“Redneck Engineering”: 30 Times People Fixed Their Problems In The Most “Genius” Ways (New Pics)

It’s 11 p.m., your faucet starts leaking, and there’s no way your plumber will answer their phone. What do you do? You could, of course, wait for the morning and probably watch your room fill up with water in the process. Or, you could slap some duct tape on that baby and call it a day.

The latter sounds like it’s straight from the Redneck Engineering subreddit, doesn’t it? Well, maybe because it is. That’s a community where people share questionable, sometimes even silly solutions that shouldn’t seem to work, but somehow do. Scroll down and see what the DIY engineers were up to since the last time we featured the subreddit on We!

#1 Who’s Laughing Now?

#2 Kitten Proofing The Underside Of My Couch

#3 In-Laws Visiting. They Kept Pushing Buttons On The Remote To The Point The TV Was Wrecked, And The Dvr Was Full And Programmed To Record Till Next Century. Cardboard And Tape Solution

The Redneck Engineering community celebrates the successful (?) attempts at fixing things up. There’s nothing wrong with a little DIY at home. In fact, 75% of American homeownersclaimthey have tried out some sort of a DIY project. Most people (62%) say they tackle home repairs or renovations themselves because it’s cheaper.

At the same time, around 80% said they’ve made mistakes when DIY’ing something, and 45% said they’ve completely butchered a DIY project at least once. So, it seems thatDIYisn’t always the be-all and end-all, and it’s useful to know when it’s best to put the hammer down and call a professional.

#4 Is This Normal Anywhere?

#5 Hold The Door!

#6 This Actually Works Great

“Why does my son have a spoon stuck to his gaming screen?”

Perhaps the most obvious risk when DIYing home projects is doing electrical work. We often imagine we’ll end up looking like Marv fromHome Alone 2, but experts warn that faulty electrical work done by an amateur can be seriously dangerous.

According toChuck KhielofCase Architects and Remodelers, vice president of theSchedule Fred division, “The real risk is fire.” There are 51,000home firesin the U.S. every year. In some cases, you might even need a permit if you’re planning to do electrical work like adding electrical outlets.

#7 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

#8 Budget Cybor Truck

#9 So My Kitchen Faucet Snapped And The Stores Are Closed

Major plumbing repairs should also be left to the professionals. While fixing leaky faucets and pipes is something people can definitely DIY, things like adding or moving plumbing fixtures, replacing pipes and water heaters, or repairing/installing septic tanks or dry wells are not something an average homeowner can do.

#10 King Of The Flea Market Atop His Chariot

#11 Maine Winter Improv

WHAT IN THE STATE OF FRIGGIN MAINE IS HAPPENING HERE

#12 Floor Fan You Say?

One of the most popular things people DIY nowadays are decks. Kiehl warns that many homeowners might need a permit for that as well, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional. The experts at Timber Techwritethat you’ll need to take many things into account if you want to build your own deck: assess the substructure, the materials, and the scope, getting familiar with the installation process and the tools.

#13 Meanwhile, In Florida

Milton prep, let’s see if she holds.

#14 Home Made Smoker From Fb

#15 Tennessee Makeshift Bridge Using 2 Trailers

Another, perhaps surprising, DIY project you shouldn’t do solo is taking down trees. You have to have the right safety gear, know how to operate a chainsaw, and even be familiar with tree physics. In some jurisdictions, you might need a permit to remove a tree as well, so always check for that!

#16 Added A Bicycle Bottle Holder To My Desk

#17 Tried Glue First, Didn’t Hold

#18 No Saftey Violations Here Boss!

Okay, there are lots of things that we can’t DIY. But what can we do, then? If you’re not Bob the Builder but you like to get your hands dirty once in a while, you can do simpler home improvement projects or fix things like a clogged toilet, jammed garbage disposal, wall holes, or walls that need a little TLC (paint).

#19 Oddly Satisfying Towel Holder

Wife is painting the bathroom so removed all hanging items, includes of the towel holder. With a redneck engineer in the house, that will not stand. A finger tight screw in a wall anchor and problem solved.

#20 Gotta Love Uhaul

#21 Drying My Pants In A Hotel Room

Surprisingly, upholstering is something you can do by yourself. While the thing you upholster might not be a $3,000 intricate couch, some things can be pretty simple. According to Ana Verdi, a designer at Thompson Fine Home Renovation, homeowners can upholster “anything with straight lines.” You just need a staple gun and some fabric, and you should be good to go after a few YouTube tutorials.

#22 Found This On Facebook

#23 Does My Poor Mans Radio Antenna Count?

#24 My Wife Kept Accidentally Turning Off The Dishwasher

Did you know that old, dried-up caulking might be costing you 10% more in your annual bills? Replacing it around bathtubs, faucets, windows, and more might save you a pretty penny. Re-caulking can be pretty easy once you get all the supplies you need and consult a few tutorials likethis one.

#25 Glue Hoding Together This Old Chairs Legs Gave Out

The glue that was holding together this chairs’ support gave out cause the legs to to open up when sat upon.
Nothing a nail sandwiched between some scotch heavy duty filament tape can’t “temporarily” fix.

#26 Passive Amplifier 4G Signals

#27 Mounted A Police Riot Shield To My Bike As A Windshield

Another annoying problem that a little DIY can solve is squeaky hinges. Whether it’s a door, a window, or a cabinet door, most folks should be able to fix it in almost no time. And you don’t need a specialty lubricant—petroleum jelly, bar soap, or even olive oil can work just as well.

#28 My Brother Sent Me This

#29 Local Savannah Engineer

#30 Father In Laws TV “Mount”

So, Pandas, which one of these “It ain’t stupid if it works” solutions impressed you the most? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. And don’t forget to share some of your own Redneck Engineering projects if you have any! When you’re done, check out our previous posts about the subreddithere,here, andhere!

#31 Wrenchammer

#32 Liquid Nails Used For Ship Lap Boards, No Brad Nails

Needed to apply pressure to all four walls. This was a balancing act. We got the job done.

#33 Thoroughly Impressed With This One

#34 Pulled Behind A Tractor

Saw on facebook. Pulled behind a tractor. OP states the mower with the handle was clipped on so he could remove it to mow around trees. I’m not sure how he started the on with no shroud over the flywheel/pull start handle. But if he’s this handy, I’m sure he had his ways.

#35 Too Tall For A Normal Shower Head. This Setup Is Just Right

#36 Forgot To Pack A Spoon

#37 What’s A Man Gotta Do To Get Some Privacy Around Here

Left hand door opens onwards and right hand door opens outwards. The right hand door is actually to my shared bathroom and it only locks from the inside with a privacy lock.

#38 My 70 Yr Old, Wife Picked This Up At Walmart For Ten Bucks A Few Years Ago. She Absolutely Loves It And Refuses To Let It Go. The Handle On The Lid Finally Broke – So She Grabbed Some Duct Tape And Made A ”new” One… When I Saw It This Morning, I Was Like Wtf? But, If She’s Happy? I’m Happy