Shan-man
¿sɐɯʇsıɹɥɔ lıʇ, sʎɐp ʎuɐɯ ʍoH
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2008
First let me thank rapriebe, happycamper87 and others who've complimented me on the remodel, I really appreciate the encouragement I get from folks on these boards. Also, I fear the pictures make it look a bit better than it really is (making me a better photographer than remodeler?).
The greatest gift I ever got from my grandfather (my primary male role-model, and best friend) was a sense of fearlessness when it comes to working with your hands. With basic skills and tools, an ability to analyze how something should work, and a bit of willingness to try you can usually get into something you've never done before and make the repair and get back out. And when it doesn't work, there are repairmen who can pick up where you ran out of steam. No need to go to the repairmen first! We used to go to garage sales every week and he would usually buy stuff that was broken and essentially free just so he could take it home and make it work. Unfortunately, his SOP was to make it work well enough for him, not necessarily the way it did originally... so he had tons of gadgets that you had to use a different switch, or hold a certain way, or whatever to get it to work.
I guess my point is, it's easier to tear into something that is broke or worthless than to something new, or that works fine. My MoHo was broke and worthless (rotting, sagging, moldy and water-stained) and it was going to sit unused until the day it was towed to the dump if I didn't get in and fix it. If it was perfectly usable and strong I would have had a much harder time tearing into it to make cosmetic changes.
Actually, very little of what I did required lots of skill. The cabinetry is really the only hard-acquired skill I used on this project, and even most of it was doable for a novice except the raised panel doors (which can be purchased). Probably the biggest challenge was figuring out how to cut the wall panels precisely. Used a paper templating technique like vinyl flooring installers use, that I saw on tv.
All that to say, you never know what you can do until you try. And you never know what you can't do until you fail, and when you do fail there are experts out there who can fix it! So don't be afraid to try.
The greatest gift I ever got from my grandfather (my primary male role-model, and best friend) was a sense of fearlessness when it comes to working with your hands. With basic skills and tools, an ability to analyze how something should work, and a bit of willingness to try you can usually get into something you've never done before and make the repair and get back out. And when it doesn't work, there are repairmen who can pick up where you ran out of steam. No need to go to the repairmen first! We used to go to garage sales every week and he would usually buy stuff that was broken and essentially free just so he could take it home and make it work. Unfortunately, his SOP was to make it work well enough for him, not necessarily the way it did originally... so he had tons of gadgets that you had to use a different switch, or hold a certain way, or whatever to get it to work.
I guess my point is, it's easier to tear into something that is broke or worthless than to something new, or that works fine. My MoHo was broke and worthless (rotting, sagging, moldy and water-stained) and it was going to sit unused until the day it was towed to the dump if I didn't get in and fix it. If it was perfectly usable and strong I would have had a much harder time tearing into it to make cosmetic changes.
Actually, very little of what I did required lots of skill. The cabinetry is really the only hard-acquired skill I used on this project, and even most of it was doable for a novice except the raised panel doors (which can be purchased). Probably the biggest challenge was figuring out how to cut the wall panels precisely. Used a paper templating technique like vinyl flooring installers use, that I saw on tv.
All that to say, you never know what you can do until you try. And you never know what you can't do until you fail, and when you do fail there are experts out there who can fix it! So don't be afraid to try.
It's a great attitude to have. And what an awesome job you did on your MoHo!!! Looks great! Enjoy!
