Fixit Clinic CXXVIII (128) Huntington Beach

Another whirlwind Fixit Clinic in Huntington Beach, with a great set of Fixit Coaches and participants. Among the highlights:

This very ornate Disney clock: given that Anaheim / Disneyland is nearby maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise but it was nice to see it.

This plug had extremely old and brittle wiring. A representative from the local Ace Hardware was on hand, we relied on his store for new zip cord for the rewiring job.

Basic antenna theory: a piece of wire a similar length to the broken antenna works just as well (we could've replaced the antenna too.)

More photos from Fixit Clinic CXXVIII in Huntington Beach at https://goo.gl/photos/zBKYAYJ6NrauCBdG9

Fixit Clinic CXXI (#121): Albany Community Center and Library

Fixit Clinic CXXI (#121) at the Albany Community Center and Library had a "Spotlight on Sewing Machines" theme. It was held in conjunction with the Albany Clothing Swap and Swap-o-rama-rama http://albanyca.org/index.aspx?recordid=11718&page=1050 In addition to sewing machines and sergers we fixed a ton of electronics stuff, mended fabric, altered clothes, etc: a hot time on a hot afternoon!

More photos from Fixit Clinic CXXI (#121) can be seen on Google+ here: https://goo.gl/photos/DBdUh9PRJVsuiJ6X8

Clocks Seen At Fixit Clinic

As part of our ongoing outreach and informational services we've assembled this handy photo collage from various Fixit Clinics of examples of clocks and who might have them -- just in case this might be helpful to someone in the future. ‪#‎standwithahmed‬

See the entire collection of clock photos on Google+ at https://goo.gl/photos/UkAriJuvqbouCavW9

Fixit Clinic CXV (#115) Castro Valley Public Library

We had another wonderful day of fixing at the Castro Valley Public Library; among the highlights:

- Roy replaced the thermal fuse in a nut grinder (note the smoldering solder iron)

- Several fixit coaches participated in installing a new, aftermarket switch in a full spectrum lamp

- Castro Valley Environmental Commissioner (and High School student!) Nicole Bagdadlian showed up and we talked about bringing Fixit Clinic to the High School

You can see more photos from Fixit Clinic CXV (#115) Castro Valley Public Library on Google+:
https://goo.gl/photos/gno6Dyt9SakMfpHX8

Many thanks again to Michelle Wu from Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSAN) http://www.cvsan.org/content/repair-workshops and Danielle Wilson from the Castro Valley Public Library (link to Fixit Clinic announcement) for hosting us. Danielle is moving on to become the Branch Manager for the new San Lorenzo Public Library, we hope to hold Fixit Clinics there too!

Fixit Clinic CXIi (#112) Huntington Beach, CA

The City of Huntington Beach hosted their inaugural Fixit Clinic Saturday, June 6, 2015. The most unusual item we saw today (and certainly up there in the category of unusual items seen thus far) was a parrot's backpack that allowed the parrot's owners to carry the parrot around with them.

The day's most satisfying repair was a popcorn maker because we got to sample the working popcorn maker's wares once it was working:

More photos from Fixit Clinic CXII (#112) Huntington Beach, CA are available on Google+ here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6158045266877758529?authkey=CJ3Pq5zq9KfjiAE

Many thanks to the City for hosting and to Debbie Killey who worked tirelessly to pull of the Fixit Clinic. We eagerly await the next Huntington Beach Fixit Clinic!

Fixing a Zipper When the Zipper Teeth Separate

Ever have a zipper where the zipper teeth separate behind the zipper slider? Fixit Clinic's Peter Mui shows how to address this issue using a locking pliers:

This video was taken at Yerdle's Repair & Share Earth Party http://repairshareearthparty.splashthat.com/ celebrating Patagonia's Worn Wear Tour http://www.patagonia.com/us/worn-wear/. Fixit Clinic also participated at the Patagonia North Beach Store Worn Wear event a couple of Black Fridays ago: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/5951923350253636353.

