Hanging a Gate, Building Lockers & Plugging Gaps - The Reality of Handyman Work

A bit of a real-life look into a fairly typical day on the job for me as a #handyman. As opposed to the licenced trades, you need to be flexible and tackle a variety of tasks. This site will eventually be a cafe and the client had a long list of tasks for me to try to get through over 2 days working there. The highlights were fitting and hanging a gate and building and installing a set of lockers. What I spent most of my time doing was cleaning up the site and picking up after the mess left by the plumber :P
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[@JamesManCave]

It's the little jobs that you did in this video that keeps the cash coming in when waiting for the big jobs to come in. Always good to see someone take pride in their work

[@FixitFingers]

And with a good day rate the video doesn't have to do well 🤣 Hopefully a fun little look into the job though 😊

[@pajaro685]

When i was installing internal wardrobes, I was proud to clean up after me and leave nothing. i made a mess but when i left it was spotless, vacuumed and mopped if needed. Good job!

[@FixitFingers]

Clients really notice. You want to be invited back, leave it better than you found it 😊

[@possumheadcarpentry]

it doesn't matter where you are in the world, they will always leave a mess , excellent video

[@FixitFingers]

Which I then get paid to clean... I'll take that win I suppose 😝

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

Good to see you on the job mate, that hardwood gate was lovely.

[@FixitFingers]

Not bad for a big box store unit. Cheaper than I could have bought the wood for and proper glue and screw build. I like this kinda work. I just charge a flat day rate plus materials and get stuff done. Good variety.

[@julietphillips1991]

Okay. I enjoyed this! That's right, you tell them James..."Clean as you go!" Doesn't take that long and the customer would be so impressed. The timber top you mentioned for the lockers would be nice!

[@FixitFingers]

Learnt that working at Maccas at 15, stayed with me. Yeah I think I've got a nice piece of timber hiding in the shop that will work nicely...if bub gives me the time 😉

[@julietphillips1991]

You have me wondering...is the baby here?@@FixitFingers

[@FixitFingers]

@@julietphillips1991 not yet, due mid November

[@kjh_woodworking]

A clean tradie sets them apart from the rest! Nicely done mate!

[@FixitFingers]

On the North Shore with all the la-di-da clients I don't know how they get away with out doing it but it seems common!

[@kjh_woodworking]

Common sense isn't very common these days!

[@coolabahwoodworking]

Great video mate! Keep crushing it!

[@FixitFingers]

Little bit of FF life between project videos 😉 The handyman jobs pay better than project videos too 😅

[@coolabahwoodworking]

@@FixitFingers yeah I like the blog style stuff.

[@CrudeButEfficient]

Looks like a fun job, and very satisfying to have that mess cleaned up!

[@FixitFingers]

I don't mind cleaning, you make very visible and appreciable progress very quickly. It is satisfying and I get paid the same as I do doing the more tricky task of fitting a gate to a wonky hole 😂

[@CrudeButEfficient]

@@FixitFingers As long as it's taking care of "clean dirt" like sawdust or leaves, and not filth that you don't know where it originated... 😬

[@justinbyers1441]

Awesome video mate and a ton of cleaning you did, and really looking good 👍

[@FixitFingers]

Cleaning is the easiest money doing this type of work. Knocked over a lot of annoying little jobs which was great.

[@NotJustSawdust]

Somebody has to do it in the end. I've been that somebody too a lot of times. Seems it's not some kind of culture difference that the budget behind the scenes doesn't stretch as far, although it's often the space most used. You've showed a nice insight behind the scenes!

[@FixitFingers]

Honestly I don't mind it, I like working in a clean space, even if I have to be the one to make it so. There are a lot of regs around this service areas here.

[@erykfreethinker7147]

Splendid work James. The garbage outhouse was more a cave than a utility! I think the drawers were fitted to not foul the pipes by trained furniture woodworms! That expanding foam looks like it could be useful for all kinds of jobs. Great upload, really enjoyed it James, Cheers. Eryk.

[@FixitFingers]

At about 120 years old I am surprised it is not it is not a national momument that garbage room. Don't laugh, it may well have been the original outhouse! Expanding foam is a handyman's friend. Pretty nasty stuff though, basically airated polyurethane glue. Cheers Eryk!

