What is Diy: Definition and 223 Discussions

"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by themself without the direct aid of experts or professionals. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals engage raw and semi-raw materials and parts to produce, transform, or reconstruct material possessions, including those drawn from the natural environment (e.g., landscaping)". DIY behavior can be triggered by various motivations previously categorized as marketplace motivations (economic benefits, lack of product availability, lack of product quality, need for customization), and identity enhancement (craftsmanship, empowerment, community seeking, uniqueness).The term "do-it-yourself" has been associated with consumers since at least 1912 primarily in the domain of home improvement and maintenance activities. The phrase "do it yourself" had come into common usage (in standard English) by the 1950s, in reference to the emergence of a trend of people undertaking home improvement and various other small craft and construction projects as both a creative-recreational and cost-saving activity.
Subsequently, the term DIY has taken on a broader meaning that covers a wide range of skill sets. DIY has been described as a "self-made-culture"; one of designing, creating, customizing and repairing items or things without any special training. DIY has grown to become a social concept with people sharing ideas, designs, techniques, methods and finished projects with one another either online or in person.
DIY can be seen as a cultural reaction in modern technological society to increasing academic specialization and economic specialization which brings people into contact with only a tiny focus area within the larger context, positioning DIY as a venue for holistic engagement. DIY ethic is the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks without the aid of a paid expert. The DIY ethic promotes the idea that anyone is capable of performing a variety of tasks rather than relying on paid specialists.

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  1. DaveC426913

    Electrical Lighting options for miniature village

    I've been workng on "Storybook"-style Houses for a wooden miniature village I'm building for my wife. They are approximately 1/48th-1/35th scale. There will be several in the village. I plan to light them internally, but I only need one light in each. I will cover the windows in translucent...
  2. Y

    Automotive Alignment Theory - DIY Help

    It seems that "most" stock sedans do not have adjustable caster, camber and turning angle, provisions are only provided to adjust toe only. I'm trying to find a way to DIY this at home, if this is possible, and had some questions on the theory behind it. For my car, the stated toe specification...
  3. gmax137

    Misc. Homebuilt Seismograph -- Feasible?

    Anyone here built a seismograph? I think maybe @davenn has done this? We have had quite a few small quakes (like 2.2 to 3.2) near my house recently and it got me wondering about a new project. Feasible? I found a couple sites online but the ones I looked at are pretty old. Looking for any...
  4. S

    Appliances Neutral drain function in washing machines

    It would be interesting to me (but not essential) to see a visual explanation of how the gear case in a Whilepool/Kenmore direct drive washer implements the neutral drain function. The neutral drain function is a period of time when the washer is pumping out water but not spinning or...
  5. kyphysics

    What Are Effective DIY Techniques for Combating Roaches in a 55-Year-Old House?

    55 year old house that is cleaned every day. I have roach traps (they don't work) and I've used moth balls and cedar wood to try to repel them. . .these worked for a while, but they keep coming back every 4 months or so. I've read online that roaches are very adaptive, so even if moth balls...
  6. jedishrfu

    The Raspberry Pi Dingo Quadruped for Students

    https://www.tomshardware.com/news/raspberry-pi-dingo-quadruped
  7. Wrichik Basu

    Chemical/Paint Primer applied on waterproof putty became flaky and peeled off

    A section of the wall in our house developed flakiness due to dampness, prompting us to undertake repairs. Specifically, the affected area was located behind an air conditioner. It appeared that poor initial plastering, combined with water leakage from the old AC indoor unit, caused the concrete...
  8. J

    Methylene Chloride for my own DIY Paint Stripper

    Hello All! I'm new, first post, unless I missed it I didn't see an O-fficial intro section. Anyways,,, I love forums, the community of it, shared info, supporting and I have grown to depend on them. Porsche forums, Jaguar forums, plumbing, motorcycle, woodworking, HVAC, solar on and on and...
  9. D

    Misc. DIY 'ECG' Machine: Testing Feasibility of Wave Transference

    I'm trying to make a DIY 'ECG' machine, except that it'll only record heartbeats on a piece of paper. Basically the piece of paper will be wound round a cylinder like object, which will be being spun slowly by a motor. A pencil at the end of a stick or something will be writing to this piece of...
  10. Glenstr

    Misc. DIY combo air cleaner/humidifier

    Last winter I built a corsi-rosenthal box filter to help clean air in the house, I built it 5 sides with 20"x20" merv 13 rated filters. I was impressed with how well it worked, and am implementing two of them this winter. We have 2 dogs & 2 cats so pet dander as well as dust can build up a lot...
  11. S

    Can you DIY thermoform Viton sheets?

