Bored and looking for a hobby

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VisualBrian

Member
I'm still looking for a classic car to sink way too money into but until I find that, I'm looking for some good hobby ideas to get me started. I've searched the hobby suggestion sites but I'd rather hear something that someone is actually doing and enjoying. Do you have any suggestions? (other than gardening. lol).
 

It's difficult to suggest hobbies for others. A hobby is something we feel special about, and that may well not interest someone else at all. My hobby is loving music in its many forms. I enjoy the adventure, the sheer pleasure, and the giving of yourself over to the skill and creativity of others. Someone else will find that terribly boring and dull.

Since car restoration is your thing, are their any things that are associated with it that would interest you?
 
Since you're into car restoration, you may be detail oriented. I suggest painting- oils or water color. Bob Ross paints a pic in 22 minutes, but that's because he already done the hard part. You have to decide on composition, the colors, the intensity of the colors, hues, where the light is coming from, etc., etc. Ross could put a "happy little tree" right there, because he planned for it. Painting is very detailed oriented; you might like it.
Water colors are cheap to get into. And there's tons of "how to" on YouTube.
 

VisualBrian said:
I'm still looking for a classic car to sink way too money into but until I find that, I'm looking for some good hobby ideas to get me started. I've searched the hobby suggestion sites but I'd rather hear something that someone is actually doing and enjoying. Do you have any suggestions? (other than gardening. lol).
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You play any instruments? Write songs. 🎶🎸🎺🎼🎹
 
VaughanJB said:
It's difficult to suggest hobbies for others. A hobby is something we feel special about, and that may well not interest someone else at all. My hobby is loving music in its many forms. I enjoy the adventure, the sheer pleasure, and the giving of yourself over to the skill and creativity of others. Someone else will find that terribly boring and dull.
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"It's difficult to suggest..." That makes a lot of sense and is probably why when I look at suggestion sites I don't find much. It's more important to me to hear from people who are actually involved in those hobbies and why. Thanks for that.

And you're right... I don't think music would do in for me. ;)
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Since you're into car restoration, you may be detail oriented. I suggest painting- oils or water color. Bob Ross paints a pic in 22 minutes, but that's because he already done the hard part. You have to decide on composition, the colors, the intensity of the colors, hues, where the light is coming from, etc., etc. Ross could put a "happy little tree" right there, because he planned for it. Painting is very detailed oriented; you might like it.
Water colors are cheap to get into. And there's tons of "how to" on YouTube.
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Thanks, that's a good idea and seems easy and cheap to get into.
 
Timewise 60+ said:
Build plastic model cars. You can get these kits in many sizes and most types of cars. I like to build model airplanes, WWII vintage.

If not that, build a 'Go Cart'...
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Yes, this is something I have considered numerous times but something about it after shopping online has held me back. That and I'm not sure about the painting part or what that would take to set up. It's still an interesting possibility. How are you set up to build and finish your models and do you find it expensive?
 
VisualBrian said:
I'm still looking for a classic car to sink way too money into but until I find that, I'm looking for some good hobby ideas to get me started. I've searched the hobby suggestion sites but I'd rather hear something that someone is actually doing and enjoying. Do you have any suggestions? (other than gardening. lol).
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An inexpensive hobby....pick up a model (plastic or wood) of your favorite car, boat, spaceship, whatever at the local hobby shop. Spend time lovingly assembling it as it brings to mind past adventures, special moments, etc. Then display it as a conversation piece where it will serve to remind you and others of those special feelings. I am choosing a model of a 57 Pontiac as my next project. It was my first car as a teenager. Youthful impressions are a favorite of mine.
 
Have you tried making copies of high End watches.? I don't mean counterfeit, but Identical copies? This is my estranged husband's hobby, and he makes copies that can only be identified by experts as fake... He does it for himself.. not to sell... but it's a hobby that has kept him enthralled for years...

he's also a ''car man'' and has built his own vehicles as well as designed and built the interiors, including recovering leather seats by himself etc....
 
hollydolly said:
Have you tried making copies of high End watches.? I don't mean counterfeit, but Identical copies? This is my estranged husband's hobby, and he makes copies that can only be identified by experts as fake... He does it for himself.. not to sell... but it's a hobby that has kept him enthralled for years...

he's also a ''car man'' and has built his own vehicles as well as designed and built the interiors, including recovering leather seats by himself etc....
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Wow! That sounds very complicated, and I have no experience with watches. I hardly ever wore them, especially now that I'm retired.
 
