Do you like fixing things?

[sandy]

I love buying things that are broken and then fixing them. Or at least trying to

The main thing I buy is older games consoles (Xbox, PS1/2/3 etc) as I have a bit of knowledge around what tends to go wrong with them although I’ll sometimes go for audio related stuff - tape players etc.

I’m not particularly skilled or knowledgeable when it comes to electronics. I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out what is wrong with things though and researching solutions how to fix them.

I’ll never spend lots of money. If I release the magic smoke with something, or just cannot get it working, I’ve lost little and have usually learned something useful and had a good time in the process. I’m lucky to have space where I can keep the remains of failed attempts to use as spare parts for future projects.

When I do fix something I’ll usually either keep it to use or give it to someone I know. If something has really had very little wrong with it (for example a dvd drive belt needs replacement), I’ll sometimes sell or trade it. But making money isn’t the point.

It continues to surprise me how many people get rid of things that are “broken” only for there to be very little wrong with them. Today’s disposable consumer goods culture I suppose.

Is this something other people here enjoy doing? It might not be with electronics necessarily.

[glia]

I’m lucky to have space where I can keep the remains of failed attempts to use as spare parts for future projects.

sadly lack of space is the main hurdle that has prevented more electronic tinkering and diy stuff

It continues to surprise me how many people get rid of things that are “broken” only for there to be very little wrong with them. Today’s disposable consumer goods culture I suppose.

This is me. I buy broken gear and usually tolerate the issues if I cant figure out a fix

Since prospective buyers are less tolerant of the defects and shipping costs have risen to exceed the value of most expendable gear I own . I reluctantly toss em when I need space for newer/functional tools

Ideally I could find someone to gift them to, but none I’m aware of are local (few yrs ago after talkin about this on instagram I had planned to give vhvl my crumar performer but couldn’t stomach shipping to nyc…)

[jasonw22]

Ther might be electronics recycling places in your area. Some of these are portals to hell in that they ship their junk to Asia where it contributes to hardcore heavy metal poisioning of the environment. Others are rather heavenly as they follow a repair-and-resell-or-give-away model.

[AIsynthesis]

I love to fix things. I built my own modular, and a ton of fx pedals (suburbanheroinelectrocics.com has pics in the blog. Lately I’ve been into full restores.

Here is Micromoog I have been restoring: http://www.suburbanheroinelectronics.com/micromoog-restoration/. I really like getting in there and paying attention to detail, like reviving the aged plastic.

Next up is an MG-1, which will need A LOT of love, but has more modding potential, which is nice.

When I’m done, I usually sell them to someone who will use it more than me. I already have a Minitaur, and a large 5U system, as well as my own Eurorack company now (aisynthesis.com). Time has become limited unfortunately my AI Customers keep asking for more modules

[Heath]

I got my studio upgraded from one Korg Poly 61 to a CS-80, Ems Synthi and VCS-3, Korg PS-3100 and PS-3200 among many others by buying broken synths, fixing and reselling. Sadly I dont have any of those anymore!

[bradfromraleigh]

I recently installed a workbench in an underutilized closet connected to my studio. It was mostly filled with boxes. Empty boxes.

I’m so thrilled to have a dedicated bench space for my DIY addiction. Right now, there is a mostly built Ornaments + Crimes waiting for the final parts to arrive. Next, I’m fixing up an old Supro Bantam I found at an antique store for cheap (its a widow-maker model so someone check on me in a week or two). After that I’ve got some mods to make to my JTM45 I built. After that, I may finally complete the eurorack-space heater case I started over a year ago.

To echo your sentiments, having dedicated space for the tools, supplies, and spare parts is all the difference. Too much time and money wasted waiting on parts to arrive, looking for old parts, and losing things in the process.

[Random]

I built a space to do this and began putting together my required tool list… and… it became a new kind of GAS in that I now have far more effort expended on building a great workbench than on using it.

So… will be building a THONK Turing kit next week to get my ass moving along the ‘doing not preparing’ spectrum.

Then I have several projects lined up. First is to try to get an ancient calculator working… just to freshen the testing and diagnosis skills… then onwards!

If you want a shock, look at the price of good quality bench tools. Ouch. Makes modular gear seem cheap.

[Simeon]

Kind of related - I have often modded gameboys for my chiptune project (www.donotrunwithpixels.xyz), and just last night I did the backlight and audio mod on a game boy pocket for the first time. Much fiddlier than the older larger gameboys!

I’ll upload some photos sometime.