    Viton rubber is pressure molded with heat or injection molded to form complex gaskets from what i have read. But do it behave like a thermoplastic where you can for example buy a sheet of finished Viton rubber, heat it up and then vacuum form it to the shape you want? Or is it more like...
  12. T

    Misc. Looking for entry level DIY ideas

    I'm looking for a way to use these batteries that is safe and also useful. I've looked into buy inverters to turn them into portable battery packs but am out of my depth and don't want to create a device with serious potential fire hazards without thoroughly understanding the ins and outs and...
  13. D

    B Exploring Light with a DIY Spectroscope

    Hello, I built myself a spectroscope with a CD (where I removed the coating), similar to this one: With this I now want to look at light sources. However, some interesting lamps are a bit too bright to comfortably look directly into (through the spectroscope). Does anyone have an idea how to...
  14. jedishrfu

    Computer DIY Chip Making at a Whole New Level

    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/01/this-22-year-old-builds-chips-in-his-parents-garage/
  15. billyt_

    Misc. In desperate need for a DIY experiment that I can do at home

    I am doing a project for Physics at the moment, and I am really struggling to come up with ideas. By that I mean, I have plenty of ideas but none of them are really feasible for what I am doing, i.e., impractical to do at home (too much work in doing the actual experiment), or that the actual...
  16. andrewkirk

    Troubleshooting a Frozen Far Roller on a Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine

    This is a not very physics-related question, but I suppose fixing mechanical things involves a bit of physics, so I thought I might as well ask here. I have a Marcato Atlas 150 pasta machine that has stopped working. The crank won't turn because the rollers won't turn. The crank directly drives...
  17. BiGyElLoWhAt

    Building a Low Power DiY marine bluetooth speaker set

    My dad has been asking about some speakers for his boat, something that will move a bit of air, not too big though. I'm thinking 1x12. He also wants it bluetooth and powered externally, so it doesn't drain the boat battery. So I'm thinking 1x12 speaker in a small box that can fit inside the...
  18. phyduck

    Optical DIY Privacy Shades: Make Your Own IR-Blocking Sunglasses

    I am looking to make a DIY version of commercially available privacy sunglasses. The purpose of these glasses is to prevent cctv cameras from using IR facial recognition. Standard sunglass lenses are transparent to infrared. To circumvent this, the lenses have the ability to absorb IR light...
  19. plainairpainter

    Construction Aluminum Cantilever for Truck Camper

    (Continuing from the summary...) I want to build this safely, so I am putting this out here for expert advice. My choice for the shape for the aluminum cantilever is angle, T, square tubing or round. The foam is 2” thick, so I’d like to keep the supports at 2” in width and height. I need to...
  20. Citronnier

    Film Advance system research for DIY Camera

    Dear All, I'm a french professional photographer working on Still Life and Architecture. As a long time and personnal project I'm working on a 3D printed/Laser cut analog camera that will shoot 6x4.5 frames. In the end it will be some kind of rangefinder with integrated electronic light...
  21. S

    DIY large aperture optical comparator

    Hi. In machine shops optical comparators have been used for a really long time to measure and inspect complex and usually small parts. But they are usually for small parts and they are usually really expensive machines. How can i do this for cheap for larger parts like for example for making...
  22. C

    Can You Build Your Own Raman Spectrometer for Plastic Identification?

    Hello everyone Do you think that 1. It is feasible to make your own functioning Raman spectrometer i.e. https://hackaday.io/project/1279-ramanpi-raman-spectrometer/details or https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/simple-homemade-raman-spectrometer-microscope.996397/ 2. Raman spectrometry is a...
  23. Spinnor

    Misc. Bending a spring steel rod to shape and heat treat, DIY?

