I don't know what this is all about...

[bloke]

...but I like this signage.

It seems to me that most who speak of "conservation/environmentalism" (and all of the "sky is falling in" stuff that they attach to that stuff) ONLY offer lip service (do-nothing marches/demonstrations - WHILE LEAVING THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY DEMONSTRATED A MESS, draconian laws/regulations, vilifying industry/manufacturing, etc.) to conservation, and that those of us who they enjoy vilifying are - in reality - the conservationists and environmentalists.

[matt g]

Believe it or not, Massachusetts has been working to provide consumers “right to repair” for automobiles and now small electronics.

For automobiles, now tractors, and other things governed by silicon chips and firmware/software, this is pretty darn important.

One of the big issues, and still seems to be somewhat persistent, with Chinese instruments is the availability of repair parts. Similar to most of the stuff made over there, they just want to produce a whole piece and nothing else.

[Rick Denney]

Amen.

It’s a big problem in every industry—manufacturers preventing independent repairers from the ability to purchase parts on equal footing with authorized service centers (or at all).

I have three or four expensive bits of audio equipment, for example, that I could repair if I could get the service manuals, schematics, and parts lists. The companies still exist but won’t provide the documentation to anyone but their own service center, which has a one-year backlog and which insists on restoration rather than repair, effectively making it uneconomic to repair their past products. And it’s not like their service centers have that great a reputation.

The Swiss watch industry is particularly bad about it. Independent qualified watchmakers (let alone owners) are shut out of access to parts as basic as case gaskets.

The carmakers are bad but not in the same league as the above. I can almost always find what I need for cars, unless the in-board computers are involved, and then the problem is access to the appropriate test and setup equipment.

In the tuba world, it seems like Miraphone gets it. Allied will only sell to the trade and does not.

Rick “gonna put this poster up in the shop, among other things” Denney

[the elephant]

That is from iFixit.com, a top-notch community of people who fix their personal stuff (primarily phones and computers, but some car stuff and other things). They sell tons of electronics repair tools and tool kits, and thousands of replacement parts for stuff dating back pretty far. (If you look hard enough you can find flip-phone batteries and screens and such.)

You are heavily encouraged to post writeups of your repairs that are heavily annotated with detailed photos that are marked up to denote which microscopic screw goes into which microscopic hole. I have a few up as well as some for my 2001 Honda Accord and my 2003 Jeep Wrangler. This site and several Jeep sites are what got me into "build threads" here.

They are a large part of the global political fight to force sellers of modern products that are designed both to wear out and to be non-repairable to offer parts and some of the necessary special tools for sale, and to "correct" their designs to make things easier to repair. Glued-down phone batteries in phones with glass panels that are glued down so hard that you *must* shatter them to make the repair are a good example of what they are fighting.

I have that same poster, framed, on the wall of my practice studio.

I *love* iFixit.

[bloke]

I have an old drum machine. To me, it’s really not very old, but it’s probably considered to be an antique to people who are into electronics more than I am; it’s an old Dr. Rhythm DR-660.

There’s a primary power battery that is not difficult to replace, but there’s a deeply embedded permanent memory battery that is pretty damn tricky to replace, and it’s pretty easy to destroy the whole thing while attempting to replace it. I watched a YouTube video, acquired the correct battery, and was successful in replacing that battery… It involves screwing around with those treacherous ribbons, etc.
This yes the first time I’ve ever bragged about it, but I was sort of proud of myself, and glad to have that rhythm machine working again - so that I can play Meistersinger against a tango, a swing beat. or a jazz waltz.

One of the foreign band instrument manufacturers has always been pretty conscientious about parts. Another one has always had a complete list of parts, but hasn’t done a particularly good job of stocking them in the US. As of this year, that other company has become more conscientious. Their parts prices have also suddenly skyrocketed, but I understand that there is a significant cost in stocking merchandise, whether it be complete items or parts.
——————
Also, I went back and edited the original post. Once again, I made the mistake of posting from my phone - which screws up all the words and likes to choose words that I did not voice text nor did not type.

[the elephant]

One thin dime. It used to be free. You only have to pay the shipping for a cardboard tube about a foot long. I got mine for free years ago with an order. Looks nice on the wall, about the size of a menu card.

https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Self ... 79-020?o=7

[the elephant]

One of my other identities, in addition to tuba player, upright bassist, auto mechanic, dent pounder, arranger, etc…

[bloke]

but those old monitors...almost nobody wants 'em (ok...a few weirdos...)

I hear that - when you stick 'em in a bonfire - they make purdy colors.

[the elephant]

Monitor?

That's a 2006 MacBook into which I was cramming gobs of RAM, an SSD, and a new video digitizer. The pic is just showing some of the goodies I have bought from iFixit over the years.

Did I miss something? Or were you replying to someone else?

