Does it get easier?

[Sheikster405]

I'm just beginning to learn about tools/fixing/building things. My dad is the most un handy person alive. Has never even owned a drill or any power tools. SO I am learning on the fly basically.

I built 2 workbenches and some shelves. Things can never seem to be square or level or pieces fit exactly how they should.

Does it get easier? Any tips for a beginner?

 

[CoogarXR]

When I was a young guy, I learned by watching my dad, and by practicing. Since you don't have a handy mentor, the next best thing is Youtube, lol. Look up what you want to do, and watch other people do it. Watch several people do the same job, so you can get a feel for different types of tools, methods, etc.

Sure, you will get hurt, you will break tools, you will wreck projects, it's all part of gaining experience. I have a ton of "Well, I won't do that again" experience. Don't get discouraged. Just watch some videos, and try to use the right tools for the job (that's not always easy when you are just starting out and don't have many tools).

 

[dkmc]

Interesting question.
I think, yes, it does eventually get easier IF you have the knack.
It may take 20+ years to figure out if you have it, but that's all I
can tell you based on my expereince. I am 56 and I work with metal.
Metal work is easier than it was when I was 20 or 30. But wood work is
still hard, as you say, getting things square, not splitting wood, etc.
I'm a bit better at wood working than I used to be, but I don't think I have
the knack for it. Metal is easier.
Don't stop trying though! Keep at it and see if it gets easier. I suppose determination
has a lot to do with it. I mostly despise wood, so that can't help.

 

[thool]

I found that leaning what DOESN'T work is just as valuable as learning what does work.

It also pays to take your time, use the correct tool, and take a timeout of something seems wrong. I am still amazed at how a short pause gives me time to look at the problem from a different angle.

So yes, it does get easier!

 

[jimgood]

It does get easier the more you do. Everything you described is a matter of accuracy. If you want something to be square, plumb and level, you have to be accurate in measuring, setting up cuts, cutting, fit up, etc.

There are a lot of experienced people here that can help so ask questions on techniques before you start and you might find that heads you in the right direction before you make a mistake.

 

[pepi]

Ever hear someone say " If it were easy everyone would be doing it"

Does it ever get easier, NO. Because every new build or repair you encounter will be, well new and uncharted territory.

It is the approach to be used and thinking out a process that will solve the problem, that will get easier.

Keep trying

 

[finn]

It doesn't get easier, but after a while you are no longer surprised or disappointed when things don't turn out perfectly.

Sometimes rework is in order.

 

[38Chevy454]

Learn by doing is effective and you will get better. Not having the training as a kid, you are playing catch-up. You will make it, and the sense of accomplishment, and money savings, by doing the job yourself is a great feeling.

 

[Cyberbear]

I can't ever remember not working on something in the garage since I was about seven years old, and now at age 70 my biggest problem is failing heart and joints, but it's been a great ride over the decades. When you do something long enough and gain hands on experience, it does become easier, depending on your natural abilities and level of intellect.
There is always more than one way to accomplish your goals out in the shop, it usually just requires you to figure it out. Most of what I know, I learned by doing or watching others when possible. At first I sometimes bought a few instructional books in order to shorten the learning curve (no sense re-inventing the wheel), but both metal and woodworking came naturally to me. I operated a custom woodworking shop for 27 years, and was in the electrical trade for 12, all during which I constantly improved my skills. Keep at it is all I can recommend, doing something well takes time.

 

[tmcowboy]

• Watch "This Old House"
• Go to a used book store
• Think through the project i.e. plan
• No Shortcuts
• Develop a Critical Eye
• If someone else can do it why not you.
• Take pride in a job well done.

The jobs won't get easier because you'll gain greater confidence to tackle more difficult projects.

Most important - everyone's best friend is caulk.

 

[Falcon67]

It does get easier the more you do. And you also get over it easier when things don't turn out exactly as planned.

 

[no1steelsmith]

Think of this as 'continuing education', you never stop learning if you have a desire to 'know'. Building stuff, fixing stuff it's all just a part of becoming self-sufficient. How self-sufficient you become is up to you.

 

[countryroad82]

I often look back and think of my early days of working on projects/building things/etc. and wonder how some jobs I used to think was such a big deal that I now won't bat an eye on getting started on. So yes I will say it does get easier. Not having someone to watch and learn from isn't as bad nowadays due to the advent of YouTube and other websites such as this one. Don't be afraid to ask questions and you will make mistakes, but always learn from them.

