Having three boys in the house, there’s always stuff that gets well and truly busted.
So what do you do? Do you simply chuck it away, or do you have a crack at fixing it first?
Well, given I’m a genuine Aussie bloke, my first instinct is to repair! I’ve been known to spend MANY a happy hour repairing something that could be re-purchased cheaply. It impresses and delights the boys too. I think..
This means my desk is a OHS hazard – littered with half repaired books, toys, torches and whistles (yep, whistles) that are awaiting repair. *Update – whistles are now repaired. PVA glue – great stuff.
Repair centre, and sometimes desk
Occasionally the pile stacks up so bad that I can’t actually SEE my desk, in which case I’ll chuck the lot and start again. But ever so gradually, it will build up again.
One thing I get a perverse enjoyment from is repairing cheap, eminently chuckable stuff, and actually making it better than it was originally!
For example – I am rather addicted to torches. you’ll see by the photo that I have quite a few.
The Beginnings of a Collection
There’s a couple that I am kind of reluctant to throw out – even though the light bulb is dull or the LED’s are blown.
For example this one:
Seen better days
Dead Leds
So I hopped onto the net to see if I could get replacement LED’s. Ahh… Dealextreme – free shipping too!
So here’s the plan. I am going to replace the dull and blown LED’s in this torch, with THESE super bright shiny things.
One pack of 10 is $1.53 USD including Shipping – so I will get some two packs of 10 and re-solder. Fun in a packet.
1400mcd Should be bright enough!
Will update this post once I get the pack in the mail, and I’ve had some fun with the soldering iron.
Lastly – if you are a serious torch nut visit the “CandlePowerForums“. warning – serious geeklish!
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Enjoy! J
Update: I received ONE HUNDRED led lights in the mail in a packet recently. V. Cool. Will get the soldering iron to work and have a bunch of fun! Can’t wait to get this torch to super brightness again.
Mate. You’ll blind every oppossum in Brisbane if you use all those LEDs! Hey it was so good catching up with you today. Its really awesome to hear about you and your adventures with the boys. Rather nice being a dad, huh!
Great to see you are again able to get out into the shed too. I’m looking forward to skyping again with you really soon. God bless and love to Felicia.
I can see the light! The light is bright! Whilst I don’t have a torch fetish, I have replaced batteries in my torch on one prior occasion :O Yes, as you may have guessed my handy-man skills aren’t quite as developed as Jon’s yet. Looks like fun though.