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Original poster

Not DIY but BIY: Bodge It Yourself

20 replies

BlackCoffeeAndToast · 10/09/2022 20:09

Today I've realised that my DIY skills are plainly not up to par. As I attempted to attach a shelf to my bedroom wall, I thought to myself - maybe a bit of superglue wouldn't go amiss? Obviously this is unacceptable and instead I had to take the shelf down, pollyfilla the wall, and admit to myself I needed to start over in a slightly different spot in order to drill new holes in the wall that may have half a chance at holding the weight of a shelf and its contents.

Long story short, I probably bodge things more than do things. Please tell me I'm not alone, and give me the courage to not be bested by this shelf (and the three others I need to install after this first one is sorted...)?

OP posts:
Relocatiorelocation · 10/09/2022 20:23

Do an evening class or pay a handy person. You'll knock value and safety off your house by bodging.

Original poster
BlackCoffeeAndToast · 10/09/2022 20:27

Well I'm not attempting bodged electrical work and I have taken the shelf off the wall in order to do a better job next time round so....

OP posts:
ManxRhyme · 10/09/2022 20:29

You need to find the studs in the wall. Not just bang it in anywhere!

Original poster
BlackCoffeeAndToast · 10/09/2022 20:30

It's just brick, I think!

OP posts:
MrsGhastlyCrumb · 10/09/2022 20:33

You'll need rawl plugs and a masonry bit in a powered drill (ie not cordless). But a good idea to check for wires etc before drilling. There are sensors that will do this.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 10/09/2022 20:34

Oh, and a bit of No Nails as well is excellent.

Original poster
BlackCoffeeAndToast · 10/09/2022 20:45

Ah yes, I was definitely using the wrong drill bit today. Will rectify that situation as soon as.

OP posts:
Delia65 · 10/09/2022 20:47

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 10/09/2022 20:33

You'll need rawl plugs and a masonry bit in a powered drill (ie not cordless). But a good idea to check for wires etc before drilling. There are sensors that will do this.

Mot necessarily. Most cordless drills on the market these days will have hammer action.

demotedreally · 10/09/2022 21:50

I think welldone for giving it a go!! We try all sorts of things but DH is the drilling expert (after a lot of practice...)

FlyingDuster · 11/09/2022 12:13

YouTube tutorials

Cervinia · 12/09/2022 06:59

I must have bought all your previous houses 😂. I save up my small jobs such as shelves, clock on the wall, single fence panel repair, single window handle etc and give them all to handyman, who does them all perfectly in half a day.

Original poster
BlackCoffeeAndToast · 12/09/2022 07:04

This is my first house so at least I'm innocent on those charges. 😅

I simply cannot get any handymen in to do these sorts of jobs, so it's me figuring things out or nothing.

I managed to get one shelf up, with a stronger drill bit but still a challenge to get through the solid wall. It is much sturdier, surrounding wall repaired, lessons learned, etc.

Until the next job...

OP posts:
Discovereads · 12/09/2022 07:10

FlyingDuster · 11/09/2022 12:13

YouTube tutorials

Be careful with these though as YouTube is flooded with DIY videos which are absolute nonsense and some are downright malicious trolling imho as they’re so obviously dangerous or shit.

Like the one that said you need to clean bare wood with white spirit before painting or staining- wrong that wrecks the wood you shouldn’t do it at all! Another YouTube video showed how to attach a plug to an electric cord…but showed the different wires attached to wrong nodes for them so you’d get a nasty shock if you followed that and then plugged it into a live socket.

Another one showed a woman installing a new shower setup with head and hand sprayer and she put it in backwards - the front bit facing the wall! She also cut the tiles to go around the pipe covers when the tiles should be cut round the pipes and the covers should go on top and cover the holes. She then used grout instead of sealant.

Another YouTube video showed a built in bed being made and the man cut a u notch out of the side rail along the wall to go around a plug- idiocy as the weight of anyone using that bed will make that side rail split.

So YouTube isn’t reliable at all. You have to be careful and if you don’t know how to do something, you will likely not notice the videos that are showing bodge jobs.

Puppypads · 12/09/2022 08:17

<waves>
I've just moved into a new house post divorce. I put up a curtain rail in DS's room, hung curtains, was delighted with myself. Until last night when it fell off the wall in the middle of the night 😣😬

Original poster
BlackCoffeeAndToast · 12/09/2022 09:04

Eeeek!!

OP posts:
MrsGhastlyCrumb · 12/09/2022 11:01

Delia65 · 10/09/2022 20:47

Mot necessarily. Most cordless drills on the market these days will have hammer action.

Show quote history

Yes, I know- but my powered drill is much better at dealing with our very tough masonry walls, even though our cordless does have the hammer action. It's just more powerful IMO.

Lunar270 · 12/09/2022 12:06

Don't forget the spirit level!

MikeyLon · 25/09/2023 19:39

Hello - I hope you sorted your shelf. I have been looking at the structure of DIY and hopefully write about my experiences.

I believe bodge should be excepted in todays DIY to a certain level. Anything structural or could cause harm or potential damage to property is not aceptable at all.

I am not great with measurements and like many I have cut projects short due to bad measurements.

They say measure twice and cut once. I normally have to add to my projects and although it is not acceptable in professional world or you are paying for the work . Again not accepted.

If this is your home then I see this is as acceptable. Many would not agree but we are not professionals. Have said that I have built my own projects .

As long as it looks good then who would care. There is something called Wabi-Sabi (not sure if that is spelt right) which is a Japanese expression of celebration of something not perfect .

We may call it quiirky. Nothing wrong with that. All though I consider myself a BIYer to a certain point I am happy to celebrate this. However shelves need to be straight , practical and above all safe.

Anything I have done is sturdy and solid. It was not the case with my first projects in the rarly days though.

Overtime with persistence and experience you are less BIY and more DIY.

If you read this I hope this helps. I have enclosed my simple shelves made for my kitchen

Best regards,

Mike

BlueMongoose · 25/09/2023 20:42

Take your time, check all measurements at least twice, and 'offer it up' where possible (hold the piece of wood or whatever to the job before you cut it, this will catch errors like cutting something at 101cm rather than 110). It's the DIY equivalent of a 'sanity check'.
If a tool has a sharp 'edge', keep it sharpened, or change the blade if it gets blunt, as appropriate. It's safer than having a blunt one as it won't jag suddenly and cut you.
Always cut away from any part of your own body, not towards. That includes fingers.
If you're getting tired, stop, even if you have 'nearly finished', however tempting it is to finish it. Tiredness = mistakes and accidents.
Better quality tools make jobs easier.
Don't be tempted to buy tools too big/heavy for your strength. 'Soft-start' power tools help with this, as they don't have a big 'kick' when they set off. And if you have small paws, check a power tool is safe for you- you don't want a tool where you can't easily reach the controls, especially any cut-off buttons- while you grip it.

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