What do you need?

hi
I am a product design student in Scotland. I am researching home manufacturing techniques and the sense of achievement to be gained from making/ fixing things yourself.

My question is this. What do people find that they need when attempting to make or fix something? Is it specialist or expensive equipment? is it industrial materials? is it knowledge? How do you normally overcome these problems? do you have any unsolved problems?

Sorry that im not offering advice but any feedback would be a massive help

thank you