 

[ScottsGT]

OP, How old are you? Just curious, and I could make a few comments based on my life experiences. But here's a few guidelines that have helped me develop skills over the years. I'm now 53, and still learning something new every day.

1) Remember the Clint Eastwood line, "A man's gotta know his limitations"
If something is above you, look into doing it before you leap. Don't assume you
know it.

2) As others said. YouTube, Google, etc.... All are great resources.

3) Patience. When I was younger, I did things with the knee jerk reaction. After
enough failures I learned to slow down and think things through.

4) Use your damned brain! It's a powerful tool. Think about what you are about to
do. Play the "what if" game with yourself. Ex: What if I put this screw too close to
the edge of the wood? Will it split? Will it work? Will it look like ****?

5) Never, and I mean never be afraid to ask someone else for their opinion. Even if
you think you know the answer. Someone else might have a better way of doing
things.
When I was 20-21 I had a boss that was up there in his years. He always asked me
how he should do something. One day I asked him why he as asking me with his
45-50 years of experience. He said that I might have a better way of doing things.
Doesn't mean he used them, but he not only thought about my ideas, but it made
me think of different ways.

For your projects, keep in mind that sometimes that used $10 circular saw wasn't such a bargain after all! Buy quality tools and learn to use them properly. Take your time to measure twice, cut once! Use a quality square. If things don't look right, check your tool!
One of my jobs at work at one time was to hang TV's all over campus. I always seemed to have an issue getting things level. I would put the level on the TV and the bubble would be dead on with the mount and the TV. But if you stood back, it was not level. I would usually just level it by eye. One day the Baseball coach was watching us as we were hanging a 60" TV in the new trophy room after winning the National Title. He saw the problem instantly. My level was bad. He was kind enough to throw it away for me! LOL!!
I couldn't see the trees for the forest! Check your tools! I had a problem cutting square cuts on a chop saw. Even though it said it was set on 0°, a square told me different.

 

[Bookworm]

If you enjoy it, it'll get easier.

If you don't enjoy doing it, it'll never get easier.

 

[Sheikster405]

ScottsGT, to answer your question, I am 28. I just inherited my first set of tools. This all started because I wanted to reorganize my garage. It turned in to me finding a passion of fixing/building things. 3 weeks ago I couldn't have told you what a miter saw is.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Just listen to this Song.

 

[pcmeiners]

My father could barely hold a hammer, you learn by doing. Does it get easier? Not if you consider you get do do all repairs on your own property, and repairs for others (until you get smart). On the other hand I figure I saved $600k for all the work I did not farm out to "professionals", and the work was done correctly. Now do you want to do it yourself, or basically give away a retirement.

 

[PugetDude]

Everyone makes mistakes.
Experience teaches you to recover and not repeat them.

 

[MFolks]

When using power tools,always remember,flesh cuts far easier than wood or metal, the power tool won't even slow down if it encounters your hands or other body parts.

Never work with power tools if your sick,tired,angry,or drunk,as mistakes can happen easily if you are.

 

[bczygan]

The more careful you are in your measuring and marking, the more uniform and accurate your results will be.

When working with wood, you need to notice all the imperfections, and account for them.

Uniform and careful measurements and square and even cuts, go a long way toward final assembly being easy.

Marking with a sharp instrument for accuracy and then going over it with a pencil for visibility helps. Place the marking instrument on the mark, and move the straight edge over to it.

Use sharp cutting tools. Carbide blades. Clamp the work piece so you can concentrate on the cut.


Bill

 

[Daedalus]

Of course it gets easier. It's called experience. And better tools. My father too was fairly mechanically declined. I had to learn on my own, and spent many nights and weekends working both cars and remodels. I'm 43 now and can do "a lot". And still learning.

 

[Big Daddy Chop Shop]

In my opinion, the truth is not easy. Here are a few realities I can share growing up in a "car guy" family, helping build my first house at 8 (not subbing it, dad and I built it), and growing up and working in the trades.

