Everyone should know how to solder. It's not hard and it can save you a ton of money because when your electrical appliances or electronic equipment stop working, it is often simply a loose connection because a solder point has come loose. #handy
Lots of people find this stuff intimidating, but we need to get over it. There is something extremely empowering about fixing stuff yourself. And it's ecologically responsible to fix instead of dispose.
In the past, it has also been extremely gendered. And this is bullshit. When I worked for a sound reinforcement company, I used to build mic cables all day, and I was, by far, the best solderer in the company.
It started for me as a kid. My mom , bought old antique furniture and let me strip it for her. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment. Giving kids chores has a real effect on their wellness ,and their ability to adjust.
My father taught me how to sand, polish, and paint. He developed paints, and later inks and adhesives. I taught myself how to fix sinks, drains, and more. Sawing, drilling, the works. Nowadays I can't really do all that much anymore but I sure am aiming to get back into the game! There are potted plants to hang from the ceiling, and I would love to hang up my childhood swing from that ceiling as well.
That’s so cool! I learned a couple years ago when I built some guitars. I loved how sensual the many layers of gentle polishing was. Here’s a picture of some shellac I made using golden flakes from Lac beetles and some tests on different kinds of wood.
you can buy food ready to eat, but knowing how to cook is useful, healthier, often less expensive. Fixing things is similar: you can throw broken things away, but fixing them is often more fulfilling, less expensive, not to mention less polluting.
Plus: fixing things yourself is a step in one end of the chain against the "this thing is very cheap, it probably won't last but who cares" mentality. You get to value well designed, well made, long lasting goods.
@skyfire747 I still have a little scar from a hot solder splash. I was doing some non-electric bonding and got a little sloppy, solder-heavy, and a little bead of molten metal blooped off the iron onto my knuckle. It burned a little, and adhered, so I had to pry it off like a tiny sewer cover.
I had a class in metal work in middle school so know how. I just don’t have the tools. Another thing to do is something we all need to do in the coming times: rely on our communities, find out what skills and tools they have, and share your skills and tools with them. I have other skills and tools and am happy to share.
@KnittingDyke I hope I'm not butting in – having a tool library within a reasonable distance is a wonderful thing. That's a community project folks could start up if there isn't one in the area.
@Madeleine Morris I used to print and give out that comic in the Before time, when we had a stand for our LUG at various events, and it's definitely a great message to give!
by the same token, everyone should be able to sew and/or knit. Repairing clothes well should be taught as a basic skill; well-repaired clothes should be a badge of honour.
I sooo like soldering! And it smells so nice. My brother used to do it and I wanted him to teach me, but well; a girl. You know. But I finally learned. It's fun! I fixed my old grinder a few years ago and I must say the wires are much neater than how they came out of the factory 😂
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Madeleine Morris
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Lots of people find this stuff intimidating, but we need to get over it. There is something extremely empowering about fixing stuff yourself. And it's ecologically responsible to fix instead of dispose.
In the past, it has also been extremely gendered. And this is bullshit. When I worked for a sound reinforcement company, I used to build mic cables all day, and I was, by far, the best solderer in the company.
Sindarina, Edge Case Detective
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Madeleine Morris
in reply to Sindarina, Edge Case Detective • • •@sindarina it’s an excellent little guide!
However, I would suggest using a mask if doing a lot of soldering. The fumes are really quite toxic 😂
Sindarina, Edge Case Detective
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Madeleine Morris
in reply to Sindarina, Edge Case Detective • • •Gatekeeper..
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Madeleine Morris
in reply to Gatekeeper.. • • •🌼 Dagnabbit, Pascaline! 🌼
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •My father taught me how to sand, polish, and paint. He developed paints, and later inks and adhesives.
I taught myself how to fix sinks, drains, and more. Sawing, drilling, the works. Nowadays I can't really do all that much anymore but I sure am aiming to get back into the game! There are potted plants to hang from the ceiling, and I would love to hang up my childhood swing from that ceiling as well.
@GatekeepKen
Stephen Bannasch (316 ppm)
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •That’s so cool! I learned a couple years ago when I built some guitars. I loved how sensual the many layers of gentle polishing was. Here’s a picture of some shellac I made using golden flakes from Lac beetles and some tests on different kinds of wood.
More details in the alt-text.
@GatekeepKen
mbpaz
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •you can buy food ready to eat, but knowing how to cook is useful, healthier, often less expensive. Fixing things is similar: you can throw broken things away, but fixing them is often more fulfilling, less expensive, not to mention less polluting.
Plus: fixing things yourself is a step in one end of the chain against the "this thing is very cheap, it probably won't last but who cares" mentality. You get to value well designed, well made, long lasting goods.
Elena ``of Valhalla''
in reply to Madeleine Morris • •@Madeleine Morris oh, it's definitely a gendered activity, women's small hands are way more suited to such a precision activity
oh, wait, that's not how they gender it, right? well, it only goes to show that they are twice as wrong.
Anthony 🦘🐨🪃🕯🧙♂️🔆🇦🇺
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Maier Amsden
in reply to Anthony 🦘🐨🪃🕯🧙♂️🔆🇦🇺 • • •Anthony 🦘🐨🪃🕯🧙♂️🔆🇦🇺
in reply to Maier Amsden • • •Madeleine Morris
in reply to Anthony 🦘🐨🪃🕯🧙♂️🔆🇦🇺 • • •Maier Amsden
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •BAD BURNS aka Knitting Dyke
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Stacey Cornelius
in reply to BAD BURNS aka Knitting Dyke • • •@KnittingDyke I hope I'm not butting in – having a tool library within a reasonable distance is a wonderful thing. That's a community project folks could start up if there isn't one in the area.
@Remittancegirl
Nizami
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Elena ``of Valhalla''
in reply to Madeleine Morris • •Mirijb
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •Elena ``of Valhalla'' likes this.
Madeleine Morris
in reply to Mirijb • • •🌼 Dagnabbit, Pascaline! 🌼
in reply to Madeleine Morris • • •And it smells so nice.
My brother used to do it and I wanted him to teach me, but well; a girl. You know. But I finally learned. It's fun! I fixed my old grinder a few years ago and I must say the wires are much neater than how they came out of the factory 😂