On 2017-02-28 11:02 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 2/28/2017 3:54 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>> "dsi1" wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> He's just trying to justify living life ruled by Google and electronic
>>> devices. Meanwhile, his stove is broken and he can't afford to repair
>>> or replace it. Perhaps free wifi can offer suggestions.
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> I will fix it. I don't believe in hiring people to fix my stuff. I just
>> have an interesting technical problem: how to raise the stove 8"
>> straight up in the air and move it forward.
>>
>> ====
>>
>> When you find out to report back ;-)
>>
>>
> I'd love to hear how he repaired it himself. He doesn't believe in
> hiring people to fix things? Wow, that's one way to put people out of
> business.
>

There's nothing wrong with fixing things yourself. My grandfather was a
handyman and my father acquired a lot of his skills. I wish I had
acquired more of them from him. When I am faced with a problem in the
house my first reaction is to try to fix it myself. If I don't know, my
next step is to get a book or go online to learn about it. If I still
can't figure it out I will call in a professional.

Repair people are in the business of selling a needed service. If I can
do it myself their service is not needed. For example, my motorcycle
needs an oil change. I have something I can use to hoist it up. I then
have to remove the oil pan plug and the filter and let the oil drain
out.Then I smear a little clean oil on the O ring on the new filter and
turn it on my hand and snug it up and screw the drain plug back in, then
remove the dips stick and pour in 2 1/2 litres of oil and screw the
dipstick back in. It takes about 5 minutes to get the tools together,
another 5 minutes to get the bike elevated to get at the oil pan and
filter,2 minutes to drain the oil, 10 minutes to install the filter and
plug, 2 minutes to pour in the new oil, and another 2 minutes to get the
back off the hoist, 5 minutes to put the tools away.

That is less than a half hour of total work and there is nothing that is
physically or mentally demanding. It would take me longer than that to
take it to a shop, and the shop is going to charge me for at least one
hour labour at $80 an hour, plus parts. I can do the job myself and save
the $80.

I am going to need the valves adjusted soon. I don't know how to do
that. I could learn, but if I screw up it will cost me a lot more, so I
will take it to a professional.

I remodelled our kitchen more than 30 years ago. I called a plumber to
install the sink and it was going to cost over $300 at the time. Nuts to
that. I went out and bought the hardware I needed, under $100 at the
time. I read up on how to install a sink and completed the job in less
than half an hour.