I wish I was handy

You need to team up with someone who IS handy. Most of us are happy to help those who are not handy, as long as they listen and put forth the effort.

One of my best friends, before he and his family moved away, used to invite me over for dinner, and I'd always ask him if I needed to bring tools. :laugh:

I always did it because A) he fed me, and B) he had a genuine interest in learning how to do things. I would get him started, and he would take over, with my guidance.

Seriously, as long as you are willing to roll up your sleeves, work, and learn, I think you will find your handy friends are happy to help you.

CD

OK, not picking on you Tim, but I see way to many posts complimenting a builder (I agree Pappy's is great) but lamenting "no skill". If you have somewhere to work (kind of essential), get some basic tools: drill, sawzall, angle grinder & a cheap welder (with the cheap ass "how to" book); go to a scrap yard and get $50 of assorted 1-8 to 1/4 scrap steel; and, start cutting, welding and grinding. You will be amazed at how quickly you can create some workable stuff - not a nuclear submarine quality, but workable. And, the personal satisfaction of accomplishment can't be beat. Who knows, you might even build a cooker. Best of luck!

Have a go mate

dwfisk said:

OK, not picking on you Tim, but I see way to many posts complimenting a builder (I agree Pappy's is great) but lamenting "no skill". If you have somewhere to work (kind of essential), get some basic tools: drill, sawzall, angle grinder & a cheap welder (with the cheap ass "how to" book); go to a scrap yard and get $50 of assorted 1-8 to 1/4 scrap steel; and, start cutting, welding and grinding. You will be amazed at how quickly you can create some workable stuff - not a nuclear submarine quality, but workable. And, the personal satisfaction of accomplishment can't be beat. Who knows, you might even build a cooker. Best of luck!

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Yep, totally agree.

Really, where's there's a will, there's a way. It's all a case of 'baby steps'. Start off with 'el-cheapo' tools and go from there. With the inter-webby thingy nowadays there is so much info out there (maybe a bit too much) anything is possible to anyone.

Tim Campbell said:

I just saw Pappy's build. Farking Amazing! My amazing skill as an adult male is I can type 60 words a minute. I can barely use a saw.

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Hey so I'm not the only one :becky:. I can't build anything either, but I live vicariously through the build threads on this site :grin:. I don't have much time for building anything anyways. There are a few tools in my garage, but I think the universal tool kit I keep in my camper for competitions has more tools that what I have at the house :icon_blush:.

Check with your local School system for adult edu. classes. Some offer courses in metal & wood working, auto mechanics, electrical wiring ect. for about a "C"note you get hands on and a certificate of completion for your I love Me Wall.

This is great advice! Here in Florida many of our 2-year junior schools (they all just went to 4-year BA/BS programs) have technical programs like welding that are taught in the evenings for working folk. Or a friend with skills and a teaching interest can be just as good. Just remember, there is a big difference between pipe-fitters & professional welders/metal workers and what it takes to be competent at building a fire basket or smoker - our stuff ain't rocket surgery!

caseydog said:

You need to team up with someone who IS handy. Most of us are happy to help those who are not handy, as long as they listen and put forth the effort.

One of my best friends, before he and his family moved away, used to invite me over for dinner, and I'd always ask him if I needed to bring tools. :laugh:

I always did it because A) he fed me, and B) he had a genuine interest in learning how to do things. I would get him started, and he would take over, with my guidance.

Seriously, as long as you are willing to roll up your sleeves, work, and learn, I think you will find your handy friends are happy to help you.

CD

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Bludawg said:

Check with your local School system for adult edu. classes. Some offer courses in metal & wood working, auto mechanics, electrical wiring ect. for about a "C"note you get hands on and a certificate of completion for your I love Me Wall.

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We don't have too many tools. Welder & angle grinder did most of the work. We had some help from a friend that has an computer aided plasma cutter.

I have only been welding for about 1 year. I can do the basics. Huntin Smoke in the welder. He has one of them thar fancy degees in welding.

And I can't type.

reccymech said:

Start off with 'el-cheapo' tools and go from there.

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With all due respect, I'd argue with this statement.
As my profession, and various hobbies, I've been around metal, wood, and auto tools as long as I can recall. There are some types of tools that in their ultra-uber-cheapo condition are down right dangerous. In the very least cheap tools are frustrating, to say the least. But as "a tool guy", I'd be careful making blanket statement about telling a tool noob to "go cheap".
In the very least, they'll provide him with frustration and push him away from DIYing. Worst case, he'll hurt himself. It's like putting a 15 year old kid on the street for the first time with a car that fails a state safety inspection for a laundry list of failures.

The difference between a $29 Walmart circular saw and a $100 unit is nothing short of righteous.

Sorry for the rant, I don't mean to bash, but that was a "button" for me.

When it comes to buying tools spend wisely! Buy quality, buy once, pass it on to your son. My very bottom in tool quality is craftsman unless you need pro quality( everyday use) tey last almost forever and come with a if you break it we replace it warranty.

Walk-out basement?

If you come to Ohio I'll help you.

Where there is a will there is a way! i never welded or worked with metal before.. but me and my pops cranked out a decent build doing the work ourselves! take one step at a time.. don't be afraid to put forth the effort. everything my not turn out perfect.. but the great thing about metal.. is you can weld it back and grind it down and make it like new again.. it may be frustrating in the beginning.. but perserverance and will.. make anything possible!

There's no bigger sence of pride than building something with your own hands.

just something about taking something that is considered junk and making treasure out of it that is ver gratifying.. and there is nothing else in this world like it..

Instead of cheapo tools, buy the same type of tools off CL at the same
price as cheap new ones...you'll get better tools for the same money and
believe me, NO one cares if you have used tools! :grin: There can be amazing
deals there for little or no money....

As far as the rest, roll up your sleeves and get going. Most stuff isn't as
hard as it looks and every little job will give you more confidence in the
next, bigger job. You get nowhere without trying. Start small, work your
way up. Don't treat every screwup as a disaster - it's a learning
experience. I always learn more from my mistakes than the things that
work perfect the 1st time. I'm sure most other folks are the same. Believe
me, I have messed up plenty of things but I tend not to mess things up
the same way twice (well, unless alcohol was involved but that is an
absolute no-no when handling power tools)....

Go for it, enjoy your successes, learn from your mistakes and don't try
to build a Saturn V first time out of the gate.... go for something small
and things will take off. A welder is next on my list of 'toys' and I am sure
I will trash plenty of stuff while learning but that is half the fun...when
you look back! :loco: Also, make sure your cuss-word vocabulary is up to
date - it will become finely honed through the DIY process!

Building my first smoker was how I taught myself to weld. Just determination and a lot of asking questions.

Ditto on not buying cheapo tools. Your better off with no tools than tools that won't work or are dangerous. I wrenched professionally for about 15 years in an Oldsmobile dealership, good tools are a must when you use them everyday and when you have one that isn't working properly it is VERY frustrating, your better off without it. You don't need Snap-On tools and you don't need Craftsman's Pro series. But Chraftman's base series is a good tool for the money and some of the Home Improvement stores like Home Depot have a tool line that they are backing with a lifetime guarantee, but I don't know anything about them. Craigslist is a good idea or hit garage sales or estate sales.

Hold the phone

WAIT WAIT WAIT.

Thats all terrible advice. If you don't have any handyman skills, you must NOT have to do honey-do chores. If you aquire handyman skills, you will be living in the honey-do hell zone with the rest of us.

Forget all of this ever happened. RUN!! Save yourself!! Its too late for us!!