diy solar

diy solar

Thanks,Dad, For Teaching Me to DIY Stuff

The trades are where the big money will be for some time. Too many never got their hands dirty and have mo idea how to do anything.

I know someone with a Phd and was complaining that trades people don't have a college education and should not make more than those that have a college education.

Another aspect one sees watching Youtube are the homeless encampments visited during the day and no one is there. This is in towns and cities where people from other states moved to driving up real estate prices. The homeless are at work, many are trades but the housing costs are unaffordable. This is not sustainable, either those working and repairing things will need to be compensated well for their efforts or there won't be anyone left in town to repair anything.

I have 2 children, both grew up helping my wife and I on weekends and during summer remodeling houses and building a new shop. My son graduated from college with no debt and lived off campus. He worked for his landlord after classes remodeling houses so his housing costs were free. He also worked internships all summer while living with us, very common for him to leave at 5 am and come home at 11 pm during the busy season. Anyone who employed my children has told me they wish they could find a few more employees like them.
 
We repaired stuff out of necessity. When something breaks you have nothing to lose if you try to fix it. So, most of my knowledge came from reading, and research and the willingness to try.

The best thing my folks ever did for me was buying a set of encyclopedias from a door to door salesman ... and the complete works of William Shakespear.
 
rogerdw said:
Many years before YouTube I asked in the local Blockbuster if they had any technical videos ... I wanted to learn stuff ... anything mechanical or technical. They looked at me like I had two heads. 😁 What's available online now is truly astounding.
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It really is astounding. I ran a large maintenance shop for years, once in a while apiece of machinery would fail in some weird way - me and my right hand man would be staring at each other saying "Ain't never seen that before, now what!?"
Sure enough, you tube would have a video on it. Except for how to unstick a 20,000 lb boom lift sunk to its axles in mud. that was a fun day!
 
My dad was a time served Coach builder, he taught me nothing other than how to get shouted at when holding a torch that did not shine directly on the nut he was undoing. I am self taught (don't count the engineering degree as its of no practical use), have my own workshop with Lathe and Bridgeport Mill and learn new stuff all the time. Also I do not shout.
 
rogerdw said:
My dad was a farmer and did everything needed doing. I wasn't always keen to help but so thankful he made me help as I learned a lot and can tackle anything now too. I've recognised for years that he's who I got my work ethic from.

I'm still trying to teach my 10 year old son similar skills but not terribly successful yet. Maybe I have to push it more ... that's how I learned mine.




Many years before YouTube I asked in the local Blockbuster if they had any technical videos ... I wanted to learn stuff ... anything mechanical or technical. They looked at me like I had two heads. 😁 What's available online now is truly astounding.
Click to expand...
When I was a kid radio shack was the place to get the things I needed. But in the late 90’s they started emphasizing cell phones over electronic components. I remember trying to substitute a transistor in the store for one they used to carry and listening to the salesman showing some woman all the ring tones some cell phone could make. Beginning of the end for them.
 
I have notice allot of the once busy various DIY forums have grinded to a halt. This current generation was not raised up to make things. I told my son the other day he would do well repairing all the robots that do everything for everyone else.
 
kommando said:
My dad was a time served Coach builder, he taught me nothing other than how to get shouted at when holding a torch that did not shine directly on the nut he was undoing. I am self taught (don't count the engineering degree as its of no practical use), have my own workshop with Lathe and Bridgeport Mill and learn new stuff all the time. Also I do not shout.
Click to expand...
1714863470778.jpeg
 
My father was an electrician, and used to change his own oil.

I used to make billy karts and cubby houses for fun as a kid, and I'd often misplace all his tools.
 
Brett V said:
My dad was a mechanic and my happiest childhood memories are of “helping” him. He was the king of make do with what you have, and paying someone else to fix something was unheard of. Anything broken can be fixed. I tried to pass it on to my son but he has no interest. The younger generation who I call “The help desk generation” seems unable to function without having someone else to tell them what to do.
Click to expand...
My earliest memories were under cars with my father.
Back in 73 at 4 or 5 years old, i was under vw beetles in the driveway of our apartment in iceland pulling engines, adjusting valves, changing oil screens etc...
All the tv shows that depicted incompetant dads screwing up the tv or the plumbing, lights exploding from a lack of skill... never made any sense to me. My dad regularly repaired everything... he was always building ham radio stuff, as well. I have soooo many ham radio setups in my shop i know nothing about.
He was maintenance officer in the air force, repairing jets, and writing service manuals for the f4 and the f16... maybe the 15 also, but i think that was a navy plane... we got evacuated from Iran in 79, dad went back and helped the first set of hostages escape, then was captured and tortured there...
Anyway, in 80, we opened an engine repair company in washington, kept it up when we moved to south dakota, then took over grandpas hvac company in 84...
Been here ever since.
Dad never really taught me. He taught my big brother... i just understood what was needed. I soaked up second hand training as it came.
I have fond memories of my big brother trying to learn about valve lash and magneto timing, spring rates, and front end lift... and id just do it without being tought.
When it came to hvac stuff, dad would teach me service, relays, control wiring, and it just made sense to me.

