Trick to Reassembling

QUESTION: I don’t know how most people are, but sometimes I’ll get into a repair project that I think I can handle, but when it comes to reassembling components that I’ve taken apart, I sometimes get confused as to how everything is supposed to go back together--especially when it comes to wiring. Do you have any tips to help folks like me?

ANSWER: Taking things apart is easy. Putting things back together the right way is where repairs can get a little tricky. Here are a few tips to help you find your way back.

A Polaroid camera can provide a photographic record of parts before they are disassembled. Although these cameras will not shoot a clear picture of small parts, they work well on large parts and assemblies. They are also handy in repairs involving wires with numerous colors. Using a Polaroid in a repair requires that you do several things. Use it only if there is good light and only where you can see clearly. It’s good repair practice to use a shop vacuum to remove dust and lint from inside appliances before beginning a repair, but it’s crucial if you hope to provide a photographic reference.

As with shooting any kind of photograph, you must steady the camera. Don’t try to photograph a part while holding back a bunch of wires. Finally, what you can’t record with a photo, you should sketch.