I got justified!

[ScottsGT]

Ok, goofy title.

But earlier this week our 11 year old Miele Vacuum cleaner stopped working. Wife told me to start shopping them and find us a replacement. She about threw up when I told her a replacement with the same features, same brand was $1100.00

I let her sit on this thought, played it up big time too! Then I pulled the old, "Well, let me see if I can throw a few band-aids on it and get it running again..."

Simply using a T-10 and a T-20 Torx, it was completely disassembled. Found a fried resistor on the circuit board. Thought about researching the board on line and just swapping out the resistor, but me being an electronics tech decided that if it was fatigued, probably the other 5 or 6 components were too. Yea, small board.
$98 later with new board in hand from local dealer, it's repaired!

Wife was happy, very happy! And that's when I took advantage of the situation and told her to never, ever ***** again when I order new tools!

 

[txvwnut]

Was that before or after you got done with the vacuuming?

I was kinda in the same spot a few years ago, the tv died one day. Luckily it had the ability to give flash codes through the power on light. Ordered two new convergence chips and the set was back in order.

When she was surprised that I was able to fix it I told her, next time I say I can fix it I can.

 

[wrench409]

Exellent!

Winning a battle in electronics is very fulfilling.

My hobby for years was component level testing/repairing so when the counterfeit capacitors flooded the market killing damn near everything I was ready. My young daughter was pretty observant while growing up.

So when her boyfriends TV died, she bought the tools and parts, watched some youtubes and had it back up and fixed in a few hours. Made me proud on a couple of different levels.

 

[ScottsGT]

She did make me "test" it when I was done. wned:

 

[revkev6]

I do repairs like that around the house regularly. by this time my wife takes it for granted if she doesn't get same day repair service!

 

[Cypherian]

It is amazing the significant others some times have no appreciation for the tools in the shops and garages and basements we all use to save money.. well most of the time save money. Why they are so surprised when told it will cost this much to do what you want. But if I spend a little to buy the piece of equipment or add on for a machine to do the same thing then you get the what with all the tools you own you do not have that one ?? LOL Then relent and LET you buy the item.. Hence I only have a GF significant other no say in what I spend my money on :}

Cypher

 

[bczygan]

Why is it that wives think that their husbands have no skills?

Even the things we did as a profession, they think anyone else is a better choice.

I guess they've seen enough of our dumb-*** mistakes, to think we're just imbeciles in every area.



Bill

 

[Phixer]

Let me get this straight... a vacuum cleaner needs a circuit board?!?!

I get what you are saying; there is a lot of satisfaction in avoiding the expected consumer route of "toss and buy new" and friends and family are left in awe.

 

[joe_padavano]

Let me get this straight... a vacuum cleaner needs a circuit board?!?!

EXACTLY what I was going to post.

Seriously, I just went through this with one of our Miele vacuums. The older of the two is an S334i model that was having problems with the cord retractor and the motor speed control. This isn't the first time I've had it apart, either. The constant force spring on the retractor was shot, and a tab had broken off the plastic switch button for the speed controller (note that this model is old enough that the speed control was a variable resistor with NO circuit boards required... ).

In any case, after pricing replacement parts, I bought a parts vacuum on ebay for $67 delivered and swapped the parts I needed to ours. Actually, the model I bought was a slightly newer S344i with the electronic motor speed control. It was just like adding options to your car - the wiring and plug was all there in the older model and it plugged right in. The cord retractor was exactly the same and also plugged right in. Vac fixed.

I'll also point out that I have at least one parts car for each of my old cars anyway, and a parts vacuum is a lot easier to store. Fortunately for me, we have a farm, so storing parts cars isn't a problem.

 

[Buckgnarly]

WTF makes a vacuum 1100 bucks?!!?

 

[Phixer]

WTF makes a vacuum 1100 bucks?!!?

A circuit board?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Let me get this straight... a vacuum cleaner needs a circuit board?!?!

