Hell yeah brother.
I legit contracted with an OEM over Alibaba to make a custom piece of glass to adhere to the new LCD screen to replace the broken screen in my wife’s Playdate.
Though in that case it was like $150 total.
Damn, sounds impressive! The experience that inspired this meme for me was swapping the buttons in my mouse for newer ones from a dead donor mouse, which admittedly took much less than 2 hours haha
That’s so great. You should be proud.
Imagine the reduction in e-waste if everyone in high school took a short course in how to use a soldering iron, solder-sucker/braid and heat-gun to replace common bits in consumer electronics. So many things could be saved that get thrown out only due to a bad microswitch or cracked solder joint to a USB or headphone connector …
When I went to trade school I jumped all over the opportunity to learn how to solder for exactly that reason
When they went to school, my mother learned how to use a sewing machine, my father learned basic carpentry, and they both learned how to shoot and maintain an AK-47. Although the UUSR may not have been the perfect paradise that many people make it out to be, it does feel like modern school systems could learn a thing or two from the communists.
True. It isn’t always about a cost/labour analysis. Sometimes I want to repair something to learn how to do it. Sometimes I want to repair something because even though ‘my time is valuable’, I hate the idea of throwing out something I know will rot in the landfill for a thousand years. Sometimes I’m just attached to the thing and afraid I won’t find a replacement that is as good (which is often the case).
I hate our throwaway culture, it’s good to know how to fix things even if it isn’t technically ‘cost effective’ to do so.
I was living in a shithole apartment with a noisy fridge that the landlord wouldn’t fix and complaining to my therapist about it. He suggested I fix it, which was a completely alien idea to me at the time. It was a lot less complicated than I expected, I learned a lot about how it worked, and my self-confidence and perceived control over my circumstances skyrocketed.
Me with all my Koss headphones (looking at you KPH30i!), and everything with a depleted rechargeable battery.
Also it’s fun.
It challenges me, relaxes me, and I get a cool experience out of it
All of these reasons but I also just enjoy the experience of fixing something. It feeds the soul in some deep way for me
Karl Marx’s theory of alienation describes the separation and estrangement of people from their work, their wider world, their human nature, and their selves. Alienation is a consequence of the division of labour in a capitalist society, wherein a human being’s life is lived as a mechanistic part of a social class
Also, I think that you shouldn’t put a price on your free time off work? You wouldn’t be working anyway, why put a price tag on it?
Absolutely – I hate how we’ve been raised to think of time in monetary terms; I have to remind myself on days off that “No, I do not need to do anything it’s my day off! I can sleep in… no need to be productive …”
IMO, building your own devices/fixing is just plain more fun
There’s lots of costs that don’t show up in the 5$ value. Considering limited resources, the value in human lives tied with pollution, the pollution you are not generating during the two hours of hobbying…
I think the math checks out most of the time.
It’ll be faster next time.
I just like fixin stuff. It’s why I got a 3d printer and I’m learning CAD.
I would rather spend 8 hours banging my head against a wall than spend 10 dollars on Amazon to order a replacement part lol
Doing stuff against planned obsolesce and throwaway culture are much more meaningful than recycling.
If you are a hobbyist, you can break them in to components and build something new. Preferably something that doesn’t burn your house down or electrocute someone. Stay under 50V.
I just like fixin stuff. It’s why I got a 3d printer and I’m learning CAD.
I would rather spend 8 hours banging my head against a wall than spend 10 dollars on Amazon to order a replacement part lol
CAD work is more entertaining than video games to me, and in the end I’ll have something I can use.
Hey everyone! I just discovered this really interesting website - rice-purity-test.org It’s the Rice Purity Test, a self-graded survey that measures your level of “purity” or innocence related to different life experiences. Originated from Rice University in the 1960s, it’s now a popular social activity among college students and fun to share on various platforms. Check it out!
I found an amazing website for Block Blast players: blockblastsolver.online It’s an online tool that helps you find the best moves and strategies in the game. The free solver analyzes the game board and suggests optimal block placements to boost your scores. If you’re into Block Blast and want to enhance your gameplay, this website is a must-try. It really makes the game more fun and challenging.
