What Do You Fix?

[apl68]

Saturday I assembled a flat-pack bookcase, my previous six self-assembly bookcases having come close to capacity.  It took me and my ten thumbs about an hour and a half.  I seem to have to add a new one about every four or five years.

The biggest flat-pack item I've ever helped to assemble was when I once assisted a friend in putting together a large home desk assembly.  It took the two of us a couple of hours.  He said of the new do-it-yourself furniture "It's amazing what they can do with just sawdust and glue."

[fishbrains]

I fixed the droopy front end of my car with zip ties. Looks good. We'll see if it lasts.

Having a 15-year-old car pushes one to do self-repair when possible. To have a pro do it probably would have cost more than the car is worth.

For my next stunt: An oil change.

[apl68]

I fixed the droopy front end of my car with zip ties. Looks good. We'll see if it lasts.

Having a 15-year-old car pushes one to do self-repair when possible. To have a pro do it probably would have cost more than the car is worth.

For my next stunt: An oil change.

Motorcycle riders traditionally use hose clamps for improvised repairs.  I've seen my dad do that.  They're pretty strong if you cinch them right.

[clean]

It is hot.  But the AC isnt.   Not when it is hot anyway.  When I am leaving work, and the car has been in the parking garage, it is ok, but going to work when it is hot (as I go to work after lunch), You can be almost to work and the car is still sweltering.

Today I got a can of AC juice and a gauge to put it in.  I watched 2 youtube videos and did it in about 5 minutes.  It was cooling nicely, though at this time of day it seemed to cool partially anyway.

Hopefully this fix gets me  a good way to summer (when I get a summer school check to pay for such extravagances as AC!) 

[Parasaurolophus]

The hatchling's bookshelf is an old Ikea model that's been discontinued. Today, I made and added a shelf. We really, really needed it to contain all the books.

[apl68]

This morning I learned that the lavatory in one of the staff restrooms wasn't draining.  I hunted around until I found our "plumber's helper" and pumped away with that for a bit.  A staff member with an office nearby said "That sounds awful!"  I told her that she should come and look at it.

Anyway, a little elbow grease got it unstopped.  I ran water down the drain to make sure it was now draining properly.  Then I informed the janitor that the lavatory needed a good wipe-down.

I may not be very handy, but now and then I can fix something.  I also successfully tightened my motorcycle chain last week.  That's supposed to be a simple, routine fix, but the axle nut had frozen so stiff that I couldn't get it broken loose with my wrenches.  I went to the site of a nearby demolished building on a hunch and found a couple of leftover pieces of PVC pipe.  Those served as cheater bars to get enough leverage to break that nut loose.  Better than spending good money on an impact driver.

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

We have been slowly sanding, recaulking, painting and patching holes in our garage door. In was badly in need of a repaint and had so much peeling paint. Looks a lot better now on the side that we painted.