WHY do people do this???????????

[mechanic416]

I get calls all the time about repairing plasma cutters but some of them are, well lets say, DAH.

I got this call from a guy asking me if I could repair a &&&&&&&& plasma cutter it went like this.

Him: Hi, I have a &&&&&& plasma cutter that stopped working and wanted to know if you can fix it?

Me: What was you doing when it stopped working?

Him: I was cutting some steel for a friend and after about 8" it made a noise and stopped working and tripped the breaker and the shop lights went out. I tried to reset the breaker but it burnt the wires for about 15 feet so I had to rewire the shop for the plug and lights. I tried it in a new plug but it trips the breaker right away! This is a 110/220 unit so I tried to hook it to 220 and it trips the 50 amp breaker. " I took the cover off but cant see any thing burnt up"! Do you think you can fix it!

Me: How old is it?

Him: Its only a year old I called the place I got it from they told me they don't make that one any longer but if I send it back they will send me a new model for $300.

Me: It will cost more then that to repair it with shipping, parts and labor.

Him: You got to be kidding me I only paid $429 for it.

Me: Sorry but that is all I can do.

Him: OK I will poke around and see if I can find out what is wrong with it, bye

Now let me see here, #1 It is plugged into a 110 volt outlet, you are cutting it makes a noise and trips the breaker burning the wires from the plug about 15 feet #2 then you try to plug it into another 110 volt outlet and trips the breaker #3 OK so now you try a 220 volt 50 amp outlet and trips that breaker #4 you really don't want to spend any money on it so you are going to "poke around " in it to try and fix it

Am I missing something here or are people like this missing something

[Rick V]

One Word... "Cheap".

[ArcSpark96]

He'll be back, except this time it will be " I have a ******* plasma cutter that looks like a squirrel high on crack ran around inside and tore up the wiring. Can you fix it for $20?"

-Alex

[vwguy3]

"Am I missing something here or are people like this missing something "

Your missing that this cheap azz did you a favor by not wasting more of your time

[lotechman]

My daughter used to repair motherboards and regularly she would get one in for repairs with the whole corner burned off where they applied 110 volts to the control system.
Some people just don't understand the most basic principles of electricity. Fortunately most of the time they survive.

[Sparky#1]

Originally Posted by mechanic416

I get calls all the time about repairing plasma cutters but some of them are, well lets say, DAH.

I got this call from a guy asking me if I could repair a &&&&&&&& plasma cutter it went like this.

Him: Hi, I have a &&&&&& plasma cutter that stopped working and wanted to know if you can fix it?

Me: What was you doing when it stopped working?

Him: I was cutting some steel for a friend and after about 8" it made a noise and stopped working and tripped the breaker and the shop lights went out. I tried to reset the breaker but it burnt the wires for about 15 feet so I had to rewire the shop for the plug and lights. I tried it in a new plug but it trips the breaker right away! This is a 110/220 unit so I tried to hook it to 220 and it trips the 50 amp breaker. " I took the cover off but cant see any thing burnt up"! Do you think you can fix it!

Me: How old is it?

Him: Its only a year old I called the place I got it from they told me they don't make that one any longer but if I send it back they will send me a new model for $300.

Me: It will cost more then that to repair it with shipping, parts and labor.

Him: You got to be kidding me I only paid $429 for it.

Me: Sorry but that is all I can do.

Him: OK I will poke around and see if I can find out what is wrong with it, bye

Now let me see here, #1 It is plugged into a 110 volt outlet, you are cutting it makes a noise and trips the breaker burning the wires from the plug about 15 feet #2 then you try to plug it into another 110 volt outlet and trips the breaker #3 OK so now you try a 220 volt 50 amp outlet and trips that breaker #4 you really don't want to spend any money on it so you are going to "poke around " in it to try and fix it

Am I missing something here or are people like this missing something

Everybody nowadays wants to haggle and be a complete pain just stick to your guns and let them move on. I don't haggle with people anymore I already charge less than I should so just keep it moving, You get what you pay for !!!!!

