[sdiy] Resisting UberDIY

[Neil Johnson]

Paul,

> [snip] The loyal Uber-DIY'er would rather toss out the 1976 Signetics
> Linear Databook than build a stinkin' KIT (shudder).

1976..??  1971 Mullard transistor databook (same year as my appearance on
this mortal coil :-)

> It was 50% humor and 50% gentle prodding (is it just me, or is the UK
> Uber-DIY headquarters?).

Whe-hay!!  Yes indeed, Uber-DIY HQ it is :-)  Then again, we do like our
prodding too...*ahem*...

> I suppose it was 'brought on' by my brother-in-law, 4 time World
> Champion Uber-DIY'er. In order to qualify:

> a) there are no vehicles in the garage. That's where the wire,
> databooks, and old computers go.

Better still, use your parents garage/house for longterm storage.
Everytime you visit, there must be a net increase in stuff.  I play the
"but look what I've just thrown out" ploy to make it look like there's
actually LESS stuff than before :-)

> b) hamfest pruchases must be retained (ie you still own everything ever
> bought at a hamfest) AND it must not have even been tounched after the
> inital unloading.

Why would you touch them?  Surely that would devalue them??  And to think
how much you paid for them in the first place, i.e. less than a pint of
beer... (swoons at the thought of all that money).

> c) said hamfest gear must span all decades from 1950-1980 and include
> Nixie tubes, at least 1 General Radio, Heath and one from Atari,
> Commodore or Sinclar item.

*nods of appreciation*

> e) the spouse or SO must testify under oath that they threaten to "throw
> all this crap out" at least once a year

Or, you must choose between easy access to the bed (and thus sleep) or
using it to store delicate vintage 50's computers.....best to sleep on the
floor in that case.

One point that may be worth considering (especially with reference to the
UK) is the cost of parts:

1) component prices here are higher than in the US--they may typically
have the same numeric value, but the exchange rate means we do pay more
for our components :-(

2) a lacking of hamfests and junk stores.  Yes we do have a few, but
significantly less than in the US.  I guess we just don't have the scale
of things going bust or scrapped to support local electronic junk stores.
In the UK there maybe, ooh, less than 10 such stores I can think of (Bull
Electrical, Greenweld, Anchor Surplus...)

Yes, free samples do help out with special parts, but I don't think you'll
get far asking for a free sample of a 741/4051/TL074...

I guess also there's the "challenge" aspect...for some its fun to get a
half-decent circuit working with odd bits, learning to be creative with
what's available, rather than take the "easy" route of buying the posh
part.  I think that's part of what makes it a hobby, rather than a job.

I've done both, and enjoyed both.  After all, its all for the fun of it!!

Cheers,
Neil

--
Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
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