Grandpa would show me high voltage wiring, service drop stuff, one day i spooled out a long 480V 3phas run around 300' 500kcmill i thing.
Anyway, i counted up the conduit joints fittings, etc, spooled out the runs, laid em on the tarmac, and started the pull.
When finished, i had to cut 3" off the meter side, and 14" off the panel side, and grandpa yelled at me like i had burned down the building...

He said, "DONT EVER CUT WIRE SO CLOSE! I WANT 3' MINIMUM EXCESS ON BOTH ENDS!"
 
Danke said:
View attachment 213374
Click to expand...
Has anyone ever wondered where shit went to,when helping your dad work on somthing in the carport and he send you inside garage to get him the —- - - - - …

Dad it’s not here…

Yes it is, right by the bench grinder…

I don't see it dad… it’s gone…

No it’s not gone ….

I can’t find it dad…..

Dad gets up off the ground …#*#&%### .. damn it boy..


Here it is boy… what the hells wrong with you ..?

Dad , it mysteriously just appeared ….it wasn’t there …it wasn’t there ..I swear…

Dad as he’s crawling back on the ground , muttering…” damn kids today” ..

Has anyone ever had that happen.?
 
pollenface said:
My father was an electrician, and used to change his own oil.

I used to make billy karts and cubby houses for fun as a kid, and I'd often misplace all his tools.
Click to expand...
My dad was forever mad at me for losing his tools. about 10 years after I'd moved out of the house, I was riding in the back of their car... dad had an epiphany.. he was still missing tools and I hadn't been home in 10 years. He looked at my mother.... a light bulb went on in his head. lol
 
Supervstech said:
My earliest memories were under cars with my father.
Back in 73 at 4 or 5 years old, i was under vw beetles in the driveway of our apartment in iceland pulling engines, adjusting valves, changing oil screens etc...
All the tv shows that depicted incompetant dads screwing up the tv or the plumbing, lights exploding from a lack of skill... never made any sense to me. My dad regularly repaired everything... he was always building ham radio stuff, as well. I have soooo many ham radio setups in my shop i know nothing about.
He was maintenance officer in the air force, repairing jets, and writing service manuals for the f4 and the f16... maybe the 15 also, but i think that was a navy plane... we got evacuated from Iran in 79, dad went back and helped the first set of hostages escape, then was captured and tortured there...
Anyway, in 80, we opened an engine repair company in washington, kept it up when we moved to south dakota, then took over grandpas hvac company in 84...
Been here ever since.
Dad never really taught me. He taught my big brother... i just understood what was needed. I soaked up second hand training as it came.
I have fond memories of my big brother trying to learn about valve lash and magneto timing, spring rates, and front end lift... and id just do it without being tought.
When it came to hvac stuff, dad would teach me service, relays, control wiring, and it just made sense to me.

Grandpa would show me high voltage wiring, service drop stuff, one day i spooled out a long 480V 3phas run around 300' 500kcmill i thing.
Anyway, i counted up the conduit joints fittings, etc, spooled out the runs, laid em on the tarmac, and started the pull.
When finished, i had to cut 3" off the meter side, and 14" off the panel side, and grandpa yelled at me like i had burned down the building...

He said, "DONT EVER CUT WIRE SO CLOSE! I WANT 3' MINIMUM EXCESS ON BOTH ENDS!"
Click to expand...
I taught my daughter many things... plug a tire. Brake job on a truck... and the most important thing she could have learned for the US electrical system... "black on brass will save yer azz".
 
hwy17 said:
Same. That's why my water heater's up to about 1994 code though, lol. What's an expansion tank?
Click to expand...
Yup, the expansion tank has several purposes, the biggie is of course, to keep the tank from flexing when it heats a cold tank up… but it also helps prevent that cold blast of water in the shower when someone flushes the toilet, it reduces hammering noises in the home when devices open and close. It really helps the plumbing system survive.