    There used to be sold a style bicycle handlebar bags that used what I think is a formed spring steel rod that fit over the handlebars and looped under the handlebar stem that supported a handlebar bag. For whatever reason this style does not appear to be available any more. I think it is a...
  24. L

    DIY Simple analog engine dynamometer -- How to do it?

    Hi, I have to measure the HP of a small engine at the crankshaft. The only usable things are. A dinamometer A brake disk An rpm meter The brake caliper is floating so when we apply de load it pull the dinamometer. The rpm meter show the revolution during the load apply. It can works? How I...
  25. sbrothy

    Apropos Raspberry PI DIY Mass Spec using Raman Scattering

    https://hackaday.io/project/1279-ramanpi-raman-spectrometer It's a pretty nifty gadget this Raspberry thingy. A computer the size of a pack of cigs. :) And a mass spectrometer... I'm not sure what such a device costs but I'm sure it pretty frigging expensive!
  26. Vutum

    Wood/Glass/Metal 3-in-1 DIY Aquarium Stand Feasibility Analysis

    Please help me to find out if this is a feasible project. If not, what changes shall be made to make it sustainable for a long time without changing the layout? 1. Details of the stand: L 36", W 18", H 30" 2. Details of Aquarium 1: L 36", W 18", H 18", weight: 225kg 3. Details of Aquarium 2 and...
  27. mattyboson12

    DIY Continuity Tester: Increase Sensitivity | Matt

    Hello, I'm building a homemade continuity tester from the schematic below, and I want to bump up the sensitivity even further so it can detect high resistance objects. What part of the circuit would I have to modify to allow this? Would it be a higher voltage? Thank you Matt
  28. M

    Electrical Small DIY Generator Build/Purchase?

    How easy/difficult would it be to construct an electric generator that can generate a single ampere without a gearbox? How small could this generator be? I didn't want to jump down the rabbithole of research without asking all of you first. Thanks!
  29. fluidistic

    Misc. What is the best piezoresistive material for a DIY strange thermometer?

    I am thinking to make a strange thermometer, based on the thermal expansion of a small aluminium-like rod/cylinder. I would attach one end of this aluminium rod to a vertical ceramic wall, and the other side would push against a piezoresistive material. I would then measure the resistance of...
  30. P

    Building a DIY multimeter for my school project

    Hello all, I am a college student from the UK and as part of my course i have to do a project, I have been given a project to do which is to Design a portable electronics circuit that can be used for training. It must be; Able to measure current, voltage and resistance. Operate on 10 Volts DC...
  31. K

    DIY Electromagnetic Induction Experiment

    So I was watching this video containing DIY experiments on electromagnetic induction . At minute 4:45, the dude pretty much creates a transformer without using an iron core. He runs 30-50 kHz AC in a coil (forming the primary circuit) and then brings another coil with its ends attached to a...
  32. F

    DIY wideband antenna VSWR - beginner

    Dear forumers, I would like to do some RF measurements by using a spectrum analyzer or an SDR in the ~ 100mhz-6ghz range. I'm new to this and to the concepts in general and I would like to hear a few recommendations. I primarily interested here in how much it is acceptable to use a DIY...
  33. M

    Electronics Sourcing LED Components for High-Wattage COB Array (1200w - Woah)

    Hello, I am looking to build an LED Panel for a film/video application. I have a few specific requirements in mind. 1) Color Accuracy beyond general CRI ratings. 2) Flicker Free to Camera (What specifications in LED drivers should I be looking for to ensure this flicker free application?) 3)...
  34. fluidistic

    Optical Looking for a high definition DIY spectrometer

    Hello people, I am looking for a high definition DIY spectrometer website or resource. If you find a good one please let me know. I've watched several youtube videos about it, used both googles and duckduckgo but I am left unsatisfied. There are several things I do not understand, both about...
  35. C

