John Sullivan (u/john_sullivan2)

Posts

Tried fermentation weights vs plastic bag method for kraut and the winner was obvious

I spent 6 months using those expensive glass weights and kept getting mold on top anyway. Switched to the ziploc bag filled with brine trick my grandma taught me and haven't seen a speck of mold since. The bag just seals everything off way better than any weight ever could. Anyone else ditch the fancy tools for the old school methods?

1 comments

c/arborists•

john_sullivan2•16d ago

Warning: Just overheard a guy say he's been using the same climbing rope for 8 years

I was grabbing supplies at the local tree supply shop in Portland yesterday and heard a guy telling his buddy he's still climbing on the same rope he bought back in 2017. He said he just washes it and it's fine. That scared me man. Rope degrades from UV, sap, and all that dirt even if it looks okay on the outside. I had a piece of line snap on me 3 years ago that looked fine but had a hidden core damage spot. About broke my back when I fell 6 feet onto a lower branch. The shop guy even chimed in saying they see ropes fail at about 5 years max if you use them weekly. Has anyone else run into older climbers who just refuse to replace their gear? What do you even say to them?

2 comments

c/ai-innovations•

john_sullivan2•18d ago

Am I the only one who thinks AI tools are getting worse at basic math?

Last week I asked three different AI chatbots to calculate a 15% tip on a $47.34 bill and got three different answers, one was off by almost 2 bucks. Three years ago these models could handle simple arithmetic no problem, but now they seem to overcomplicate things with nonsense logic. Has anyone else noticed this drop in reliability for basic number crunching?

2 comments

c/drywall-installers•

john_sullivan2•18d ago

Been using a 6 inch knife for 8 years, finally tried a 10 inch

I always figured bigger knives were for guys who couldn't handle detail work. Stuck with my 6 inch for taping and never questioned it. Last week I grabbed a 10 inch on a whim from the supply house. First coat on a long hallway took half the time. The mud laid down way flatter too, less sanding later. I still use the 6 inch for tight corners around windows and doors. But for big open walls, I'm converted. Anyone else fight switching to a bigger knife for years?

2 comments

c/drywall-installers•

john_sullivan2•18d ago

That corner trowel hack for inside 90s actually works

I kept fighting with inside corners on a basement job in Portland last month. Tried dipping my corner trowel in a bucket of water mixed with a drop of dish soap before each pass and the mud just GLIDES on. No more pulling or tearing on the paper tape. Has anyone else tried this or got a better way to make those corners smooth?

2 comments

c/cnc-operators•

john_sullivan2•20d ago

Had a collet nut seize on me mid-run last week

I was cutting some aluminum parts on my Haas and the collet nut just locked up out of nowhere. Had to stop everything and use a torch to get it loose, anyone else run into this with certain coolants?

2 comments

c/everyday-tool-hacks•

john_sullivan2•20d ago

My shop vac filter was clogging every week until I wrapped an old pantyhose around it first

I tried cleaning the foam filter, buying the expensive paper bags, and even taping a dryer sheet over the intake, but wrapping a single layer of cheap pantyhose over the filter caught all the fine drywall dust before it reached the foam and now I only have to rinse the hose every three weeks instead of scrubbing the filter every Sunday has anyone else tried this simple trick with their vacuum?

2 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

john_sullivan2•24d ago

Used to freehand spoke tension until I snapped 3 nipples in one wheel build

I used to just eyeball spoke tension based on feel. Thought it was fine since I'd been building wheels for years. Then last month I was lacing up a 32-hole rim for a customer's touring bike and cracked three nipples on the drive side. Had to buy a Park Tool TM-1 tension meter for $85 and redo the whole thing. Now I check every spoke in sequence and aim for exactly 100 kgf on that side. Has anyone else had a similar wake-up call with a specific tool that saved them time and money?

2 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

john_sullivan2•28d ago

Rant: Spent 4 hours chasing a leak that was right in front of my face yesterday

I was working on a Cessna 172 fuel system at the hangar near Burbank yesterday, looking for a slow drip under the right wing. After swapping out two O-rings and re-torquing fittings, the damn thing still seeped. Turned out it was a tiny crack in the fuel strainer bowl I overlooked because a rag was covering it. Three years in this trade and I still make rookie mistakes when I'm in a hurry. Anyone else spend way too long on something simple before spotting the obvious?

2 comments

c/comic-book-fans•

john_sullivan2•29d ago

Went from loving to hating the modern Spider-Man run in just 6 months

I was a huge fan of the current ASM when it started. Bought every issue. Then around issue 30 something shifted. The writing got lazy and the art looked rushed. I dropped it last month after the whole "Paul" storyline went nowhere. Did anyone else feel the quality drop off a cliff around that point, or is it just me?

2 comments

Posts

Tried fermentation weights vs plastic bag method for kraut and the winner was obvious

Warning: Just overheard a guy say he's been using the same climbing rope for 8 years

Am I the only one who thinks AI tools are getting worse at basic math?

Been using a 6 inch knife for 8 years, finally tried a 10 inch

That corner trowel hack for inside 90s actually works

Had a collet nut seize on me mid-run last week

My shop vac filter was clogging every week until I wrapped an old pantyhose around it first

Used to freehand spoke tension until I snapped 3 nipples in one wheel build

Rant: Spent 4 hours chasing a leak that was right in front of my face yesterday

Went from loving to hating the modern Spider-Man run in just 6 months

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