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

Those little jobs are time consuming and you need nearly every tool you own 🛠👍😊

[@FixitFingers]

I had to drag along half the workshop! It's likely why finding someone to do these kinds of jobs is so difficult.

[@burnu2240]

stevie wonder did the plumbing fitouts 100%

[@FixitFingers]

Apparently he was 'really busy' and doing the client a favour by showing up 🤣

[@stephenpearce5462]

G DAY STEVE IAM AFTER A GOOD DUST MARK HAVE DONE A DUSK MASK VIDEO IF SO I HAVE TO GO AND LOOK 4 THAT VIDEO CHEERS GREAT VIDIOS

[@FixitFingers]

Sure do, in fact I'm even mildly qualified to discuss the topic 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4TUYo2lmriZbcUsi=FA_pmo73zt9iN8Kj

[@whitedoggarage]

Enjoyed the video, that gate came out looking very nice, excellent job in a very rough opening 👍👍👍. Surprised the owner did not go for steel lockers over the wood ones, individual choices I guess. Sydney plumbers dont clean up after themselves it seems 😀.

[@FixitFingers]

The client has an eye for a tight budget... that's why she hired me 🤣Honestly our plumbers I use at the building I manage are excellent, as were the company before that. There could be something said for taking the most affordable option here ;) Same with the lockers. It took me a couple hours work to "make them fit" and they still need that wooden top to look respectable, whereas more expensive off-the-shelf metal lockers with adjustable feet would have been an instant solution...

[@michaelsykes3659]

New to channel. Great stuff, alot of good advice! Appreciate the videos, keep them coming please!😊

[@FixitFingers]

Cheers Mike! I do a mix of stuff, workshop woodworking, DIY, Tools and Handyman content. Something new every couple of weeks normally... but I have my first child due soon so may be a touch quieter than normal for a while 😅

[@michaelwillson6847]

Certianly nice wee random video there jimbo. Can't agree more trades need learn clean up behind them. Weve just had new heating system installed a ended up throwing one them off the job cause he was just well 1 a bast*** and 2 a f****g mess so that was fun. Keep vodeos coming. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@FixitFingers]

Geez mate tell us what you really think of him 🤣 it's just courtesy, at least in my books.

[@michaelwillson6847]

@@FixitFingers m8 that's the tame version of what a said to him 🫢😂😂turns out he actually got the sack but for the way he was and spoke my wife and another customer the following Monday. Oh well. Think your right though it's common courtesy. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😮

[@HewAndAwe]

Just a thought dude, if you’re using an iPhone to film I recommend filmic pro then you can adjust the frame rate and rid the lesbo in the room, the flikering. 😆

[@FixitFingers]

Yeah bloody fluros. I could, but I'm lazy 🤣 Who doesn't like I good little flicky tickle? 😝

[@2byforge]

Technically the kitchen floors in a commercial kitchen are never level, they tend to have a slight angle so it helps with water drainage when cleaning etc

[@FixitFingers]

Oh yeah I expected them to slope towards the drain...I also expected there to be a drain. 😅

[@2byforge]

@@FixitFingers that's the cool part about using an existing space that's not even close to being a commercial kitchen 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@briansbuildsandoutdoors4936]

When do you find the time to do your real job😁. When I saw the lockers I thought there is no way on God's green earth that James is going to leave them like that. He wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I was right, you didn't. Keep up the good work. All the best.

[@FixitFingers]

Hahaha yeah they look poo. A nice top will make them look a lot better. Always another job!

[@dainermade]

Forgive me. I watched this one at 1.5 speed 😂 on ya Jimbo

[@FixitFingers]

I watch everything on 1.5x speed 🤣

[@julietphillips1991]

I am trying to figure out YT. This video is not in my notifications! Why is that?

[@FixitFingers]

Got the little bell thing ticked? YT is a funny beast some times

[@julietphillips1991]

It's funny! I am watching your video and just paused it to reply, "Yes James I do have the little bell thing ticked!" Actually I'm still checking to see if it will turn up in the notifications! Now back to your video!@@FixitFingers

[@themondaymeetup-raw3425]

Didn't know kreg did a 90 degree

[@FixitFingers]

It's fairly new and very small, much better than my Aldi one!