Weekly Discussion - Why DIY when you can buy?

[Anonymous]

I like to diy for the same reason I pack my own lunch. I have been happy with my lunch every day for the last 8 years. My Dad whom I work with complains about his lunch about once a week because my mother spoils him and packs it for him. I built my sump and even though I screwed some things up and had to redo it is done now and I am happy with it.

Remember if you buy it, it is worth exactly what you paid for it, but if you do it yourself it is worth exactly what you paid for it!

Bryan Flanigan

 

[reefland]

I think most of us would agree that a Durso Standpipe (to silence your overflows) is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY projects with immediate benefits. It likely wouldn't be a stretch to say that a few thousand people have build this design over the past few years.

However, there are so many people who either lack the skills or time to make such a thing that I keep pretty busy in my spare time building these for people. I've had many people who gave it a good shot, but were not happy with the DIY results and then came to me to build them a set.

 

[Anonymous]

Right on Rich!
Do you ever think of going fully commercial with the Durso?

 

[0db]

I personally think lighting is one of the areas where DIY is not just justified, it can be a lifesaver.

I converted my tank to a single 400W MH and my total cost was around $10 for wiring, $30 for the ballast, $5 for the socket, $5 for a homemade reflector, and the cost of the bulb, which can range from $60-150 i imagine. But just buying a premade fixture can easily cost a couple hundred dollars for something that I did myself for around $50. The markup on some of these things is just obscene.

 

[greenman]

"DIY is a hobby within the hobby" DIY is fun not only are you learning but you get to see the fruits of your labor. Going and buying something dosn't give you that feeling inside that building it yourself does......

Money who ever said it was about money ???? Ill pay for the tools if needed. The way I it is you always want tools they will be used agian.

Plus alot of that stuff out there altho nice is built cheap IMO......

 

[Anonymous]

I actually DIY quite a bit. I brought up the money thing because money is one of the reasons many people point to as a reason to DIY. However, people usually don't take into account the costs of 'setting up shop', and the cost of their own time spent. I completely understand the idea of learning/fun/pride associated with DIY, and it is interesting to read some of the real money saver DIY stuff people have been pointing out.

 

[Telochupoto]

I say DIY it!... I built my stand and canopy because I found out that if I want it an Oak setup [or some wood that came close to it in quality] I would have to basically sell a kidney or something, they wanted almost $700 just for the stand [for a 90G]; the canopy would have been another $200-300 more. So I did some research, came up with a design and characteristics I would be looking for in a "perfect" stand and just went for it and made it. Final price for both projects was a lil bit over $400; but that price also includes granite paint, which is sold at $7.99 ea for a 15oz aerosol can. If I had just painted it like a normal stand it would have just cost me a mere $250-300 for both pieces. Now, moving on to some other things more complicated and interesting, last Thursday I ordered a &^%$ load of Acrylic from US Plastics.com; the reason behind this purchase was a series of DIY projects to built another Protein Skimmer, a Calcium Reactor, a Kalkwasser Reactor, and finally the Waste Collector for the skimmer. After that I might just tackle designing and installing a closed loop system [without drilling holes in the tank since the bottom of my 90G is tempered]. Lets cross our fingers shall we?... and hope to God I don't flood the people that live a floor under mine! :lol: :lol:

 

[LFS42]

yes, the tools are expensive to "set up the shop".
But, I've found that those tools are almost essential to everyday repairs around the house.

The money issue can be accounted for, on my last project I was planning out a skimmer, then i went to ebay and found the almost exact one I drew up for the same price as the materials would have cost me. So I bought it.

I agree with Righty, cost needs to be factored in at some point. I always figure out how much of my time will be spent to make something if I can buy it, your time is always worth somthing. perhaps not to you, but to your kids or significant other.

I'll say some things need to be made just for the sake of making them.
But other things are just easier to buy

 

[ReefVan]

Well put LFS42,

I'd have to agree with you on that 100%. Sometimes due to family/time constraints it just ain't worth the trouble.

Van 8)

 

[Telochupoto]

LFS42 has a great point to account. But sometimes, that significant other and kinds either like to see you do things and learn [kids]; and in my case, the significant other was always skeptical of me doing anything, since she went to Home Depot with me while I bought the wood and materials and tools; all she saw were price tags and me spending money on it. She was totally blown away once the finish product [which by the way was built in my hallway, don't ask, it was the straightest surface I could find and no one ever bothers me when I do things in the hallway]; now that I'm planning to build the skimmer, Ca reactor, kalkwasser reactor, and waste collector she is intrigued about how it will come out, mind you, when I made the stand and canopy, I just built it as I went along, no design drawings were draw nor any notes written about anything. But this time is different, acrylic is too expensive and more difficult to work with than wood so plans and designing time better be done!
Who knows, you might just see me pop up a website selling them... just kidding, I don't even know how well the will come out.