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I am Ron Auer – a dedicated professional who takes pride in my work, always striving to improve. I am committed to delivering high-quality content that engages and informs readers, and I am excited to continue exploring new topics and sharing my insights with the world. I love home improvement and woodworking projects.
After I graduated from high school, I joined the United States Air Force.
My career field was in telecommunications.
I enjoyed the Air Force, but I decided to leave after 9 years to continue with my education.
After the Air Force
I went to work for a company that provided engineering and technical guidance for the United States Air Force. I continued my education part-time and received my bachelor’s degree.
I witnessed the evolution of technology and subsequently shifted my focus toward being a network systems engineer.
Network systems engineering was an enjoyable challenge. I focused on testing various network-related products to ensure the best product was selected to support project network infrastructure requirements.
While I enjoyed engineering, my true passion was working with my hands in the area of home improvement. With over 30 years of home improvement experience, I became proficient in the skills needed to remodel homes. Some of the skills included framing, drywall installation, electrical wiring, plumbing, finishing, and, to a lesser extent, home decor.
Let me back up a little
In the late 1960s, I worked for a plumbing company and learned a lot about the trade. Not only did I learn to solder copper pipes, I learned how to thread and install lead pipes (which are no longer used in new homes or remodeling projects). The techniques I learned for lead pipes were used later for installing black pipes, which are used for natural gas installation. My least favorite task was installing sewage pipes. Well, installing them was okay; it was the repair or replacement of sewage pipes that was the challenge.
I did my first basement remodeling project in the mid-1980s. The basement was unfinished, so basically, I started with four walls of concrete. With the help of an experienced friend, I began my home improvement adventure. My friend taught me many home improvement skills, including framing and drywall installation. I refined my plumbing skills and learned how to do most of the electrical wiring needed for the project. I enjoyed it!
While I had some of the tools needed for my first remodel, I realized that a home woodworking shop would be helpful for any future projects. I built a home shop and slowly bought the tools that would help with my home improvement projects. I found woodworking interesting, and over time, I not only used it for my projects but also started making simple furniture pieces. My skills grew over the years.
I had another friend who flipped houses, and I helped him with his renovations. This was interesting since I was more focused on details, and he was focused on “good enough” to save time and money.
I moved several times over the years and finally ended up in the home I now live in. It had an unfinished basement—just concrete walls with insulation. I was looking forward to another project. This one took me about a year from start to finish because I had a lot of distractions during this time period. I finished the remodel, and I was extremely happy with the outcome.
In the various neighborhoods I lived in over the years, I was the go-to person for DIY repairs. I helped my neighbors with plumbing issues (leaking copper pipes), installing additional electrical outlets, running concealed wires for internet access, adding additional storage areas inside garages, and the list goes on. I enjoyed helping my neighbors!
And Now I Blog
I enjoy home improvement and woodworking projects and I want to share my experience with others. I am writing how to articles and best of articles evaluating the best products for a given project.