When you work on personal projects, maybe some professional ones, what kind of approach do you take?
I figure there are 2 main approaches most people will fit into. You can 1) plan everything out and buy everything you think you might need, and 2) improvise and make do with what you have.
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Most people will land right in the middle of both groups – they buy some new tools or supplies, and design or modify the project to make use of what they already have available.
I tend to over-think all of my projects, which leads to things getting out of hand sometimes. But ToolGuyd wouldn’t exist if I wasn’t like this.
The advantage to this is that I have a growing selection of parts and supplies that I can use for other projects. For instance, if I try two types of router bits, and one works better for the immediate project, the other might work for something down the road.
Or if I buy some rubber sheet material to make a few specialty sized washers, I might buy more than 1 thickness or material type to see what works better. With things like that, it’s hard to know what works better, so I try different things and turn it into a learning experience.
I wish I were the type of person that could just cut larger bolts down to size, but I’ve never been like that. I’m the type of person that will buy a small box of fasteners if I know I’ll need a size I don’t have. Or, maybe 2 times out of 3, I’ll buy a few different boxes of fasteners in sizes I’ve needed but improvised around in the past.
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If I’m going to pay shipping, I take the opportunity to pick up all kinds of other stuff, and things balloon from there.
It’s important to not let things get out of control. It’s foolish to buy a laser cutter when a fret saw or scroll saw will do. Or a CNC cutting machine when a jigsaw and sandpaper will take less time than it takes to program the CNC cut path.
One of the main problems is to get lost in the details. It’s not ideal if researching a minor part of a project turns into a distraction that takes a lot more than an improvisation.
So, how do you approach a project?
I suppose this applies much more to personal projects than professional ones, but some things should translate well. A tool or accessory that comes in handy with an unusual task in a professional setting might come in handy down the road. But the approach to a professional project is limited by how “time is money,” and there’s also the greater importance to minimize costs.
Corey
Heavy on the improv. I tend to carry a stock of general materials I know I can utilize in various ways, and likewise purchase tools and accessories to maximize how they can be used, ie I don’t prefer to use my rotohammer chuck adapter day to day, but going underground to build a system I’ll be anchoring in shot-crete all day, that one thing eliminates taking my drill and rotohammer. I assume I benefit from a somewhat specialized scope of work, but I’ve found that I’m pretty competent at on the fly engineering, and save more time and money capitalizing on that.
Justin
Its definitely different when comparing between professionally and personally. Personally, I sit down and write down most the stuff I need to get most of the way through (probably 75% of everything) and worry about getting the small stuff I didn’t think about when I need it. Professionally, when I was ordering supplies for projects, I always over-ordered and ordered a variety of extras. Generally, the cost of the extra supplies is nothing compared to hourly contractors standing around doing nothing while someone runs to the store to get supplies. We also had a spot for returns when projects were complete and made deals with our vendors to pick them up when they dropped off deliveries.
JD
I use Google Keep (a listing app) to make a list of materials. I usually buy more fasteners than I need and then just keep the leftovers in the garage for future projects. Beats running out and then having to make additional trips to the hardware store.
I don’t mind buying a new tool if it will make the project easier or faster. The way I figure it — if I am doing the project myself I am already saving a lot of $$$ over hiring a professional. So the new tools are basically free and I have them for future projects.
I once bought about $100 worth of plumbing tools to do a plumbing project that a pro would’ve charged $300-$400 for. Wife said: “why did you buy those tools?” I replied: “well, it saved me $300 from having to call a plumber, and a plumber has thousands of dollars worth of plumbing tools”.
“But you’re not a plumber”, the wife replied. 🙂 As if an amateur can do the job of a pro WITHOUT the pro’s tools.
ERIC
Now i’m managering my first project. At first ， i don’t know how to start it. But you will find some ways slowly，and you will know you should control some important deadline date and control someone who is in the vital steps.
mnoswad
Im sorry, but i don’t understand this word…..what is it you say…………..”plan”…….?
Ken
Scott Adams covered this one pretty well if I remember…
http://dilbert.com/strip/2008-10-28
fred
In one business we had 2 engineering estimators for big jobs who would do “take-offs” from the drawings – come up with a bill of materials and an estimated cost to complete the job. If we won the bid, our scheduler would then come up with Gantt charts or Pert charts for the job so we’d know what we were doing and when we were doing it. Then we could order materials accordingly. On really big jobs we were usually a sub to a bigger general contractor – and perhaps there was an AE firm involved who had everything planned out for us.
