‘Dad it yourself’ catches on

A YouTuber based in Oak Harbor recently hit a significant milestone – 10,000 subscribers.

A YouTuber based in Oak Harbor recently hit a significant milestone – 10,000 subscribers.

This father, grandfather and Navy veteran is no stranger to social media. Scott Oram describes himself as a DIY-er on YouTube, a woodworker on Instagram and a “dad bod model” on TikTok.

Oram created his YouTube channel, Dad It Yourself DIY, in April of 2019. His channel focuses on instructional DIY – or do-it-yourself – projects around the house, as well as more creative endeavors like laser cutting and 3D printing.

Oram was in the Navy for 21 years as an airplane mechanic. Before that he was in construction. On his last deployment, he began watching a lot of YouTube videos in what he calls the “maker space.” These content creators produce how-to videos on things like home repairs, lawn care and arts and crafts.

“I was watching people mow their lawns and do woodworking and I’m like, ‘I think I can do that,’” Oram said. “I think I have the skill set.”

He had already been doing renovations on his house and decided to start filming, explaining to the camera how he completed specific projects. His first few videos were about making improvements to his workshop, which now also serves as his filming studio.

Since then, he’s made videos on everything from redoing the backsplash in his kitchen to constructing the sun shades and pergola in his backyard.

“Fortunately, I’m a handy man so my customers are my material,” Oram said.

In the springtime, he does a lot of videos about lawn care. He filmed an entire video on fixing his neighbor’s lawn after she accidentally used the wrong kind of weed killer.

Eventually, he began branching out to filming tool unboxing videos and reviews, as well as instruction on how to make things with a 3D printer. He even sells some of his laser-cut and 3D-printed products on Etsy. Over the holidays, he made miniature shadowbox Christmas tree ornaments.

As far as video skills, he’s mostly self-taught. He’s watched YouTube videos to learn editing and filming techniques, and he takes classes at conventions specifically for maker YouTubers. At these annual conventions, there are classes on things like woodworking, furniture refinishing and using epoxy, as well as lessons on video editing and monetizing videos on TikTok.

Oram has found a group of friends in the maker DIY community. They live across the world from each other but meet weekly on Zoom.

“There are very strong women in our community that do amazing things, that I learn from all the time,” he added.

The channel now has a total of 11,000 subscribers.

“It means a lot to me,” Oram said. “It’s huge to me.”

The goal of his channel is to answer questions and to show people they are capable of completing home repairs and other projects by themselves, even if they aren’t experts.

Dad It Yourself DIY can be found at youtube.com/@DadItYourselfDIY and on other social media under the same handle. Oram posts a video around twice a month. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.

Scott Oram’s YouTube channel Dad it Yourself DIY now has 11,000 subscribers.

Scott Oram’s YouTube channel Dad it Yourself DIY now has 11,000 subscribers.

Photo by Rachel Rosen/Whidbey News-Times
Several of Dad it Yourself DIY videos are tool reviews.