VisualBrian said:
Wow! That sounds very complicated, and I have no experience with watches. I hardly ever wore them, especially now that I'm retired.
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well the thing is there is such a wealth of information on the web now.. that if it's something that anyone is interested in, they can really learn very easily... not saying everyone could do it.. the watch-making.. it takes a lot of patience, but the know-how, and the parts .. are all available... now ...

..of course if you don't wear a watch or are interested in making them for others, then it's not the hobby for you... (y)
 
If somebody was looking for a classic car related hobby, I'd bet that learning upholstery repair/replacement materials, tools, and techniques might give one an "in" with such a community. You might get pretty popular and even make enough money to compensate for your investment, perhaps plus a little more.

It might sound as dull as dishwater, but I'm sure it's quite a craft and in demand. Maybe start on old removable van/SUV bench seats picked up cheap at a junkyard? If they are mechanically intact you might be able to sell off reupholstered units after you finish practicing. Get good, then you might make some contacts to do more learning on actual classic autos.

Soon the clubs and such will be happy to draw you into their communities.
 
Michael Z said:
Buy an old house to fix up and sell. You will never be bored again.
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LOL. Thanks, but a little beyond my current ability.

dilettante said:
If somebody was looking for a classic car related hobby, I'd bet that learning upholstery repair/replacement materials, tools, and techniques might give one an "in" with such a community. You might get pretty popular and even make enough money to compensate for your investment, perhaps plus a little more.

It might sound as dull as dishwater, but I'm sure it's quite a craft and in demand. Maybe start on old removable van/SUV bench seats picked up cheap at a junkyard? If they are mechanically intact you might be able to sell off reupholstered units after you finish practicing. Get good, then you might make some contacts to do more learning on actual classic autos.

Soon the clubs and such will be happy to draw you into their communities.
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That seems like a good idea, especially if I can start with my own classic. ;)
 
VisualBrian said:
I'm still looking for a classic car to sink way too money into but until I find that, I'm looking for some good hobby ideas to get me started. I've searched the hobby suggestion sites but I'd rather hear something that someone is actually doing and enjoying. Do you have any suggestions? (other than gardening. lol).
Click to expand...
What kind of tools do you have? Do you have a shop? (did you already say, and I missed it?)

I'm asking because, if you do metal work and can weld, maybe you could build and sell custom bike frames and handle bars. You'll find a market for it if you look up "custom bicycle clubs". Another handy money-making hobby would be making and installing theft-proof cages for catalytic converters.

Do you like to work with wood? I made a hobby of building little modular cat shelters for feral/homeless cats. That was fun, and easy. They also make nice homes for raccoons. You can take them out where the coons are and just leave them. Same with the cat shelters, just drop 'em off where feral colonies are.

Making bird houses and condos is fun, too, and you can take those out into the "wild" and strap 'em to trees. (you'd wanna look up what kind of houses the local birds like)
 
Murrmurr said:
What kind of tools do you have? Do you have a shop? (did you already say, and I missed it?)

I'm asking because, if you do metal work and can weld, maybe you could build and sell custom bike frames and handle bars. You'll find a market for it if you look up "custom bicycle clubs". Another handy money-making hobby would be making and installing theft-proof cages for catalytic converters.

Do you like to work with wood? I made a hobby of building little modular cat shelters for feral/homeless cats. That was fun, and easy. They also make nice homes for raccoons. You can take them out where the coons are and just leave them. Same with the cat shelters, just drop 'em off where feral colonies are.

Making bird houses and condos is fun, too, and you can take those out into the "wild" and strap 'em to trees. (you'd wanna look up what kind of houses the local birds like)
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Those are all good ideas. I made a few bird houses out of scrap wood when I moved here. They could use some improvement now.
 
Short wave radio. Talk to people all over the world. Initially, you will spend some money but after that, you can add the accessories as you go along. Some good times bantering back and forth. Get yourself a good radio, microphone and antenna and then start communicating.

Talk to people in other countries around the world and even ships.
 
I'm guessing if you want to work on an "old car" you are mechanically inclined and have some tools. How about rebuilding some old engines? Kind of fun to bring old cast iron back to life, and finding parts can be like looking for buried treasure. lol

Here's one I just finished (almost) I say almost because I haven't find a period correct air intake assembly yet, but I will.

It's a 1934 Briggs and Stratton model Z, all cast iron so heavy as a boat anchor. I have no plan or use for it but it was a fun project.20240531_153353.jpg
 

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