Basic DIY Skills?

[Witchazel]

My house has great potential, but is a scruffy and outdated mess at present. It really depresses me. Both me and DH are currently too knackered in the evenings and at weekends to do anything about it :-(
So we end up paying people to do work which, to be honest, we could probably have done ourselves.

I have recently taken the bold decision to hand in my notice and work part time only, so I can spend the next few months decorating and doing it all up. Rather than earning extra to pay others, I thought I could do it myself. However...

I am a bit scared of power tools, in part because I just have never learned to use them, but also because I had a friend who electrocuted (and died) from using a dodgy tool.

I have seen that my local college does an 8 week evening course in basic DIY skills. But it's £450.

What would you do?

It depends how confident a learner you are. DH and I were both crap at DIY when we bought this house but we have had to do so many things over the years that we have ended up reasonably ok at DIY. Half of it is having the right tool for the job, ime.

I would have a chat with the college about what is included in 'basic DIY', tbh, it's probably nothing you couldn't pick up from YouTube or a Readers' Digest "How to" manual (which was what we did pre YouTube). If you are really not confident then maybe the course would be a good move for you, but it wouldn't necessarily be my first port of call.

Yes - £450 is a lot of money considering it will include some stuff I don't want to attempt (like basic plumbing and electrics).

Like the You Tube idea!

What tools will I need for basic woodwork (boxing, tongue & groove, shelves etc)?
Was thinking:

Workmate / folding bench
Jigsaw
Sander
Drill
Electric screwdriver

A friend of mine has a scary looking chop saw - do I need one of those?

You might get the huge Readers Digest book in a charity shop for a few pounds. It is actually very good. The electrical section in particular is out of date though.

You may find that a big DIY shed like B&Q has practical sessions on things like tiling.

£450 seems terribly expensive to me.

Yes £450 could buy a lot of tools...

£450 is shocking. I did a full term one for less than £150

Is there someone you know who could come and give you lessons -whether for money, as a favour, or for a reciprocal something (cooked meal, gardening...)

I will have a think if I know anyone. Only person who springs to mind is really busy...

YouTube it. Google your questions. You'll find DIY forums where others have looked at what you are looking at.

I've just realised an outside windowsill has some rot in it and am wondering if I can fix it myself. YouTube will be my first port of call.

We've learned a lot, and saved loads of money by looking at Youtube tutorials for DIY.

The most recent was the key getting stuck in the lock on a Sunday (called the locksmith who wanted £150!). We youtubed how to replace it, DP nipped to b&q for a replacement lock and the job was done within 20 minutes. Ridiculously easy and straightforward.

If you are starting out, then my honest advice is to get people in, who are friendly and don't mind if you watch them working.

That way you can learn quite a lot.

I was lucky in that my father taught me a fair bit when I was young and bought me tools. I outstrip him in terms of ability now but he started me off. It's all about experience tbh and if you have very little then you will be stopping at every juncture to check the next step.

The potential to do thinsg in the wrong order is also quite significant and it could cost you more in the long run. However I don't want to sound discouraging and if you are keen to learn, then go for it.

You will make mistakes but then you won't the second time unless you are me

I think Youtube is an excellent starting point but if you feel out of your depth, ask a pro. It will be very expensive to buy all the tools and gear and then have to do so again if it all goes wrong.

The guys you might pay a small amount to do the job have the same tools, and the same access to info as you do, but the fact they have done similar jobs for years and years will make it quick, easy and cheap for them to do, and so it will cost you less.

I'm not a pro - I can hold my own in tiling, flooring, basic woodwork/construction and basic electric/plumbing but anything more complex and I don't hesitate to ask someone qualified to do it, and pay them accordingly.

You tube has videos of everything from power tool usage , routing, biscuit jointers ,cutting worktops. If you want to tackle jobs around the house you need some tools. Dont buy cheap, always go for good brand. Read tool reviews and compare spec and niggles for product can and cant do's.

Start with screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, a handsaw, and (for a start) an inexpensive corded electric drill. You can build on these, but they will last for years.

Only buy chrome-vanadium screwdrivers. "chromed" "steel" "carbon steel" "heat-treated steel" are all inferior products.

£450 buy's quite a few tools, have a go yourself. As others have said . You get a buzz when you repair or build something

I've got Collins Complete DIY Manual.
Excellent with detailed descriptions of all DIY stuff.

For the tools listed above you don't need a course, unless you are clueless about the absolute basics. Which I think you're not or you wouldn't think about doing your house up.

A lot of it is common sense.

As well as a corded drill a battery driven drill driver is a must, takes all the work out of driving in the screws. I have a 24 volt one but would maybe a bit heavy for some. 18 volt is no wimp. The tools you really have to respect are power saws , routers, grinders, chin saws

Op the most dangerous job I ever did around the house was sanding our oak hallway floor. The round orbital sander I hired to do the job was a weapon. Could have cut through our radiator pipes in milliseconds, as the hire shop guy told me. I was very aware of my ankles.
That's the only job I'd never do again.

Error not chin saw chain saw,he mumbles as he mops up the puddles of blood from last shaving section.

We ought to do a thread on the most dangerous, like that Monty python "We woz that poor we had to"

We could have the makings of a best seller with blood cursing even put some violence into it. I watched someone throw a grinder down once and it scooted back to him , the power of the blade that was still spinning made him move top speck.

It's only a flesh wound he said as his last remaining limb flew off

Buy the Readers Digest DIY manual. It taught me everything I know (that the Internet didn't) and it is super simple to understand. I love it. Love it. I have two copies now in fact as I can't bear to get rid of my original ancient edition.

The more you do, the better you will get - there's very little I won't tackle now, and it has saved us a fortune.

Just ordered RD DIY manual for. £2.80 on Amazon :-)
Very excited
Sexy bedtime reading

Thank you for suggestions above. Feeling fairly confident.
Over the years I've got quite good at painting and decorating. It's just anything involving power tools I can't get my head round at the moment. Actually really looking forward to learning.

Our local DIY store does regular tutorials in store - worth seeing if yours does

Roneik are you a bloke then? I think I am in love.

Could you see if you are eligible for a grant for that £450 course. I'd enquire at the college though I guess if you're working you'll not be on benefits and therefore ineligible ? Might be worth asking.