have a couple of links removed. I found a little tool for $5 that could do and did the job..... and I have the answer for next time.
(Edited)
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
calculator
That's not what you use the broadsword for, Bollox Ref!
(Seriously: glad you got it back on the air again! Satisfying, isn't it?)
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Once that large blade
felt through the casing, I knew all would be well. Swordsmanship is key when dealing with small electronics.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
I grew up in a family of fixers
We grew up too poor to afford not to fix the things we had, or pay someone to fix them. Why pay a mechanic 160 for new brake pads, when I can do it myself for 30 bucks and 30 minutes of time. I just recently took my xterra to the shop for a new timing chain and chain guides and had the water pump replaced while they were in there. The only reason was cause I knew how bad of a job it was, and my parents wanted to buy me a new roof. I told them instead of dropping 6k on a new roof, spend 2500 on the xterra, and I will put a new roof on my house myself over a weekend soon. Total price on a new roof, 2700 if I do it myself, and that includes buying myself a fancy nice air nailer. I rebuilt my diesel tractor motor once too after a piston fried itself, 600 all told in parts and a few weekends. Value of that 86 Massey ferguson in great shape was over 6k, same size new kubota or John Deere is over 30k, maybe even higher these days. If you have some logic and common sense, and practice getting handy with tools you can save yourself a butt load of money.
I'm a lucky girl because
Raggedy Andy can fix anything. He just got our 17 yo riding lawn mower going and he's out there giving the place a "haircut." Every year he says, I'm not sure I can get it going, but he does. Got it from Sears in 2000. He's able to work on it himself.
He can pour concrete, fix anything electrical and taught himself about solar and installed our system, himself. He can do any type of plumbing. We are both lucky he's so skilled. We've saved thousands because of it.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
3-year warranty. 3 years 6 months later. #%&*%#$$$!!
I couldn't really complain too much because the water saver irrigation controller was provided for free by my water company. Not long after the warranty on the product expired the dial started getting hinky. I had just put some new plants into our front yard landscaping and needed to change the frequency of watering for the new plants when the controller dial decided it wasn't going to turn at all. Nuts!
I do occasional small fix it stuff (if I can figure it out) but I didn't think the jammed dial on the irrigation controller was something I could repair. I had to buy another of the same controller to be compatible with the remote weather sensor to the tune of $80. I took the busted one apart to find out what was jamming the dial. The interior component of the dial was plastic and a piece of it had broken off causing it to jam. I had to spend $80 because a component costing pennies broke. What a waste!!
Even if I tried to fix the controller it probably wasn't likely you could ever purchase that part, so the whole unit (electronics and all) are going to be tossed. I have to say that I was rather amazed at all the circuitry that went into the board just to operate an irrigation controller. Shame it has to go to waste because of a failing piece of plastic.
Somebody with a 3-D printer or CRC machine
could maybe fix something like that, which is why things like Repair Cafes could be very good to have around.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Another duplicate, bad mouse finger
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
With cottage living, 18 miles and 10 s-turns away from tinytown
It is necessary to get inventive. Or waste time and fuel. I re-purposed an umbrella skeleton as a climbing post for Virginia Creeper. An old mattress spring set used as a sidewall for a dock crib. Anyting to avoid the 18 mile trip to the dump. The garbage is now shipped off-island. But for free. Or taxes.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
My grandpa grew up in the depression and he could fix
anything and everything. People from his generation had to learn how to fix things, especially farming equipment. If they couldn't fix things, they didn't have the money to buy a new one.
My grandmother used to make all of my clothes and she and I would go to the fabric store to find the cloth. Do they even have clothing stores anymore?
We had a saying after grandpa died and someone needed something repaired. "Too bad grandpa isn't here anymore, he could fix anything."
I am great finding new ways to fix things with duck tape
I have an antique train engine toy that my grandpa gave me, but no one knows how to fix it. And there are no places around anymore that I can take it to.
The replace it scam is something TPTB decided to create, IMO. Take a really good printer that needs ink that costs as much as a new printer. Congress just passed legislation that could make it harder for the ink cartridges to be refilled. They are always looking out for their masters, aren't they?
Putin isn’t going to make you homeless or kill you or deny you health care.
Your government will allow it to happen though.
The train is easily solved.The US is full of
railroad and model railroad freaks and geeks. There are model railroad clubs all over the place, and the members of the average such club would probably love to help repair an old time piece (and talk your ear off at the same time).
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
It's not a model train
It's a foot long and goes on the floor until it bumps into something and then it changes direction. My dad is pretty good with electronics and he couldn't fix it.
So it's been collecting dust as a decoration. I can still hear the whistle blow and the sound the pistons (?) made.
Grandpa was an engineer and worked on them. He would take me to his job and then we'd watch the trains come and go. Fun memories.
Putin isn’t going to make you homeless or kill you or deny you health care.
Your government will allow it to happen though.
As far as the model railroad types go, it is,
though something like that might be better taken to the nearest makerspace.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
handyman cafe music
edited
- broken link - was going to be James Taylor - but needs fixing
question everything
Hey, Gene Pitney
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Jimmy Jones
question everything
Damn, haven't heard that in ages, thanks.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I wish we had cars that we could fix ourselves again
Cars have gotten to the point where every minor glitch is a $1000 repair, done in an authorized shop. It doesn't have to be that way.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Anyone notice the latest thing
in mattresses, They are now selling double sided mattresses that you can flip over so they last twice as long. Imagine that, of course they cost twice as much. For those of you to young to remember all mattresses used to be double sided.
