I got a little too arrogant about my DIY skills over the past year.
I got really excited for all of these new hobbies that I was starting between all of the woodworking equipment and then the metal working equipment I bought later on.
I was posting all of my creations to Instagram and getting a lot of good feedback. When this happens you can get too confident in your own abilities. To be honest it’s one thing to create items that have aesthetic value only versus things that have a functional purpose. I’ll give you a really good example, as this played out recently when I tried to build a wheelchair ramp for relatives. I thought I had gotten so good with working with wood that I forgot most of my projects were just bookshelves and things like that. When you build a structural item like a wheelchair ramp, you have to spend a lot of time making sure that the structure has a good foundation and is completely solid. The first wheelchair ramp I built did not pass the test when I got on it to try and go up it with the spare wheelchair my relative loaned me for the project. I eventually ran into a similar issue when I bought a ductless mini split. These small heating and cooling systems replace window air conditioners and portable air conditioners. However, if you don’t know how to work with your home’s electrical grid, you’re probably going to need an electrician to install a ductless mini-split heating and cooling system. I had to call an electrician the next day and have him come out and help me install the ductless mini-split in my basement.