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I just found this amazing website geometrydashjp.com It’s a fan-made version of Geometry Dash. This game combines music and rhythm, and it’s so exciting to control characters through levels full of rhythmic obstacles. If you love action platform games, you should definitely check it out!
I just discovered this amazing puzzle game called Block Blast at blockblastgame.net It’s so much fun and really challenges my brain. The gameplay is smooth and addictive. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or want to spend an hour playing, it’s perfect. I highly recommend it to all puzzle game lovers out there. Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed!
have you heard of Solarpunk?
I love how “solarpunk” is such a broad aesthetic that it encompasses both zero-waste high-tech hydrogen powered biocities as well as scrappy revolutionary village communities where people cook food on solar ovens made from shattered car mirrors and fashion antennas out of coat hangers. It can be both hi-tech or lo-tech, as long as the tech exists in harmony with humankind and with nature
Absolutely! If it’s already broken, and you fail to fix it, what have you lost? Go for it (but pls do your research and be careful. Don’t go poking about inside appliances with big capacitors, for example, like microwave ovens).
Can you fix my boiler?
Nothing more satisfying than making something that cheaper, and also exceed the quality of buying ready-to-use product.
CAD, EDA, IDE, and correct toolkits to the rescue!
For CAD I would recommend Onshape rather than Fusion, it’s browser based so it works on Linux and I prefer it target than Fusion.
The main limitation of the free tiers is that all the design you do are public.
I have difficulty finding that first project that would justify a purchase of a 3d printer.
Even just sending something to a local 3d printshop is difficult.
Basically I need a use case to kick me off.
I have a 3d printer. Honestly, it’s mostly junk that gets printed. I like the idea, but the utility isn’t there. It’s a solution in search of a problem.
But I’ve made a few neat things. My own design for cabinet and drawer hardware and some custom knick knack souvenirs for a gig I work on each year to give to the crew.
What I want is a large library of 3d model replacement parts for things like my car, but they haven’t been made available so I’d have to model them myself and I’m not that good.
I 3D print stuff for the wood shop a lot. Clamping doodads, tool holders, jigs, etc.
I have some things. I just got a roll of tpu to try and print a new drain plug for something that they don’t offer replacement parts on.
But I’ve found I don’t need another organizer or knick knack anymore. And personally, I’m not a huge fan of plastic. If I can get something in wood, metal, glass, or ceramic I’d much rather do that.
It’s great for when I need it. I just don’t need it often.
To be honest I don’t have 3d printer myself and rarely print to make a case, the electric bill really putting me off to own one. Most of time I used those pre-made abs plastic project box that you can cut/drill holes and come with various size. Other than that, sometime it feels “costly” to make something if you didn’t plan ahead or not really going to use the project.
Toy production, I have one - the main use is making whatever toys I think are cool. You want more LEGO - 3D print it. You want something to throw something for your dog, 3D print it.
Admittedly those aren’t use cases so much as hobbies. Occasionally you can 3D print a repair for a curtain hook or something. But everyone likes toys, even adults.
Do you have pets? My first project will be cages for my electronics to keep my cats away from them, eventually I want to put together a hall tree. They’re like coat hangers with a seat and storage for your shoes, but I’ll also add a section for my work clothes
amazing and helpful comment. thank you
Also openSCAD if you struggle to get your head around normal CAD programs. Everything is written as a script and it’s surprisingly intuitive.
Repair > replace.
It’s not just about how much money it costs.
Less waste thrown into a dump, gain knowledge of how to fix the issue, can help others with fixing the same issue, and sends the message that we’d rather repair than replace.
Everyone here fixing stuff with 3D printers while I am here struggling how to sew up wool silk leggings in a way that keeps them elastic and fighting for my life with darning
I mean it’s not that crazy if it saves you a trip to whatever store.
Going to a single place to replace something can take an hour so we can subtract that. Getting paid $5 an hour for a fun activity is also an absolute steal.