On Saturday, the September 29th 2018, the Fremont Library hosted a Fixit clinic from 12:45 in the afternoon to 4:00 in the evening. Many people who wished to either repair or learn how to repair their devices showed up to participate in the event. The clinic saw about 50-75 people enter and exit. An entire assortment of electronic, mechanical or electromechanical products that were not functioning, flawed or such was eagerly worked on by the volunteers. Even though some of these devices couldn’t be fixed, smiles were still upon people’s faces as they tried to understand what was going on behind the scenes.
After all, this was a free experience that could greatly benefit those who wanted to repair items themselves instead of paying a hefty price to do so. My own experience was fun and I learned quite a bit from it. I signed up to volunteer at the Fixit Clinic. My first task was an electric whisk that was not functioning. I took it apart but didn’t glean much from it until a man came over to see what I was doing.
He then proceeded to give instructions along the rest of the way for about an hour or so. Funnily enough, we came to the conclusion that the whisk itself wasn’t worth fixing. There was a motor inside attached to a transformer that would have to be replaced. The set itself would cost as much as a new whisk, so it was pretty much unfix-able in its current state.
Next up was an air compressor for a pump. This was generously supplied to me by the man who gave me an extensive lesson on how something couldn’t be fixed (I’m grateful too). We tried to take it apart, but our tools were proved insufficient to find the problem. After that, he said his goodbyes and left.
Then, there was a printer that kept jamming when operated and was a pain to use. We slowly took it apart to the point where the printing mechanism was exposed. There were compressed air cans, so we used them to try and clean out the bay and found the problem. A push pin was lodged inside the mechanism. It was taken out and the printer worked regularly again.
Lastly, an electric razor was brought in that wasn’t working. I took it apart, only to find that oxidized contact plates in the device’s switch didn’t allow any electricity to pass through. I cleaned it up and that was the end of the problem. Just before the event ended, a mixer with a snapped blade was brought in. A replacement part was brought with it, so I tried to put the part in. However, it didn’t properly fit and by that time, the event was nearly over. It was great to meet and interact with all sorts of people, even if their devices were not fixed in the end.
Thank you to all of the Fixit Clinic's staff that organized this event. If not for the entire organization itself, I wouldn't have been able to find the opportunity to do what I like doing.
Here are a couple of pictures to get a glimpse of what it was like.
After all, this was a free experience that could greatly benefit those who wanted to repair items themselves instead of paying a hefty price to do so. My own experience was fun and I learned quite a bit from it. I signed up to volunteer at the Fixit Clinic. My first task was an electric whisk that was not functioning. I took it apart but didn’t glean much from it until a man came over to see what I was doing.
He then proceeded to give instructions along the rest of the way for about an hour or so. Funnily enough, we came to the conclusion that the whisk itself wasn’t worth fixing. There was a motor inside attached to a transformer that would have to be replaced. The set itself would cost as much as a new whisk, so it was pretty much unfix-able in its current state.
Next up was an air compressor for a pump. This was generously supplied to me by the man who gave me an extensive lesson on how something couldn’t be fixed (I’m grateful too). We tried to take it apart, but our tools were proved insufficient to find the problem. After that, he said his goodbyes and left.
Then, there was a printer that kept jamming when operated and was a pain to use. We slowly took it apart to the point where the printing mechanism was exposed. There were compressed air cans, so we used them to try and clean out the bay and found the problem. A push pin was lodged inside the mechanism. It was taken out and the printer worked regularly again.
Lastly, an electric razor was brought in that wasn’t working. I took it apart, only to find that oxidized contact plates in the device’s switch didn’t allow any electricity to pass through. I cleaned it up and that was the end of the problem. Just before the event ended, a mixer with a snapped blade was brought in. A replacement part was brought with it, so I tried to put the part in. However, it didn’t properly fit and by that time, the event was nearly over. It was great to meet and interact with all sorts of people, even if their devices were not fixed in the end.
Thank you to all of the Fixit Clinic's staff that organized this event. If not for the entire organization itself, I wouldn't have been able to find the opportunity to do what I like doing.
Here are a couple of pictures to get a glimpse of what it was like.
