My favorite is:
“Don’t put chips in backwards”.
As a rebellious child, I tried, once, just to test dad’s advice. After all, it does fit the other way in the socket. I learned my lesson.
–bunnie Huang
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My favorite is:
“Don’t put chips in backwards”.
As a rebellious child, I tried, once, just to test dad’s advice. After all, it does fit the other way in the socket. I learned my lesson.
–bunnie Huang
Rust, fire and explosions are the same process, taking place at different rates.
First heard from my father (then later in the Army) : “You have to be 10% smarter than the sh*t you’re working with.” -This could reference the materials or the machine/mechanism you are working with, or my interpretation – the people you are working with.
Far and away the most useful advice my dad ever gave me is this: “Don’t force it!” Certainly, rusty bolts and other stuck or seized parts may require a good deal of force, but for almost everything we worked on together, needing excessive force was a good indication that I was doing something the Wrong Way.
My dad always told me not to tighten any screw/nut/bolt until you had all of them started. This makes it easier to start them all. sometimes I get in a hurry and tighten as I go but inevitably I end up loosening the others for that last one.
My dad always told me not to tighten any screw/nut/bolt until you had all of them started. This makes it easier to start them all. sometimes I get in a hurry and tighten as I go but inevitably I end up loosening the others for that last one.
My Dad taught me to never buy cheap tools – they always break when you need them the most, and you wind up buying the better tool in the end. Just save yourself the aggravation and time and just buy the quality tool in the beginning!
My Dad taught me to never buy cheap tools – they always break when you need them the most, and you wind up buying the better tool in the end. Just save yourself the aggravation and time and just buy the quality tool in the beginning!
Always check the breaker box before doing any electrical work.
Make sure you know how to turn off the water to the house. (This has come in handy more times than I would like to admit.)
Always check the breaker box before doing any electrical work.
Make sure you know how to turn off the water to the house. (This has come in handy more times than I would like to admit.)
My Dad didn’t teach me much about tools, but one thing he said has always stuck with me: “Right, tight, left, loose.” I know that is a really common saying, but I heard it first from Dad.
My Dad didn’t teach me much about tools, but one thing he said has always stuck with me: “Right, tight, left, loose.” I know that is a really common saying, but I heard it first from Dad.
I once called my dad to ask how he makes his chilli, to which he replied. “A real man walks into a grocery store with an open heart and walks out with chilli.” It made me smile a lot and he was absolutely correct.
This is more of a resultant phrase that comes from a habit many dads (and just about all makers) have:
“I knew I saved that piece for a reason!”
Of course, *finding* the piece is another matter……
This is more of a resultant phrase that comes from a habit many dads (and just about all makers) have:
“I knew I saved that piece for a reason!”
Of course, *finding* the piece is another matter……
My dad always said if we could take it apart, we could put it back together. He was and is never afraid to try, look, explore, and learn. When trying something new, he was always sure that we’d figure it out in the end, and when we failed, though tough on himself, he was always tenacious enough to try again and do it right. It’s from him and from my grandfather on my mother’s side who shared a similar willingness and desire to learn that I have my ability and desire to take on any project.
My dad always said if we could take it apart, we could put it back together. He was and is never afraid to try, look, explore, and learn. When trying something new, he was always sure that we’d figure it out in the end, and when we failed, though tough on himself, he was always tenacious enough to try again and do it right. It’s from him and from my grandfather on my mother’s side who shared a similar willingness and desire to learn that I have my ability and desire to take on any project.
Measure twice (and measure again) before cutting.
Measure twice (and measure again) before cutting.
Measure twice (and measure again) before cutting.
We lived in Rockland County, New York for a few years in my youth and it lived up to its name. You couldn’t put a shovel in the ground without hitting a rock. And a lot of times they were boulders. My Dad and I spent a lot of time digging rocks out of the ground and moving them with levers so he could have a decent place to garden. But instead of putting up with a useless pile of rocks or spending money to haul them away he turned around and used them to build a pretty impressive retaining wall along the driveway. So I guess what he taught me was that to work with what you’ve got requires creativity and an understanding that even your own trash can be turned into treasure.
We lived in Rockland County, New York for a few years in my youth and it lived up to its name. You couldn’t put a shovel in the ground without hitting a rock. And a lot of times they were boulders. My Dad and I spent a lot of time digging rocks out of the ground and moving them with levers so he could have a decent place to garden. But instead of putting up with a useless pile of rocks or spending money to haul them away he turned around and used them to build a pretty impressive retaining wall along the driveway. So I guess what he taught me was that to work with what you’ve got requires creativity and an understanding that even your own trash can be turned into treasure.
