A good DIY project can be very beneficial in many ways. Some are obvious, some are not so obvious and others are closely guarded secrets of the DIY brotherhood.
An obvious benefit is the personal satisfaction. Satisfaction from learning something new, of seeing a stack of boards and lumber become a built in cabinet or being able to finally open that window that you have beat your hand against for the past couple of years, cussing the fool who painted it hiding the nails they had driven in to secure it in place..... closed!
Trust me, when you're standing on the ground looking up at that newly shingled roof that you just finished.......satisfaction washes over you like a cooling rain shower on a hot summer day. Almost makes one just want to pound their chest and let out a primordial utterance of celebratory chants that only our long dead ancestors could comprehend. We have challenged that beast of a house and won!
It doesn't matter that it took us 5 days more than it would have taken a professional crew to knock it out. We did it and didn't fall off the roof like our weaker mates predicted.......ahhhh! I am man (or woman)....fear me house.
Another less obvious benefit is that you got some exercise doing it. Your body is better off (provided you didn't fall of the roof). Yes, your back feels like it's never going to straighten out again..... but it will. The swelling in your knees and hands will go down and after you recover from the heat exhaustion with some liquids, you'll feel better for the work out. Trust me.... it's true. Besides, it's good for a couple of days sitting around doing nothing. I would suggest that you schedule such DIY projects accordingly so that your recovery period coincides with some major football games over the weekend.
The secret benefit of DIY projects is one we don't advertise.... and I'm sure I'll get some heated comments as to why I let the cat out of the bag, but hey, she's on to me. What can I say? The secret is this......there is no better justification to buying more tools or equipment than the needs of a DIY project. There I've said it.
Replacing the shingles on the roof........."honey, you know one of those shingle staple guns with the circular mag would really make this job go faster and... oh by the way, did I mention that both Home Depot, Lowes and Northwestern Tools have them on sale today.... it just makes sense.....". Now how can she or he argue with that logic? Besides, you're saving money on doing it yourself right.
I know it's not really fair to stoop to such tactics... but, it works, over and over and over. DIYer's you have to think outside the box and in the long term.
Last weekend my wife suggested that we needed to photograph and catalog the contents of the workshop for insurance purposes (there have been a number of recent break ins and burglaries close by). Better to be proactive and prepared. While peering at the tools and equipment in my garage workshop, it suddenly dawned on me.....I have become an expert in the secret benefit of acquiring many "toys" under the auspice of a DIY project.
Each and everyone that I looked at I could attribute it to one project or another. Routers and edge trimmers that came from the counter top job I did for a neighbor. A biscuit cutter saw and bar clamps ...thank you cutting board bar top. Circular saws (one rough cut, one finish cut.... hate to change out blades) came from a porch and siding project. Nail guns and compressor, thank you various framing, window trim and porch projects. Sanders, planers, 2 full sets of wood chisels, drills and drivers (cordless and corded), saws (reciprocating, flush cut, table, chop and miter ..... all project related. Power washer, airless paint sprayer rig, rototiller, chain saws, wet tile cutter..........and I haven't even started to look at hand tools.
OMG........man, am I good (beating chest uttering primordial chants) ......
I want a circular saw too! And a router, although I will probably never use it being petrified of the dang things. But I want one anyway. A chop saw! Best tool ever, after the screwdriver. Good work STK!
ReplyDeleteA good circular saw and a small builder's square is a time saver when you need a quick square cut. The router can be intimidating, but I thing that's because it is one of those tools that isn't often used and most DIY's just aren't that familiar with it. It's not that hard to learn and is really one of the more safer hand power tools to use, as the cutting bit is pretty well protected from an accidental contact with a tender body part. There are some excellent UTube and eHow videos available online for free that will walk you through bit choice, setup and the use of a very time saving piece of equipment. I think once you wade into that water, you'll find it a wonderment as to how you went this long without one.
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