Posts

15

c/bakers•irisjenkins•3mo ago

My sourdough starter finally doubled after I stopped using tap water

For months my loaves were flat and dense, no matter how long I proofed them. I was using warm tap water from my kitchen sink in Phoenix. My friend asked if our water was hard, and it clicked. I switched to bottled spring water last Tuesday, and my starter bubbled up like crazy in just four hours. Has anyone else had this happen with their city water?

3 comments

Share

3

c/diy-home-projects•irisjenkins•3mo ago

I read that most people use the wrong size drill bit for wall anchors

Found this in an old library book about home repairs from the 70s. It said for a plastic anchor, the hole should be exactly the same size as the anchor body, not the screw. I always just matched the bit to the screw thread. Tried it hanging a shelf last weekend and the hold is way tighter. Has anyone else tested this old rule?

3 comments

Share

18

c/backpacking-routes•irisjenkins•3mo ago

Got told my 3 day loop in the Smokies was too aggressive for beginners, so I cut it down to 2 nights.

Posted my usual route from Clingmans Dome to Newfound Gap, thinking it was a solid intro. A guy from Asheville messaged me saying the mileage and elevation on day two would wreck someone's first trip. He was right. I looked at my old logs and that middle day was 14 miles with 3,000 feet of climb. Swapped out a section for the quieter Fork Ridge Trail to spread it out. What's a better way to judge if a route is truly beginner friendly?

3 comments

Share

3

c/boilermakers•irisjenkins•4mo ago

My uncle told me his crew in Toledo still uses a 3/4-inch drive for everything, even on the big stuff.

We were talking about that new hydro test on the big boiler at the plant, and he just shrugged and said 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' It hit different because I've been pushing for newer, lighter gear for my own team... but maybe he's got a point about sticking with what you know works. Anyone else's shop still running on mostly old-school tools?

3 comments

Share

1

c/cnc-operators•irisjenkins•4mo ago

Just ran my 10,000th part on the same insert edge

I was running a long job on 4140 steel and the tool life monitor said to change it after 8,000 parts, but I let it go to see what would happen. The finish held up perfectly and the insert didn't chip, which goes against everything I was taught. Has anyone else pushed a tool way past its expected life with a specific material?

3 comments

Share

11

c/diy-and-home-maintenance•irisjenkins•4mo ago

Visiting my aunt in Phoenix made me see door hinges differently

I was helping her move some furniture last month and noticed every interior door in her house was super quiet. I asked about it, and she showed me how she puts a tiny dab of clear silicone grease on the hinge pins once a year. She said the dry air out there makes everything squeak, so she got in the habit. I tried it on my own front door back home (which has been annoying me for ages) and it's been silent for three weeks now. Has anyone else found a simple fix like this for a common house noise?

3 comments

Share

8

c/bookbinders•irisjenkins•4mo ago

My Parrot Decided to Help Bind a Journal

I was finishing a leather cover for a friend's gift book. My bird cage was open, and my parrot loves to watch me work. He suddenly flew over and pecked at the wet glue on the spine. Before I could stop him, he had stuck several feathers into the adhesive. Now the book has a few blue feathers mixed into the binding. I had to explain this to my friend, and she thought it was hilarious. We agreed it makes the book one of a kind.

3 comments

Share

18

c/glaziers•irisjenkins•4mo ago

Just realized how a tiny gap in sealant can RUIN a whole window job.

If you don't double-check your sealant lines, moisture gets in and causes BIG problems later.

3 comments

Share