When I was younger and I thought of a "handy type person," I typically conjured thoughts of people like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor. His caricature represented the gold standard in avid hobbyists that throw caution to the wind, often suffering the nearly disastrous affects of their ill fated attempts to rewire, rebuild, or reconfigure just about anything. Home Improvement's characterization of the bumbling but well intentioned buffoon is entertaining, sure, but it's also the person I've least wanted to be when dealing with my own home projects.

Whether I'm attempting to execute a project to my fullest ability without taking unnecessary shortcuts, or I'm trying to make sure I practice the best possible safety procedures to protect myself and my home while working, I'm always keeping my eyes open to see if there's possibly something I could be doing better or more effectively.

For a constant DIYer I tend to be a little bit paranoid. This doesn't mean I don't attempt something because I fear the outcome, it's quite the contrary. I actually feel like we can do more or less anything given the proper research, consultation, preparation, and occasional helping hand. Over the years we've surprised ourselves at some of our accomplishments, sometimes looking back on projects and saying "did you ever think, when we bought our house, that we'd be able to..." But this hasn't been without its fair share of accidents and missteps along the way.

Many times the success or failure of a project can come down to the know how, patience, and tools necessary to fully execute a task. But most importantly, more than owning the right tools, or having the right plan, being aware of the inherent risks of any project and how to properly mitigate those potential disasters are two of the most important things we, and you, can do as a DIYer.

A few weeks back I provided a tutorial on sweating a copper plumbing joint using solder and a blow torch. As I mentioned, this is one of those intimidating home tasks that many shy away from due to the risks associated with the use of a direct and high intensity flame, often in wall cavities and other tight spaces within your home. This is actually one of those tasks when I believe, if you're not a little nervous or worried, you probably shouldn't be doing it yourself. Even a seasoned pro, no matter how sure of themselves they may be, should still have a game plan in their head just in case things go awry. A little bit of concern and preparation goes a long way to help ensure your and your home's safety.