1. You have it or you don't.
2. If your family doesn't have it, I have some bad news for you.
3. You can do stuff, build stuff, but if you don't have it, you will struggle and have mediocre results.
4. If you have it, you know. The opposite is not always true.
5. The older you are when you decide to use it, the more difficult it is to accumulate the knowledge, the tools, the experience to be the best you can be.
6. You can still have fun, even if you don't have it.

I could go on and on. I had no doubt as long as I could recall that I had "it". I loved tools at a young age. Learned to weld by 6 (stick). Was playing with electric by 7-8, got into cars, was the top vocational student my senior year out of 4 counties, 3rd in the state in auto, and yet, was 12th over all in my class. Went to college on a scholarship for HVAC. My dad has been a mechanic, pilot, built 3 houses himself, his father, grandfather were both pipe fitters. Its on my mom's side too.

But today, its all just a hobby for me, and that is kind of nice. I miss it some days. Sitting at a computer isn't all its cracked up to be.

 

[pmiranda]

I think YouTube or even text DIY guides will save you tons of time. It's amazing what you find if you look... some videos are really well made.
Yes, it gets easier... all learning is additive because of the way our brains work. You mind will always try to relate something new to something you already know. Always buy some extra material so you can screw up one or two things and not need to drop everything to go buy more. Keep your receipts and you can usually return the excess and if not you'll probably find a use for it on a later project.

Volunteer to help somebody out doing projects you might want to do. Even if you're just quietly doing grunt work you'll be able to see it in person. You might especially appreciate what is possible when you have the right tool for the right job.

Try to start with easier projects and work your way up.

Even if you do have to punt and hire out a job, you can see them do it and maybe learn what was holding you back.

 

[jsherid1]

I taught myself a lot of DIY skills by buying a house that needed renovation and then buying (no I'm not kidding) the Time Life book on home projects. Doing things the first time was intimidating but by following the directions and thinking things through by taking my time generally good results followed.

It often takes me several times longer to do something than it would an experienced pro but by being methodical about it when I finish a project, it is usually done right. One of the proudest moments for me was when I sold that house, the buyer's home inspector complimented my wife on using good contractors who knew what they were doing to do the work around the house. As you get more experience, you get more confidence so keep at it.

 

[pmiranda]

Those time-life books are like encyclopedias... You can get a great general background on alot of things. Now we have the internet to take the next step and get expert knowledge. If you don't have the background it's hard to know what you're looking for.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

With the abundance of information just a click away, as long you select adequate training resources, it just takes determination and discipline to learn anything these days. I imagine one could learn brain surgery just by watching YouTube.

 

[larry_g]

Ever hear the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff."? Well in the trades that is utter BS. You have to sweat the small stuff to become the master. If you have a joint, can you prove 3 ways that it is correct? Make something simple, a picture frame say, then measure it with a square, measuring tape, and a level and confirm that it is correct with each tool. If something is not correct then work with it till you find the root cause of the failure. Don't just discard your failures, troubleshoot the root cause of the failure.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Pluribus]

Trial, error, and Youtube will go a long way. Having an inherent curiosity for how things work and go together is a must. Start on things where screw-ups aren't particularly expensive or dangerous and work up from there. It's a lifelong process.

 

[bdamico]

It is much easier these days than it used to be--with resources like google, youtube, and this forum. My advice would be to read up before tackling every project. Don't be lazy; search and read up before and during every project, and don't be afraid to stop what you're doing and change direction.

 

[justanengineer]

Easier? Yup. It also gets more difficult too if you take too much of a break, I've noticed that on a few odd occasions when I took months/years break from a hobby or other activity whether it be shooting guns, working on cars, or drinking beer.

JMO, but the ONLY way to improve a skill is to practice it. Ignore the chuckleheads who claim to have "natural skill" on their first attempt, theyre either lying or too ignorant to realize how little skill they have. Dont take too big of a project at once but challenge yourself and keep at it, your projects will go from ok to good to great over time.

 

[thool]

Speaking of measuring precisely for a cut, there are many places to go wrong, and I'm still working on perfecting it!

How to measure the length? Where on the scale do you make your mark? Marking the line, do you use a fat mark or thin mark? Cutting the line, where on the line does the blade go?

You'd be surprised how a small error in one direction can accumulate into a bigger error by the time you've finished the cut.

 

[23 CHIEF]

One of the things I learned over time of trial and error is if I take my time work slow think about each step it turns better

 

[A_Pmech]

Human learning can be described by an exponential function.

