Workshop log, without frills
This is Mischi Alexandru's notebook: a record of hands-on manual work, with step-by-step photos, the materials list, and the mistakes that came up along the way. There are entries on light carpentry, basic electricity, bicycle maintenance, and small welding jobs, plus notes on how to organize the bench and which supplies are worth keeping on hand. You won't find perfect recipes here: it tells what worked, what went wrong, and how much it cost. If you'd rather repair than replace, this notebook is for you.
See the notebook entriesIf you want to see the full picture of what gets published first, stop by the work areas or look at concrete repair cases. And if you have a specific question, write to us from contact.
This notebook doesn't sell courses or promise quick results. It's a hands-on work log where I write down what went well, what went wrong, and how much each attempt cost. If you're just starting out with woodworking, home electrical work, or maintaining your bike, there's concrete material to read without rushing. And if you have a specific question or want to share your own process, write to me: the conversation continues where the note ends.
Write and keep the conversation goingBefore sending your message, check the workshop notes already published. Many times the answer is in the step-by-step.
See also: the work areas I document, use cases by trade and the direct way to write.
What you'll find in this notebook
This isn't a catalog of perfect solutions. It's the record of a small workshop, with successes and mistakes, written so the next person who dares to repair doesn't start from scratch.
Each entry starts from the object's initial state: the wobbly chair, the missing outlet, the bike that skips gears. Then comes disassembly, measurements, the order of assembly, and the tools that were actually used. If something was done with whatever was on hand, that's noted too, because not all of us have a fully equipped workshop.
Before buying, it's worth knowing what's needed and what can wait. The lists include type of wood, wire gauge, pipe diameter, or bike part depending on the case, plus a note on which supply goes far in bulk and which is better bought by the unit so you don't pile up too much on the shelf.
The first workbench ended up crooked because I rushed the cut on the legs. The first copper joints came out porous. A mislabeled breaker gave me an unnecessary scare. Sharing that is more useful than showing only the final result: it helps you recognize the warning sign before repeating the same mistake.
Light woodworking, basic electrical work, bicycle maintenance, and small welding jobs share space with notes on bench organization and smart buying of supplies. The idea is that you can connect what you learn in one area with what you need in another, without jumping between different sites.
Here you won't find magic formulas or guaranteed results. I share what worked, what went wrong, and how much it cost in time and materials. If a repair wasn't worth it, I say so too, because knowing when it's better to replace instead of persisting is part of the trade.
Hobbyists, trade students, and people who prefer to repair rather than throw away. No prior experience or a large workshop is needed: most projects can be completed in a corner of the home with basic hand tools and a little patience to measure twice before cutting.
If you want to see how all of this applies in concrete cases, you can browse the workshop uses and situations or go through the entry notebook with the complete step-by-step.
Three reads that continue the same thread of the notebook: building something with your hands, working on the electrical installation, and organizing the space where you work. None of them promises quick results; they are process notes, mistakes included.
Measurements, cuts, and anchors for a bench that does not move when you sand. The first attempt came out crooked because I rushed squaring the legs; here the correct order is documented and why it is best to glue and screw at the same time.
Read the full postTrip the breaker, identify the wires, and test before closing the box. I explain how to strip the wire without damaging the copper, why I use terminal blocks instead of twisting, and what to check before connecting any equipment.
See the procedureChair repair, bike brake adjustment, soft soldering on copper, and organizing a two-meter wall. Each post includes a materials list, step-by-step photos, and what went wrong.
Browse the blogHow work is done in this notebook
Every entry in the notebook follows the same approach: first the problem is understood, then the tool is chosen, and only then do you get hands-on. There are no magic steps or shortcuts that skip the boring part. What there is, however, is a proven order, with room to make mistakes and go back without ruining the piece.
Before removing a screw, it is best to observe how it was assembled, take a photo with your phone, and write down on paper which part goes with which. On a wobbly chair or in an electrical box, that minute of recording avoids the classic moment of being left with the parts in your hand without knowing where they went.
You do not need the whole workshop. For most of the jobs in the notebook, screwdrivers, pliers, a saw, a tape measure, and some type of clamp or C-clamp are enough. If the project calls for something specific, it is noted in the materials list and explained what it is used for, so you can decide whether it is worth buying or borrowing.
In electrical work, the breaker is switched off and verified with a voltage tester before touching any wire. In carpentry and welding, the piece is secured with clamps so it doesn't move mid-cut. These are two simple gestures that completely change the result and prevent scares that are hard to forget afterward.
An outlet is measured with a multimeter before connecting anything. A welded joint is checked with pressurized water before being approved. A repaired chair is sat on and moved a little to see if it creaks. If something fails, better it fails at that moment and not three days later.
In every entry, the mistake is recorded, not just the success. A measurement taken wrong, a solder joint that didn't flow, a wire stripped too far. That part is the most useful when someone is just starting out and doesn't yet have a trained eye to spot where things are about to get complicated.
If you have a pending repair and don't know where to start, write in describing what it is and what condition it's in. The reply comes back in the same tone as the notebook: no strange promises, just what can and can't be done.
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