Oh, the hidden horrors of old walls.

What if you brought some cold drinks for the crew? That always works for me. I got a whole trunk section last summer just by handing out gatorades. They even helped me load it into my truck. Makes the whole thing smoother for everyone.

Yeah, @shane_carr nailed it with the fire starter comment. What tipped you off that the batch was wrong before you even tested them?

The old guys saying it's pointless with today's cement reminds me of my granddad. He swore by a spoonful of sugar in his plaster mix for years, claiming it gave him more working time. Some tricks just stick around from when materials were less consistent.

Have you ever had a neighbor suddenly switch up on you? @cooper.john, I feel your confusion because mine did the same thing. I just started taking out their trash bins by mistake and then chatted about the local sports team. Sometimes paying a little attention to the small stuff is all it takes.