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"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and semi-raw materials and parts to produce, transform, or reconstruct material possessions, including those drawn from the natural environment (e.g., landscaping)". DIY behavior can be triggered by various motivations previously categorized as marketplace motivations (economic benefits, lack of product availability, lack of product quality, need for customization), and identity enhancement (craftsmanship, empowerment, community seeking, uniqueness).The term "do-it-yourself" has been associated with consumers since at least 1912 primarily in the domain of home improvement and maintenance activities. The phrase "do it yourself" had come into common usage (in standard English) by the 1950s, in reference to the emergence of a trend of people undertaking home improvement and various other small craft and construction projects as both a creative-recreational and cost-saving activity.
Subsequently, the term DIY has taken on a broader meaning that covers a wide range of skill sets. DIY has been described as a "self-made-culture"; one of designing, creating, customizing and repairing items or things without any special training. DIY has grown to become a social concept with people sharing ideas, designs, techniques, methods and finished projects with one another either online or in person.
DIY can be seen as a cultural reaction in modern technological society to increasing academic specialization and economic specialization which brings people into contact with only a tiny focus area within the larger context, positioning DIY as a venue for holistic engagement. DIY ethic is the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks without the aid of a paid expert. The DIY ethic promotes the idea that anyone is capable of performing a variety of tasks rather than relying on paid specialists.

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  1. M

    Unable to fit DIY pipes bought from Canada

    Hi Guys, I bought a bidet from Canada which can be fitted over the toilet stool. The problems is that the pipes that cAme with it, I found out later, are in north american measures. The main problom is fitting the "Adapter" shown in the attached diagram and picture:- between the 22 mm pipes...
  2. quality

    Diy sos

    Did anyone notice the Ideal independant and crap soldering and cheap rads on bbc1 tonight at 8 my missus said I am sad ! I don't know why cause I have a good few Ideal independants. I just hate cheap rads and crap soldering
  3. J

    Oil not getting to burner !!!!! DIY

    Hello everyone, I ran out of heating oil and tipped the tank .Think dirty from bottom of tank may have got in . I have bleed it and checked pipes for blockage , blew down pipes but nothin came out . The oil is gettin to the burner but it wont fire . The tiger loop is...
  4. D

    DIYer worried about his DIY plumbing

    Hi all, sorry to trouble you. Im a diyer, not a plumber. Just dabble a bit with a spanner. My mother needed a ink removed (basin I think its called here) from one of her bedrooms, its an old property. Anyway, I removed the basin, took up some flooring and cut the pipe as close to the "t" as I...
  5. M

    Making a diy decarbonizing heater for my bbq gear??

    So just a thought, do you think it is possible to use a 40ltr garden waste bin by just putting an immersion heater in the lid and just put a plug on the cable and plug it into a socket for in my garage? Maybe set it to 50degrees? Am pretty sure the plastic would not melt at this temperature...
  6. D

    To DIY or not to DIY?

    I can understand a level of antipathy against DIYers in some of the threads on here, and yes, I'm sure you've seen some awful DIY bodges in your time. But I also expect you've come across some bodges carried out by cowboy traders as well... Personally, I consider that there are many simple...
  7. D

    DIY heat engines for recovering waste heat.

    Hi, I'm running a project at the moment to build DIY heat engines and was hoping someone would have some ideas on sources of waste heat and applications for my machine? Basically, a heat transfer fluid is supplied to the engine at about 80 degrees C, this fluid is heated by waste heat eg, solar...
  8. AlexGas

    DIY Guide: Fitting your Combi Gas Boiler Legally...

    Just found this auction on the eBay, it made me laugh... DIY Guide: Fitting your Combi Gas Boiler Legally (Potterton glowworm worcester) | eBay
  9. X

    Question from DIY peeps

    Why can't we have a category just for people to post there messages that are not in the trade. No offence but I'm sure some come on because they have really messed up or need a basic tip eg which way do you turn a lock shield valve or what is ptfe, and then they get there answer never to be seen...
  10. G

    The DIY guide to servicing a boiler.

    .....thought that his technical tapping on the pipe work and talk about pressure was most informative. This also shows the results of how anyone can service a boiler: How to service a gas boiler DIY - YouTube
  11. O

    DIY job what do you think ???

    Hi i thought i would give you all a laugh at my attempt of plumbing, and i hope to gain a few pointers along the way and hopefully someone that can supply and fit a ground source heat pump for me a supply me with some parts, So here it is my schematic of my idea of a pluming of a house that i...
  12. L

    DIY and Vaillant boiler...

    My flat has a Vaillant Turbomax 828 boiler that has been losing pressure since we started using it this winter. I have to top it up evry couple of days and have noticed a small leak from the PRV and drips from the overflow outside. I've spoken to a couple of guys about coming to fix it and the...
  13. T

    Hello all, Tam here from Scotland (keen DIYer, but I know my limits!)

    Hi, I have ongoing problem with the pressure on my combi boiler and will no doubt be asking questions at some point!!! Thanks Thomas
  14. S

    Where to finish support at front of shower tray? Read more: http://www.diynot.com/f

    I need to allow 10mm for the front panel of the tray, so have to cut the ply the tray sits on at the front 10mm short and hence it wont support the tray for the front 8cm as there's a big gap behing the front. Is this okay or do I need to do something else/differently? What do you guys do? I'm...
  15. M

    DIYer installing WC

    Hi, I would like to know if I can put my 110m WC waste pipe into the connector show on the pic. I am assuming I can take off the plastic bit and insert the waste pipe. Is this OK? Also can the waste pipe enter the connector at a slight angle rather than straight? The reason I am asking this...
  16. D

    General DIYer - but no plumbing knowledge

    Hi, I know very little about plumbing and found this forum while looking for advice for changing our heating system after getting conflicting info from suppliers. I’ve already discovered much useful info from the site and will post my query in the Central Heating Forum as I’d like to have some...
  17. D

    Building a bath frame from my DIY bathroom renovation.

    I've got an Ideal Standard Alto bath to fit into our bathroom which has a wooden frame built in made of what looks like 2x1". The instructions say to use the L brackets on the long side to keep it tucked up against the wall and to use the feet for support. I've seen several people discussing...
  18. D

    DIYist signing on. About to do the bathroom!

    Just saying hi before I do my best not to flood the house next week. Will be putting in a Trevi boost as well so it could get interesting.
  19. G

    DIY devalues your home

    According to a report, DIY devalues your home by a minimum of 5%. Furthermore the content in the link below says that 450,000 people have attempted DIY gas work! You
  20. M

    Newbie DIY-er

    Hi all. :D Found this brilliant site this morning and it's already helped me. Thank you for that. I live in an old house that is in need of some TLC. It's been neglected over the past year or so while hubby battled a serious illness and now everything is going wrong - no hot water, pipe...
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