Gun Car correlation

[kungfuhippie]

I've always liked to fix my stuff, car, bike, computer, guns, home repairs. I've wondered if the "do it yourselfness" translates from one area to another for most gunnies.

so my questions are;
Do you fix/maintain your car most or all the time (ie I do everything but what I don't have special tools for; alignment, tranmission) or do you take it to the shop mostly?

Do you do all your own gun repairs/ customization or does it go to a gun smith for most everything but cleaning?

I want to know if there's a correlation and what your thinking is behind it.

Thanks all.

 

[JesseL]

For most of what needs doing I do it myself. If it takes tools that are too expensive or that I'm sure I'll never need again I take it to an expert, but that doesn't happen very often.

 

[psyopspec]

I do the same type of work on both - minor stuff. If I don't know how to do something, I'll find out from a friend, the internet, or a book and then decide if it's something I want to do myself. Recently for example, I changed the alternator in my car (with some advice from my roommate) and the firing pin spring in my P7 M8 (by referring to the internet).

 

[spankaveli]

Both.

 

[Soybomb]

Car repair was fun for a while, then eventually it just became another chore. I'll do disc brakes if I'm really really ambitious, past that it goes to the shop for sure.

 

[Big Calhoun]

I drive an import. It goes back to the dealer. You wouldn't want to be around me if I tried to fix it myself.

I do fix my own computers and some electronic gadgets. So I think your theory holds weight in some regards.

 

[Geronimo45]

Fix 'em both, do a lot of cussin' in the process, too. When pulling out the burned-up spark plugs, I find myself wondering if I should replace it with a match-grade firing pin, and asking if I need snap-caps when dry-cranking the car to get out a CD.

 

[Rembrandt]

I specialize in restorations/custom paint work on upper end sports & collector cars, but limit my gun work to refinishing stocks. All other gun work is sent to the people who have the skills and proper machining equipment. Working on cars finances the gun hobby.

 

[carterbeauford]

I am generally handy and considered to be a decent mechanic, but that does not seem to translate to gunsmithing abilities. I can handle simple stuff like working on an SKS or an 870 but nothing that requires any training or special skills.

 

[Legionnaire]

Sounds like a question from a discussion group on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance! (I fix my guns, but cars go to the shop.)

 

[bumm]

I do simple repairs on each... alternaters, turn signal switches, oil changes, etc, and springs and drop in parts on guns. But a guy has to know his limitations. More complicated stuff goes to a smith or a mechanic.
Marty

 

[RevoPsych]

My car and truck are too complicated and under warranty. As far as the guns go I have never had to have one repaired but if I did I would take it to a professional.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I don't believe in my lifetime I've had my guns repaired 6 times by a gunsmith or manufacturer and a couple times I had to do the job over right.

And I've always done my own vehicle repair, up until the last few years. It's just getting too hard on the body to be crawing under the cars anymore for jobs of any size.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I'm a shade tree mechanic and a shade tree gunsmith. In both cases I know when to STOP and have a professional handle something.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

I am not a mechanic or a gunsmith, but I do know a little about each. If I can fix it my self, I like to. However, I do know my limits and am not to proud to take my gun to a smith or my car to a garage.

 

[Declaration Day]

I've never had a firearm that needed a repair I couldn't do. Yet.

I can do most car repairs myself. I enjoy it, and it saves big $$.

I've worked in auto repair facilities, both mechanical and collision.

If you knew the type of people who generally work in those places and the prevalence of drug use, you'd do most of your own repairs too.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Interesting so far

So far it looks like about 1/2 of us fix our own cars, that's higher than the general population since like <5% of women fix their cars and <30% of men fix their cars. But a near 2/3 majority of us fix our own guns. I figured that most would take the gun in for all but the most basic stuff. Proved me wrong I guess that was my mentality at first, but like any hobby I always stupidly think I can do it better than the "experts"...:banghead:

Some days I wonder if I really save any money doing stuff myself
course I know if it's done right.

40,000 mile tune up this weekend: spark plugs, oil, a couple of filters, grease the hinges, done

use to be: Adjust the valves, adjust the points, check idle (adjust), adjust the brakes, bleed the brakes, clean and oil the air filters, adjust the generator brushes, check cap and rotor, adjust v-belt, oil hinges, adjust clutch...:banghead:

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

To me maintenance is maintenance, regardless. Whether you are tuning the intake on an M1 Tank turbine engine, pulling an engine and rebuilding it, diagnosing and repairing a 4L80-E General Motors transmission or reducing takeup on a trigger on a 1911 pistol. The key is to know what you are doing.

 

[Manedwolf]

Both. Except the gun only takes tools to work on. The car takes a laptop plugged into the engine computer to tweak fuel/air curves and shift points and such for better performance. For serious things, it goes into one of those white-floored performance shops where you feel like someone ought to be asking you if you'd like the missiles installed as well.

Guns don't need laptops plugged into them to calibrate. Yet.

 

[thexrayboy]

I try and fix anything I own if at all possible. One reason is I enjoy knowing how something actually works, the challenge of learning new things is what keeps the mental edge. So whether its lifting my JEEP, building an AR or networking a house for a LAN I'd rather do it myself whenever possible. It's nice to have other people do things for you but nothing gives the same level
of satisfaction as doing it yourself.

 

[dfaugh]

I have a pathological problem with paying to have something done that I can do myself. Used to own a "custom" auto shop (mechanical AND paint), taught myself welding (had about 10k in equipment when I had my shop, MIG, TIG, etc.) My father was a machinist, so I know a bit about that (started running lathes and mills at age 9)...Also a pretty good wood worker, done some plumbing, electrical work, built computers and done networking....

However in all cases, I know my limitations (physical and tools) so not afraid to get and "expert" when needed. But, if I can do it with the tools I have (I don't have alot of the tools you need for newer cars), I try and do it. Same for guns...Sporterized a Turk Mauser (bent/welded bolt, drilled for scope, did trigger work, shortened, re-crowned and an ported barrel, bedded, etc.)

 

[joab]

For cars, guns, computers and most other things I"m a drop in mechanic.

Anything on the outside of the engine or transmission I tend to fix myself, anything that I can't screw up and make a gun unsafe or destroy the value (of a good gun) I'll do myself

 

[JohnBT]

I'm in the used-to-be-fun-to-work-on-cars group.

I worked on my '67 Chevelle and my '70 Chevelle and a couple of '70-something Datsuns and an '86 Subaru wagon I used for surf fishing for 14 years (and it's a good thing I never had to dig into the part-time 4WD system and the dual-range 5-speed.)

Then I bought a used '92 Camry. It never needed any work. Got rid of that after a couple of years and bought a new Forester. It didn't need any work either.

Now I work on my guns and help a few friends with theirs from time to time, but the Forester goes to the dealer once a year or so for routine maintenance. I'm there when they open at 7:30 prepared to sit on the park bench under the trees drinking coffee and reading the paper.

John

 

[craig]

i do most of my own repairs on both.

like most people here though, if it's beyond my abilities/tool availability they will go to the pros.

 

[AirForceShooter]

When I was young and had lot's of time and limited funds I fixed everything myself.
Now I'm retired , don't have time and I have money.
It all goes out to a pro. Well, most of the time.

AFS