Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Fixing Things: Life Lessons

Seems like my entire life is fixing things. It's all I do. 6th grade school teacher at home with homework, pulling a 350 engine out and putting a crate motor back in, then fixing the transmission on it. Speed sensor hopefully. if that doesn't fix it I'm just gonna buy a new transmission and be done with it.

Of course my camry had to tear up when I'm trying to fix my truck. Motor mount broke. I had just put a new radiator, thermostat, plugs, hoses, fuel system cleaning, throttle body cleaning, oil, filters, transmission fluid change.

I'm still trying to encapsulate my crawlspace, install all new flooring, interior, exterior paint, remodel bathrooms and kitchen and design my garage. Build a double driveway and storage building. And a new metal roof. Almost done with all new utilities. It never ends. That's why I haven't been fishing or hunting. I'm always playing dad and mom. Cooking and grocery shopping.

Worked on radios and tvs when I was a kid and spent most of my adult life as a multicraft maintenance technician
So working on things and understanding how they work is second nature to me
I’m a lot slower now but can get things done but it takes longer

I had 2 good role models in my Father and Grandfather. I also had a neighbor who was an absolutely fearless auto mechanic. He would tear stuff apart with springs and spacers and ball bearings just tumbling out of it.
He gave me more faith in my own ability to fix stuff.

I just fixed a big pot of sausage to feed breakfast to all the guys helping us look for the victim of that drowning. Does that count?

It counts more than anything I can do

Had a guy that took something I said wrong about a year ago. He got real ugly with me like he wanted a fight and I held my tongue and left. Gave him space whenever I'd see him again. There was a couple of times I'm sure he was provoking me, but I let it slide. I kind of sensed something changed in the last couple of months. Bought him a drink and told him it was good to see him and nothing more. We get a long fine now. Does that count?

Also, this post reminds me I've been putting off learning to sew. Got more that one pair of pants that needs a button.

God has Blessed me with the ability to fix people and things.

Most of the time, fixing things and people, as 7x57_Mauser and others have eluded to, is making the time to do so.
Just being willing to listen without interjecting one's thoughts is one of the hardest things for most of us though.
And asking for help when we can't go any further has kept me from tearing equipment up, and fixing it faster.

Most days though, I'm working by self and figuring out how to do something takes time.
Though we never are alone, sometimes we need to ask God for His help.
He is always there, always listening, and always answering.

Are you hearing Him?

I guess that is the short devotional for today!


God Bless,
David B.

I’m tired of working on junk. I have a mechanic that comes to my shop and works on all my tore up crap. He’s way better and gets paid to do so.

Last item fixed, starter on my Kubota L3600. Wiring harness on my Polaris Ranger. Also laid out and cut stair stringers for a shooting house. Light electrical, plumbing, carpentry etc I’m okay with.

It may not always be pretty but it’s usually functional. I just wish I had the patience and wisdom to make it look nice too.

We're getting started on both a kitchen and bathroom remodel/makeover, nuff said.

My latest project was fixing an install/wood issue. I’ve never placed one board of shiplap on a wall, but I could. My carpenter (who is great), said the nickle gap I bought was messed up. It was higher than anything I’ve ever bought, so it should have been perfect (lumber is high). He’s an awesome guy and I just can’t believe he put it up, but he did. 1/2 nickle gap, half no gap, mixed and matched. No way I was gonna be ok with it! I’m not a carpenter but if I can think it out, I can do ok. I was gonna cut it with a skill saw, then I came across a mini router with a little 1/8” bit. I bought a 8’ level that I’ve always wanted and cut nickle gap out of shiplap. NOT perfect, but a Hell of a lot better than it was. I “fixed it”! My wife’s happy. Once the cabinets go in, I don’t think you’ll notice the edges, which was the hardest part and the roughest.
https://imgur.com/a/9xhzp5M
Before and after pics

On a house - I can do pretty much anything (electrical, plumbing, framing (walls), drywall, tile, flooring...etc. - the only think I don't mess with is roofing). I am slower than steam off of cold shucks, but I can do it AND most importantly - have the tools to do it.

Mechanical - back in the day (pre-emission crap), I would pretty much do anything to an engine (my uncle raced dirt track - and I could rebuild the engines and whatever else he broke Saturday night, never messed with transmissions). Today however, all of our vehicles go to the shop - I don't have the tools, hand size, or knowledge to mess with them.

I’m definitely more of a breaker than a fixer. I replaced the rear diff in a 87 400hp case Steiger was about the last thing I fixed that actually worked right afterwards. I’ve been working on an old marliss grain drill for about the last 2 years it seems

Taught my son how to replace the parts of a toilet yesterday. He was amazed at how easy it was.

I changed the air conditioner filter, fridge water filter and added some oil to my electric chain saw, about covered all I can fix!!!

New axle on SxS, but that’s pull and plug. Buddy at work changed the bearings for me. Not to mechanically inclined, I just like waking up breathing and going to bed breathing

Decided to change out a leaky bathroom faucet today. What a beeotch. In process I found out BOTH shutoff valves are leaky. So off to store to get a set and change the hoses them bad boys out tomorrow. Plumbing is my kryptonite.

Oh oh, I did fill up wife’s wiper fluid reservoir without any issue tho!

Part of being a good fixer, is knowing when you are about to break something, and stopping short of that point. Then re-accessing the task, and maybe get the part ahead of time, before going
ahead and breaking it on your own terms.

Getting married and having kids will test your handyman abilities. They seem to invent new ways of tearing up stuff.

Wisdom is when you learn to apply the Dirty Harry logic that a man’s gotta know his limitations.

Showed My 10 year old how to change a bicycle tire tube on his bike last week

He fixed my flat bike tire yesterday