The basic trick is to use the locking pliers to clamp down just a smidgen on the top and bottom plates of the zipper slider body. Do both sides, work slowly so you don't make the sides too tight.

Here's the step-by-step instructions we created for iFixit's web site: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+Zipper+Slider/35496

Fabric items are 8% of landfill waste. How many jackets, tents, backpacks, luggage, and other items with zippers have been discarded when they could've been easily repaired with this simple technique?

Fixit Clinic CVI (#106) Livermore Public Library

Another grand day of fixing with a bunch of newly-minted Fixit Coaches, mostly from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.  We saw a higher number of laptops than we normally see and got most of them back into working order. More photos from the Fixit Clinic are on Google+ here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6139280702310932225?authkey=CIuji-SP5aL8PQ

It's our sincere hope that this great core of new Fixit Coaches in Livermore start a new and sustainable Fixit Clinic satellite there.

Addendum: One of the new Fixit Coaches wrote in later that day:

"Thanks! I had a blast.

"It didn't stop at the clinic. On the way home Ryan and I stopped and helped two guys whose car was at the side of the road. It had been shuddering and emitting smoke. Eventually we determined the reason for their trouble was they'd been driving with the parking brake on! Wish I'd had a bell to ring....

-Josh"

Fixit Clinic IC (#99) MIT

Heavy snow couldn't keep our cadre of hardy Fixit Coaches from showing up to help with yesterday's Fixit Clinic. We were back again at MIT at a new location: the MIT D-Lab along Mass. Av. http://d-lab.mit.edu/. It's a great space with lots of tools and tables, and we got a ton of fixing accomplished.

More photos from the event are at this album on Google+: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6108372256458622113?authkey=CLjVtJi7jsqTTg

Fixit Clinic XCVI (#96) Piedmont Middle School

Who says there's no family-friendly evening activities anymore? Fixit Coach extraordinaire Steve Berl arranged for Fixit Clinic to participate in the Piedmont Makers' Tech Social last night at Piedmont Middle School. It was great seeing so many families come out together to celebrate disassembly, troubleshooting, and repair.

More photos from this Fixit Clinic are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6102798585281335905?authkey=CJjWhfujipDcywE

Fixit Clinic XCIV (#94) at Albany Community Center

Once again, a swingin' time was had by all at this afternoon's Holiday Fixit Clinic at the Albany California Community Center. I didn't get photos of everything we saw but we were busy the whole time. And how often do you get to see Dean Martin with his pants down?

More photos from today's Fixit Clinic are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6092550983857056961?authkey=CNza9eOv_PDFHQ

It's been about a year since we've seen one of these mechanical celebrity dolls, the last one was at Fixit Clinic L (#50) in Santa Cruz when it was Ray Charles:

Back then, as now, the issue was frayed wires resulting from the mechanical gyrations of the doll. It's quite a job getting these guys disassembled to figure that out!

Fixit Clinic XCIII (#93) at Hercules Public Library

Every Fixit Clinic is kind of like an Improv performance: you never know what the participants are going to show up with. Yesterday Fixit Clinic XCIII (#93) at Hercules Public Library was the day of the vacuum cleaners: we saw three or four of them.

Once again, something stuck in the hose, suction is restored!

There was also a Teddy Ruxpin doll that ended up looking like something out of a Terminator movie when the owner was done disassembling it.

Terminator Teddy Ruxpin

See all the photos from this Fixit Clinic here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6090087875597331713

Repair Stories on iFixit.com

At Fixit Clinic we believe that people's stories -- what the item meant to them when it was working, how it broke, and how they fixed it -- are the best part of holding these events. We've just discovered this page on iFixit.com's site where they've chronicled lots of people's stories about their repairs; read 'em here: https://www.ifixit.com/story

We've got a couple of our own so far (see the Hello Kitty toaster and Vacuum Cleaner posts). Over time, we hope to amass our own collection of stories about what we've seen.

