Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Web Secret #318: Learn to Fix Anything

In my apartment there is a Eurotech Washing Machine.

Never heard of this brand? You're lucky. The people who built my apartment building chose to install Eurotech machines in every unit. They are terrible. They break all the time.

Getting them repaired is a soul sucking nightmare.

So I no longer wait for the repairman. I Google one of the many do it yourself repair sites on the Internet and I fix it myself.

This might not sound especially impressive, but you should know that I am one of the least handy people in the world. This is partly due to my total lack of interest with DIY activities, and also due to a congenital absence of skill or coordination.

The great thing about repair sites on the Internet is that they not only post manuals, and written repair instructions, but they often post an explanatory video. Even a total loser like myself can follow a video.

(Well that's not entirely true. My teenage son and I watched multiple "How to Tie a Bow Tie" instructional videos before his high school prom night and failed miserably. But that's a story for another post.)

Anyway, thank you "Make Use Of" for writing about 4 fabulous sites that will enable you to fix almost anything:

Electronics: iFixit - With almost 2,000 Mac repair guides, 2,000 phone repair guides, and 1,000 PC repair guides, iFixit has you covered for just about any electronic repair you could want to undertake. There are camera, automotive, appliance, household, and computer guides, as well.

Around the House: The Family Handyman - Though The Family Handyman is a subscription magazine, their website offers a wealth of repair tips for various parts of your home. There are sections for heating and cooling, electrical, floors, automotive, painting, pest control, plumbing, and a wide range of other things.

Your Bike: Park Tool - If you’ve done any work on your bike in the past, you might have used tools made by Park. On the homepage of their repair section, there’s an image of a bike, and all you have to do is click on the part of the bike that you need to fix.

Your Car: DIY Auto School - Fixing your own car can be a bit scary, but DIY Auto makes the process a lot easier. From restoring a rusted-out car to fixing a dent, the guys from the school will give you tips to get you through the process, even if you’re a total newbie to car repair.

Warning: DIY Auto School is a YouTube channel and features some, at times, rather bizarre humor.

You may want to call AAA, pour yourself a glass of champagne and watch one of their videos for their entertainment value.

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