566
submitted 1 month ago by Iconoclast@feddit.uk to c/diy@slrpnk.net

The new one is the one on the top.

all 40 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] TerraRoot@sh.itjust.works 52 points 1 month ago

Damn ugly, why would a manufactuer use such a bland white block of plastic.

Also you now need a stein glass and a horned fur trimmed helmet btw, I don't make the rules.

[-] Man_kind@sh.itjust.works 40 points 1 month ago

Now remove the bottom and re-do that one and your fridge looks meant to be that way, and better.

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 13 points 1 month ago

Not gonna lie, I spent like 5 hours on the first one. Had that been a commission for a customer, it would've been a 300€ fridge handle. Two of them would more than double the price of the fridge itself.

[-] Man_kind@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Ya lol. Thats always the way. Mass production really reduces the cost of everything like crazy. Anything one builds for themselves is always going to be crazy expensive compared to factory made. Unless they have all the equipment already, and knowhow to do it real fast.

[-] uniquethrowagay@feddit.org 2 points 1 month ago

I can lend the tools I don't have from my local community workshop and most of the time I don't consider the time to build/repair something work, but leisure. So while yes, all my shit would be way too expensive if I sold it, it's still very much viable for me

[-] Man_kind@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

Yup, I totally get that. Plus theres the satisfaction of it. And for many things the option to have it custom suited to your needs.

If I was a billionaire, there would be very few things I'd buy from a factory. Well, maybe not few, like toothbrushes toilet paper etc... obviously there are many things id get factory, but wherever possible, I'd prefer hand made by artisans, because its cooler, I want them to have jobs, and I can have it custom made. I'd be prepared to pay that premium for others to do it too.

[-] Gnugit@aussie.zone 26 points 1 month ago
[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 16 points 1 month ago

Wanted to make sure it'll outlive the fridge!

[-] fierysparrow89@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago

Very stylish, barely noticable repair 🤣

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I like it better than the original, unironically.

Replace the other one too!

I am beyond sick to death of 'everything is either landlord white, or stainless steel and black'.

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 9 points 1 month ago

I honestly do too.

The Japanese even have a term for this kind of thing: Kintsugi - for when instead of hiding the repair you embrace it. I like the aesthetic personally. I think it adds character. I've got plenty of builds and repairs like this around the house that might not look so pretty but are handmade and of high quality.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yep, yep yep yep, fully agree and am also a fan of the concept behind Kinstugi.

Though I think that kintsugi more specifically refers to ... well, a literal artform/method of repair of things like glasses, cups, vases, etc...

Yeah, the general idea of ... just repairing things that break, instead of replacing them wholly... making do with what you have and what you know...

We all need to shift toward that.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair.

We are living in a cyberpunk dystopia and if we ever want it to inch toward a solarpunk alternative, we will need to do with what exists, produce less literal mountains and islands of garbage.

... Beyond that, you could say that a kind of custom repair like this is literally building character.

[-] Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 month ago

You should also replace the bottom one. It's a little "DIY", but it's still an improvement on bland white plastic

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

And then they match.

My dilemma would be do I really want to replace one that isn’t broken and risk fucking it up more? Versus having to look at handles that don’t match.

[-] smuuthbrane@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 month ago

That gives the fridge ao much more character. Love it! Now do the other one!

[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Nice! I've got no metal or woodworking skills, but I do have a 3d printer. I've been doing these types of repairs lately and it's just soooo damn satisfying. I replaced some broken pieces of a shoe rack the other day and felt like a god among men.

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 3 points 1 month ago

I'm yet to dive into that rabbit hole but it's just a matter of time. My understanding however is that the technology is already mature enough to be actually practical for normal users too.

[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

Yeah I got my first printer something like 5 years ago and it was much more tinkering than the average person would probably want to put up with.

I bought a more modern printer recently and it's a night and day difference. For the most part, you can just tell it to print something with substantially less manual intervention.

[-] Damage@feddit.it 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah but designing your own stuff takes time

[-] BananaOnionJuice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Steampunk fridge, it may need some more cogs and pipes to get to the next level.

Did it pass the WAF?

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 24 points 1 month ago

She took off about 6 months ago. Couldn't live with the missing fridge handle I suppose.

Maybe I should call her..

[-] DarkSpectrum@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

the door will come off before that handle does

[-] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago

I love this

[-] tjoa@feddit.org 5 points 1 month ago

I love how the plywood gives the handle texture.

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 7 points 1 month ago

I was going to paint it first but decided against it. Should probably still seal it with something or it'll look dirty real quick.

[-] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago

A layer of matte poly on the wood and metal would keep it nice for a while. Don’t want rust streaks on the fridge if it gets humid.

[-] Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social 4 points 1 month ago

You need to break the bottom handle too

[-] anticurrent@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

I wish I had a 3d printer at Home to repair many broken appliances that only needed a small spare part.

I've come to hate everything made of plastic these last few years. most my electronics went out of service because of how flimsy they were made.

[-] Liz@midwest.social 6 points 1 month ago

I have replaced a number of broken parts in my house using my 3D printer and it's so nice.

[-] Michal@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago

The top one looks like it may need replacing soon as well 😂

[-] mcz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago
[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

Lot of DIY fridge repairs on Lemmy lately.

[-] Steamymoomilk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Skyrim fridge

[-] teslekova@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Here's how good your replacement is: I assumed the one on the bottom was the DIY one and you'd 3D printed it. Top one is much prettier.

[-] feinstruktur@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Great, like it! It follows one of my own design rules at home - if you can't hide it, promote it!

[-] orenj@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago
[-] Mucki@feddit.org 1 points 1 month ago

At this point just rebuild the whole fridge with wood and steel. It looks so much more long lasting, durable and worthwhile than the white poly* material.

[-] diabetic_porcupine@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I thought I was in dullmensclub for a second

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 2 points 1 month ago

I rarely post there anymore because every time someone complains it's not dull enough.

this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2026
566 points (100.0% liked)

DIY

4098 readers
32 users here now

Share your self-made stuff and half-baked projects here.

Also check out !diy@beehaw.org

There is also a related XMPP chat.

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS