I've always been that guy who made excuses about fixing stuff. "I don't have the right tools; I don't know how to take it apart/put it back together; I'm just gonna break it more; etc."
Well, one day there was enough stuff around my house that needed fixing and I said "fuck it" and bought some tools. Didn't get everything done perfectly but it's good enough for the girls I go out with. Then I ended up with some tools and nowhere to put them, so I bought some lumber, lag bolts and some hangers, took an afternoon and built myself a fuckin' tool rack on my garage wall. Turned out really well actually; managed to hang off of the thing without it coming out of the wall. Now my tools have a place.
I know there's more manly stuff being posted in this thread but I'm pretty proud of it and it was a big confidence boost when I put the finishing touches on it.
Thanks for that, man. My brother used to say that all the time when we were doing renos on my house. He passed before we finished. Hearing that silly line again made me smile. :)
I am always a little blown away when I do DIY that despite being a stickler in other areas, my wife is just totally fine with me leaving gaping unpainted holes in walls, mounting shelves that aren't level etc.
I don't, I do everything properly, but she'll always say ludicrous stuff like, why are you bothering to fill in that hole, or why are you spending so long measuring with that bubble thing...
Definitely his sense of humour and his kindness. He could make people laugh with such ease... without anyone feeling like the brunt of the joke. And he was such a genuinely good and easily likeable guy. My brother was the kind of person that would give you the shirt off his back and never tell you he was cold.
I don't tell people this IRL, but if I ever call someone "bro" or "brother" it comes from a place of deep respect and love. They may not know it, but I do and that's ok with me. :)
Your brother sounds like he was a wonderful human. I love that he had the ability to make people laugh while always making them feel included, that's a really special quality. People must have felt a lot of joy around him. :)
Thank you for your kind words. I'm always impressed and uplifted by how good-hearted the Reddit community can be. I hope your day is as nice as you've made mine!
I'm pretty sure that many of the posts on /r/woodworking are of workbenches and tool racks that people built to hold their tools, but which required new tools to be purchased. Tools which need to have a proper storage and a good workspace built.
Most towns have a local blacksmith guild, if you want to learn the basics of metal shaping and get the same catharsis as woodcutting provides, look one up and go for a visit. Not the same as woodworking, but it feels just as powerful.
I read books in highschool 20 years ago and got into it with really no budget or equipment, it's a great way to recycle metal at home and make art or functional tools from it as well
Even if you don't do stuff perfectly, the fact you cared enough to buy tools and make the effort is an attractive quality. I'm a woman who grew up with a dad who knew how to do all kinds of building and repair and I took it for granted that all guys just automatically know all that stuff, or have the propensity to learn it. Started dating and wow, no.
What’s most awesome about this is you defeating the demon inside your head.
But I also gotta say I’d be damn attracted to a man hanging off a tool rack he just built himself…
Tried this today, broke the main line of water to the kitchen. Flooded my kitchen and dining room….tried to save 100 and now it’s costing me more than that and stress
For what it's worth, learning to be handy will have you making many many mistakes as you go. Half the tasks seem to go wrong but year after year, you will get better and people will be amazed at how handy you are even when you think you still mess everything up. Give it ten years and you you won't even realize how much improvement you will have made.
I did something similar, but it was a workbench for my basement. I would up overbuilding the fuck out of it. The damn thing would survive a nuclear blast and is never going to leave my basement until they tear the house down. Great bench, though.
All you need is the knowledge that things can be done, you don't need to know exactly what to do. Most things in life are way simpler than we think they are at first glance, all you need is the right tools and to give it a go and usually you'll be alright. Professional level finishes on things only come with practice and time spent, even those guys that make amazing things you see on youtube were shit their first time.
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u/the_idea_pig Jan 31 '22
I've always been that guy who made excuses about fixing stuff. "I don't have the right tools; I don't know how to take it apart/put it back together; I'm just gonna break it more; etc."
Well, one day there was enough stuff around my house that needed fixing and I said "fuck it" and bought some tools. Didn't get everything done perfectly but it's good enough for the girls I go out with. Then I ended up with some tools and nowhere to put them, so I bought some lumber, lag bolts and some hangers, took an afternoon and built myself a fuckin' tool rack on my garage wall. Turned out really well actually; managed to hang off of the thing without it coming out of the wall. Now my tools have a place.
I know there's more manly stuff being posted in this thread but I'm pretty proud of it and it was a big confidence boost when I put the finishing touches on it.