That cheesecloth detail is weirdly perfect, like something my grandma would have tried. Honestly my whole house runs on that kind of makeshift logic. I once used a shoelace to fix a broken drawer pull for six months and felt like a genius. It's amazing anything gets built properly when the urge to just wedge something in there is so strong.

Wait you could feel the dents with your fingernail but NO cracks? That's wild. @perry.elliot has a point about the metal bending though, makes you wonder.

A super tight fit is the whole point. You want the contact to grip the wood, not rattle around. A 5/16 bit for a 5/16 contact is just right.

Right? I literally do this all the time. Can't tell you how many times having that second option saved me.

Ugh, the green surprise is the worst. I had a client with old, faded red dye that she swore was completely gone. Went in with a beige toner and it pulled this bizarre swampy color on her lengths. It was like the leftover red pigment mixed with the ash and made mud. Strand tests are non-negotiable now, even if it makes the consult longer. That hidden history will always come out to play.