They provide the tools, you do the dirty work
The Do-It-Yourself Garage (DiG) is a new kind of mechanic shop — the customer provides the labor and can repair his or her car for much less.
“My vision is to create a place where college students who don’t have the space can work on their car, save money and learn how to do things for themselves,” said USU mechanical engineering alumnus Zac Humes. “That’s the main idea behind the Do-It-Yourself Garage.”
It officially opened in August of 2010, but only recently have its gears been turning full steam.
“We’re a little bit off the beaten path, clear down at the end of 600 North,” Humes said. “But those students who do take the time to find out about us save a lot of money and hassle.”
Humes said students who do decide to use the DiG have access to O’Reilly auto parts, an oil depository, a heated garage, a car lift, Craftsman hand tools, Chilton manuals and even free wireless Internet; so customers can search online for car help. Students can leave their car overnight when necessary, or be in and out for a half-hour tuneup.
“I know how it is to be a poor college student. I’ve been that guy,” Humes said. “As a student living in a dorm, I always had small jobs. I wanted to do work on my truck — brake tests, oil changes, small part replacements — but I couldn’t find a place to work on it, especially in the winter. Now that I have the garage space, I thought, ‘What the heck, let’s try and help kids out.'”
In an effort to increase college students’ awareness about the DiG, Humes said he is offering a 25 percent discount to all USU students.
When the garage first opened, Humes wanted to make sure he was being fair, so he asked around at different mechanic shops around the valley.
“They all agreed the DiG is pretty reasonable,” Humes said. “There is no charge for our oil depository. We also have different pricing schemes, depending on if you want to just use our garage, use the hand tools or use the pneumatic tools.”
“I think the Do-It-Yourself Garage has real potential,” said Brady Hoggard, a USU business student and employee of Humes. “It’s a safe place to leave your car and work on it, and it’s a good learning opportunity. We are looking at expanding in a lot of ways. Down the road we will probably have long-term storage, and we’re even going to try and work with automotive schools to offer Saturday clinics on how to fix your car.”
According to a recent Popular Mechanics issue, Humes is not alone in his vision. The issue referred to the movement as “a rebellion against the idea that you need an engineering degree to fix something.”
In hidden shops, garages and converted factories around the U.S., pro craftsmen like Humes are sharing skills, passions and tools with newcomers. These are not just auto mechanics either. These brotherhoods are building hot rods, boats, bikes, surfboards and more.
College students across America have been picking up wrenches and going to work, regardless of their declared major.
However, Hoggard said, there is a certain etiquette involved — take care of the tools you use, no one likes your music and do not offer advice to a fellow do-it-yourself-er unless it’s solicited. Most importantly, he said, customers need to follow safety procedures when using potentially dangerous equipment, but the safety code is pretty basic. In fact, the DiG has a flawless safety record — not even the most novice of mechanics has killed anyone with the carjack yet, Hoggard said.
Humes said the DiG hopes to attract a diverse scene — expert mechanics that know every trick in the book and are eager to share their knowledge, “newbies” that ask the uninformed questions that often end up educating everyone in the basics, and the no-nonsense college kid who has to change his tires and still make it to class on time.
Humes said he’s optimistic about the garage becoming the place where Logan takes its in-progress projects.
“Doing it yourself is the way to go, and we have the environment and the tools for anyone’s vehicle needs,” Humes said. “If you like saving money, definitely check out the Do-it-Yourself Garage.”
— evan.millsap@aggiemail.usu.edu