I get what you are saying; there is a lot of satisfaction in avoiding the expected consumer route of "toss and buy new" and friends and family are left in awe.

I bet Mrs. LS6's Dyson has circuit boards, too. Swapping a board makes sense to me, but if I have to do component level solid state electronic repairs on something like a vacuum cleaner, it's replacement time.


Tommy

 

[bad_idea]

It is satisfying to repair something for the wife to justify the tool collection.

My favorite is building something for her with the leftover materials I hoard. Justifies tools, and shed (for storage).

 

[bad_idea]

It is satisfying to repair something for the wife to justify the tool collection. Congrats.

My favorite is building something for her with the leftover materials I hoard. Justifies tools, and shed (for storage).

 

[Jaguar Fan]

This is why there are housecleaning services.

 

[BluCamaro]

According to my math, you now have $1,002 to spend on tools, etc. with "all the money you saved".

 

[Richard Cranium]

There is several big buck vac's out there

 

[coljar]

Mind you, my wife never says a word about any tool buying, but last week she came up from the basement and said the washer was making a funny noise and the cloths were dripping wet at the end of cycle. I thought, oh ****, but I went down and tilted it up and noticed the coupler was broke between the motor and gearbox. Went over to the appliance part place and told him what I needed and $19 later, she was back in business.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

According to my math, you now have $1,002 to spend on tools, etc. with "all the money you saved".

You can't use the same "Look how much money I saved on these XXXXX" logic as your wife does. It's in the Double Standards clauses in the Marriage Contract...

Tommy

 

[ScottsGT]

This is why there are housecleaning services.

It was the cleaning lady that it died on.

My wife's first reaction when I told her the price was "And I don't even run the thing anymore!"

And FWIW, we just started using a cleaning service. You know, wife has no time between work, her half marathons and training, getting her hair and nails done, sitting around drinking wine.....

Can't complain though. She went back to school several years back and doubled her income. Now student loans are paid off, she wanted a "cleaning lady" I've yet to meet this "cleaning lady" since she comes while we're at work.

 

[ratdoggy]

I justified a 5hp 60 gallon compressor by blowing out the drain tube on our refrigerator...

 

[joe_padavano]

WTF makes a vacuum 1100 bucks?!!?

Marital bliss. The wife wanted the world's best HEPA vac because she was afraid of lead paint dust in our 300 yr old house. Actually, ours was only $600 when we bought it - but it didn't have any circuit boards.

Lots cheaper than a divorce (trust me, I've been through TWO of those... ).

By the way, I've made it a point NOT to tell her that the paint on my old cars that I've been sanding is also lead-based.

 

[dclassical]

Electronic repairs are a hobby of mine... I like doing the diagnostic, but when helping friends, if they know how to solder, then they do the fix themselves lol.

I have also seen friends bring me TVs with replacement boards or chips or capacitors and ask me if I would replace them. They have no experience, but used Google to diagnose. About half the time, it was wrong and they were sometimes out $100 on a part that was not needed. Just like anything else, proper diagnostic is key (or having a lot of luck).

 

[jives]

My wedding present to my wife 28 years ago was a Miele cannister vac. Cost $450 back then. Lasted 26 years. I did my best to fix it, but electronics and electric motors are out of my scope.

I did not have the $850 as the direct replacement. Also, the bags are REALLY expensive and we were going through a bag every two weeks (about $9 a bag. .. 6 kids, 2 furry dogs, gravel driveway). In the 2 years we've not had the Miele we've gone through one Dirt Devil and are on the 3rd Shark. One of my 11 year old daughters literally snapped a Shark upright in half.

My wife appreciates that I can fix things even though she is always ready to give up the appliance ghost first. Replacing sinks, toilets, fixtures, dishwasher, dryer, washing machine.

 

[Fishplate]

Why is it that wives think that their husbands have no skills?

I guess there's a lot of dumbasses that marry the wrong person. I'm allowed to spend what I want on whatever I want, and my skills are appreciated.