I also install a mixing valve when I replace a tank. Set temp high over 140F, and adjust the water temp at the mixer. Doubles effective tank capacity, and removes legionaries disease concerns.
 
Brett V said:
My dad was a mechanic and my happiest childhood memories are of “helping” him. He was the king of make do with what you have, and paying someone else to fix something was unheard of. Anything broken can be fixed. I tried to pass it on to my son but he has no interest. The younger generation who I call “The help desk generation” seems unable to function without having someone else to tell them what to do.
Click to expand...
I actually have passed on some skill to my oldest daughter. She understands tools, can change her own tire, understands what a car is supposed to do, what warning gauges define, and actually shuts off the car when something isn’t right, and calls me when she isn’t sure. She is 27 now, and lives across the state from me, but has a skill base I am proud of… now… my other kid… helpful, but zero interest in anything I am aware of… 21 no desire for a drivers license… no interest in leaving his room… just plays on the internet… ah well…
 
I replaced my 23 year old water heater last year with another gas heater. The thing was $1000 with 12 year warranty and It was 200 dollars more than the same unit that was sold out of California. I was curious to see what the difference between the two units was some I looked up the parts list. The only difference I could find was the low NOx approval sticker🥴 I installed it myself and added an expansion tank. A few months ago a single gal across the way had her water heater leaking. She was quoted $4800 by a local well known company! I said that I think that they were trying to take advantage of her. She found a handyman for R&R for $1750 and didn’t have any problems. Everything in California is over priced.
 
Supervstech said:
I actually have passed on some skill to my oldest daughter. She understands tools, can change her own tire, understands what a car is supposed to do, what warning gauges define, and actually shuts off the car when something isn’t right, and calls me when she isn’t sure. She is 27 now, and lives across the state from me, but has a skill base I am proud of… now… my other kid… helpful, but zero interest in anything I am aware of… 21 no desire for a drivers license… no interest in leaving his room… just plays on the internet… ah well…
Click to expand...
Sounds a lot like my 2. The daughter has a general knowledge of how to do things and. Is usually the one calling for advice, not her husband. He grew up without a father and was never taught to be self sufficient. He’s a good man and has his own skill set but it’s certainly not as the home handyman. The son on the other hand is lacking in ambition or incentive to excel at anything. They’re both in their 30’s but completely different.
 
Skypower said:
I replaced my 23 year old water heater last year with another gas heater. The thing was $1000 with 12 year warranty and It was 200 dollars more than the same unit that was sold out of California. I was curious to see what the difference between the two units was some I looked up the parts list. The only difference I could find was the low NOx approval sticker🥴 I installed it myself and added an expansion tank. A few months ago a single gal across the way had her water heater leaking. She was quoted $4800 by a local well known company! I said that I think that they were trying to take advantage of her. She found a handyman for R&R for $1750 and didn’t have any problems. Everything in California is over priced.
Click to expand...
I have a cousin who lives just outside of DC who paid over $2k for a new gas water heater a few years ago. I offered to come and do it for her but she couldn’t get a permit if the work wasn’t being performed by a licensed plumber. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever ask permission from the city government to replace a water heater, but she was afraid to do it so my offer was declined.
 
Yeah, I’m not installing for others either. Family’s passed on and all my friends are self sufficient or just pay for it. Definitely not doing it for a neighbor even for cash. Too many new water heaters have issues and I don’t need to be in the middle of it. My advice is free.
 
All of us kids shared a black Plymouth 9 passenger wagon that Dad got surplus from NASA for $300. They used a rattle can to paint over the FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY decal letters on the front doors.

My five sisters had to be able to change a tire under his supervision before they were allowed to drive after dark, and that thing was a beast to jack up get the lugs loose. They weren’t gonna have to rely on some guy to get home.

I jokingly asked him if he didn’t love me since I didn’t need to do that.

I got the standard answer : shut up smart aleck.
 
Drives me bonkers when you're in some forum or local subreddit and someone asks about the 'best plumber to replace a gas hot water heater'. Inevitably, someone will say "not hard to replace yourself. Save a bunch of money" and then some asshat comes in and says "There's a gas line so you need to hire a professional because if you do it wrong and your house blows up, you'll have no insurance." People who don't know how things work shouldn't give advice.
 
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