Are You Handy Around the House or Garage?

[fureverywhere]

I was just proud of myself. As usual the vacuum was refusing to work. It's fairly new, it's just with the dogs and cats it backs up quite often. They don't call me Fureverywhere for nothing...I took it apart almost to the motor. The same thing any repair place would do to troubleshoot something blocked. I learned by trial and error over the years. But virtually every hose and opening can be accessed. Maybe a small screwdriver and garbage bag and everything works again.

Hubby has always been kind of helpless with do it yourself stuff. Even with directions...I think sometimes it's imagination too. I only look at the directions if there's no other means to get something done. I wish I could take a magic pill to learn car repair. Otherwise it's usually get r done. So how about you? Are you a good fixer upper or all thumbs???

 

[SifuPhil]

I used to be great at repairs - I'd make Bob Villa look like an apprentice.

This ability came in handy because I worked several maintenance jobs over the years, fixing commercial apartment / hotel units and "turning over" residential apartments. I even worked for Blockbuster video stores during their heyday: I would travel to all of their stores in PA and repair stuff.

When I was married with 2 kids there was constantly something to be fixed, and if you know how it's MUCH cheaper than calling someone.

The vacuum - that's funny. I do the same thing - just rip it down to the base with a screwdriver and clean everything out with a coat hanger. layful:

Car repair - especially the newer ones - is problematic.

 

[Don M.]

I've been fixing things since I was a teenager. My entire working career was based upon repairing things....USAF (aircraft electronics), and then complex mainframe computers and I/O devices for the worlds largest computer company. In retirement, I am always finding something to keep running...household appliances, outdoor power equipment, car/truck...you name it. I have literally thousands of dollars in tools, and hardly a year goes by that I don't find a use for most of them. About the Only time I take a vehicle in for any "repair" is if it needs new tires....or is still under warranty. My biggest clue that the time is approaching when I need to consider moving into a "senior" home will be when I can no longer change my own oil and filters in the car/truck.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I can do some basic repairs with regular tools, but I'm not that handy around the house when it comes to fixing things, assembling things, etc. My husband is super handy and has done almost all of our house and vehicle maintenance/repairs over the years, which is great because it's saved us a lot of money.

 

[jujube]

My late husband had the "Bigger Hammer" theory toward home repairs: If it doesn't work, hit it with a hammer; if that doesn't work, hit it with a bigger hammer. If that breaks it, well....it needed replacing anyway.

After he shuffled off this mortal coil, I had to become a handywoman. Was I good? No, but I was better than nothing. I did surprise myself with my success at times.

The Spousal Equivalent, now......well, his method is to pretend he forgot he was supposed to fix something in the hopes that I'll forget about it.

 

[imp]

I've been fixing things since I was a teenager. .... My biggest clue that the time is approaching when I need to consider moving into a "senior" home will be when I can no longer change my own oil and filters in the car/truck.

Same boat. Get down on my back, got me a new "creeper", come out, sit up, have to wait for the "spinning" to stop. Seriously considering getting a car-lift, but outdoors here, too hot 6 months out of the year, garage trusses preclude install there.

Looking at elimination enough trusses, shoring up with big rafters, area large enough for car to rise up into. Doing this, I'll likely fall off the damn ladder and crack my head open (again!). imp

 

[Linda]

My husband has always been so handy I've never bothered to learn to fix things or put anything together. Thankfully all the kids took after him in that regard. He's saved us a lot of $ through the years.

 

[Butterfly]

I'm not terribly handy, but I'm pretty good with the vacuum. It's usually just clogged up somewhere with dog hair.

 

[hollydolly]

I grew up the kid of a Carpenter...so I learned by watching how to handle wood tools...and I can renovate any old furniture into something that looks very acceptable. I can do the rudiments of repairs around the house...having had to learn after my divorce when daughter was only little , including painting and decorating altho' I never learned how to hang wallpaper thank goodness ....however, current o/h of 15 years is SUper Handy...if there's anything he can't do we've yet to find it. he does all the electrics, Plumbing, Car maintenance and renovations...all the decorating, lays new floors..builds new walls (even built a whole new room in our house) ..and does the gardening as well as all the garden maintenance ..although to be fair we both share the latter .. he also keeps up with all the maintenance and repairs on the computers and sorts out all the techy stuff on our technology stuff, iphones, ipads, Macs etc.. ...his hobby is renovating old cars and making them look like brand new expensive models..

On top of all that he works full time 15 hours a day...did I say he was Superman?..oh yes Indeedy!!

 

[Ameriscot]

My hubby can do just about anything around the house. Saves us a bundle.

 

[Karen99]

If it's something either of us can fix..we do...otherwise I ring up the repairman.

 

[ronaldj]

if you cannot be handy, be good looking.........

 

[Pappy]

In my younger years, yes. Now, not so much. Anything that requires getting down on my knees is a problem cause the old legs won't let me get back up. And getting a bad cut is no-no with my blood thinner I'm taking. Still, I'm fairly handy at a few things and do the best I can to help around the house.

 

[Jackie22]

Around the house.....yes (with the exception of vacuum cleaners), around the garage....not so much.

 

[Bee]

if you cannot be handy, be good looking.........

Yep that's me, although I don't like to brag.:lol1:

 

[Lon]

Frankly no, other than changing light bulbs I am not Mr Handyman and will hire someone that knows what they are doing. My skills and talent lie in a different direction.

 

[AZ Jim]

When I was younger and a lot healthier I could do just about anything. I roofed, tore out walls, Built walls, electrical, some plumbing and lots of other jobs but those days are gone now I hire it done.

 

[Cookie]

I used to do things like remove wallpaper, paint an apartment, remove wall to wall, strip furniture and repaint it, etc. etc. when I was younger and much more motivated, sew my own clothes, make quilts, knit, make jewelry, etc. etc. too. These days its usually just hammering a nail into a wall to hang a picture and sewing some easy stuff. In an apartment complex, I don't need to do maintenance work, we have a super to do it.