DIY?  But why?

 

Labor is so cheap here.  You can't bring your tools here on an airplane.  Airlines require you to ship.  How much does that cost?  Or you buy tools here.  Obviously lower quality than the West.

 

What?  To save 150B?  Don't you know some technician in your wonderful location?

 

Had a water pump have a problem.  Wanted to replace the cheap Chinese 4000B water pump that only lasted 3 weeks with a high quality pump.

 

Saw Grundfos recommended on TVF.

 

15,000B + shipping from Chiang Mai.

 

Grundfos is from Denmark, the largest pump manufacturer in the world.  But only a 2 year warranty.  Whaaaaaaat.

 

The Japanese are famous for copying and improving the quality.

 

Got a 8500B Hitachi pump nearby, 20 minute drive with a 5 year warranty.

 

5 year vs 2 year.  The Japanese aren't stupid.  They're not going to lose money on 99% of the units by offering a warranty.

 

That means it's more reliable and higher quality than the Danish leader.

 

And it only cost 150B for the technician.  He spent several hours, including several trips for parts.  Even installed a bypass in case it fails, making it easier to swap out.

 

LOL.  The people who brag about DIY amuse me.  OK, the workmanship might be lower quality, but so what?  Just call a technician and repair it for 150B.

 

Easy peasy.  

How long was the warranty for the paint job on the wall? 

5 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

How long was the warranty for the paint job on the wall? 

Who cares.  I'm not climbing up a ladder and risk injury to get paint all over myself and clothing and inhaling paint fumes.  I did that as a child to make spending money.

 

I'm an adult now with a real job. Painters tend to be stupid.

 

By the way, do you use Zero VOC paint?

 

Hey if you enjoy inhaling toxic fumes in order to save 150B, knock yourself out.  Literally. ????

Provide model number for both brands when posting a comparison rant or the information is useless.

Most Hitachi house pumps carry 1 year warranty on pump 5 years on motor.

Grundfos have various warranty periods from 2 years on pump to 10 years on motor - multi stage and constant pressure electronic pumps.

I just repaired my Mitsu water pump for the second time, the tank had a hole where it had rusted through. The tank will eventually need replacing with a stainless steel one, but in the meantime a little epoxy and 15 minutes work might get me another 12 months. Some jobs, like painting the house, I'm happy to pay someone, same for climbing on the roof to repair a leak, but small jobs tend to be a hassle to find someone who knows what they are doing or a small job doesn't pay enough. Had a couple of doofuses install a shower curtain rail, they cracked every tile they drilled because they used a big blunt hammer drill. A job I now wished I'd done myself.

Interesting the Hitachi pump you installed , outs lasted 14 months, the electronics package failed so it just kept operating and overheating. The  warranty for is 5 years, but that is ONLY the motor; nothing else on the pump, no electrics, valves etc. Its just be sent to Bangkok for repairs 4,500 baht and 45 days????

 

We installed the Danish Grundfos instead while other is being fixed. Normally 20,000 baht we got it for 13,000 baht in CNX. Warranty is 10 years on the pump and 2 years for all other parts. Think about what you have done so far.

Becasue if you want anything done properly here you DIY

You thought that starting this post would make you look clever. ???????? How do you feel now?

 

 

22 minutes ago, NilSS said:

Becasue if you want anything done properly here you DIY

Plus some people actually take pride in their work and learning the skills. Sure you can pay a local 150 baht and it will be half done, but you can also do it yourself, acquire the skill set, and be covered the rest of your life.

 

Sorry OP, you took the easiest way out and couldnt help yourself bragging about it.

How does a bypass make it easy to swap out? Secondly, where are the unions on the inlet and outlets that would enable an easy swap out?

On 1/24/2020 at 1:20 PM, SiSePuede419 said:

LOL.  The people who brag about DIY amuse me.  OK, the workmanship might be lower quality, but so what?  Just call a technician and repair it for 150B.

Perhaps where you are but unfortunately I, and probably many others, would be lucky to find an even half competent tradesman to do that for less than 600 baht or so......

Quote

LOL.  The people who brag about DIY amuse me.  OK, the workmanship might be lower quality, but so what?  Just call a technician and repair it for 150B.

Many people have no problem with poor workmanship, the paint not perfect... don't look at it closely...

 

That is not me, it absolutely drives me bonkers to see something done half-***ed... having to look at it daily (or regularly)... erg! 

 

It is not the cost, it is that saving a few hours time here and there.... is going to cause many many man hours or months of constant annoyance.

 

Some people are have no problem with poor worksmanship, others have no problem living in filth (hoarders), but I do...

1 hour ago, NilSS said:

Becasue if you want anything done properly here you DIY

Truer words have never been spoken.

I do everything myself and even built my own house which wasnt the plan but because the idiots stuffed the foundations i bought an excavator, destroyed it and started again and did it myself and did the lot because quite frankly everyone is out to get rich for doing things idiots can do.

Got my own machines like cnc, lathes, etc... Learnt years ago if you wana do things right, do it yourself but if your an idiot pay an idiot to do it????

