Do It Yourself – DIY

“The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” – Thoreau

You don’t have to be some kind of hard-core, anti-technology, Luddite to understand the problems of living in a “throw-away” society.  “Stuff” can rule your life if you let it.  Finding and keeping things of real value is the trick.

• If you shop well, you can buy useful things that will simply tend to last longer and/or that can be easily repaired.  Unfortunately, there aren’t many modern products that really meet that criteria.  Fortunately, many older products were often of higher quality and of a simpler design.  These, of course  are often available used, in antique shops, second-hand stores, or on eBay.
• With a little care, good quality items can be made to last a lot longer than you’ve been “trained” to expect.  “New” is not, necessarily, better.  And, for what it’s worth, sometimes the creative, home-grown, solution is better than anything you can buy.  Who knows what you need better than you, yourself?

And, since, without a doubt, you’re going to be exchanging a bit of “what you call your life” for every “thing” you own, it might behoove you to consider whether or not it’s even necessary at all.  But, if you must have it, do try to make it last, so you’re not buying it again, and again, and again.

~  Fixin’ Stuff  ~  Don’t Buy It, Fix it.    Repair parts and guides, etc.

To begin, see this from Popular Mechanics – 100 Skills Every Man Should Know

• Electrical Problems:  Does electricity bewilder you?
  • Here are a couple of good tutorials on how to use a multi-meter  — here—and —here.
  • Home Wiring Tips –
  • 12 Volt Systems –
• Basic Home Repairs
  • Need help repairing your leaking toilet or other problems?  I found the videos on this site to be pretty helpful.
  • Basic Carpentry
  • Finish Carpentry
  • Temporary Repairs
  • When do you need an expert?
• Various Repair Guides – With a little digging, you can find diagrams and parts lists for almost any item in your house.  Here are a few websites that can be useful.
  • Tool Parts:
  • Gun Parts:
  • Auto Repair:  
  • Bike Repair:
    • The Definitive Guide to Tire Patching
• The Shop & Tools You Need
  • See ARL’s guide to “The Useful Shop“
  • Power Tool Guide
  • Hand Tool Guide

~  Makin’ Stuff ~ DIY Projects

Don’t Buy It, Make It.  Fabrication, welding, casting, woodworking, carpentry, etc.

• Aluminum Recycling – Yes, in the home, and custom casting too.  I know! It’s kind of trippy when you think about it.
• Other Home Metalcasting Ideas at Backyardmetalcasting.com
• Home Tanning info from TMEN, ok, so they still have some good stuff
• The Cider Press –  These can be really expensive, but it is possible to make your own.
• Waterproofing Canvas
  • Canvac at Cabellas
  • Nikwax products
  • DIY Canvas Waxing
  • DIY Greenland Wax from Bushcraft
  • Old-time Oilskin Recipes
• Outbuildings
  • The Garden Shed
  • The Horse Barn
  • The Woodshed
• Micro Power Solutions
  • Bicycle & Human Power
  • Micro-Hydro
  • Woodgas
  • Portable Solar
  • Peltier Devices
• Custom Flashlights?  Really?
  • LED Conversions
  • Battery Tutorial
• Avoid Flat Tires
  • Air Free Bicycle (and other) Tires
  • DIY Foam Filled Tire Article from TMEN
• Bushcraft – Great Site
• The Greenhouse
• Bicycle Generators
• The Chicken Coop
• Build Your Own Guitar
• Gunsmithing
• Bowl Turning
• Picture Framing
• Welding Projects
• Home Biodiesel from Algae?  Maybe, maybe not.  Here’s one of the few decent articles on the web:  http://www.helium.com/items/445549-how-to-make-your-own-biodiesel

www.popsci.com/science/ee6d4d4 329703110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdr crd.html

www.dailycamera.com/news/2006/ dec/08inventor-turns-algae-int o-fuel/

http://www.kree.org/krcenews/2 007/02/local_news_2907_1.php

www.biodieselathome.net/Biodie sel_Production_At_Home.htm

www.eugeneweblcom/~bios/photos .htm