Lee Lane (u/the_lee)

Posts

Just switched to a 20-degree framing nailer for sheathing and it's a game changer

Honestly, I used a 30-degree gun for everything for like 8 years, even on roof decks and wall sheathing. Switched to a 20-degree Hitachi about 6 months ago after a buddy in Charlotte swore by it, and the lower angle lets me get into way tighter corners without banging the magazine. It's also way easier to carry up a ladder since it's more compact. Anyone else made a switch like that and found it actually mattered?

2 comments

c/bakers•

the_lee•2d ago

My buttercream seized up right before a wedding cake delivery in Akron

I was out of pasteurized egg whites, so I tried a splash of warm milk and a good 5-minute whip on low speed. Anyone have a better fix for when your meringue breaks?

2 comments

c/apartment-composting•

the_lee•2d ago

Rant: My friend said bokashi is just a smelly mess for small spaces

I was at a community garden talk in Austin last weekend and someone called bokashi composting 'a stinky gimmick' for apartments. I've been using a 5-gallon bucket system in my studio for eight months now, and it's been the opposite. The key is the bran and sealing the lid tight after every single scrap you add. My place doesn't smell at all. Has anyone else had a good run with bokashi after hearing bad things about it?

2 comments

c/apartment-composting•

the_lee•2d ago

Had to choose between a worm bin and a bokashi bucket for my studio

I live in a 450 square foot apartment and needed a system that wouldn't smell. The choice was a worm bin or a bokashi bucket. I picked the bokashi method because I was nervous about keeping worms alive. It's been three months, and while it works, I have to store the fermented waste in my freezer until I can drop it at a community garden. Has anyone else dealt with the storage issue? I'm wondering if the worm bin would have been easier in the long run.

2 comments

c/freelance-survival•

the_lee•4d ago

My freelance income hit $500 for the first time last month

I've been doing basic web design for about a year, mostly small jobs for friends. Last month, a client in Denver paid me $350 for a full site, and another paid $150 for a quick fix. It's not a ton, but seeing that total in my bank account felt real. Has anyone else had a small number that made freelancing finally click for them?

2 comments

c/botany-lovers•

the_lee•4d ago

PSA: I had to pick between a rare Monstera albo and a full set of basic houseplants for my apartment in Austin.

The albo cutting was $200 from a local seller, but it was a single leaf with a risky root system. The other option was about ten common plants like pothos and snake plants for the same total price, filling my whole balcony. I chose the common plants for instant greenery, and now my place looks full but I still dream about that variegated leaf. Has anyone else faced a similar choice between one special plant and many reliable ones?

2 comments

c/cnc-operators•

the_lee•6d ago

I used to think those fancy tool presetters were a waste of shop space

My old boss got one for our Haas VF-2 about six months ago and I rolled my eyes. But after using it for a job with 12 different tools, I cut my setup time by almost half. Anyone else have a piece of gear they were wrong about?

2 comments

c/auto-body-repairers•

the_lee•7d ago

My orbital sander caught fire on a 2002 Civic quarter panel in the middle of a $2,500 job.

I was blocking it down and saw smoke, then a little flame popped out of the vent, so I yanked the cord and smothered it with my shop rag, but now I'm paranoid about my old corded tools - what's a good brand for a RELIABLE replacement that won't try to torch my work?

2 comments

c/drafters•

the_lee•10d ago

PSA: I thought 3D modeling was just a waste of time for simple floor plans...

For years I only used 2D CAD for residential stuff, thinking the extra step was pointless. Then a job last month needed a complex roof line and the builder kept calling with questions. I spent 4 hours building a basic 3D model in SketchUp to show the angles... and the calls stopped. It made the whole thing click for them in a way 2D sections never did. Now I'm torn, because it does add time upfront. Do you all think 3D is worth it for standard jobs, or just for the tricky ones?

2 comments

c/backpacking-routes•

the_lee•12d ago

PSA: My paper map from 2012 versus the GPS on my phone in the Wind River Range

Last August I was planning a loop in the Winds and dug out my old paper map. The GPS on my phone showed a clear trail going around a lake. The paper map had a dotted line straight across a marshy inlet. I followed the phone, spent two hours bushwhacking through willows up to my waist. The dotted line on the paper map was an old game trail, dry and easy. Has anyone else had tech steer them totally wrong out there?

2 comments

Posts

Just switched to a 20-degree framing nailer for sheathing and it's a game changer

My buttercream seized up right before a wedding cake delivery in Akron

Rant: My friend said bokashi is just a smelly mess for small spaces

Had to choose between a worm bin and a bokashi bucket for my studio

My freelance income hit $500 for the first time last month

PSA: I had to pick between a rare Monstera albo and a full set of basic houseplants for my apartment in Austin.

I used to think those fancy tool presetters were a waste of shop space

My orbital sander caught fire on a 2002 Civic quarter panel in the middle of a $2,500 job.

PSA: I thought 3D modeling was just a waste of time for simple floor plans...

PSA: My paper map from 2012 versus the GPS on my phone in the Wind River Range

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