As a Noob I have looked at a lot at DIY projects and checked out sites such as JRB for finished product prices. I have no problem with doing DIY, but was wondering about cost difference. Is DIY less expensive or more of a I did it myself reward?
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As a Noob I have looked at a lot at DIY projects and checked out sites such as JRB for finished product prices. I have no problem with doing DIY, but was wondering about cost difference. Is DIY less expensive or more of a I did it myself reward?
IMHO it depends on what your time is worth.
If you already have a machine, and don't count your time as an expense, then DIY is a little cheaper. But if you don't have a machine and have to buy one then that is an extra. If you have no thread injecting experience and have to learn while making, then it can get expensive, and can waste alot of material.
But the cost is nothing compared to the feeling you get when someone sees your gear and ask, "Where did you get that?" and you can say "I MADE IT!!!"
Some of that might depend on your skill level as well. DIY projects used to save me a bit of money back in the day. There are many things to factor. Do you already have a machine? If you are going for low cost, have you done research to find the most cost effective materials in the quantity that you are going to need? How complex is your design?
Much of DIY gear IS the "I made it myself" factor....but you CAN save money. Of course, if enough things go wrong, you can end up losing money.
If you are pretty handy with most things, and have the time, I say give it a try. You may end up joining the ranks of DIY addicts that make up a good portion of our little community here.
~Stormcrow
Glad to see Stormcrow having time to post in other threads than Hammock Gear.
stormcrow pretty much nailed it ...
my first few quilts if i added in my time cost as much as 2 LOL
but as i got better it wasn't as bad
i also bargain shop alot when it comes to ripstop i don't pay no more then $4 a yard as long as it's a "Earth tone"
i can do an UQ in under 10 hours now ... i think i need a faster sewing machine LOL
IMO if cost savings is the only reason for DIY then I think you will ultimately be disappointed. The same quality gear can often be purchased for not much more money. However, if you can not find what you _want_ or have the DIY bug then it is well worth the effort to build it yourself.
It takes quite a time investment to make your own gear. If you enjoy making gear it is worth it. Otherwise, most of us are busy enough already. On the other hand, I find that if I restrict myself to DIY it cuts down on the impulse purchases, and in that way saves me a lot of money.
Earlier today, I posted a thread about my recent DIY spree, which netted me a hammock complete with suspension, a bug sock, a tarp, an underquilt, and other assorted small items for less than $120.
For me it was less expensive, but the "I made it myself" factor is even more important.
There is also the vicarious participation of doing what you wish you were but are not. Just like reading a book or watching a movie. When you make a hammock you are thinking about using it, how you are going to do it, where you are going to go, the sunsets you will see, waking up in the fog. It allows you to work yourself into the fantastic journeys of your dreams...until you have to go to bed in order to get up and go to work in the morning.
Something that ruins all this great experience is getting all uptight about everything going just right in order to complete the project within some sort of absurd, self imposed, mission critical time limit or budget. Don't worry, it won't go right, you are going to get rained on and get a bad blister. So just get in the groove and enjoy yourself. Get extra material and practice, get in shape for the experience, it will be one.