You'll put in many hours of practice and appear to get nowhere. Then, all of a sudden, things will start to make sense. Shortly after they all make sense you will find yourself proficient. Assuming, of course, a constant rate of input.

It's the long tail on the curve that gets people...

 

[NUTTSGT]

ScottsGT, to answer your question, I am 28. I just inherited my first set of tools. This all started because I wanted to reorganize my garage. It turned in to me finding a passion of fixing/building things. 3 weeks ago I couldn't have told you what a miter saw is.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice.

You came to the right website.

Buy yourself a good pencil, tape measure (learn how to read it) a decent claw hammer. Measure twice, cut once.

Got any used books stores local ? Go spend $20 and grab some Time-Life books or something similar. While you may not be able learn everything from a book, it should give you an idea of what's going on.

Don't worry, we all have to start somewhere. There's no shame in not knowing how to do something if you've never done it before or been taught it.

 

[steky]

I was in your place years ago also. I bought a fixer upper not because I wanted to but it was all I could afford. I was lucky as I had an old German fellow for a neighbor. I'm sure he got lots of chuckles watching me attempt to make repairs. He would watch and then he would ask" Can I give you some advice? " Then he would invite me over to his shop and give me a tool I needed and advice on how to use it. He used to always say " if you own a house and have nothing to do you a re lazy". LOL. That old man taught me so much and I was always grateful for him taking time to teach me. Hang in there you will surprise you self.

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

 

[Voi]

Does it get easier? Any tips for a beginner?

I think a lot of this is about finding where your aptitude lies. If you can find something that combines aptitude and interest that you'll learn at an astonishing pace. That fact that you're posting this question on a forum like this suggests to me you have an interest in creating things.

Interestingly enough some of the DIY stuff that I'm good at I don't necessarily enjoy doing. On the other hand, some of the stuff that intrigues me I'm really lousy at.

For now, if your aptitude doesn't lend itself to building things like workbenches don't sweat it much.

If you built the benches our of wood maybe try another one out of steel? Or vice versa?

 

[Parkershop]

I've come to think almost everything is practice- you may not be able to improvise a lot yet, but you can learn it. Getting comfortable with one thing leads to being able to tackle the next harder thing. Since I got a house I routinely build and fix projects that years ago I would have hired out, it's like a lab.

I've also been lucky to move next door to a great neighbor who's done it all and doesn't mind giving me advice, which hasn't been wrong yet. My dad wasn't that bad with tools but he had no inclination to organizing or maintaining them- it's because I finally realized that I should have dedicated shop space that I found this site, boy do I love the gallery pics.

Also keep lots of kinds of levels and triangles around and trim can cover up a lot of un-slick work!
JP

 

[RECox286]

This is a topic that should be addressed and the old apprenticeships

brought back to life. No one pops out of mom with a hammer in one

hand and a wrench in the other. (Aptitude maybe, experience never !)

There are plenty of DIY guides available; tv shows, books at big box

or the library and people willing to pass on their knowledge. So, if you

have the urge or the necessity, don't let the lack of experience slow

you down any. Go slow at first, or at least until you feel more competent

about your skills. Go easy on filling your shop with tools and equipment.

If you have a project in mind, get the tools you know you will need for

the job, and in that way you can accumulate what you need as you need.

When you do buy a tool, don't look at the cheapest one, but say to yourself

I want the one that will last, and that I can will to my son/daughter.

The money you will be saving on labor, even if the job takes longer to do

than a contractor would take to do, will more than pay for your tools.

Hope you have a good experience...the same as I have these past 60 years.

Uncle Bob

 

[Bill Anderson]

My best advice is not to listen to people that think 'handiness' is hereditary/genetic. Thank god Einstein, Gates, Tesla (not the car the scientist), Bohr, fill in the blank with a name of any great person in history that has impacted our world, didn't subscribe that narrow minded thinking and discouraging advice. And I'm trying to be nice here...but please don't put down someone's aspirations, or their desire to learn or try something new, especially kids/young people.

Just because someone's father was not a surgeon, but a bricklayer, plumber, ditch digger, mechanic, instead, does that mean his child cannot become a skilled surgeon?

Is a surgeon's son only limited to being a surgeon?