[Jperry1466]

It's about "cash flow". We used to be able to fix printers. Now if you could even get the little plastic part that broke, it would be too costly to justify not just buying another new one. Every time Microsoft finally gets a version of Windows stabilized and useable (98, XP, 7, 10), it has to come out with a newer version that is crap (Millenium, Vista, 8.1, and now 11) to introduce new bugs, as well as the need to learn the OS all over again. Is there such an animal as a TV repairman any more? The so-called Smart TVs are so cheap, it's easier for the consumer to buy a new one and add the old one to our ever-growing pile of unrecycleable garbage.

[York-aholic]

I love that poster/graphic!

My “old” (1985) Gravely walk behind tractor (w/30” brush hog, snowblower, and snow plow attachments) is an absolute beast. It throws snow like nothing made since. I’ve had people stop their car in the middle of the road to sit there and stare.

Yet older models (I think they started making them in ‘47 or something like that) came with an owners manual (not service manual) that went over how to rebuild the motor. The 1985 model certainly did not! Can you imagine that these days?

As a society we are loosing track of the ability to work on things, both from a desire/ability stand point, but also from a feasibility (designed obsolescence) standpoint. That is why my 2nd grade class has Take Apart Tuesdays. Not every Tuesday, but frequently kids are taking apart toasters, computer keyboards, cassette players, old toys, old/broken electric tools (drills usually), even old flashlights. The kids love it, parents think it’s the best thing since sliced bread, except when the kid takes apart their working coffee maker. With electronic stuff that might have lead based solder, I tell them not to lick their fingers...

[windshieldbug]

I tell them not to lick their fingers...

Aw, you take the fun out of everything!

[hrender]

It's about "cash flow". We used to be able to fix printers. Now if you could even get the little plastic part that broke, it would be too costly to justify not just buying another new one. Every time Microsoft finally gets a version of Windows stabilized and useable (98, XP, 7, 10), it has to come out with a newer version that is crap (Millenium, Vista, 8.1, and now 11) to introduce new bugs, as well as the need to learn the OS all over again. Is there such an animal as a TV repairman any more? The so-called Smart TVs are so cheap, it's easier for the consumer to buy a new one and add the old one to our ever-growing pile of unrecycleable garbage.

We still have TV repair places in town, along with cell phone repair and appliance repair places. Having grown up on thrift-store items, I value having folks around who can fix stuff I can't.

[iiipopes]

On my 10-year old car the turbo has issues and a couple of seals are leaking. Otherwise, it is in great shape mechanically, including no rust and all the peripherals functioning well. So even if it is going to cost a significant amount for all these repairs, It will still be cheaper than purchasing another automobile that used may last 5 years, just to inherit someone else's headaches, or 10 years on a new car - gulping after seeing the sticker; and knowing that after the repairs I will get at least another 5 years out of this car, possibly more.

This is a change from the way it used to be, back in the day when the analysis was if the cost of repairs approached the blue book on the car, then trade it in. My car is in such good shape otherwise (including factory performance upgrades) that every couple of months I get the email from a dealer (not necessarily mine) offering to buy my car outright. The answer is no. It is worth more to me on the road.

[GC]

It's about "cash flow". We used to be able to fix printers. Now if you could even get the little plastic part that broke, it would be too costly to justify not just buying another new one. Every time Microsoft finally gets a version of Windows stabilized and useable (98, XP, 7, 10), it has to come out with a newer version that is crap (Millenium, Vista, 8.1, and now 11) to introduce new bugs, as well as the need to learn the OS all over again. Is there such an animal as a TV repairman any more? The so-called Smart TVs are so cheap, it's easier for the consumer to buy a new one and add the old one to our ever-growing pile of unrecycleable garbage.

When my previous printer needed a couple of replacement parts, the company refused to sell me the parts and referred me to an "authorized service center" an hour away. The cost they told me over the phone just to open it and diagnose was more than I paid for the printer or its replacement.

[bloke]

Of course, it all depends on what they decide to charge for the replacement parts too.

More than one person has sold their electric car for scrap, because the replacement battery cost more than the car was worth.

Of course electric cars are not about environmental concerns, but are about agenda 21.

[Three Valves]

The "Men in sheds" aspect of Wheeler Dealers is why I've kept watching it.

[tofu]

.

[Rick Denney]

It’s not the fault of the young’uns in a lot of cases. Their dads didn’t fix things, either. The problem started decades ago.

Rick “one reason why plumbers get rich” Denney

[bloke]

My workshop’s water heater started leaking yesterday. I turned off the water to it late last night when I finally had time… The cut off is underground outside.
I’ll buy a replacement today or tomorrow and stick in another one. I’m certainly not calling anyone to do that for me. I’ve lived here 15 years and replaced the two that were in the house myself. Before I replaced the two in the house, I extended their lives by replacing their elements first.
It costs too much to pay other people to do stuff like that, at least as far as I’m concerned… and considering that - these days - you don’t even have to solder and that none of mine require gas hook ups, they’re stupid simple to install.

I just wish that this tank had gone out in August, after I got all of my school repairs finished and delivered.