How do you classify a project a DIY?

[Andersonix]

I guess DIY now means buying a Chinese PC board that is a copy of say an American design...

So, maybe I'm wrong or maybe I'm still 3 sheets in the wind from last night hell I don't know. Maybe this afternoon when I sober up...

Is it really more than just a drunken patriotic confession to two decades' worth of guilt for possibly not being a 100% worthy DIYer?

 

[Lingwendil]

It depends what the meaning of "it" is. However, so long as the builder doesn't misrepresent how much was done himself and how much was purchased or done by someone else, then I'll acknowledge almost any level of effort as "DIY". And as someone learns they can do more themselves.

This is kind of how I stand on the subject.

Built point-to-point off an existing design? Still DIY
Built from a kit of PCB and loose components- Still DIY
Repurposed housing from something else? Still DIY
Built from a kit using pre-populated PCBs and put in a purpose made housing for the project? Ehhhh... build it yourself but not reeeeeally DIY in my book.


Like in the car community-
Hot rod built from a junked out car, engine built by you, you did all the mechanic work, welding, etc- DIY
Hot rod you bought from a junk yard, paid to have an engine built, but you installed it, and did the other work? DIY
Hot rod you bought from a junkyard, took to a shop to have built, and then you swapped your wheels on? NOT DIY.

My daily driver is a 1973 VW super beetle. Since I've owned it the last nearly six years nobody but me has worked on it- I rebuilt the front suspension, upgraded the front brakes to disc from drums, installed adjustable front struts, upgraded to a thicker front sway bar, fixed all the wiring, added a rear sway bar, upgraded rear shocks, installed Corbeau racing seats, installed a Momo prototipo steering wheel, and an oil temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, a clock 🙂, and tachometer. I built the engine myself, and only the block machine work was outsourced to a trusted local shop, and the throttle shafts for the carburetors were sent to a place to be redone professionally as well. The cylinder heads had a valve job done by a place in southern california- and the bores opened up for bigger pistons and cylinders by them.

Sounds pretty DIY, right? Apparently not.🙁 I'm told since the machine work and valve job was outsourced that I didn't truly build the engine. 😒

 

[Ray Waters]

This is such a silly thread. If you enjoying building something, whether it's from a kit or from scratch, does it really matter what anyone else thinks?

 

[classicalfan]

Apparently it does matter. At least to certain people. Otherwise why would someone have started this totally unnecessary thread to begin with.

 

[Ray Waters]

To me, this thread stopped being interesting or even entertaining a long way back. It's time to "unwatch" this thread and move on to more useful things.

 

[Pano]

This thread has outlived its usefulness. The doors are closed. Enjoy your builds.