Now retired I typically just do some measurements – and based on nearly 50 years of contracting – order or buy what I estimate is needed. I probably suffer a bit for having too many tools (did I really say that?) already – so unless I’m in another state at one of my kids’ houses and forgot (in a senior moment) something – I’m usually covered at home or by what I’ve brought in the truck.
Zack
My bigger projects have been fixing up badly neglected motorcycles. Not quite “restoring,” but almost. For these projects, I think one stage at a time, making sure to eliminate potential drop-dead blockers as early as possible. Then I order just what I need for the next few weeks of nights and weekends. I want to avoid getting stuck with a bunch of parts that I don’t need. It’s a fun puzzle.
Toolfreak
Most of my “projects” aren’t planned – they’re stuff I wind up having to do when something just happens. Someone drives into the fence – have to fix it, plus the yard. Baseball goes through the window – have to fix it, and the hole in the wall. That’s in addition to house/garage/auto stuff breaking, wearing out, or just suddenly not working.
I rarely have time for actual projects – it’s more like I try to work on the stuff I want to a little bit at a time in between everything else I have going on.
I do try to gather everything I think I’ll need ahead of time, but life has taught me that no matter how well prepared you are, anything you try to do right will take longer than you thought and require you to do more than you initiallly planned for. So these days I just save the projects for stuff that can have massive downtime and anything that pops up beyond what I planned for just involves research, buying tools and parts, and getting around to it when the stuff comes in.
This is part of why I keep buying discounted tools I don’t immediately need, because if I can count on needing it in the future, I’d rather buy it on sale or clearance than pay full price and have to make a trip or wait for the shipping.
Pete
Im a little OCD on the design aspect of a project. I like it drawn in Autocad and to know that everything will work and fit as perfect as i want. On the actual procurement of the materials im a little design on the fly. All our projects are custom.
JGonzo
I trained as a Chemical Engineer as an undergrad, but wound being a Professor in the Humanities who builds things on his own time (long story) – I find more joy in making stuff for myself as a hobby than building things for other people as a job. That being said, my engineering time still dominates how I approach things – if I’m not planning as many details as possible, then I have no business calling it a project. The extra stuff that I have on hand is for doing test cuts, gaining proficiency with certain tools, learning new techniques, etc. And trying to make my workshop look as cool and organized as possible….
JG
Easy – I just hoard things, resources, from dumpster wood to electronics components and from time to time I look at the pile and see if there is a project in there. I make do with what I have, apart from electronics I make stuff out of what’s on hand. Few things in life are as infuriating as delaying an electronics project because you’re missing a 1$ voltage regulator IC or something like that. It’s the main reason why my audio amplifier is in the works since April.
Jay
Usually start with a pen and a sheet of graph paper to create a crude set of plans and specs. Will do the takeoff on a separate sheet of graph paper and or Excel. Depending on the degree of accuracy required, from here it’s a matter of listing the tasks to estimate time using experience or RSMeans. Project management usually begins on a white board hanging on the wall (old habits are hard to break) and an Excel spreadsheet. Now I can put a number on it (estimated cost) and create a schedule. Recently helped out a family member replaced a shallow well pump, captive air tank along with the related piping and electrical upgrades. The only material we had left were a few cut off pieces and the pvc cleaner and cement left in the can. The project was completed on time and just sightly over budget. The well pump specs were not clear in terms of a check valve so when we found out later that we needed to buy one to complete the project it bumped the cost up by approximately $18.
Jcayce
Recently ordered solid 3/4″ teak tongue and groove boards to install in my master and guest bathrooms. I needed 150 sq ft for both but ordered 250 sq ft because 1. I did not know the exact quality of the wood (bowed, knots, etc.) 2. The master bath is nothing but angles and I knew there was going to be more waste in there, and 3. I wasn’t sure of what was going to be damaged in shipping from PA to TX. I have 70 sq ft closet in my office and 10 sq ft entryway closet and knew I would install the wood in there as well if everything worked out alright. Worst case scenario I was going to tile the bathrooms and install the teak in our atrium. Everything worked out perfectly, bathrooms were finished and I went ahead and finished out the closets. I have 15-20 planks left over in case something happens and I kept the triangle cuts from the master to use for a project. Very little waste.
I try to plan things out ahead of time mentally, make a master list of supplies, and shop online for the best deals knowing that when I need something locally at the last minute it will not be the best deal.
While the bathroom did work out, I have ultimately failed before. In July I was going to replace all the outside faucets with ball valves and ordered six 3/4″ fully stainless two piece ball valves online. Stainless ball, handles, even the nut and washer holding the handle down was stainless. Shut the water off to the house for an irrigation project and decide to do the ball valves at the same time. Find out I neede 1/2″.
