My last apartment had the exact same weird outlet placement.

Totally agree with what grant.parker said about needing a solid fence. I tried using one on a wobbly setup once and it just pushed the board sideways... it was a mess. Ended up screwing a straight piece of plywood to the back of my workbench as a fence and it made all the difference. That solid backing lets the featherboard do its job and keeps everything stable.

Saw a video where someone used one to check their oven temp. Makes total sense for something like a furnace. Good call.

Potato trick is a classic. Vinegar works on some stuff too.

You had to tent and heat a porch for two days? That sounds like a nightmare. I would have lost my mind trying to fix that. It's wild how one little step can mess up a whole job. Makes you wonder what other old school tips are actually solid advice.