I just bought a new mattress to replace the coil mattress on a
platform bed, one of my first furniture purchases decades ago. Even with just one person in a queen size bed, I was hanging at one edge and feeling wire. Now it's all foam. All 90lbs of it. Once upon a time, there was a pistol under the platform bed. Hard to remove. But safe around kids. Then the gun took a ride and was deep-sixed in the St Lawrence Seaway for a disappear. And home safety.
In two years I have replaced a dead microwave, a dead dishwasher and an elderly refrigerator. Left is the stove, but I do not want to spend $2K. And I went with no bought warranties, a bet. So far, so good.
Bought a new lamp for the suspended track over the dining room table. It is still in the large box. But I have a lamp guy to call to rewire it for the track. 30 years of one lamp seemed enough.
I ran into someone who happened to be a electrician at the local Lowes. My dog likes eating plugs off cords (not electrified). He demonstrated how to assemble a new plug. My first education in power!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
plugs on cords
I learned how to attach a new wall plug in Cub Scouts, believe it or not.
And I had a dog in those long-gone days who would munch down on cords while they were plugged into the wall. We called her "Mac the Electric Dog"! Actually, she only did that once. Thereafter, she wouldn't allow her puppies to chew cables!
LONG gone halcyon days!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Community project idea
Anyone with the experience, desire, or the skills with available time: Consider upgrading a modern, gasoline powered vehicle to be fully electric with decent miles per charge (via renewable energy), low maintenance costs, and with an inexpensive, shared approach, so that the solution is easy to crowd-source (read budget), implement, likely to spread, and is open to further improvement.
At worse, it will increase human social interaction on a positive effort (not a profit-based activity). It should be an opportunity to not just do good for a single challenge, but to have life improving impact for possibly many.
The project itself is just an example of a single front that needs to be given effort.
Just a reminder: The lower the project costs, the more likely project will succeed. The larger the complexity, the more the risk is involved.
Other projects to be considered:
Stand-up a local, community-owned and operated utility based upon renewables with only membership fees (not a metered bill).
The more technically intense projects like extraction of potable water in arid/harsh environents would be invaluable (in other words, the project must not damage the environment by depleting ground water nor creating harmful by-products), because with climate change, where the next drought will be, could be anywhere. Similarly, local community oriented and membership based.
If we all keep waiting for others to find solutions, it will take far longer than needed, while the risks to all-life increases and people become increasingly isolated from one another in their daily struggles.
Most important: Get started. You don't have to wait. Be the Change.
Fighting for democratic principles,... well, since forever
Recharge change
Like your spirit f2bf. I've known several individuals with working models of electrical vehicles, some dating back to the 19th century. We are using the technology in the marine industry already. Hybrid is a step in the right direction, maybe not pure, but going a long way towards reduced pollution. My 2001 Honda Insight gets close to 70 MPG and has over 180,000 miles under her wheels.
One of the challenges we have is the implementation of good ideas in the realm of patent law. People want to sell an idea and protect it with patents. That ties up the process until most plans never make it out alive. Think of the monsantos of the world going after the little guys in the energy fields. Sucks progress. We need to openly share, open source eco-friendly ideas. F*ck the greedy ones. The future is ours to develop.
question everything
Definitely agree about IP
IP and patent laws are effctive hindrances, so sole-path and sole-sourcing should be avoided. Thankfully, ideas cannot be patented, only designs. By starting with open-source tools and individuals agreeing to use their own time and sweat equity and crowd-sourced funds to achieve goals, the hindrances can be mitigated. Eventually, once all communities see the light, no community will want to be the last to get their local project moving, so momentum will be very important to overcome inertia.
Fighting for democratic principles,... well, since forever
I drive a 1971 VW bus.
I fix stuff. Unfortunately, much of my life is taken up with trying to keep up with a 1919 craftsman home, punctuated with oil changes, front end alignments, and a sticky parking brake cable. But I love the repair ethos, and disdain plastic an pot metal. Thanks for this, e.l. Now I'm off to wash my girlfriend's 1970 squareback...I can't seem to get her to take care of anything. Probably because she knows I will do it, eventually.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
I miss my old buses
I let go of my last one about 7 years ago.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
1971 Transporter
with the pancake engine. She was modified in Indiana with the pop top and furniture (not Westphalia). Under powered but my home for several years in the 70's - 80's all over the (mostly eastern) USA. Good times! It was a step up from a backpack and motorcycle.
question everything
I become more of a Mr. Fixit as time goes by.
Owning an almost hundred-year-old house is a big part of that, but I'm also a frugal cheapskate. I've even gone back to repairing my own cars, something I swore off a long time ago. I hate to throw something away that can be fixed or used for some other purpose. It's definitely not easy, though. Finding parts is probably the biggest issue, but there are other problems; have you ever tried to remove a 100 years of paint from the muntins of an 8-pane sash?
There's some irony in the fact that I would never have gotten as far as I have in being a fixit guy, without the internet.
Have I ever tried
, to remove a 100 years of paint from the muntins of an 8-pane sash? Several times!
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
@tle We are starting a
We are starting a massive antique home renovation project and doing a lot of research. Came across these guys and their techniques seem promising:
http://www.oldewindowrestorer.com/steamstripper.html
Will update with results if we actually end up going that route.