Although you definitely learn more by taking something apart and putting it back together, don't let fear of getting it back together stop you. If you have something that already doesn't work and it would cost too much to repair it, you have nothing to lose by taking it apart even if you have to drill out rivets or break old brittle connectors. Sometimes sacrificing one device will allow you to learn enough to fix another one.

Also, just hang out with people who know how to tinker. Every mechanic and repairman I know loves to show off his skill as long as you are sincere and don't try to fake being an expert. If you show interest and want to learn they will teach you.

Also just one final note beware the capacitor. It is one of the most dagerous component to mess with. I went to take apart a microwave once but then I realized that it was not a good idea since it gave a warning on the back. The only thing I realized was that there might be capacitors inside and decided against taking it apart.

Adam,
Not all capacitors are dangerous. They can hold a charge for a long time, but most devices are designed to drain the charge off when the device is not in use.
The capacitor inside a microwave oven is part of a high voltage power supply for the magnetron (the tube that generates the high power RF) This power supply is generally in the kilovolt range (about 3 kv) Likewise the power supply in a color TV is also very high. The picture tube is actually the capacitor and sets these days are in the 30-40 kV range. Since the picture tube capacitor is a glass device, there is little resistance to drain off the charge. If the safety circuitry fails or the set is old enough to not have safeties, then that charge can stay there for months or years. Stay away from high voltage devices until someone shows you how to handle the voltage safely. That means microwaves, TV, computer monitors, neon lights, some back lights, video projectors, etc.

Yeah you usually can tell which devices are dangerous when it says do not take apart. Beam robots also are another good way to figure out how stuff works. They are small and very easy to build. They almost never rely on programming and the always rely on well thought out mechanics to get complex movements out of them.

Taking stuff apart is great to learn how things work BUT! ,This is Not good advice for doctors

DON'T DO ANY OF THIS!!!!

The ground in an electrical box is not the return of the high voltage power supply. Trying to discharge to an electrical box won't get you anywhere but severely shocked. In modern TVs and computer monitors, the high voltage power supply "floats" as well as most of the parts inside. In fact "ground" parts inside TVs actually are floating at about 150 volts when the set is plugged in.(It does not need to be on for the voltage to be present.) As I said, "Stay away from high voltage devices until someone shows you how to handle the voltage safely. "

I also learn about mechanical parts and processes best by reverse engineering. I don't normally have the time to take things apart... but I can normally envision how a certain item would work, or I'd look it up online if I ever got bored.

At work I am surrounded by numerous drawings for complex areonautical systems. I'd sometimes approach a schematic, follow it with my eyes, and gain a basic understanding of the device. To date, that's what has given me the biggest advantage.

I'm young and I'm not as knowledgable as some people, but I know I have plenty of time to practice designing, fabricating, and using certain mechanical systems. The best way to get started early is to just surround yourself with that kind of information, want to learn, be curious and inquisitive... but please, just don't hurt yourself :D

Most of the time I just play around with stuff....we all do :)

When I'm really interested in something, and it's a fairly major component of the American Lifestyle I'll go and look it up at www.howstuffworks.com , they have alot of good articles with good information and even better links at the end of the articles.

And of course, when I get really stuck, or REALLY curious I just call up one of my engineer friends at Baxter Lab and after a few call redirects I always manage to find a willing engineer with some spare time......gota love those people who give you their time and knowledge, they're great people, the engineer volunteers of FIRST

One night it was 2 AM and for some odd reason I found myself staring at the ceiling wondering how a CV joint works. I tried to envision it but just couldn't understand. I couldn't go back to sleep until I knew how it worked. So, I looked it up online and went back to bed and fell quickly asleep.

I just got a new TV! I get to take apart the old one. mabie i could use the cathode ray tube for a Laser beam?

watch out for the tube, like what has been posted in this thread all ready, it can still have a charge that can reach up into the kilovolts (1000's of volts) and can be very dangerous if your not sure what your doing... Also watch out not the rupture the tube for the gases inside can also be dangerous.
~Mike

I took it apart, didn't get shocked, got away with an electromagnet and an BIG compacitpr

cool, have fun with the magnet and how big was the compactor?
~Mike

And remember not to stick your hand near the hi-voltage while its on. Once I saw a silly guy using a screwdriver in a monitor and forgot it was on. A fat arc shot out of the high voltage cable and hit him. He was seeing stars for a few hours. Lucky he wasn't killed. Even though it has huge insulation, it doesn't have enough.

Some are visual while some need the hands on approach. I prefer hands on. But to really know that you have learned something - teach it to someone else. Amazing how much you really did not understand until trying to explain it to someone else.