Orderly processes: DIY repairs based on scientific principles

[Andreas Thaler]

Scientific work is characterized, among other things, by the fact that procedures are precisely documented and the sources of information that one uses for one's work are specified.

I think that you should generally approach your DIY repair projects in the same way if you write about them publicly.


Orderly processes, fair use of the work others

It makes sense for you, your readers and last but not least the authors whose work you use because

• it encourages orderly processes,
• your own performance can be highlighted,
• all sources used are available to the reader for their own research,
• the work and performance of others is promoted, used and valued fairly.

So the work remains transparent.

To do this, you get used to not immediately reaching for a screwdriver, but rather reflecting and researching thoroughly beforehand.

Of course, a DIY repair project doesn't have to be as strict as a real scientific paper. But the basic principles remain.

In concrete terms, this means for my projects:

• project introduction
• outline of the planned procedure
• research into the problem with evaluation, discussion and reference to sources
• project documentation with presentation, discussion and conclusion

 

[BrianShaw]

It depends on the goal. If the goal is to teach, then yes. If the goal is just to fix and use, then not so much.

Clearly, your efforts are generally more of the former.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

It depends on the goal. If the goal is to teach, then yes. If the goal is just to fix and use, then not so much.

Clearly, your efforts are generally more of the former.

When you make something public, like here in the forum, it doesn't matter what your motivation is. The work should be transparent. For me alone at home it is less or not relevant.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Place all small parts in bowls. Separate bowls for parts from difference areas can save one time and confusion later as well as lost or missing parts.

 

[BrianShaw]

Plenty of clear photos or illustrations is also a good thing for repair documentation, as well as objective values/criteria and tolerances when measurements are included.

 

[awty]

Place all small parts in bowls. Separate bowls for parts from difference areas can save one time and confusion later as well as lost or missing parts.

That's very fancy, I prefer doing my DIY work the same way I work professionally with everything neatly spread over the floor.

 

[Ivo Stunga]

Depends on what's to be fixed and how many of those items, and setting - workspace as an employee, or doing DIY repairs at home on your own time, flexing your own principles.

I come from laptop/phone repairs and what you're suggesting won't fly in workspace setting where turnaround time for a fix needs to be quick.

At home too: laptops are constructed in similar ways, so are phones: open a few and you develop a hunch how to open next - no tedious paperwork necessary - just a little organization of your workspace and discipline.

What you're suggesting indeed applies only to teaching and some other (past) time when people were eager to share.

And if I'd have to repair my OM-1n, I'd seach for a repair manual that's already made decades ago, containing all the diagrams and repair steps in order.

I'm not a neat manual maker, I'm tinkerer - so it all depends on so many factors.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Depends on what's to be fixed and how many of those items, and setting - workspace as an employee, or doing DIY repairs at home on your own time, flexing your own principles.

I come from laptop/phone repairs and what you're suggesting won't fly in workspace setting where turnaround time for a fix needs to be quick.

At home too: laptops are constructed in similar ways, so are phones: open a few and you develop a hunch how to open next - no tedious paperwork necessary - just a little organization of your workspace and discipline.

What you're suggesting indeed applies only to teaching and some other (past) time when people were eager to share.

And if I'd have to repair my OM-1n, I'd seach for a repair manual that's already made decades ago, containing all the diagrams and repair steps in order.

I'm not a neat manual maker, I'm tinkerer - so it all depends on so many factors.

I understand.

It's also about dealing honestly with the work and performance of others.

As an idealist, I am of course a bad businessman

 

[88E30M50]

I fall somewhere in the middle concerning scientific process and just doing the repair. Often, if I have an issue to work through, I'll jump into the most obvious cause in an attempt to repair it. If that falls short of success, I will step back and bring out the notebook. I have an A-1 on the bench right now that has caused me to step back and think. The simple solution that I was hoping for did not work so I'm now studying the wiring diagrams and working to figure out theories that might support what I'm seeing. Scientific method is really the big hammer in my toolbox and most times, I don't really need to go to that level, for, let's say a battery door replacement.

No matter if I'm doing a standard repair or following scientific methods, I try to be methodical in the actual work. I found that CCI primer trays, when flipped over, make a really good way to keep tiny parts in order. They are in the background of the picture below. I number the spots, then make notes about what I removed, the order it was found in and what tray number I put the parts in.