    Electrical Building a Kilohertz Oscillator: Tips and Tricks

    Now, I once read in another thread here someone else was trying to make a kilohertz oscillator. The forum members said not to use a breadboard as it would create too much noise. So What do you recommend as an alternative? Or should I just connect the components without the foundation? Also...
  36. NTL2009

    Electronics Switches, Pots, Displays for DIY projects - Some ideas, some questions

    Many times, we might have a great idea for a DIY project/mod, but getting an interface panel together with any needed Switches, Pots, Displays, and getting them in a case can be a pain. Right now, I'm thinking about a project/mod I'd like to share with a hobby community, but many of these people...
  37. Jarvis323

    Misc. Unsuitable Materials for DIY Coronavirus Masks

    As you all know, everyone is in a mad DIY mask rush right now as it has become an official recommendation. Some have been searching for the best materials, and some of them have been found to be great filters. However, these non-standard mask materials are also not tested and evaluated for use...
  38. Tone L

    Running a Raspberry Pi with a Solar Panel

    The objective: Determine the daily power draw of a Raspberry Pi (Watts per Day) and determine the average daily power generation of a solar panel. Will energy generated be greater than energy drawn? Lets begin, I have a 9 Watt, 18 Volt solar panel. This solar panel is charging a sealed lead...
  39. hagopbul

    Computer Can We Create an AM Wide Area Network for Virtual Learning During Quarantine?

    Hello all: I hope all are fine and well in their houses As I am looking into ways to fill my empty time other than reading undergraduate physics books I start to look around and wonder about giving online lessons for public school students , which they are now without a school , but I found...
  40. G

    DIY nano Hydro Power generator in a Jungle

    Hi I am usually living off grid in simple huts in remote locations in Asia. A few months per year (rainy season) I don't have enough sun to produce solar power. I need very little electricity. My 20w solar panel produces enough electricity for my needs (lighting + charging a few small gadgets)...
  41. H

    DIY dyno calculation with an Arduino sensor circuit

    I would like to know if this formulae i have are good enough to make calculations. My plan is to count time of each roll with Arduino.I don't have roller yet so i don't know moment of inertia.angular acceleration = radians/secounds TORQUE = moment of inertia (kg∙m2) * angular acceleration RPM =...
  42. Remedyworld

    Stargazing DIY Hydrogen Alpha Solar Filter

    I'm interested in doing more detailed photos of the Sun using my solar filter and a 1.25" Hydrogen Alpha (Ha) filter. Is this possible to do or is it best to purchase a Coronado telescope?
  43. D

    Electrical Trying to build a diy EMG machine

    i placed a emg pad on my elbow and 2nd emg pad on the part of my forearm near the elbow and a 3rd emg pad on the part of my forearm near the hand. i connected the 2nd emg pad to a wire, which was connected to the red prong and 3rd emg pad to a 2nd wire which was connect to the red prong. so both...
  44. I8Paint

    Chemical/Paint Possibility of Electrically Charging Pigments DIY?

    Sorry if this is an absurd question. I'm recently been playing with alcohol inks and noticed certain pigments seem to repel and apparently attract each other and create interesting patterns under the right conditions. e.g. non absorbent substrate with no 'tooth.' So far this has worked best...
  45. A

    Misc. Paper folding manual machine - plan folding

    Hello everyone! I am trying to replicate a folding machine, just as a fun project for home use. I understand this simple idea of a folding machine, and I know which measurements I should take. The question behind this project that I simply can´t understand is the spring linear clamp which...
  46. Stephenk53

    Misc. DIY Project Ideas for Beginners - Elementary Education Focus

    I am pretty new to diy engineering and my main focus is to build things that are either useful (ie the multitool I am working on) or useful for a demonstration. I am currently studying Elementary education and thus I am inexperienced in engineering and I was wondering if you guys have any ideas...
  47. K

    Making a custom DIY light switch safe for home use

    Hi I’m making a custom lamp for a Christmas present and want to create a custom on off switch to go with it. The switch part is easy, just make a mechanism that breaks or completes a circuit, but I’m not sure what to do to insure it doesn’t electrocute the user, or burst into flames. If I...
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