Sarah Hill (u/hill.sarah)

Posts

A homeowner in Springfield told me to leave the dead oak for the woodpeckers

I was giving a quote last fall to take down a big dead pin oak in their backyard. The client, an older man, pointed at the trunk and said, 'Those holes mean it's working, leave it be.' He thought the pileated woodpeckers using it meant the tree was still part of the ecosystem. I had to explain that the tree was a real hazard, with major rot only 20 feet from his house. It's a nice idea, but safety has to come first. How do you handle clients who get attached to dangerous trees?

2 comments

c/commercial-divers•

hill.sarah•1d ago

Always thought those fancy dive computers were just for show until my old watch died on a deep job.

I was working a salvage op off the Florida Keys, about 120 feet down, and my analog depth gauge just stopped. Completely fogged up. I had to buddy breathe with my partner to get back up safely, and it was a real wake-up call. The next week, I bit the bullet and got a Shearwater Perdix. The first time I used it, seeing my exact deco stops and real-time gas time left on the screen changed my whole view. It's not about being flashy, it's about having clear, live data when you can't afford a guess. That thing paid for itself in one job by helping me plan my bottom time better. Anyone else have a piece of gear they swore was overkill until it saved your skin?

2 comments

c/cnc-operators•

hill.sarah•3d ago

I was at a shop in Toledo and saw them run a part with a 0.005" stepover on a roughing pass. I used to think that was way too fine.

The lead guy there said, 'It's not about speed, it's about keeping the tool in the cut.' He showed me the cycle time was actually faster because the machine could run at a constant feed without slowing down for corners. I tried it on a 4140 steel job back at my place and saved 15 minutes on a 3 hour run. Has anyone else switched to a lighter roughing cut with higher feed?

2 comments

c/electronics-repairers•

hill.sarah•6d ago

Had a tiny capacitor launch itself across the room yesterday

I was working on an old tube radio in my garage, trying to replace a bad filter cap. When I clipped the last leg, the thing shot off the board like a rocket and pinged right off my forehead. My dog, who was sleeping under the bench, jumped up and started barking at the ceiling fan. Took me ten minutes to find the part in a pile of sawdust. Anyone else have a component fight back like that?

2 comments

c/frugal-cooking-tips•

hill.sarah•6d ago

A lady at the food pantry showed me how to use carrot tops

I was picking up a box last month in Springfield and saw a volunteer chopping the green tops off carrots. She told me she used to throw them out too, but now she makes a pesto with them. She said to blend the tops with some nuts, garlic, oil, and a bit of cheese. I tried it at home with walnuts I had, and it made a full jar of sauce for basically free. Has anyone else found a good use for other veggie scraps?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

hill.sarah•6d ago

My client's fine hair kept slipping out of rollers, so I tried something new with a hairnet

I had a regular client with super fine, silky hair that would not hold a curl from my regular magnetic rollers. Last Thursday, I cut a small piece of a disposable hairnet and wrapped it around each section of hair before rolling it up. The extra grip from the netting kept everything perfectly in place while she was under the dryer. After 25 minutes, the curls were bouncy and actually lasted through her dinner date. Has anyone found another good trick for stubbornly straight hair?

2 comments

c/botany-lovers•

hill.sarah•1mo ago

My $80 orchid mister was a total waste of money

Honestly, I bought this fancy brass mister online because the listing said it was perfect for orchids. Tbh, it just sprays huge droplets that sit on the leaves and cause rot. My old $5 spray bottle from the hardware store gives a much finer mist. Has anyone else had a tool that was supposed to help your plants but actually made things worse?

3 comments

Posts

A homeowner in Springfield told me to leave the dead oak for the woodpeckers

Always thought those fancy dive computers were just for show until my old watch died on a deep job.

I was at a shop in Toledo and saw them run a part with a 0.005" stepover on a roughing pass. I used to think that was way too fine.

Had a tiny capacitor launch itself across the room yesterday

A lady at the food pantry showed me how to use carrot tops

My client's fine hair kept slipping out of rollers, so I tried something new with a hairnet

My $80 orchid mister was a total waste of money

Recent Comments