donsrods
Well-known member
Most of my life I have been guilty of just tossing something into the trash when it stops working, and buying a new one. Lots of stuff made today is just made to be disposable. But lately I have been actually repairing broken things and it feels pretty satisfying. For example:
* I bought a Milwaukee 1/2 inch drill at a flea market for $ 15. It is HUGE, much bigger than the 1/2 inch drill I already have and much slower. Great for holesaws. It needed a power cord because the old one was frayed. New one cost me $ 9 and 15 minutes work and now I have a super drill for $ 24.
* We have two Milwaukee 5 inch angle grinders that are about 8 years old. One of them started to not work and you had to tap it on the workbench to get it to run. It finally stopped altogether. My Son tossed it in the trash and said we would have to get a new one, which is over $100. I sat down and pulled it apart and found the brushes were worn completely away. Went on line, got the part numbers, ordered them, and $6 later I had them in and the grinder works like brand new.
* Our washing machine stopped agitating so I went on line and found there are 4 little clutchdogs in the agitator that go bad. Went to the local appliance parts place and $ 8 later I had the parts I needed. Took me another 15 minutes and the washer runs great. Saved me a service call.
* The single lever faucet on our kitchen sink started to drip when shut off. I have been adjusting it for a year but it kept getting worse. Called Moen, gave them the model number, and they said there is a lifetime warranty on them. They sent me the parts free and about a half hour later I had them in and it drips no more ! [cl
* The washer machine stopped draining water out so I got on the net and found how to check the lid safety switch. Turned out it was bad from getting wet, so I picked up a new one for $12 and got it to work like it should.
* We were changing the air filter in my daily driver and we cracked the air mass sensor housing by accident. Cadillac wanted $ 240 for the part, but I went to a local pick and pull and found the entire housing and mass sensor for $20.
So, I am starting to really enjoy not throwing something that is perfectly good away when a simple fix may get it working again plus saving me money at the same time. This is the way our Fathers used to do things and maybe something we have forgotten how to do. The nice thing is that you can go on the internet and find instructions and even YouTubes on how to repair almost anything.
Don
* I bought a Milwaukee 1/2 inch drill at a flea market for $ 15. It is HUGE, much bigger than the 1/2 inch drill I already have and much slower. Great for holesaws. It needed a power cord because the old one was frayed. New one cost me $ 9 and 15 minutes work and now I have a super drill for $ 24.
* We have two Milwaukee 5 inch angle grinders that are about 8 years old. One of them started to not work and you had to tap it on the workbench to get it to run. It finally stopped altogether. My Son tossed it in the trash and said we would have to get a new one, which is over $100. I sat down and pulled it apart and found the brushes were worn completely away. Went on line, got the part numbers, ordered them, and $6 later I had them in and the grinder works like brand new.
* Our washing machine stopped agitating so I went on line and found there are 4 little clutchdogs in the agitator that go bad. Went to the local appliance parts place and $ 8 later I had the parts I needed. Took me another 15 minutes and the washer runs great. Saved me a service call.
* The single lever faucet on our kitchen sink started to drip when shut off. I have been adjusting it for a year but it kept getting worse. Called Moen, gave them the model number, and they said there is a lifetime warranty on them. They sent me the parts free and about a half hour later I had them in and it drips no more ! [cl
* The washer machine stopped draining water out so I got on the net and found how to check the lid safety switch. Turned out it was bad from getting wet, so I picked up a new one for $12 and got it to work like it should.
* We were changing the air filter in my daily driver and we cracked the air mass sensor housing by accident. Cadillac wanted $ 240 for the part, but I went to a local pick and pull and found the entire housing and mass sensor for $20.
So, I am starting to really enjoy not throwing something that is perfectly good away when a simple fix may get it working again plus saving me money at the same time. This is the way our Fathers used to do things and maybe something we have forgotten how to do. The nice thing is that you can go on the internet and find instructions and even YouTubes on how to repair almost anything.
Don