We lived in Rockland County, New York for a few years in my youth and it lived up to its name. You couldn’t put a shovel in the ground without hitting a rock. And a lot of times they were boulders. My Dad and I spent a lot of time digging rocks out of the ground and moving them with levers so he could have a decent place to garden. But instead of putting up with a useless pile of rocks or spending money to haul them away he turned around and used them to build a pretty impressive retaining wall along the driveway. So I guess what he taught me was that to work with what you’ve got requires creativity and an understanding that even your own trash can be turned into treasure.
My Dad always conveyed the value of using the correct tool for the job, but never underestimated the multi-functional uses of his hands. The hand can push, pull, lift, carry, count, point, turn. twist, hold, pinch, fold, scrape, rub, support, cushion, measure, pack, and perform countless other tasks. He’d often say, “Sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty.”
My Dad always conveyed the value of using the correct tool for the job, but never underestimated the multi-functional uses of his hands. The hand can push, pull, lift, carry, count, point, turn. twist, hold, pinch, fold, scrape, rub, support, cushion, measure, pack, and perform countless other tasks. He’d often say, “Sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty.”
My Dad always conveyed the value of using the correct tool for the job, but never underestimated the multi-functional uses of his hands. The hand can push, pull, lift, carry, count, point, turn. twist, hold, pinch, fold, scrape, rub, support, cushion, measure, pack, and perform countless other tasks. He’d often say, “Sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty.”
I think we did one project in my entire childhood – making a bookshelf. He wasn’t very handy (to put it mildly). My husband on the other hand – he is VERY handy! He has taught me (and will teach our daughter) if you use my tools put them back where you found them. I adore his willingness to jump into any problem and fix anything that’s broken! No tool for that? He’ll make one! :) When our daughter grows up she will have lots of things she learned from her dad!
“Check your work.”
A lesson that I really needed to learn after destroying the engine in my Karmann Ghia by forgetting to replace the $0.50 gasket on the oil filter plate. Oh, and after losing a wheel from forgetting to check the torque on the lugnuts after putting the car back on the ground. Also, there was the time I drilled a hole in the wall for running cable, and drilled into a water pipe that I thought was a few inches over… I’m sure I’m forgetting some other cases.
Sorry Dad, I am more careful now.
“Check your work.”
A lesson that I really needed to learn after destroying the engine in my Karmann Ghia by forgetting to replace the $0.50 gasket on the oil filter plate. Oh, and after losing a wheel from forgetting to check the torque on the lugnuts after putting the car back on the ground. Also, there was the time I drilled a hole in the wall for running cable, and drilled into a water pipe that I thought was a few inches over… I’m sure I’m forgetting some other cases.
Sorry Dad, I am more careful now.
“Don’t buy a tool until you actually need it, and when you do, make sure it’s either a) going to last a long time or b) has a good warranty”
“Don’t buy a tool until you actually need it, and when you do, make sure it’s either a) going to last a long time or b) has a good warranty”
“Never buy anything that says ‘Black & Decker’ on it.”
In other words, don’t buy cheap tools.
“Never buy anything that says ‘Black & Decker’ on it.”
In other words, don’t buy cheap tools.
My dad thought me a lot of things. one of them was never waste any material, if it’s paint or clax or some sauce… always grab the leftovers from the walls of the containers. at the end, it’s can save some money.
My dad thought me a lot of things. one of them was never waste any material, if it’s paint or clax or some sauce… always grab the leftovers from the walls of the containers. at the end, it’s can save some money.
My dad taught me a lot about tools, but one of the biggest things he taught me was respect. The phrase which encapsulates it was what he said on my 8th birthday, giving me my first pocketknife: “Well, I guess you’re old enough to cut yourself.”
“Measure twice”. Still the best advice I’ve been given.
“if you’re gonna use my tools, put them back where you found them when you are done… so I can find them next time.” Valuable advice. Now if I could only teach my wife this
I often remember my Dad’s way of pointing out the positive in a small or large mistake. He says “Well, That’s the price of an education.” A variation I also caught occasionally, “Well, you won’t do that again.” These phrases seem so small, but they bring such wisdom. I get the idea that I shouldn’t give up, that I should learn from failure, that anything can be redeemed and that there is hope in the future from these phrases. He packs in a lot of inspiring maker truth.
I often remember my Dad’s way of pointing out the positive in a small or large mistake. He says “Well, That’s the price of an education.” A variation I also caught occasionally, “Well, you won’t do that again.” These phrases seem so small, but they bring such wisdom. I get the idea that I shouldn’t give up, that I should learn from failure, that anything can be redeemed and that there is hope in the future from these phrases. He packs in a lot of inspiring maker truth.