[tresi]

1st problem he only paid $429 for a plasma cutter. He got what he paid for.

[denrep]

Originally Posted by mechanic416

. . . #4 you really don't want to spend any money on it so you are going to "poke around " in it to try and fix it

Am I missing something here or are people like this missing something

Although I don't call around wasting a shop's time, I have had good luck finding a simple fix after a postmortem poke around inside costly but supposedly "unrepairable" or "throw-away" stuff. Such as: circuit boards of all kinds, digital cameras, sauna control, battery chargers... etc.

I suppose that others have lucked out too and that's why they're tempted to take a look inside before a complete write-off.

Good Luck

[naughtyboy]

get it all time on car electrics.
had guy want quote to fit second hand amp,stereo and associated bits he got of e-bay.
gave him price he said cant afford that will do it myself.
never thought about it again til get call from his dad asking me to go look at his boys car, he had tried wiring it in using an old extension lead.
shorted it out burnt loom out for just about everything and pos blown ecu,
car is only 3yrs old so prob not able to get bits from breakers.
his dad shredded him

[duaneb55]

Originally Posted by mechanic416

Now let me see here, #1 It is plugged into a 110 volt outlet, you are cutting it makes a noise and trips the breaker burning the wires from the plug about 15 feet #2 then you try to plug it into another 110 volt outlet and trips the breaker #3 OK so now you try a 220 volt 50 amp outlet and trips that breaker #4 you really don't want to spend any money on it so you are going to "poke around " in it to try and fix it

Just doing as instructed by (enter chicom company name here) customer service.

[GBM]

Originally Posted by denrep

...... I have had good luck finding a simple fix after a postmortem poke around inside costly but supposedly "unrepairable" or "throw-away" stuff. Such as: circuit boards of all kinds, digital cameras, sauna control, battery chargers... etc. Good Luck

This is why I love the internet. You can often find the schematic for very old stuff, operator's manuals, shop manuals, the parts or their cross over number to what is available now to fix it... and maybe more important on some things people who have had the same problem and already figured out how to fix the situation.... and usually cheaply...
I had the AC stop cooling in this record hot Texas summer ... but a quick look on the internet and found it was only the computer control for the blower motor. I could not reach it myself so I did have to go to the Dealer... but I was not at the mercy of the service writer when I went.... I already had the exact part number and asked them to replace that. Not cheap at $234--- but could have been worse. It was up under the wipers inside the engine compartment and I could see a lot of more expensive stuff I could have messed up trying to replace it myself. I am still upset that a blower has its own computer module.

[duaneb55]

Originally Posted by denrep

I have had good luck finding a simple fix after a postmortem poke around inside costly but supposedly "unrepairable" or "throw-away" stuff. Such as: circuit boards of all kinds, digital cameras, sauna control, battery chargers... etc.

I suppose that others have lucked out too and that's why they're tempted to take a look inside before a complete write-off.

It's amazing what "broken" stuff can be found if one frequents the right neighborhoods. Mine - very little, and not very often. But a guy at work - practically daily!

And stuff such as you described denrep and more. New looking $300+ window AC unit with a failed resistor or ?? on its circuit board. $.20, 15 minute fix. Perfectly good running mower with a shorted mag wire or as simple as a water logged carb (OK - that one was mine). High end weedeater with hydro-locked engine (mine too ). The list goes on and on.

We live in a throw-away society no doubt about it.

[GBM]

Duane, You need to move to a ' more interesting ' neighborhood. LOL

It is a real shame.... and clearly not ' green' throwing away entire items when small fixes can extend their useful life. But with woodshop, metalshop, crafts and such being eliminated from basic schooling these days I feel bad for those kids missing the thrill of discovering how things work by taking them apart and the sense of accomplishment when they are able to get it working again...
Most schools do not even teach Cursive Writing... how can one take notes if your battery on your laptop gives out.... you can't hand print that fast....

[denrep]

Originally Posted by GBM

. . . I am still upset that a blower has its own computer module.

