That narrow lot saved you @eva_gibson, it's funny how one bad experience makes you see the method in everything from cooking to parking.

Man, that mechanic basically performed a magic trick on that frame. My first thought is always, "Well, that must be a super specific tool or a weird, rare talent." But then I remember I spent 45 minutes just trying to get a pedal off once because I was turning it the wrong way. Honestly, the trick is probably just that they've wrecked a hundred frames learning where exactly not to push too hard. For me, the one thing that looked like dark sorcery was a friend unseizing a rusty bottom bracket just by tapping it with a hammer in the right spot. It took him about five seconds and all I could do was stand there feeling like a dummy with my blowtorch and penetrating oil.

Gotta disagree a little here. Poly thread is way stronger and won't rot like cotton can on silk. If you're making something that'll actually get washed or worn a lot, poly is the smarter choice.

That 'drove me up a wall' feeling is exactly it. It's like how a grocery cart has that one wobbly wheel you don't notice until you're buying the heavy stuff. The jig just gave out without warning, which is the same pattern I've seen with cheap tools and cheap furniture - they work great until they don't, and then you're stuck holding the pieces.

Man, I used to be the same way - thought all old pans were lighter. But ngl, @andrew_sanchez94 that Wagner you mentioned is a good point. My Griswold is weirdly light though, lighter than any modern skillet I've tried.