Tom
I always overdo it on the planning side. It’s probably a good quality in some regards, but if I calculated the value of the time that I spend thinking about building something and considering my options, it would be cheaper to just pay someone to do the job.
Bill K
Professionally as design engineer, I’m most comfortable working out all the details and often the cost before any purchases and,getting started. Now retired I tend to coninue this mindset, but I often my builds are often made of other things… at minimal out of pocket cost. This is part of the fun…. makimg something really unique and new out of something recycled or in-hand. If I have to buy something unique, I’ll often buy more than needed, just in case unless it’s real expensive. Right now, I’ve got a couple of project ideas but waiting on some components to be found before I can go forward. Lots of projects are just for fun,… not urgent.
Zach
If you need 5 fasteners, you can probably find a use for 100.
I buy the box of nuts and bolts almost every time anymore.
Chris
Think about it, order parts from Amazon or online, charge up the tools, start project, go to home depot an average of 3.7 more times anyway before the project is done.
Richie
I tend to plan better so if I’m working with someone cause their time is valuable. When I’m alone, I’m more likely to just wing it and work with what I got.
Koko the Talking Ape
I was trained, kind of, as an architect. So I actually draw my projects, to scale, by hand, on graph paper. It is part of the design process. If I need to work something out in three dimensions, I draw an isometric. I use lots of paper and lots of erasing.
It seems like a lot of work, but I enjoy it, and once it is done, it is easy to come up with a purchase list. (I always add 10-15% to the fastener count to account for dropping screws, messing up nails because of my poor hammering skills, etc.)
If and when I ever get to that point, it will also make estimating costs, setting prices or making quotes, and even doing my taxes much easier.
Eventually I will switch to using Google SketchUp or some other free CAD software. So far I don’t need it, but YMMV. The big advantage would be in replicating projects, or communicating plans to other people for outsourcing or collaboration (or 3D printing.)
ShawnB
I usually over-plan at a high level, buy everything I might possibly need, and return what I don’t use as soon as possible (before I lose the receipt). It helps having two big-box stores 10 minutes away. Tools are an investment, so I have plenty of toolboxes and cabinets to store them so I can find them later when I need them. Materials and supplies… not so much. I don’t do enough similar projects to justify buying organizational systems to stockpile materials in my limited space. I have a couple of inexpensive compartmental organizers to store leftover (or common) screws, but odds are if I spring for the big box of screws or that 10 ft of pipe when I only need a foot, I won’t be able to find it months later when I need it, and will end up re-buying it anyway for the sake of time. “Time is money” also applies to personal projects unless you’re retired or underemployed. My projects have “deadlines” that revolve around the schedule imposed by what I do to make money, so I almost always have something better to do than systemic improvising like cutting bolts down to a smaller common size.
John
Every big project around the house goes something like this:
Wife: Wouldn’t it be nice if we did (insert Pinterest or HGTV idea here).
That leads me to try to figure out what they did and eliminate the half-assery that is almost always present which leads to hand sketches. Hand sketches become SketchUp models for various options of what is possible for our particular situation since my wife is a visual person. SketchUp flows toward regular CAD since I like it better for detail and construction drawings. CAD gets used to generate material lists which are tracked with pricing in Excel including every hard number I can get plus allowances for things like light fixtures, truck rental (since I don’t have a truck and its cheaper than delivery most times), and other random items. I always put a contingency at the bottom too since my wife hates surprises. The budget sheet is then tracked against itself as I buy to make sure I come out even or ahead.
I tend to buy extras of all fasteners because I’ll eventually use them and for some items, quantity pricing works out cheaper. The key is to keep them organized and accessible. When building cabinets I usually buy an extra sheet or two of plywood just in case I make a mistake. Bonus to that is that I currently have 3 sheets of birch veneer plywood just waiting to be made into some garage cabinets later this fall when life slows down a little.
As far as tool purchases go, I add them to a project budget at the beginning if it makes sense to buy instead of rent. That’s how I ended up with a Milwaukee 14″ electric paver saw instead of renting a gas one a few years ago – stumbling onto an awesome deal didn’t hurt, why I have a 6′ baker style scaffold in my shed that gets used about once every 18 months, and so on. My wife gets it when it comes to tools – if I don’t have the right one(s) 9/10 times its going to be cheaper to buy or rent it than to contract the whole job. When we built a paver patio at our last house 6 years ago, we went through the whole planning and budgeting process. $4,000 and 7 weeks of nights and weekends netted us an awesome patio we took pride in. Guy down the street wrote a check for something similar later that summer for almost $12,000. So far the extent of me writing checks to contractors is window replacement and a furnace A coil replacement.