 

[chops101]

Good job!

I did basically the same thing with a central vac that was not operational when we purchased the house.

Defective solder joint on the power control board (pwr relay) and up and running in minutes...Boy was she happy.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Marital bliss. The wife wanted the world's best HEPA vac because she was afraid of lead paint dust in our 300 yr old house.

Yes, but a Miele is FAR from the world's best vac, let alone the world's best HEPA vac...

Tommy

 

[LumpyMusic]

I'm sure (I guess/hope?) a lot of you are exaggerating. But is your relationship with the most significant person in your life REALLY that much of a battle? Is it REALLY a constant case of needing to justify something you do? That kind of thinking seems like something you should figure out about each other before you get married and if you find that a factor, move on and keep looking.

We're supposed to love and enjoy and delight in the things that make our loved-ones happy. Or did I sleep through some part of man school that says we should seek out women who disapprove of our hobbies and pursuits?


Sgt Lumpy

 

[woody6904]

I justified to my wife several times over the last couple of months. She keeps getting craft ideas off of Pinterest, and of course I get roped into them. Even the simplest task she finds takes several different tools. I leave them out on the workbench as we are working on her project. And after we get done I make sure she realizes how many tools we had to use.

 

[chipss36]

at the opposite of all this, I build guitar tube amps, remakes of old fenders, all hand wired like they did back in the 60's and 50's , a new reissue from fender is like $800, my parts cost is well over that , add vintage RCA tubes and I am about 3 times the cost of a new one.....but my amps have the mojo....

good job, OP

 

[ScottsGT]

I justified to my wife several times over the last couple of months. She keeps getting craft ideas off of Pinterest, and of course I get roped into them. Even the simplest task she finds takes several different tools. I leave them out on the workbench as we are working on her project. And after we get done I make sure she realizes how many tools we had to use.

This is why my wife got a Milwaukee M12 circular saw for Christmas.

 

[MattVette89]

Was that before or after you got done with the vacuuming?

.

Ha!

I've been fixing things for my wife and her family for years, but it still somehow surprises her when I repair something. I love being able to tell her "see, that's why I bought XYZ tool when you thought I didn't need it".

Good job!

 

[Lassen Forge]

Ok, goofy title.

But earlier this week our 11 year old Miele Vacuum cleaner stopped working. Wife told me to start shopping them and find us a replacement. She about threw up when I told her a replacement with the same features, same brand was $1100.00

I let her sit on this thought, played it up big time too! Then I pulled the old, "Well, let me see if I can throw a few band-aids on it and get it running again..."

$98 later with new board in hand from local dealer, it's repaired!

WTF makes a vacuum 1100 bucks?!!?

That right there.

One, they're made to be repaired and will last a lifetime, two, they go from dead silent to damn near ****-starting a VW power (it's like you took a shop vac and crossed it with an Electrolux), they don't weigh much, and there's a level of badassery about the things - sure, I could buy another throw away hoover... but I won't. Never again. It's like comparing a Plastic Chinese Chainsaw to an old school commercial Stihl.

I used to give a friend a ration of s*** about her paying half a grand for hers (she has one)... She just smiled... then my last 2-3 year old $200 hoover did what they all do, took a dive at the worst possible moment (right before our annual 4th of July gig). She loaned me her Miele, it was like being raised on Honda 350's and being given the keys to an Indian Chief. Then I asked her how old it was, as I was getting tired of buying a new vacuum every 3 years for a couple hundred and change... when she told me it was almost 20, that was it. Mine just turned 7, and hers still runs like a top.

THAT'S why they're $1100. And they're damned well worth it. If ya gotta ask... (And that's OK, it's like being asked why pay all that for Snap-On when Chinese **** would work) ya just wouldn't understand...

 

[rharman]

My wedding present to my wife 28 years ago was a Miele cannister vac. Cost $450 back then. Lasted 26 years. I did my best to fix it, but electronics and electric motors are out of my scope.