My father would always try to make things in our garage, despite not being, exactly, skilled at the process. This led to many interesting tips gathered through painful experience over the years. My favorite bit of advice (which i got along with a scared look every time I pulled out a saw):
“When using hand tools to cut something, never place the item you are cutting on your thigh.”
Yes, he did that. on a related note, he also found out that day that it is very hard to drive to the emergency room when you are profusely bleeding from your right leg.
My father would always try to make things in our garage, despite not being, exactly, skilled at the process. This led to many interesting tips gathered through painful experience over the years. My favorite bit of advice (which i got along with a scared look every time I pulled out a saw):
“When using hand tools to cut something, never place the item you are cutting on your thigh.”
Yes, he did that. on a related note, he also found out that day that it is very hard to drive to the emergency room when you are profusely bleeding from your right leg.
When ‘hot’ was 3000degF, ‘mostly cool’ will still give you second degree burns before you can let go.
“If it doesn’t fit, get a bigger hammer!”
“If it doesn’t fit, get a bigger hammer!”
Never start a hard project late in the day.
Oh… and he told me to always keep a fire extinguisher in the trunk of my car.
“Bandaids are on the 1st shelf, beside the nail gun.”
“Bandaids are on the 1st shelf, beside the nail gun.”
“Grandpa left you a box of hammers, I think there’s 15 or 16 of them in there. I guess it’s in case you break the first 14. But by then you could just sell’em for scrap and buy a new one.”
“Grandpa left you a box of hammers, I think there’s 15 or 16 of them in there. I guess it’s in case you break the first 14. But by then you could just sell’em for scrap and buy a new one.”
When working in the garage, if you take a tool out of the drawer, leave the drawer open to remind you of the missing tool. The job isn’t done until the tools are back in the cabinet. If your tool box falls over when all the drawers are open, it’s a good time to take a break and straighten up.
When working in the garage, if you take a tool out of the drawer, leave the drawer open to remind you of the missing tool. The job isn’t done until the tools are back in the cabinet. If your tool box falls over when all the drawers are open, it’s a good time to take a break and straighten up.
Grandpa left you a box of hammers, I think there’s 15 or 16 of them in there. I guess it’s in case you break the first 14. But by then you could just sell’em for scrap and buy a new one. But the new one’ll probably break quicker than his old ones. Can I have one of grandpa’s hammers?
Grandpa left you a box of hammers, I think there’s 15 or 16 of them in there. I guess it’s in case you break the first 14. But by then you could just sell’em for scrap and buy a new one. But the new one’ll probably break quicker than his old ones. Can I have one of grandpa’s hammers?
Dad: “son, hand me a wrench”
Son: “what size wrench you want Dad?”
Dad: “Doesn’t matter, I’m gonna use it as a hammer!”
Dad: “son, hand me a wrench”
Son: “what size wrench you want Dad?”
Dad: “Doesn’t matter, I’m gonna use it as a hammer!”
Father: “Son, hand me a wrench”
Son: “What size wrench you want dad?”
Father: “Doesn’t matter- I’m going to use it as a hammer!”
Father: “Son, hand me a wrench”
Son: “What size wrench you want dad?”
Father: “Doesn’t matter- I’m going to use it as a hammer!”
One of the greatest tips my Dad has ever given:
“Sometimes you have to get medieval with it”
This is most often spoken in times of trying to fix broken farm equipment (“you’re not going to break that disc bolt son, it’s already broken”), and that sometimes a pipe on the socket, possibly the torch, whatever would do the trick.
It’s tongue-in-cheek and always brings a sly smirk from a man who’s known for telling students in his union welding classes “you’re not old enough to say good enough” (when he wasn’t farming, he was a union sheetmetal worker and welder for nearly 40 years and still teaches welding for the union today). His builds know no shortcut.
“If you will just take a bit of time and think about it, there is always a solution to the problem”
My Grandfather was both a professional meat cutter and a spectacular wood carver. When I was a child he and I would spend hours in his workshop talking about his rather large collection of tools. I remember him saying to me on a number of occasions; “Son, there is nothing more expensive than a cheap tool”.
I didn’t get it at first. Now, at age 45, I do.
My Grandfather was both a professional meat cutter and a spectacular wood carver. When I was a child he and I would spend hours in his workshop talking about his rather large collection of tools. I remember him saying to me on a number of occasions; “Son, there is nothing more expensive than a cheap tool”.
I didn’t get it at first. Now, at age 45, I do.
My Grandfather was both a professional meat cutter and a spectacular wood carver. When I was a child he and I would spend hours in his workshop talking about his rather large collection of tools. I remember him saying to me on a number of occasions; “Son, there is nothing more expensive than a cheap tool”.
I didn’t get it at first. Now, at age 45, I do.
“If you don’t have the right tool, Make the right tool.”
