Oliver Williams (u/the_oliver)

Posts

Spent $600 on a portable monitor and honestly it was a waste

Everyone says you need a second screen to work properly, but I found it just added weight and hassle to my pack. I used it for maybe a week in Lisbon before going back to just my laptop. Has anyone else ditched the extra gear and been fine?

2 comments

c/backyard-chickens•

the_oliver•3d ago

Just realized a lot of folks are underestimating how much space their chicks will need in a month.

I started with a 2x4 brooder for six chicks last spring, but they outgrew it in under three weeks and started picking at each other. Has anyone else had to do a mid-brooder upgrade, and what size did you switch to?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

the_oliver•5d ago

I switched from a 10 minute bleach check to a 5 minute one after a client in Phoenix had major breakage last summer.

Now I always do a quick strand test every 3 minutes because that heat can change the processing time way faster than you think, anyone else adjust their timing for different climates?

2 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

the_oliver•6d ago

Finally got my panel terminations down from 20 minutes to under 5

A couple years back, I'd fumble with every wire, double-check the manual, and it just ate up time. Then I started color-coding my own wire bundles with tape before I even got to the panel, based on the zone list. I keep a laminated cheat sheet of the most common panel models in my van now too. It sounds simple, but it cut my average termination time by like 75%. What's your go-to trick for speeding up panel work without making mistakes?

2 comments

c/everyday-tool-hacks•

the_oliver•7d ago

Watching a guy at the county fair fix a popcorn machine with a zip tie and a dime

He bypassed a broken spring on the agitator by looping a heavy-duty zip tie through the mechanism and wedging a dime in the gear to keep tension, which got it running for the rest of the event.

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

the_oliver•12d ago

Spent $40 on a slow cooker at a yard sale and it's changed my weeknight dinners

I picked it up on a whim, thinking I'd make a stew or two. I've used it three times a week for the past month, just throwing cheap cuts of meat and veggies in before work. It cooks while I'm gone, so I'm not tempted to order takeout when I'm tired. Has anyone else found one kitchen gadget that just cuts their food spending way down?

2 comments

c/diy-home-renovation•

the_oliver•12d ago

My neighbor in Phoenix said he stopped using joint compound on drywall seams

He told me he switched to a product called Durabond 90 for the first coat because it sets hard and doesn't shrink. I tried it on a ceiling patch last weekend and it was way easier to sand flat after it dried. Anyone else use setting-type mud instead of all-purpose for their taping?

2 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

the_oliver•1mo ago

Trying to describe a swirl finish to my aunt over Thanksgiving dinner led to some confused looks

She thought I was talking about ice cream until I pulled out my phone to show her a job site photo.

2 comments

Posts

Spent $600 on a portable monitor and honestly it was a waste

Just realized a lot of folks are underestimating how much space their chicks will need in a month.

I switched from a 10 minute bleach check to a 5 minute one after a client in Phoenix had major breakage last summer.

Finally got my panel terminations down from 20 minutes to under 5

Watching a guy at the county fair fix a popcorn machine with a zip tie and a dime

Spent $40 on a slow cooker at a yard sale and it's changed my weeknight dinners

My neighbor in Phoenix said he stopped using joint compound on drywall seams

Trying to describe a swirl finish to my aunt over Thanksgiving dinner led to some confused looks

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