DIY carried over to other projects??

[AzGrower]

Just wondering if you guys like to do other projects "DIY" if so list the trades you learned or pics of your examples. I will basically look at a project and decide if I at least would like to attempt it, and if it looks too hard, i will at least ask for help so that I still can learn the basics. I do not only because it saves money (doing it yourself) but I am a hands on person and like to learn constantly.

I learned how to weld last year cause I didnt want to pay $400 for a fabrication shop to build dual shock hoops for my truck and Jeep.

I learned how to work with fiberglass cause I wanted to do some custom fab work for my stereo, and didnt want to pay $$ for some shop to do it.

I learned how to lay tile for my house

I learned how to lay hard wood floors down for my house

[minitruck_freq]

well of course i can weld. (arc, mig) my job requires it. im learning how to tig. it,s not hard. you just have to operate both hands and a foot. and learn some technique.

i can do carpentry work, plumbing, and electrical. kinda handy when u have some projects going on around the house.

i do all of my own work on vehicles. i will not let someone touch my truck. im quite capable of fixing it myself.

the 1 thing i would REALLY like to improve is my car audio fabrication skills. ive been buying "tools of the trade" (table saw, router, sander and so on)

im starting to really get into home audio. i have a line array project that im working on. so some woodworking/electronic skills are needed for that.

[AzGrower]

Yeah, I am going to sign up for the next commmunity college course for TIG welding.

[hcbassplay]

I am one of those types that will NEVER pay somebody else to do something for me, unless it involves a transfer of liability(if they goof they pay, if I goof I pay) I have been lucky in that I seem to meet a great variety of different people and have the abiliity to pick something up immediately after having seen it done once, or sometimes never having seen it done at all. Knowing how to do many, many things is not really a matter of ego for me, it is more a matter of independence, and confidence that if I do pay somebody to do something for me because I don't have the time, expertise, or tools, I know that I at least can make sure that I am not getting shafted and the job is getting done right.

Here is a list of some of the things that I have learned to do IMO at a fairly professional level:

Obviously, car audio installation :D
Home theater installation(hate crawling in attic though)
Autobody work, panel straightening, lead filling, bondo, paint
TIG weld, MANY different metals, Steel, S.S., Alum., Titanium, copper nickel, kovar, inconel, gold, silver, etc.
CNC machine, lathe, mill
Electrical, 120V household to 480V industrial, 1,2&3 phase
Automation, computer control, pneumatics, hydraulics
Bulding computers and, programming in a few different languages(prog. language not foreign language)
Packing circuit boards, building electrical equipment
Carpentry, furniture grade cabinetry
Plumbing(ughh, hate being upside down under a counter holding arms above head)
Fiberglass(ughh, dirty, stinky, but I still have to sometimes)
So-so at upholstrey, not my cup of tea but can do it if necessary
So-so at flooring
So-so at automotive mechanics(hate dirty grease :blush: )
Had a stint throwing my own pottery, own 2 wheels, 2 kilns, clay, glazes
Ok at painting

There is a lot more but those are some of the things I do on a somewhat regular basis. I really enjoy learning new things, and I enjoy that when somebody asks me for help there is a very good chance I can assist them in solving their problem.

I like talking about everything that I know how to do when it is brought up, on a day to day basis I tend to be a pretty humble guy unless somebody gets me yapping about all of my different hobbies :)