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“Do you even know how to change the bits?”
By Julia | August 7, 2012
I’ve been wanting to become more self sufficient. If something is broken, I’ll fix it, if I need something, I’ll make it (within reason, of course).
I made my bed (no not what you’re thinking, I didn’t pull my sheets up, I built it… out of wood). As a going away gift, my grandma bought me the drill that I wanted, an 18v, 1/2″ chuck, drill, enough to put together whatever I needed (plus it came with a circular saw!)… yes, I’m slightly a nerd.
photo credit: http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-easy-low-waste-platform-bed/
I decided that I wanted to make a platform on my desk so that I could put my (piano) keyboard on my desk, but without eating my space (so I could place something on top of the keyboard and hide it away. So I went out, bought some wood from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (yay for being green!) some screws from Loews, and went home to make it.
After putting in the time to cut the two sides and drill the holes and put it together, I brought it back into my apartment to admire my work when my roommate’s friend came in to make a comment.
“Do you even know how to change the bits?”
Are you kidding me?
Ummm it is my drill. I’ve used a manual mill and other machines. A hand held cordless drill is nothing in comparison.
And this kid is in my classes. We’re both mechanical engineers.
I don’t know if this kid intended to sound as sexist as he did, but wow. Just wow.
Everyone should know how to use a drill and make simple things. It is so empowering to make something with a drill, or replace your own computer hard drive (did that for the first time this summer). It doesn’t matter where you start, but making the effort to take control of the things that you own, need, and want feels so good.
So the answer is: “Yes, yes I do. Do you?”
Topics: Advice, Author, Julia L., Personal | Comments Off
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