My cordless clipper battery died halfway through a fade yesterday, had to finish with my backup pair that pulls hair lol

Can we talk about how my nephew's comment on my old mud pan made me feel ancient

He was helping me on a Reno job last week, pointed at my old 14-inch steel pan, and said 'you still use that dinosaur thing' which made me realize I've been using the same tools since before he was born, so what's the oldest piece of gear you guys still swear by?

Can we talk about skipping the second coat of mud on butt joints?

I've seen three jobs this week in the new Riverwalk condos where guys are trying to get away with one heavy coat, and you can already see the tape ghosting through. Has anyone else noticed this becoming a thing, or is it just my area?

The way I handle neckline trims has completely shifted in the last two years

I used to rely on clippers with a guard for every neckline cleanup, thinking it was the safe and fast way. About 18 months ago, I started watching a barber from Chicago who almost always uses a straight razor for that final line. I switched to a shavette for my neckline work and the difference is night and day. It gives a much sharper, cleaner line and clients notice the polish. The switch took practice, maybe 20 cuts to feel comfortable, but it's now my standard. Has anyone else moved away from clippers for detail work like this?