learn basic handyman skills

Althought I did have some trouble with the tube at first. The instructions on the tube said to puncture the inner seal. I knew what that meant but I didn’t understand HOW to do it. And puncture it with what? I’d read instructions on-line which mentioned some tubes had inner seals and some didn’t, but it too didn’t say how to get to the seal. Typical. Instructions written by someone who already KNOWS WHAT TO DO.

I found the 800 # on the tube and it said “Got a question?”. Why, yes I do…so I called…and proceeded to spend 10 minutes on hold with Muzak before being disconnected. Ugh! But I was determined. I called again, and finally got someone. I explained my question to the woman who clearly did not understand.
“You need to puncture the inner seal” she said. Think she was reading the tube?
“Yes, I know that, but how? How do I get to the seal?”
“Maybe a nail?” she said hesitantly. Way to sound like an expert….
“A nail is too short”.
She responded with silence…then “Please hold”....then Muzak….then dial tone.

I could’ve gotten mad and called back but why bother? I sat at my desk and stared at the tube. Maybe unbending a paper clip? I grabbed a big one, stretched it out and pushed it into the nozzle. Pop! Inner seal punctured!

Next I practiced with the gun until I was comfortable with the amount of pressure to exert on the trigger. It was kind of like icing a cake (funny how my thoughts still go to the food). Armed with my gun, water and rags, I started. I did pretty well, keeping it light and straight, using my finger to smooth it out. I got a little sloppy in some spots but it was clear so who cares,right?

When I saw my friend to return his caulking gun, I told him about my calling the 800 #. His response? “That is such a chick-thing to do”. I had to laugh because THAT was SUCH a guy-response.

All in all, the caulking helped but I’ve got one more step. Plastic around the air conditioners. Thankfully, I know how to do this…no 800 # needed.

I just got hit with a huge electric bill payment for going over budget on my heat this year. My condo has draft issues and last winter, I never got around to putting up plastic around my bedroom windows and terrace door. I decided I would not be so lazy – or stupid – this year. So, two weeks ago, I contacted the couple that did the painting in my condo and had them check to see what they could do to fix the drafts.

In the meantime, I told a friend about it and he said “What? You can fix that yourself – just caulk it”. That comment was one of the reasons I decided to change the name of this goal. Could I really do it myself? “Absolutely you can do it and I’ll even loan you my caulking gun”. Wow – that’s special because he doesn’t loan things easily.

I rushed to Home Depot to buy caulk (I don’t know what the rush was since I wasn’t going to do it until the weekend). In my excitement (over caulk?)I never wrote down what he told me to get so I ended up buying the wrong kind. Oy! Back I went to get the right one (Phenoseal Clear Caulk, not Silicone). OK, next time, I write it down.

Last night, the handyman called to talk about what he planned to do. His resolution? Caulk it. I said “That’s all? I can do that, right?” He said I sure could. He told me to try it and if it didn’t help, to give him a call and he’d try something more invasive.

So, tonight I’ll get the gun from my friend, hopefully a few helpful hints (which I will write down) and this weekend, I’ll attempt my first DIY project.

In the last year, I’ve been trying to focus on taking care of my home. Decluttering, painting, replacing furniture, etc. Some things I’ve had to do required “outside help” – I don’t know how to do anything.

Being a single woman, and not expecting that to change in the near future, means I have to rely on others often for help. This needs to change. I need to rely on myself more to handle some things. I don’t expect to be Bob Villa – but I think I need to know how to make basic home repairs.

I’m going to change this goal to something like “Learn basic home repair”. I will still explore carpentry within this goal but I hope to develop more overall skills.

Just call me Roberta-the-Builder!

I volunteered to help at the building of a new playground at the neighborhood elementary school. I told them I wanted to work with tools but I didn’t know anything. No problem, they’d teach me.

I was given a white name tag(for UNSKILLED labor)and a router. After being shown how to use it, for the next 4 hours I routed wood – every size, every length. There were runners to take away the routed wood and bring me fresh ones. It was great!

I was covered in sawdust but smiling all day. If I go back this weekend, they said I’d get a red name tag for I am now SKILLED!

When I have my place painted, 1 of the painters is doing some other work, specifically rewire my cables for TV/Internet. The cable co did an awful job.
Today when we met to discuss the job, I asked him to explain what he’d be doing. He gave me basics then I said “tell me more”. And he did. It sounds so cool to be able to do that kind of work.
Maybe I can be his shadow when he does some of this so I can see if I really have to tolerance for carpentry.

I went online to check out what clinics Home Depot may be offering. Maybe I could find something on basic carpentry, or even tools – like the knife class for cooking. No such luck. Nothing in July – unless I want to learn how to install a retaining wall…I don’t think so….

They do have some Kid Clinics, ages 5 to 12, for do-it-yourself projects and tool safety. Maybe I could sneak into one of those…?

There’s something about building something, putting it together, or fixing it that speaks to me. I’ve always enjoyed puzzles and carpentry feels like that to me. I watch home improvement shows but I need to take action toward this goal.

Go to classes at Home Depot, read some books, watch someone who knows what they are doing. Start and finish a small project like tiling the guest bath upstairs and the built in shelves in living room.