Kai Hart (u/kai818)

Posts

kai818•1mo ago

Guy at the Denver Woodworking Show saved me from a huge mistake

Was at the Denver show last month and watched a finisher show how he stripped a 1920s table with a cheap stripper that ate right through the veneer. He said he learned that lesson the hard way after ruining a $1200 client piece with methylene chloride. Now I always test a hidden spot with whatever stripper I'm using before touching the main surface. Anyone else have a close call with veneer?

2 comments

c/camera-repairers•

kai818•1mo ago

Vent: People who treat vintage lenses like they're made of gold

I had a guy come into my shop yesterday with a beat up 50mm f1.4 from the 70s. Haze, scratched front element, sticky aperture blades. He wanted $200 for it. I told him it's basically a paperweight and he got mad. Used to be you could find these for $20 at garage sales. Now everyone thinks their old glass is a treasure. Has anyone else seen this shift over the last 5 years or so?

2 comments

c/butchers•

kai818•1mo ago

Question about the 28 day dry age standard for ribeyes

I keep seeing shops in my area, like that big one on Main Street, slap a 'dry aged' label on ribeyes after just 14 days. In my view, that's barely started. A true dry age needs at least 28 days to develop that deep, nutty flavor and tender texture we're all after. Anything less and you're just selling expensive, slightly dried-out steak. Has anyone else had to explain this to customers who got a bad 'aged' steak somewhere else?

2 comments

c/farriers•

kai818•1mo ago

Just got back from the big expo in Louisville and I have to say, the new 'quick fit' shoe trend has me worried.

I saw at least five booths pushing these pre-shaped, one-size-fits-most steel shoes, and the sales pitch was all about saving time over a proper forge fit. I watched a demo where they just nailed one on a draft cross without any real shaping, and the hoof wall contact looked off to me. Are we really okay with trading a custom job for a few saved minutes on the clock?

2 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

kai818•1mo ago

Honestly, my old foreman in Phoenix swore by using a 3/8 inch drill bit for every single sensor mount

Tbh, I followed that for a year until a retrofit job on a brick building showed me it was way too sloppy. Anyone got a better go-to size for mixed materials?

2 comments

c/fence-erectors•

kai818•1mo ago

I thought those new composite post anchors were just a marketing thing

A supply house in Boise gave me a sample pack of six to try on a small backyard job last month. I was sure they would wobble or pull out in our clay soil after a winter. Well, we just had that big wind storm and the fence line is still perfectly straight, no lean at all. The install was faster too, since you don't have to mix concrete. Has anyone else switched to these for a full season yet? I'm curious about long-term wear.

2 comments

c/apartment-composting•

kai818•1mo ago

A visit to the Portland Farmers Market gave me a new idea for my balcony compost

I saw a vendor from a local urban farm using old plastic storage bins with holes drilled in them as worm bins. They said they keep three of them stacked in a closet and rotate them every month. Has anyone tried this stacking bin method in a small space like a studio apartment?

2 comments

c/binge-worthy-shows•

kai818•1mo ago

Tried a new way to pick my next show and it actually worked

Honestly, I was stuck in a loop of scrolling for an hour and then giving up. My problem was I kept picking shows based on hype and getting bored after two episodes. Last month, I started a rule: watch the first three episodes of anything, no matter what. If I'm not hooked by the end of episode three, I drop it. Ngl, it saved me so much time. I finally got into 'The Bear' this way, because the first two were chaotic but the third one clicked. Has anyone else tried a specific rule like this to get past slow starts?

2 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

kai818•1mo ago

The old 'just book the cheapest flight' plan vs. actually checking the airport

I used to think the only thing that mattered was the ticket price, you know? I'd pick the absolute lowest fare without a second thought. That changed after a trip to Milan a few years back. I saved maybe $80 on a flight that landed at Bergamo airport, which is over an hour outside the city. The bus ticket in was another 12 euros, and I lost half a day just getting to my hostel. The next time, I paid a bit more to fly into Malpensa, which has a direct train link for 13 euros and gets you downtown in under an hour. The total cost and time ended up being way better, even with the higher airfare. It taught me that the airport code and the ground transport options are part of the real price. Now I always pull up a map and check the transit links before I click 'buy'. Anyone else have a story about a 'cheap' flight that ended up costing more in the end?

2 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

kai818•2mo ago

Got schooled on a big pour in Phoenix about using a magnesium float too early.

We were finishing a warehouse floor, about 8000 square feet, and it was hot as hell. I started using the mag right after the bull float like I always did. This old timer who was just watching from the fence line came over and said, 'Kid, you're pulling water up and making it weak. Wait for the bleed water to go away first.' I argued but tried it on a small section. The finish was way harder and didn't dust up later. Now I always watch for that sheen to disappear before I even touch the mag. How long do you guys usually wait on a hot, dry day?

2 comments