Gray Lewis (u/grayl65)

Posts

Had to choose between a 3-day removal or a 2-day crane job for a big maple in a tight Seattle yard

Went with the crane and it cost about $1800 more, but zero property damage and the client was thrilled. Anyone have a good rule of thumb for when the extra crane cost is absolutely worth it?

3 comments

c/glassblowers•

grayl65•1mo ago

I just wrecked a custom piece because I rushed the annealing cycle

I was working on a large, complex vase for a client and was behind schedule. To save a few hours, I cut the annealing cycle short by about 30%. The piece looked perfect when I took it out. Two days later, it had a massive crack right through the main body. The glass was Northstar Moss Green, and the client order was for $350. I had to eat the cost of the glass and my time. Never again. How do you guys calculate your annealing times for thick pieces?

3 comments

c/cosmetologists•

grayl65•1mo ago

Showerthought: A client in Boise said she'd rather have a healthy scalp than perfect volume

She told me, 'My hair will grow back, but this burning won't stop,' after I used my usual high heat. Has anyone else shifted their blowout technique for scalp sensitivity?

2 comments

c/gadget-reviews•

grayl65•1mo ago

Warning: Don't buy a generic smart plug without checking the app first

I grabbed a no-name smart plug for $8 on a deal site and a name-brand one for $25 at Target. The cheap one worked, but the app was a total mess. It needed constant re-logins, the scheduling feature crashed twice, and it took a full 30 seconds just to turn a light on from my phone. The name-brand plug connected instantly every time and the app just worked. The hardware felt the same, but the software made the expensive one worth every penny. It turned a cool gadget into something I actually use daily instead of fighting with. Has anyone else found a reliable off-brand with a decent app, or is it always worth paying for the known brand?

3 comments

c/heavy-equipment-operators•

grayl65•1mo ago

Pro tip: I see guys in Phoenix not checking their hydraulic fluid levels before the first start of the day

That's a quick way to burn out a pump. How many hours do you think you're really saving by skipping it?

3 comments

c/botany-lovers•

grayl65•1mo ago

Spotted a weird moss pattern on a boulder in the Smokies

I was hiking the Alum Cave Trail last weekend and stopped to catch my breath near a big rock face. The whole side of this one boulder, maybe 8 feet tall, was covered in moss but in a really clear pattern. It looked like a map of islands, with darker green patches and lighter green channels between them. A guy walking by said it's probably because water runs down the rock in those same paths every time it rains, so the moss grows thicker where it stays wet. It made me look at every rock differently for the rest of the hike. Has anyone else seen something like that, or know what kind of moss it might be? I wish I'd taken a better picture.

3 comments

c/butchers•

grayl65•1mo ago

Finally tossed that old boning knife I kept trying to fix

Sharpened it three times last week, still couldn't get through a pork shoulder without fighting it. Wasted about $40 on stones and time before just buying a new one. What's your go-to brand when a blade is truly done?

3 comments

c/digital-nomad-life•

grayl65•1mo ago

Tried working from a beach in Tulum for a week, my laptop fan is now full of sand.

I thought the trade-off for the view was worth it, but the repair bill was $200. Anyone have a good method for keeping gear clean in dusty or sandy spots?

3 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

grayl65•1mo ago

Spent a full weekend trying to get a clear shot of the Orion Nebula

My tracking mount kept messing up the polar alignment, and I had to redo it like five times. Anyone know a good way to check alignment without a clear view of Polaris?

3 comments

Posts

Had to choose between a 3-day removal or a 2-day crane job for a big maple in a tight Seattle yard

I just wrecked a custom piece because I rushed the annealing cycle

Showerthought: A client in Boise said she'd rather have a healthy scalp than perfect volume

Warning: Don't buy a generic smart plug without checking the app first

Pro tip: I see guys in Phoenix not checking their hydraulic fluid levels before the first start of the day

Spotted a weird moss pattern on a boulder in the Smokies

Finally tossed that old boning knife I kept trying to fix

Tried working from a beach in Tulum for a week, my laptop fan is now full of sand.

Spent a full weekend trying to get a clear shot of the Orion Nebula

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