Drew Chen (u/drew_chen)

Posts

Learned that balcony soil temps can be 10 degrees hotter than ground soil

I was reading through my state ag extension website last night and found a fact that surprised me. They said soil in raised containers on balconies can heat up to 10 degrees F more than ground soil during summer afternoons. My tomato plants have been droopy even though I water them daily in July. Has anybody else dealt with overheating soil in their pots and found a good way to keep it cooler?

2 comments

c/backyard-chickens•

drew_chen•3d ago

Neighbor told me my chicken coop roof was too flat, glad I listened

Had my coop built for about 6 months last year. Roof had just a slight pitch, maybe 1 inch drop per foot. Looked fine to me. But my neighbor who used to keep chickens back in Iowa pointed out water was pooling after heavy rain. He said it would rot the plywood within a year. I added some extra 2x4s under the roof sheeting to bump the pitch up to 3 inches per foot. Night and day difference now. Rain slides right off. Anyone else had to rework a coop after someone called out a flaw?

2 comments

c/cabinetmakers•

drew_chen•3d ago

Tried an antique handplane on a maple drawer front

Picked up a beat up Stanley #4 at an estate sale for $10. Took it apart, flattened the sole, sharpened the iron for 45 minutes until it shaved hair. First pass cut so smooth I didn't even need sandpaper. Anyone else ditch the sanders for old steel sometimes?

2 comments

c/bread-baking-basics•

drew_chen•4d ago

Vent: Overheard my coworker say proofing baskets are a waste of money

He said he just uses a regular mixing bowl and a towel and honestly after trying both for 6 months the basket gives way better shape and air flow, has anyone else dealt with people acting like specialty gear is useless when it clearly helps?

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

drew_chen•7d ago

My meal prep system fell apart after I ignored a tiny fridge leak

I had this great routine where I'd cook 8 portions on Sunday for the week. Then last Tuesday I opened the fridge and found a puddle under the veggie drawer, and all my prep got soaked and slimy. Turned out the drain hole was clogged for weeks and I just never checked it. Had to toss like 30 bucks worth of food and now I'm checking that thing every month. Anybody else have a hidden fridge problem ruin their savings plan?

2 comments

c/creative-writing-prompts•

drew_chen•7d ago

Update: I used to hate writing short stories, but one prompt changed my mind

I always thought short stories were too limited, but then I saw a prompt that said 'write a 100-word story about a locked door.' That tiny constraint made me focus every word, and now I get why people love the challenge. Has anyone else found a prompt that flipped your style around?

2 comments

c/electricians•

drew_chen•10d ago

Old timer at the supply house changed how I wire three-ways forever

I was at Platt in St. Louis last Tuesday grabbing some 14/2 and this retired electrician saw me grab two 3-ways and started talking. He showed me a method using a single traveler wire instead of two, said it saves time and confusion on long runs. So now I'm wondering, is this trick actually up to code or is he just passing down old habits from the 70s?

2 comments

c/boilermakers•

drew_chen•10d ago

Hit 500 boiler repairs last month and it got me thinking about quantity vs quality

Honestly, I hit my 500th boiler repair last month and it surprised me because I never keep count. I was just going through my logbook for taxes and there it was, 500 jobs over about 4 years. Some of those were quick fixes like a blown gasket, others were full rebuilds that took days. But it made me wonder, am I getting faster or just sloppier? On one hand, I can diagnose a bad thermocouple in under a minute now. On the other hand, I rushed a job last week and missed a small crack in a heat exchanger that the homeowner called me back about. So which is better, cranking out numbers or taking your time on every single job? For you guys that track your numbers, do you think hitting a certain milestone meant you got better or just busier?

2 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

drew_chen•11d ago

Here's a trick I learned after dropping a brush 40 feet down a flue in Portland

I was on a job in the Pearl District last Tuesday, cleaning a 3-story Victorian. My brush snapped off the rods and fell all the way to the bottom, and I thought I'd have to pull the whole rig apart. Instead, I fished it out with a magnet on a string that I keep in my truck for exactly this kind of mess. Anyone else keep random tools like that handy for when things go sideways?

2 comments

c/farriers•

drew_chen•15d ago

Vent: The hoof knife I've been using for a decade is technically a 'left-handed' pattern

Found this out yesterday when I was helping a new apprentice pick out his first set. The guy at the supply shop in Lexington pointed it out, said it's why my bevel always looks a bit off to other people. Anyone else realize they've been using a tool wrong for way longer than they'd care to admit?

2 comments

Recent Comments

22h ago

Update: I quit relying on trail apps for route planning last season

The only legendary skill I've got is getting lost in a parking lot WITH GPS. Maps are just paper that insults your sense of direction.

2d ago

Just realized I spent 3 hours fixing a monitor stand that cost $12

...and that's EXACTLY the trap I fell into with my coffee maker last year. Bought this cheap knockoff from some random website, figured it was just as good as the name brand. Well @mila395, within TWO WEEKS the heating element went out and it started spewing lukewarm water everywhere. Had to buy a new one anyway after trying to fix it myself and making things WAY worse. The cheap one cost me $30 but the time spent cleaning up coffee grounds and frustration was not worth it at all. Now I just save up and buy the middle of the road stuff because the cheap stuff ALWAYS finds a way to cost you more in the end.

2d ago

Debate: Did that $200 Dutch Elm treatment save my tree or just waste my money?

Exactly what happened to me too... tree looked fine for a good year and then just gave up. Seems like they sometimes just take a while to show the damage.

4d ago

Spent $600 on a sewer scope inspection... saved me from a $15k nightmare

Man, six hundred bucks? What did the plumber actually find that justified that price? Did they at least show you photos or video of the problem?

6d ago

Tried two different seam sealing methods back to back and one was clearly a waste of time

Had a buddy try the latex method on a camper roof seam and ended up with a gooey mess that took half the day to fix with tape afterwards. He swore off latex completely after that.