~ Jon James
From simple wiring to screen repair to winterizing your “toys,” things get real expensive really fast when you hire people to do them.
I LOVE to learn new things and, although I’m admittedly not a “handyman,” I do try to repair whatever I can rather that pass it off to someone who’s going to charge a hundred bucks or more an hour.
I’ve saved a ton of money simply using, what I refer to as, Youtube College.
I’ve replaced a camper slideout motor, dremeled my way through countless jobs, replaced cracked siding, replaced dryer vents (complete with caulking), cleared my land of trees and more.
Though I haven’t learned ALL of this stuff on Youtube, it has been a big part of my “big boy” education. I will try to pass some of these handy things on to you via videos I’ve learned from.
So, here are a few good ones from Home Rapid Repair, covering things like fixing a door that’s uneven in its frame, securing items to a wall with (better) anchors and easily fixing vinyl siding without replacing an enire section.
Here’s what, in my humble opinion, you NEED in order to be prepared for most things that come up (please add to this list as I know it’s not exhaustive):
- A good set of screwdrivers, standard and phillips
- A cordless drill (I use Ryobi because they’re cheaper and so am I)
- A multitude of bits for that drill (drill bits plus scewdriver bits….standard, phillips, star, hex)
- Saws of any kind…the more the better….chain, circular, table, hack, coping, miter, etc.
- Wrenches…both metric and SAE…open end, box end, sockets and the good old universal “adjustable”
- Hammers of two or three sizes for basic carpentry or destroying the project that’s giving you headaches. Include a rubber mallet
- A caulking gun
- Various files
- A dremel….a tool that has helped me with more projects than I can even count…I prefer battery operated for ease of use and portability
Don’t worry if you don’t have all these tools at your disposal. I picked most of mine up when necessity called for them. You can also borrow from your “do-it-yourself” neighbor, if you’re lucky enough to have one…or borrow from your dad, if you’re like my son. Once he has it, I end up having to “borrow it” from him. Dohhhhhhhhhhh!
There will be more to come.
This college is tuition free and very effective SHOWING you, rather than simply TELLING you, how to do things
Enjoy and share!
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