Vacuum Cleaner Repair Testimonial

Just rediscovered this old gem on the East Bay Mini Maker Faire blog about a vacuum cleaner repair: https://ebmakerfaire.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/springs-spools-and-power-cords-getting-real-at-the-fixit-clinic/

Fixit Coaches Chris Witt and Richard Jesch helping to rewind the power cord/spring on that vacuum.

Holiday Fixit Clinic 2/2: Albany Community Center

One of our favorite locations: we return to the Albany Community Center on Sat. Dec. 13 for the second of two holiday-themed Fixit Clinics: hope to see you there!

---------------------------
Holiday Fixit Clinic at Albany Community Center

Fix your broken stuff -- Or at least learn more about it disassembling it.

Fixing as Giving: In the spirit of the holidays, The Fixit Clinic Elves will be on hand to spread holiday cheer helping you fix that special item for a loved one (that includes you!)
So bring your broken, non-functioning things -- electronics, appliances, computers, toys, etc.-- for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair.
We'll provide workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you disassemble and troubleshoot your item. Whether we fix it or not, you'll learn more about how it was manufactured and how it worked. This is a family-friendly event: children are heartily invited!

WHAT:   Fixit Clinic XCIV (#94) at Albany Community Center http://goo.gl/y2fUS4
WHEN:  Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 12PM-3PM
WHERE: Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Avenue, Albany, CA, EOC Room (in the basement)
http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=561&recordid=9665
HOW:      Bring: 1) your broken or non-working thing (carry-in only: no
oversize items)
     2) accessories and tools you already own that might be helpful (e.g.
phillips head screwdriver)
     3) any knowledge or advance research you've done on the issue
     4) boxes, bags and/or small containers to organize (and carry away)
parts.
Walk-ins always welcome but please register in advance: http://goo.gl/qTzh9J
COST:   Free!
WHY:     To make friends, learn how things work, and have fun!

www.fixitclinic.org

WANNA HELP OTHERS at Fixit Clinic? Email fixitclinic@gmail.com
---------------------------

Holiday Fixit Clinic 1/2: Hercules Public Library

We return to the Hercules Public Library on Sat. Dec. 6 for a holiday-themed Fixit Clinic, we'll have another the following Saturday at the Albany Community Center. Hope to see you there!

==================================================
Holiday Fixit Clinic at Hercules Public Library

Fix your broken stuff -- Or at least learn more about it disassembling it.

Fixing as Giving: In the spirit of the holidays, The Fixit Clinic Elves will be on hand to spread holiday cheer helping you fix that special item for a loved one (that includes you!)
So bring your broken, non-functioning things -- electronics, appliances, computers, toys, etc.-- for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair.
We'll provide workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you disassemble and troubleshoot your item. Whether we fix it or not, you'll learn more about how it was manufactured and how it worked. This is a family-friendly event: children are heartily invited!

WHAT:   Fixit Clinic XCIII (#93) at Hercules Public Library http://goo.gl/jPCJ8x
WHEN:  Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 2PM-5PM
WHERE: Hercules Public Library, 109 Civic Drive, Hercules, CA 94547 http://ccclib.org/locations/hercules.html
HOW:      Bring: 1) your broken or non-working thing (carry-in only: no
oversize items)
     2) accessories and tools you already own that might be helpful (e.g.
phillips head screwdriver)
     3) any knowledge or advance research you've done on the issue
     4) boxes, bags and/or small containers to organize (and carry away)
parts.
Walk-ins always welcome but please register in advance here: http://goo.gl/qTzh9J
COST:   Free!
WHY:     To make friends, learn how things work, and have fun!

www.fixitclinic.org

WANNA HELP OTHERS at Fixit Clinic? Email fixitclinic@gmail.com
==================================================

Roy Repairs Rice Cooker at Hercules Public Library

Another satisfied Fixit Clinic participant!

