Hobbies or stuff to do for guys

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Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
67
91
Why not get a second, part-time job that would allow you to have more $ to spend on you several-night-a-week hobby?

Personally, I'd build a model boat. Not some tinker-toy style one. I'm talking a wooden Chris Craft barrel back or something. Remote controlled and everything. When you were done you could take it out on the water and just enjoy it. Or a radio controlled plane.

These require initial investments, but they are relatively cheap because the cost is spread out over time. $100 a month for 8-12 months would be way more than enough.
 
B

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Hiking wouldn't take much money, nor would running/jogging or biking (assuming you have a bike.) Learning to cook wouldn't take too much money (you're already paying for food) and you could probably talk someone you know into helping you learn.

If you know somebody with tools, you could ask them to help you learn something like woodworking.

If you have a friend or family member with a house not too far away, or you have a patio, you could learn gardening (pots on a patio, whatever you're allowed in a corner of somebody's yard.)

You could volunteer to shelve books at a local library.

You could learn to make wine. This one is VERY cheap to do. I make fruit wine and the setup is probably 20-30 bucks to get all the chemicals (enough to keep you making wine for a year or two), and you can make it in gallon glass jugs. The downside is that it doesn't take up very much time for a hobby.

Volunteer with something like Habitat for Humanity (I used to volunteer with an organization called "Paint Tacoma Beautiful.") Maybe some local seniors need help with mowing their lawns/yardwork.

Learn about money (try www.fool.com) and use the hundred bucks to make some small investments through www.sharebuilder.com.

Take a foreign language as a night class at a local community college.

Learn to play the guitar.
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
RC Planes FTW. I had a lot of fun this weekend w/ my Aero Ace, which I purchased from Target (also available at Toys R Us) for $30.
 
Born2bwire

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
How about building models?

The Guillow's balsa wood plane kits start out very cheap as low as $5-$10 if I recall correctly. You'll need some super glue, T-pins, xacto knives, wax paper, masking tape, a straightedge (and triangle) and a few paintbrushes for your basic building tools. For a work surface, get a large board of sheathing and cover it with a 1/4"-1/2" layer of cork. What you do is tape down the plans on top of the cork, lay down the wax paper, and then using pins to hold the wood parts in place, build on top of the plans. I actually used to have a table I built that was covered in cork and bought a pair of those folding legs and attached those to the bottom of the sheathing. For covering the planes, for the cheap kits you can just use the tissue and dope but for the larger ones you can start using the iron-on coverings. Either way, I really like to do them now and then and the Guillow's kits are only a couple of bucks. The larger kits for RC planes are of higher quality though (use better stamping procedures so you have to cut out less of the parts, some are even laser cut and the pieces just fall out by themselves).

Eventually you can build RC planes and fly them (in fact, an RC plane will be an easier build in some respect because it of the higher quality, larger pieces, easier covering materials) but that takes a higher time and financial commitment.
 
Z

ZOOYUKA

Platinum Member
Jan 24, 2005
2,460
0
0
I know it has been said already, but I recommend picking up the guitar. I started a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoy it.

It is a hobby you can enjoy by yourself or with others and plus you can play anytime of day.
 
E

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
1,637
0
0
I just started back into music lately. I haven't played keyboartds in over 20 years, but I'm jumping back in with a vengeance and setting up a smal midi studio. Got a Korg M1 workstation for cheap, and found a Korg DW8000 on Craiglists for free. Just waiting for the powercord to be delivered this week, and I'll fire it up and see if it works.
 
J

JDMnAR1

Lifer
May 12, 2003
11,984
1
0
Hmmm - with the amount of spare time you have you could easily start training a dog (for field trials, retrieving, whatever). The only hurdle would be getting the dog to start with, although you could probably get a nice lab (or similar) mix at your local shelter.
 
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Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
I've been in your boat OP: bored to death and looking for something to do. Here's my current list of activities:

- Krav Maga on Mondays
- RC Helicoptors (not sure if I'm going to stick with it though... cost-to-fun ratio isn't ideal)
- Home Improvement (with a new house, you'll have PLENTY of opportunity for this... initial motivation is hard to come by, but it's very rewarding)
- Running Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays

I've also done:

- RC cars (LOTS of fun, but takes up a lot of time if you want to race)
- Racquetball (one of my favorites activities!!!)
- Other misc martial arts
- Cycling, but it's not the most convenient activity depending on your area

I'm also going to start taking guitar lessons. I've always wanted to learn how to play.
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: ZOOYUKA
I know it has been said already, but I recommend picking up the guitar. I started a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoy it.

It is a hobby you can enjoy by yourself or with others and plus you can play anytime of day.
Click to expand...

Nice! I'm doing the same thing. After a year under your belt, do you feel like you've progressed well?
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Golf
cycling
Geocaching

You wanna do some yardwork around my house? I don't have time to do it.
 
2Xtreme21

2Xtreme21

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2004
7,044
0
0
Second vote for racquetball. I have so much fun when I play, and it's damn good exercise.
 
Z

ZOOYUKA

Platinum Member
Jan 24, 2005
2,460
0
0
Originally posted by: jbourne77
Originally posted by: ZOOYUKA
I know it has been said already, but I recommend picking up the guitar. I started a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoy it.

It is a hobby you can enjoy by yourself or with others and plus you can play anytime of day.
Click to expand...

Nice! I'm doing the same thing. After a year under your belt, do you feel like you've progressed well?
Click to expand...

I feel I have progressed fairly well for a year. Especially, for the limited amount of time I have had to devote to it. I definately feel like I am a little bit better everytime I pick it up.
 
pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Originally posted by: Modular
Why not get a second, part-time job that would allow you to have more $ to spend on you several-night-a-week hobby?

Personally, I'd build a model boat. Not some tinker-toy style one. I'm talking a wooden Chris Craft barrel back or something. Remote controlled and everything. When you were done you could take it out on the water and just enjoy it. Or a radio controlled plane.

These require initial investments, but they are relatively cheap because the cost is spread out over time. $100 a month for 8-12 months would be way more than enough.
Click to expand...

but wouldn't the 2nd job cut into his free time?
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: fisher
rc cars are fun.
Click to expand...

The main issue I had with R/C cars was the constant exposure to some of the nastiest crap known to man (solvents, lead, nitromethane, etc). And it's not casual contact, either...

If you go on-road, it's even worse (tire sauce).
 
H

Hammerhead

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2001
2,297
0
0
Originally posted by: fisher
rc cars are fun.
Click to expand...

I would suggest the Mini 1/18th scale to start off with.
They're fairly inexpensive compared to the larger models.
I'd suggest the Mini T or the Mini LST for off road fun.

If you want a plane, $30 will get you a great flying plane called the Aero Ace made by Air Hogs. Some created a thread about them here on ATOT.
 
T

Trogdor91

Senior member
Sep 22, 2004
905
0
0
I flip balisongs (butterfly knives), and I think its a great hobby. A decent knife will run in the hundred dollar range, so I dont know if thats in your price range.
Also, as kind of a hobby to go along with that, I have picked up home anodization. I have been anodizing the titanium on my knife with a few 9v batteries, some alligator clips, and some solution (baking soda/ water mixture, or cola will suffice). The anodizing is like a really sweet science experiment that you would do in HS.
 
James3shin

James3shin

Diamond Member
Apr 5, 2004
4,426
0
76
My List of Hobbies:

1. Running
2. Soccer
3. Fishing
4. Video Games

Currently, in that order .
 
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