# Mechanics (1) skill not increasing from mechanics (1) tasks

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154>\
**Category:** The Garage\
**Created:** [August 25, 2019, 9:54am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154 "2019-08-25T09:54:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 9:54am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/1 "2019-08-25T09:54:12Z")

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So I got to Mechanics 1 by reading a book, then I thought I’d train it up by removing seatbelts with my trusty screwdriver. I’ve got a whole bunch of Short Ropes, but my Mechanics skill remains at 0% advanced.

Does mechanics not increase with practice?

P.S. Using 9529 build.

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**Author:** ![sztosz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/sztosz/32/1212_2.png) [@sztosz](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/sztosz)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 10:25am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/2 "2019-08-25T10:25:50Z")

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I’m not sure, but I think disassembling any items does not increase any skill. Only creating new items increase skills.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 10:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/3 "2019-08-25T10:29:50Z")

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Hmm, could be. I didn’t think of it as “disassembly” because it’s a whole different interface but that makes sense. I guess I’ll have to see if there is anything I can actually _make_ with Mechanics 1 and my stuff.

[EDIT] Actually, I now have 1% progress. Possibly from removing a vehicle clock. So either you do get training from this stuff, but it is very small amounts, or you don’t for seatbelts but do for other things.

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**Author:** ![\_k1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/_k1/32/1335_2.png) [@\_k1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/_k1)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 11:54am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/4 "2019-08-25T11:54:29Z")

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When I used to craft-grind skills in older versions, I found out that how much xp was gained was related to how long the task took. A severl-minute-long task barely gave any xp. Maybe it is also like that in this case.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/5 "2019-08-25T12:15:49Z")

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Thanks! I’m fairly sure that’s it, then. I’ll just keep grinding away.

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**Author:** ![Trigon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/trigon/32/2668_2.png) [@Trigon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Trigon)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/6 "2019-08-26T18:37:21Z")

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A handy way is to get a saw and strip down wrecks for raw materials, you’ll need the stuff at some point anyways and it doesn’t cost you anything but time, which you’re already using to grind skills.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 7:32am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/7 "2019-08-27T07:32:19Z")

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I would LOVE to have a saw that works on metal. But I haven’t found one yet, and (at Fabrication 4) I haven’t yet found a way to make one.

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**Author:** ![Mantar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mantar/32/42_2.png) [@Mantar](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Mantar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/8 "2019-08-27T17:29:18Z")

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Remember that gunsmith & firearm repair kits have metal saws in them.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/9 "2019-08-27T17:33:17Z")

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Yeah, don’t have either of those.

I did find a hacksaw in the end, though. Now I’m hoping for a spanner equiv.

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**Author:** ![Mantar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mantar/32/42_2.png) [@Mantar](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Mantar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/10 "2019-08-27T17:36:35Z")

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Cool! I just want to make sure folks remember that if you’re looking for a hacksaw, you should also keep an eye out for repair kits. Check those gun stores!

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/11 "2019-08-27T17:40:00Z")

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Wilderness start, lol. 😛

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**Author:** ![Vastin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vastin/32/9912_2.png) [@Vastin](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Vastin)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/12 "2019-08-27T22:09:34Z")

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Repairing cars definitely improves mechanics, at least if your repair difficulty is within a point or two of your skill - but it’s damn slow past skill 2, even with long repair tasks.

I _think_ installing things also improves your mechanics, though very few tasks that don’t require a welder take very long at all, and so they will have a tiny effect. Really don’t know about removal tasks - they may not train you at all? In any case, most removal tasks have a much lower skill requirement than repair or install tasks, so they will tend to train you LESS in any case because the skill req is usually a good bit lower than your current skill.

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**Author:** ![crazykiddeath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/crazykiddeath/32/5709_2.png) [@crazykiddeath](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/crazykiddeath)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/13 "2019-08-27T22:33:14Z")

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IIRC when I was doing the Medieval Peasent challenge(illiterate and wilderness start) with 0 mechanics I ended up having to make wooden frames and use the “start vehicle” a bunch of times to get mechanics going (you can’t deconstruct them until mechanics 2 iirc. It took a while but I got there in the end using makeshift ropes and the like.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/14 "2019-08-28T00:40:33Z")

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[quote=“Vastin, post:12, topic:21154”]  
Really don’t know about removal tasks - they may not train you at all?[/quote]

I can confirm that just removing things DOES train your mechanics. Now I have a hacksaw I’m slowly increasing my mechanics from 3 to 4. Can’t really do much practical stuff yet until I get an oxy-torch.

Which is a pity, because I keep running my electric car into trees and stuff. Whoops.

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**Author:** ![Trigon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/trigon/32/2668_2.png) [@Trigon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Trigon)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/mechanics-1-skill-not-increasing-from-mechanics-1-tasks/21154/15 "2019-08-28T03:16:03Z")

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I’ve done medieval churl at least a dozen times and you’re exactly right. Making just a cart will lead to bored insanity as you continuously tie a bunch of sticks to another bunch of sticks.