DIY Failures, a fun thread

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Swanny

107 posts

Master Geek

#1177277 17-Nov-2014 11:26

Replacing hubs and stubs and axle on a boat trailer (Had 13 inch Deltas). Jacked trailer up by the usual spot you jack a trailer.....

Lets just say I'm a bit lucky to still have all digits.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1177784 18-Nov-2014 09:55

Swanny: Replacing hubs and stubs and axle on a boat trailer (Had 13 inch Deltas). Jacked trailer up by the usual spot you jack a trailer.....

Lets just say I'm a bit lucky to still have all digits.

Wasn't using axle stands???

Swanny

107 posts

Master Geek

#1177895 18-Nov-2014 12:11

BTR:
Swanny: Replacing hubs and stubs and axle on a boat trailer (Had 13 inch Deltas). Jacked trailer up by the usual spot you jack a trailer.....

Lets just say I'm a bit lucky to still have all digits.

Wasn't using axle stands???

They would have been a great help if I'd done as the name suggests and put them the same place I put the jack

.

If I remember correctly I was using wood or some such as a backup so it wasn't the trailer falling on me that was he concern it was the trailer coming down and the axle being held up.....

I'm fitting seats to a van this week, thankfully that has not involved serious use of a jack as all wheels have stayed on.

heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1180629 21-Nov-2014 10:45

Sooooo many fails, its surprising I even bother with DIY

DIY Fail 1 - Waterproofing gone wrong

Waterproofing a Gazebo, $60 a tin, knocked over the first tin after only doing 1/4 of the job, purchased another tin for $60......Didnt even work as the fabric weave was too open. $120 wasted. Spent $40 on a clear tarp and some grommets, cut to size and tied on underside of canopy....works a treat.

DIY Fail 2 - Mazda Cosmo pop up lights

Lights didnt pop up, so I went straight to pulling apart the solenoid, magnets and springs all over the place, out of frustration I yanked up on the light....turns out the arm was rusted and just needed to be freedup. $60 and 50km round trip to Te Puke to get new Solenoid from wrecker.

DIY Fail 3 - Rattling parcel tray..fix disaster

Subwoofer rattling parcel tray, pushed 10 cent coin between speaker cover and tray, went to far and landed inside sub woofer cone....had to completely remove rear seats to access the parcel tray which was also bolted down....1 hour job.

DIY Fail 4 - CarBQ Stereo Install

Parents car, unfamiliar factory wiring and wrong PDF, put it all back into dash, turned on then smoke started coming from behind dash and continued with ignition off....frantically doing an uninstall job before car caught fire.

DIY Fail 5 - Painting brake calipers $250 insurance claim

Took wheels off car, painted calipers, bumped a wheel (yes I had them standing up) rolled out garage and landed on face...shadow chrome mag so unable to colour match....$250 insurance claim to get a $350 wheel replacement.

tdgeek

29753 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1180632 21-Nov-2014 10:55

I am about to gibstop kitchen, still doing prep.

Thought I'd Youtube how to gibstop. "ahh, is that how you do it?"

Re fitting internal skirting corners "ahh, is that hw you do it"

My advice, whatever it is, especially home reno, YouTube it. The obvious way to do a job is often not the tradesman or best way. You don't have the technique, but you can know the technique.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1180764 21-Nov-2014 13:58

heylinb4nz: Sooooo many fails, its surprising I even bother with DIY

DIY Fail 1 - Waterproofing gone wrong

Waterproofing a Gazebo, $60 a tin, knocked over the first tin after only doing 1/4 of the job, purchased another tin for $60......Didnt even work as the fabric weave was too open. $120 wasted. Spent $40 on a clear tarp and some grommets, cut to size and tied on underside of canopy....works a treat.

Reminds me of my partner, one day we were staining something we had made as a gift. I bought a 1 litre tin or stain and my partner was keen to help, she's started painting and I told her to be careful and not spill the stain. Went into the house to get something and just as I walked back into the garage she dropped the tin spilling the entire lot spilling it all over some furniture and staining the floor brown.

Worst thing is it was in a mates garage....

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