I get what you mean about older tech not always being a walk in the park. I tried to open up an old car stereo once—thought it’d be simple, but those weird spring clips and triangle screws had me scratching my head. Ended up using a butter knife and probably did more harm than good. At least with newer stuff, you can usually find a teardown video or guide online, even if the screws are tiny.
The magnetic mat is a lifesaver, though. I’ve dropped so many screws into the abyss (aka the carpet) that I finally caved and got one. Makes a difference, especially when you’re juggling a bunch of parts.
Funny you mention drywall—patching that is my nemesis. No matter how careful I am, it always looks lumpy or the paint never matches. Swapping out a phone battery feels less stressful, even if the connectors are fiddly. Maybe it really does come down to what you’ve had practice with. Some folks are just more comfortable with wires than with mud and tape, I guess.
Those triangle screws are the worst—manufacturers really didn’t want us poking around in there. I’ve mangled my share of old electronics with improvised tools, so you’re not alone. The magnetic mat trick is a total game-changer, though. As for drywall, I still have patches that look like someone iced a cake with a brick. It’s funny how some repairs just click and others never quite feel right, no matter how many times you try. Practice helps, but sometimes it’s just not your thing... and that’s fine.
Practice helps, but sometimes it’s just not your thing... and that’s fine.
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I think a lot of folks give up on certain repairs too soon. I’ve seen people swear off drywall after one lumpy patch, but the difference between my first attempt (looked like a stuccoed pizza) and my tenth was night and day. Same goes for those security screws—yeah, they’re a pain, but once I picked up a cheap set of triangle drivers online, it was like the clouds parted.
It’s not always about natural talent. Sometimes it’s just about having the right tool and being stubborn enough to keep at it. I’ve botched plenty of things—my first attempt at re-caulking a shower looked like I’d used toothpaste—but each time you mess up, you pick up some weird little trick for next time.
I’d argue “too tricky” is more about patience than skill. If you’ve got the time (and don’t mind a few ugly patches behind furniture), most repairs are less impossible than they seem.
I get where you’re coming from about patience mattering more than skill. I’ve watched a lot of tenants try to fix things and, honestly, most of the time the first go is rough—sometimes even a little scary. But I’ve also seen people who swore they “just weren’t handy” get surprisingly good at stuff like swapping out outlets or patching holes, just because they kept at it.
That said, I do think there’s a line. Modern gadgets can be a different beast compared to drywall or caulk. Some of these things are glued shut, use weird screws, or have parts that’ll break if you look at them wrong. I’ve tried opening a smart thermostat once and ended up with a pile of plastic and a call to the manufacturer. There’s only so much you can do if the design itself is working against you.
But yeah, if you’ve got the time and don’t mind a few “learning scars” around the place, you’ll get better. No shame in calling it quits if it’s above your comfort level, though. Not every repair is worth the headache—sometimes the hassle just isn’t worth it.
I get the frustration with modern gadgets—some of them really do seem designed to keep us out. But honestly, I think folks give up a little too soon sometimes. I’ve seen tenants pull off repairs on things I’d have bet money were unfixable, just by poking around YouTube and being stubborn. Sure, you might crack a plastic tab or two, but half the time it still works fine. Manufacturers want us to think we can’t handle it, but with a little patience (and maybe a cheap toolkit from the hardware store), you can get further than you’d expect. Sometimes the “learning scars” are just part of the charm.
