Completed a rear brake job on my 2017 Outback. It was the easiest brake job I've ever done but there was one wrinkle: The modern parking brake system ditches the old cable pulls for an electrical motor driving a worm gear to advance the caliper piston.
You need to have the computer retract the piston so that you don't destroy the mechanism when you squeeze the caliper open to make room for the new pads and rotor. So I had to buy a fancy scan tool to communicate to the car's computers. My old $10 OBD code reader device couldn't handle it.

The job was easier than back in the day mostly because of design. No more cable, no self-adjusting wheel, no springs to fight against. Inserting the new parts and holding them in place as you reassemble used to be awkward. Now it's easy - the parts are designed to ride together and hold themselves in place during assembly. Easy peasy.

By far the hardest part of the job was pounding the old rotor off. It got easier when I pre-treated the lug nut bolts with Liquid Wrench. The threads carried the penetrant to the inside surfaces of the rotor where it was 'frozen' to the hub face. Capillary action spread it all over nicely. Next time I'll do that much earlier in the process. Smarter not harder. I know some people just get a bigger hammer but I never feel comfortable doing that. The wheel bearings have to absorb some fraction of the impact and I'm not keen to add to their wear.

I always apply a thin film of anti-seize to the mating hub and rotor surfaces when I rebuild. But I've never had to re-do one of my brake jobs and so I don't know if that really makes any difference.

 

Today at a repair café, I fixed two house lamps, a blow dryer, an AM/FM radio, and a stained glass window panel.

 

My own old smallest cheap 5000 BTU window air conditioner. Noisy. Selected 'fan only' = same noise. So it is not the compressor.

On a search for part numbers, vendors, videos or instructions to replace blower bearings, here comes the Artificial Imbecility result telling the cost to repair exceeds any reasonable figure, the bearings are not listed in the available parts nor meant to be replaced and that 'a window air conditioner is a disposable appliance'. Checked for replacement motor = Over $135. (no labor) Similar new, complete air conditioner with warranty is ~$140.
Well, ordered the bearings for the grand sum of $0.60 each delivered. Came in today. Almost an hour in surgery. Dismantled the blower motor and had some fun. Works as new. That is what A.I. awards to laziness, land fills and ripoffs to the next generation.

 

Almost an hour in surgery.

That needs to be factored into the overall cost (as well as the time researching the solution).

Perhaps you enjoyed that hour, or perhaps you could have spent it more profitably. Your choice.

This is the fundamental nature of economics.

 

Today at a repair café, I fixed two house lamps, a blow dryer, an AM/FM radio, and a stained glass window panel.

Is part of that activity teaching the client to repair their own appliance in the future? I fear it is a disappearing "art". I'm just about the only person I know that fixes things anymore.

 

Is part of that activity teaching the client to repair their own appliance in the future?

Yes. In theory, we try to do that. In practice, here is what happened.

1) For one of the lamp repairs, the rotary switch in the socket was bad. I showed them how to replace the lamp socket.

2) On the second lamp, I showed them how to clean the center contact in the socket and how to bend it upwards to make better contact with the base of the bulb.

3) With the stained glass repair, the owner held the frame steady, another volunteer held the hanger ring with locking pliers, while I soldered the ring back on to the frame.

4) The problem with the blow dryer was the user not knowing which button was the ON/OFF switch. I took the time to explain the function of all switches.

All of them were seniors who were not too inclined to learn new skills. A standard rule across all repair cafés is that the owner has to be present during the repair. They cannot just drop off the item, take off, and return later. We make an effort to keep them entertained during the repair session.

 

That needs to be factored into the overall cost (as well as the time researching the solution).

Perhaps you enjoyed that hour, or perhaps you could have spent it more profitably. Your choice.

This is the fundamental nature of economics.

With due respect to all parts involved (AI, their trainers, and participants in the thread) ignorance also counts and should be factored somehow.

 

Every time that I needed to deal with paint; was the same unavoidable messy spills. Today I fixed the always nasty situation.

Cut-off 2 litre soda bottle necks; drilled 25 mm holes on lids and force inserted from inside. Made a couple.


The lid can be transplanted to a next paint can when emptied. No need to make many. Simpler in plastic than metal lids. Am happy, this has to be a good thing.

 

nice idea. my wife does all the paintwork, she loves it as much as experimenting with colors. will do the same to make her life easier.

 

I'm in the middle of house painting and I noticed the lids are now made of plastic.
I will have to try this trick. I just have to start drinking soda pop in plastic bottles.