Infact i learnt more about how to do diy everything since living in Thailand. I was a signwriter with basic skills a long time ago but now basically a qualified, mechanic, machinist, welder, builder, electritian, etc..

I have no life though????

For some of us we DI ourselves because we enjoy it.  Helps with being productive and deriving some satisfaction from a job well done.   But with cheap labor can certainly be choosy about what projects are best done by someone else. 

In my experience, if you don't want it to break again the moment he walks out the door, DIY.

 

2 hours ago, NilSS said:

Becasue if you want anything done properly here you DIY

Exactly plus I enjoy tinkering.

2 hours ago, NilSS said:

Becasue if you want anything done properly here you DIY

I have had lots of jobs done around the house over the years, and have not had a bad one yet, everything from building an extension to electrical work around the house, everything done to myself and the wifes satisfaction.

2 hours ago, toolpush said:

How does a bypass make it easy to swap out? Secondly, where are the unions on the inlet and outlets that would enable an easy swap out?

Some of these pumps have bolt on flanges mine does

On 1/24/2020 at 1:31 PM, Vacuum said:

How long was the warranty for the paint job on the wall? 

Looks like no primer on the cement and only one coat. <deleted> job .

1 hour ago, sletraveler said:

For some of us we DI ourselves because we enjoy it.  Helps with being productive and deriving some satisfaction from a job well done.   But with cheap labor can certainly be choosy about what projects are best done by someone else. 

Well said. I enjoy working on my jet skis, and dirt bike, now for the Honda Click, always take to the local shop. 

I disagree with the original post completely. I love DIY, also you are not waiting around for people to arrive, plus time is your own & not to be wasted on unreliable people. It keeps you mobile & you do not stagnate. Here in Thailand you have to keep active & DIY & housework is an excellent way of doing that & part of living here within the laws. It's very enjoyable to do work at home that is positive/constructive & completion gives me a lot of satisfaction. I'm sure 90% plus of retirees have mastered DIY during their life span & will tackle any small jobs with relish. I don't live in a world where I get my backside wiped by everyone for a few baht. I enjoy being active, but I will gladly pay for someone's help when I need it. Being reliant on someone here period is foolhardy, fact ......... especially retired farangs. As I've said my experiences here has highlighted the fact that the local culture is seriously out if sync with time & dare I say it our culture too. I certainly won't waste my retirement standing around all day waiting for things to happen .......... it's a bit like watching paint dry.  

I built my own computer desk, I spent days looking for a decent desk for a dual screen setup, the best I could find still had a press-board top. The one I built looks good, cost a fraction of the cost and will be having grand-kids when the other one is long gone.

   I built my own bunk beds, the bunk beds available where I live are junk and the beds available in other places are outrageously priced and don't include shipping,

          I replace my own water pumps, I don't have anyone available who will do a decent job, besides...I rather enjoy the work as I am not one to sit around.

          You asked the question, did you really even expect an answer? Or were you just trolling?

 

              

 

On 1/24/2020 at 1:20 PM, SiSePuede419 said:

LOL.  The people who brag about DIY amuse me.  OK, the workmanship might be lower quality, but so what?  Just call a technician and repair it for 150B.

you  sound like a right............... never  mind you can keep  calling them to fix  it again and again and again and  again, you can sit  in all day waiting for them to  not show up at any non given time and demolish  your residence in the process as they smash their way round your  house leaving filthy handprints  on the walls and bashing walls with any tools  they drag in.

Good  luck, Ill brag away thanks............judging by the quality paint job on the wall behind where the builder obviously never used a damp course......good  luck fixing that , but seems that wont bother you as they can keep  coming forever

46 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

done to myself and the wifes satisfaction.

tells  you  nothing at all except  maybe your standards are low....many a  time I have people recommended with  glowing reports, turn out to be total  <deleted>, and  not  only in Thailand

On 1/24/2020 at 1:31 PM, Vacuum said:

How long was the warranty for the paint job on the wall? 

I like the "quality"  plinth it  all  floats  on

51 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I have had lots of jobs done around the house over the years, and have not had a bad one yet, everything from building an extension to electrical work around the house, everything done to myself and the wifes satisfaction.

Wow!  You should go buy a lottery ticket.

3 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

Wow!  You should go buy a lottery ticket.

Reminds me of a friend  of  mine who owned a  lot of  condos in BKK,  he  would ALWAYS praise the workmen......... they once  fitted a new  door  lock and It  looked to me like theyd  used a  knife and fork to do it

10 minutes ago, Chazar said:

I like the "quality"  plinth it  all  floats  on

Thats obviously not the DIY job, more likely the result of a 150 baht specialist lol!!

On 1/24/2020 at 1:20 PM, SiSePuede419 said:

And it only cost 150B for the technician.  He spent several hours, including several trips for parts.  Even installed a bypass in case it fails, making it easier to swap out.

 

Well an engineer from Danmark wouldn't need several trips for parts...so it finally costs you a day babysitting that 150 baht guy...that's in Danish money the cost of the whole pump.