Tag: Do it yourself

I’m so broke I squeek when I walk!

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This month was one of the most expensive for fixing what broke in the history of our marriage.

  • New glasses for Bob and I:  $695.00
  • Claus got sick and had to go to the vet:  $250.00
  • Doggie Dental for both dogs:  $295.00
  • Bob broke a tooth and needs a crown: $350.00
  • The goslings got sick and that cost me $270.00
  • The dryer broke and the repairman will want a minimum $275.00 (you know I’m right!)

$2,135.00!

Something had to give.

So this week I fired the Maytag repair man.  He wanted $89.95 just to come by and give me his opinion about what could be wrong with my dryer.   Parts and his labor were of course going to be extra.  Oh, but wait!  After his visit if I didn’t choose to have him fix the broken dryer, then he would give me a certificate for $100.00 dollars towards the purchase of a new dryer.  How sweet, but…

I don’t think so!

Taking a deep breath I went to the internet to see how to “do it yourself” and found these guys!

PartSelect.com   http://www.partselect.com/

And once again I must clearly state that they did not pay me for this endorsement, they were just especially HELPFUL!

At their website I was able to figure out what parts I needed just by the description of the squeak my dryer was making.  They also had diagrams,  charts, videos, and even other customers instructions for how to take the dryer apart, replace the parts, and put it back together.

I ordered my parts, which by the way were exactly the same amount the Maytag guy wanted for his opinion.  Funny how that worked out, huh?

The parts arrived  in an unmarked box.   I began to feel my stomach twist.

“OK, enough of that!” I told myself.  “If Rosie the Riviter, could do this kinda stuff, then I can do it too!”

So, I cinched up my big girl trousers,

rolled up my sleeves,

gritted my teeth,

tried not to hyperventilate,

and…

BEGAN.

I mean what’s the worst that could go wrong?

Gulp!

A broken dryer, my trusty cordless screwdriver and my Cup’a Joe!

Pop the hood…

Hm…

REALLY… YA THINK???

=: – O

Remove the front panel, and

GAAACK!

Ever wondered how dryer fires happen?

Yup, that felt gasket is definitely not supposed to be stuck there…

I SPY: one computer screw, a straight pin, a lost shirt button, and one dime.   (must click and enlarge to play)  😉

I gathered my parts,

Assembled the drum bearing, inserted it and the new felt gasket,

ALL BY MYSELF!

Well OK, I did have a technical assistant…

What new skills have you ever challenged yourself to do?

(click image for Wikimedia photo credit)

If I wait till it’s done… It will never get posted!

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Yes friends I am just that way.  I want it all to be perfect, but it is not.  I think it will take quite awhile for it all to shake out, and settle into where it goes.  That aside, here is the basic layout.

The window quilt is whole cloth, and was a practice piece for machine stippling and binding the edges.   It also instantly and dramatically warmed up my room!  The handbag collection was my Mother-in-laws.  The little bed by where I work is Tucker’s place.  🙂

So, it’s all here, and like I said it still needs a bit of fluffing and folding, but it will sort itself out as I use it and find the logical places for it all.

And this is very special to me…

The vintage telephone table was a recent purchase.  The vintage telephone belonged to Bob’s parents and still has the old phone number on it… the one I dialed so long ago and he answered…  AND IT STILL WORKS!  😉

Things I learned how to do:

  1. Use a pneumatic nail gun
  2. Use a radial miter saw (and didn’t hurt myself!)
  3. Build and install a sewing counter (it’s there on the left in the first photo)
  4. Lay and cut in vinyl flooring.
  5. Miter and nail in shoe to hold flooring

Bob painted the ceiling and helped me carrying the heavy stuff.  He also helped me with hanging the wire shelving and the peg board (it takes two for those jobs).  But the rest of it was all me.

Can’t you just feel me smiling?

Now, what else can I tear up fix around here?  OH, I know, the laundry/mud room!

applause… Pleeease!

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I know I am supposed to wait for the big reveal,

BUT

I can’t wait.

Look what I did all by myself today!

(Sound like a little kid don’t I?)

Made a template (hint, use an old blade for cutting paper)  😉

drilled holes through paper and into studs

used drill pattern to properly space drilled holes into the frame/brace (hint, use wood blocks under two by four to prevent drilling into your new floor)  🙂

assemble and attach frame to wall,

VOILA!   My new sewing table!

I’m so excited to have this (almost) done, and it’s level too!  😀

I still have to paint the frame and legs, secure the top to the frame, and put some trim along the back and side of the table.

More later!