Fixit Clinic LXXXVIII (#88) at East Bay Mini Maker Faire

We always have a good time at the East Bay Mini Maker Faire, we've been at all five of them thus far. A few of us typically set up the Saturday before the all-day Sunday event. This year I tried creating a Google+ Hangout on Air but the bandwidth at the school wouldn't support it.

Many thanks to all the Fixit Coaches who made this another memorable day!

See all the photos from today on our Google+ page here: https://plus.google.com/photos/111525193946026734520/albums/6072133434540019953?authkey=CJubi66jiseyDQ

Call for Fixit Coaches: July 26 in San Carlos

We’re holding a Fixit Clinic Saturday, July 26 at Recology's Shoreway Environmental Center in San Carlos. We’d love to have interested people help others with troubleshooting their broken stuff: email fixitclinic@gmail.com if you can help. Either way: please bring your family and friends with their broken things to the actual event!

See the text-based announcement below, feel free to forward it on to anyone you think might be interested in attending: as either a “Fixit Coach” or a participant. Register on Eventbrite as a participant (not a Fixit Coach) here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/rethinkwastes-1st-fixit-clinic-tickets-11934858483

====================================

------------------------------------------------------------

Fixit Clinic LXXXV (#85) - Shoreway Environmental Center

Fix your broken stuff -- Or at least learn more about it disassembling it.

Bring your broken, non-functioning things: electronics, appliances, computers, toys, etc. for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. We'll provide workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you disassemble and troubleshoot your item. Whether we fix it or not, you'll learn more about how it was manufactured and how it worked. This is a family-friendly event: children are heartily invited!

WHAT: Fixit Clinic LXXXV (#85) at Shoreway Environmental Center

WHEN: Saturday, July 26, 11AM-2PM

WHERE: Recology Shoreway Environmental Center, Building 6, 225 Shoreway Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070 http://rethinkwaste.org/shoreway-facility/map

HOW: Bring: 1) your non-working thing (carry-in only, no oversize items)

2) any tools you already own that might be helpful

3) any knowledge or advance research you've done on the issue 

4) boxes, bags and/or small containers to carry away parts

WHY: To make friends, learn how things work, and have fun!

URL: Register on Eventbrite here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/rethinkwastes-1st-fixit-clinic-tickets-11934858483

Sponsored by South Bayside Waste Management Authority (www.rethinkwaste.org) and RecycleWorks (www.RecycleWorks.org)

www.fixitclinic.org

Facebook: "Like" Fixit Clinic: https://www.facebook.com/FixitClinic

Join the Fixit Clinic Mailing List: http://groups.google.com/group/fixitfan

Google+: Add Fixit Clinic to your circles and join the Fixit Clinic Community: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/111525193946026734520/

https://plus.google.com/b/111525193946026734520/communities/115532798716830349634

—————————————————————————————————

FIXIT COACHES WANTED: want to help at this event? Email fixitclinic@gmail.com

Wanna be a Fixit Clinic Coach?

We're recruiting Fixit Clinic Coaches: come join the fun! As a Fixit Coach, all you really have to do is give participants permission that it's OK to open up their thing that's already broken. We encourage you to learn from other coaches and share what you know with both other coaches and clinic participants. We've got upcoming events in:

- San Mateo County (CA)
- Eastern Alameda County (CA)
- Southern Alameda County (CA)
- San Francisco County (Richmond District)
- San Anselmo, CA
- Somerville, MA
- Cambridge, MA (MIT)
- Boulder, CO
- Andover, MN
- And, of course, the Oakland-Berkeley-Albany-El Cerrito SF East Bay corridor

If you want to be a Fixit Coach at an upcoming event in any of these areas email peter@fixitclinic.org.

And, of course if you aren't in any of the areas above and want to start a Fixit Clinic, email peter@fixitclinic.org about that too!

Thanks!