My dad used to tell me: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
Me: This won’t fit (Referring to a screw)
Dad: Well then, make it fit.
Me: You just glued the screw and hammered it in?
Dad:It’s working isn’t it?!
My dad always tells me “Try to do it yourself, but know when to call for help.” He’s usually the first person I call.
While my dad was busy every weekend building the house we lived he, he never shied away from other big projects. One day he bought two cars at auction and set me to work cleaning and waxing the “better” of the two. I was 14 so hoped that it might end up as mine, but he quickly sold it. Then he said that he sold it for the price he had paid for both of them and so I had earned the other car – a 1974 Vega with rusted fenders and blown engine – but still a car. He then helped me rebuild the engine and fix the body. It was still a Vega, that couldn’t be fixed; but the lessons stuck: I learned that I too could tackle big projects, and more importantly “A little ‘elbow grease’ goes a long way.” I’m busy remodeling the house now and my daughter is 15, wonder what she’d think of a ’74 vega . . . ?
“If it can’t be fixed with a pair of pliers and baling wire, it can’t be fixed.”
My father is a farmer. I came back for a visit during harvest one year and found Dad and a couple of other guys working on the combine in the field. Next to it was a pile of green parts from the innards of the combine. While I helped I heard one of the guys, who was inside the combine, say that we needed to replace a metal brace that had fallen out in the field. When Dad asked how long the brace was, a hand popped out of an opening of the combine with the thumb and little finger spread a certain distance apart. Dad matched the distance with his hand and marked the length on a sheet of scrap steel. He then proceeded to cut the brace out of the steel with a portable acetylene torch on the tailgate of the pickup. He handed the piece back to the man in the combine and asked where the hole needed to be and where the bend in the brace was. Once told, Dad cut a hole in the brace with the torch and bent the piece with a hammer using the axle of the combine as an anvil. Once the brace was installed, we put “most” of the parts back in the combine, just enough to get it running again. Ran fine for the rest of the season.
That’s farmer-needs-things-to-work-now engineering. I recall similar field fixes with my dad on his bean harvester.
My father warned me to “know when to leave well enough alone”. I’ve rendered useless something functional but moderately broken enough times that I’ve learned this lesson the hard way, but I was warned.
Growing up on an old farm, my brothers and I were always helping my dad with projects, whether it was digging fence post holes, painting the barn, or changing an electrical outlet. He always made a point of not only telling us how to do the work, but showing us too; so that when we had houses of our own, we would know what to do.
He also made a point of using tools for things they were not intended. Once, when he wanted to install a window in the dining room, he pulled out the chainsaw and cut a hole in the wall.
You break it you fix it.
My father built the house I grew up in. Like, literally built it, with just a little help from friends from time to time. I am still incredulous at this feat. It was even more incredible given that his employment was as a college professor in the humanities.
He knew exactly what needed to be done to keep that house going and maintained it the whole time he lived there until he moved to Florida in his 70s.
My father built the house I grew up in. Like, literally built it, with just a little help from friends from time to time. I am still incredulous at this feat. It was even more incredible given that his employment was as a college professor in the humanities.
He knew exactly what needed to be done to keep that house going and maintained it the whole time he lived there until he moved to Florida in his 70s.
My father built the house I grew up in. Like, literally built it, with just a little help from friends from time to time. I am still incredulous at this feat. It was even more incredible given that his employment was as a college professor in the humanities.
He knew exactly what needed to be done to keep that house going and maintained it the whole time he lived there until he moved to Florida in his 70s.
My father built the house I grew up in. Like, literally built it, with just a little help from friends from time to time. I am still incredulous at this feat. It was even more incredible given that his employment was as a college professor in the humanities.
He knew exactly what needed to be done to keep that house going and maintained it the whole time he lived there until he moved to Florida in his 70s.
“Always match the tool to the job, unless it’s a job that requires a wrong tool.”
“Always match the tool to the job, unless it’s a job that requires a wrong tool.”
“Always match the tool to the job, unless it’s a job that requires a wrong tool.”
“Always match the tool to the job, unless it’s a job that requires a wrong tool.”
My dad is pretty crazy sometimes.
Best quote has to be: “Don’t tell your mother about this.”
Runners up?
“Normally we wouldn’t do it this way. . . but I’m in a hurry, so fuck it.”
“We need more power.” – followed by him looking around with that “I’m gonna destroy something” look in his eye.
Best story? My dad making a treehouse/fort that didn’t have any normal methods of ingress (so, now stairs, ladders, etc.) just some crazy tilted beams that you have to scramble up like a ninja monkey. When we pointed this lack of normal entryways he just shrugged and said “you’ll figure it out”. And about 10 min. later we did.