Amen.
I'm sick of "smart" stuff.
I want to go back to simple "dumb" reliable stuff.

Good Luck

[GBM]

Originally Posted by denrep

Amen.
I'm sick of "smart" stuff.
I want to go back to simple "dumb" reliable stuff.

Good Luck

That AC deal was on a 2001 Lincoln Towncar ( got used from a relative) ...
In TEN YEARS from it's manufacture most salvage yards will crush its parts cars.

My car in reserve is the simplest car I have ever seen.
A 1980 Mercedes 240 diesel with manual transmission, roll up windows, no sunroof, type one AC --meaning controls are by Wire from the control panel.
I can still get parts for it......not a computer on it.

[rlitman]

Originally Posted by mechanic416

I tried to reset the breaker but it burnt the wires for about 15 feet so I had to rewire the shop for the plug and lights. I. . .
OK I will poke around and see if I can find out what is wrong with it, bye

Am I missing something here or are people like this missing something

I KNOW I'm missing something here. Sounds like he was poking around his shop's wiring long before he started messing with that plasma cutter. With the right sized breaker, even a dead short won't burn up any wiring. Wow!

[Sparky#1]

Originally Posted by rlitman

I KNOW I'm missing something here. Sounds like he was poking around his shop's wiring long before he started messing with that plasma cutter. With the right sized breaker, even a dead short won't burn up any wiring. Wow!

You would be amazed at some of the stuff I've seen in peoples houses just like this.

[rlitman]

Oh, I've seen some of them too. I remember seeing an entire home garage shop wired in 2-wire zip cord extension cords, with one plugged into another after another (stapled to the plywood and perf-board on the walls), many of which had homemade press-on plugs. That was back in the days when christmas light cords didn't have the fuses built into the plugs.
Still can't believe it hadn't burned the place down, since it was already in use for many years.

[Sparky#1]

Originally Posted by rlitman

Oh, I've seen some of them too. I remember seeing an entire home garage shop wired in 2-wire zip cord extension cords, with one plugged into another after another (stapled to the plywood and perf-board on the walls), many of which had homemade press-on plugs. That was back in the days when christmas light cords didn't have the fuses built into the plugs.
Still can't believe it hadn't burned the place down, since it was already in use for many years.

I know what you mean and sometimes they have the balls to tell me what I need to do to fix it !!!!! I went into a house a few months ago and and all of the receptacle were wired with loose wires to keep from buying romex or Bx.

[ironmangq]

Found a place that had an addition built on the second story, Walls were 2x2, plumbing was garden hose and hose clamps, electrical was extension cords and electrical tape. Reason for the remodel was the hollow block they used under the garage walls collapsed and the whole side of the place dropped 8"

[Sparky#1]

Originally Posted by ironmangq

Found a place that had an addition built on the second story, Walls were 2x2, plumbing was garden hose and hose clamps, electrical was extension cords and electrical tape. Reason for the remodel was the hollow block they used under the garage walls collapsed and the whole side of the place dropped 8"

That's hilarious !!!

[fhsfiremanco1]

dont get me started on the scary wiring in the GOV. buildings in dc

[Broccoli1]

Recent find... Speaker wire behind a wall and not used for Speakers

[SRO1911]

Doing maintenance in low income apartment community... yeahhh you name it somebody has worked on it, from professional to beyond pisspoor. First aid tape over cardboard paper towel holder? nope - thats a sink drain. looks like shower tile only not? might be a quarter inch of caulk on a playing card. federal pacific breaker keeps popping when you run your jillion watt grow lights? no problem - try a little epoxy.

[houseoffire]

Here's one, I bought 2 Hilti angle grinders from a guy for $25 for both because they were broken!
He had changed the brushes in one but that did not work, the other one had a bad switch!
I pulled the cord off the one with the bad switch put it on the one with new brushes and wallah!
Now I ordered a new switch and a new cord to see if I can get the other one going!
Well I'm ahead already and I'm keeping them! Some people are just clueless!