I did not have the $850 as the direct replacement. Also, the bags are REALLY expensive and we were going through a bag every two weeks (about $9 a bag. .. 6 kids, 2 furry dogs, gravel driveway). In the 2 years we've not had the Miele we've gone through one Dirt Devil and are on the 3rd Shark. One of my 11 year old daughters literally snapped a Shark upright in half.

My wife appreciates that I can fix things even though she is always ready to give up the appliance ghost first. Replacing sinks, toilets, fixtures, dishwasher, dryer, washing machine.

Shark products are one of the biggest scams out there. Total pieces of garbage and horrible customer service. Had one and it died pretty quickly. Never could get a response from them. Never again.....

 

[rharman]

Marital bliss. The wife wanted the world's best HEPA vac because she was afraid of lead paint dust in our 300 yr old house.

Yes, but a Miele is FAR from the world's best vac, let alone the world's best HEPA vac...

Tommy

Miele makes an awesome dishwasher though!

 

[jd_1138]

There is several big buck vac's out there

We bought an Oreck 10 years ago, and it still works great -- powerful, light. I think it was $220 but worth it. We used to buy those junky $80 pieces of **** like Hoover, Kenmore (once good brands now slapped on Chinese junk) every few years as they'd only last 2 or 3 years.

Orecks are used extensively in the hotel industry as they stand up to professional constant use.

 

[slip knot]

Miele does make one kick *** dishwasher, but it'll make your $1100 vacuum sound cheap.

 

[egnorant]

Had an Ex that I discovered could not stand the thought of something repaired. She had to have a new one. Resoldered a joint on the TV, replaced a belt on the dryer, installed an ice maker in the fridge, replaced a dash light on her car...these things just got under her skin!

Next girlfriend bought me bushings for an Austin Healey for Christmas fixed a plug in our old waffle iron!

Bruce

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I'm sure (I guess/hope?) a lot of you are exaggerating. But is your relationship with the most significant person in your life REALLY that much of a battle? Is it REALLY a constant case of needing to justify something you do? That kind of thinking seems like something you should figure out about each other before you get married and if you find that a factor, move on and keep looking.

It doesn't always work that way. Last year, I bought an ATV, as I live on 1.3 acres of National Forest. I needed it for 2 years prior, but the wife demanded I wait til our previous house sold, not that we couldn't afford it, just that it was orders. The house sold in October of 14, and I went ATV shopping in January of 15. When I found the one I wanted I had them hold it for me, which they gladly did. As I left the house with the trailer, the wife, clearly pissed, told me, "Remind me again why we NEED one of these things!" My response was, "I'm not going to list the many reasons I've already bitched to you about, for the last several years, because you should know them well enough to list them to ME. I'll simply say I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to be around a few more years to take care of you!" She fell silent after that. She's noticed already, the 2 hours and 15 minutes I'm saving on plowing the driveway, over using the old snowblower, not to mention the dead wood I drag off of the property for cutting. She needs to remember all that while she's ordering clothes and **** off QVC that she don't need, while we've got bags of her clothes that don't fit in the closet. And we've been married over 40 years.

 

[CJM8515]

Thats one thing for certain: Should I ever get married, before I say "I do" the woman must understand I buy tools, repair stuff and generally dont pay people to do work unless I have to. If she cant live with that, then I aint marrying her.

Since I was a kid I found it hilarious that my dad is actually the woman of the relationship and my mom is more the dad. He works and earns the cash and does yard work somewhat. But mom fixes and repairs everything, does yardwork too and so forth. Guess its a consequence of a city boy marrying a machinists daughter who had no sons. Ive always been the handy one compared to my brother as well.

Oh as far as vacuums-I buy them second hand if they are in good shape or I buy them on closeout. So far have had a nice hoover and recently a eureka with no issues. Its a vacuum, its doesnt need to be made of gold. my cousin is on dyson number 2, first one broke and couldnt be fixed after 2 years of use..