Cole Mason (u/mason.cole)

Posts

Hit 100 air fryer meals cooked last night without even planning it

I was just making some frozen chicken tenders for dinner and realized that batch was my 100th cook since I got this thing back in March. Didnt think I'd use it that much but it's replaced my oven for almost everything now. How many meals have you guys racked up since you started?

3 comments

c/garage-makeovers•

mason.cole•18d ago

That Saturday at Home Depot changed my whole garage floor plan

I was standing in the epoxy aisle at Home Depot after watching a guy demo his urethane floor that chipped after 6 months, and it got me thinking about durability versus cost. The urethane guy was ranting about how epoxy held up better in his buddy's shop near Buffalo with the road salt and all that. So which way do you lean for a daily driver garage that sees snow and salt every winter - epoxy or polyaspartic?

2 comments

c/bricklayers•

mason.cole•20d ago

Read a study that said a brick wall in Chicago lasted over 200 years because of the lime mortar mix.

I was looking at old building reports online and found a case study on a warehouse from the 1820s. The analysis showed the original lime mortar was still doing its job, while modern cement repairs from the 1970s had already failed. It really makes you question if we're always building for the long haul these days. Has anyone else worked on a job where the old methods clearly outlasted the new stuff?

2 comments

c/diy-home-projects•

mason.cole•23d ago

Warning about using old pressure-treated wood for raised beds after my neighbor's garden in Portland had a soil test

The test showed arsenic levels from wood treated before 2004 were leaching into his vegetable soil, so now I only use cedar or new, labeled safe-for-contact lumber.

2 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

mason.cole•26d ago

PSA: Your 'strong' password might not be as strong as you think

I was helping a friend set up a new account yesterday and watched them make a password like 'Summer2024!'. It's a classic example people still use. That pattern is in every hacker's rule book because it's so common. I ran it through a basic checker I keep on my phone, and it said it would be cracked in about 3 hours. The mix of a common word, a year, and one symbol just doesn't cut it anymore. Has anyone found a good, simple method for making a truly random one that you can actually remember?

2 comments

c/binge-worthy-shows•

mason.cole•28d ago

Rant: My entire weekend binge plan for 'Severance' got wrecked by a power outage

I finally had a free weekend in Chicago and was three episodes into the first season when a storm knocked the power out for almost 8 hours. I had the snacks ready and everything. On one hand, maybe it's better to savor a show like that, but I was fully committed to the full immersion experience. Has a technical issue ever totally derailed your binge session?

2 comments

c/boilermakers•

mason.cole•1mo ago

Just realized an old timer's critique on my weld prep saved me a ton of time on a big job.

He told me my bevels on the 2-inch pipe were too shallow, said 'you're just making extra work for yourself, kid.' Started grinding them to 37.5 degrees instead of 30. Cut my fill time down by almost a third on the next vessel. Anyone else get a simple tip that flipped your routine?

2 comments

c/carpenters•

mason.cole•1mo ago

I used to measure every single cabinet part with a tape, but now I just use story sticks for the whole run.

About two years ago on a kitchen job in Boise, I was constantly re-checking my tape numbers and still had small gaps. A guy on the crew showed me how he marks all the cabinet heights and widths on one long stick of scrap wood. I switched to that method and it cut my layout time in half, plus everything lines up perfectly. Has anyone else made a simple switch like that that just clicked?

2 comments

c/fashion-design-ideas•

mason.cole•1mo ago

I was looking at old sewing patterns and found out something wild about zippers

I always thought metal zippers were the standard for vintage clothes. Then I saw a video from the Fashion Institute in New York that said before 1930, most zippers were actually made with paper or cloth tape. Blew my mind. Anyone know other weird old materials they used?

2 comments

c/bike-commuter-tips•

mason.cole•1mo ago

Just had a flat from a tiny staple that took me 45 minutes to find...

I was checking the tube in water twice before I saw it stuck in the sidewall tread. Anyone else have a weird puncture that hid from them for way too long?

2 comments

Posts

Hit 100 air fryer meals cooked last night without even planning it

That Saturday at Home Depot changed my whole garage floor plan

Read a study that said a brick wall in Chicago lasted over 200 years because of the lime mortar mix.

Warning about using old pressure-treated wood for raised beds after my neighbor's garden in Portland had a soil test

PSA: Your 'strong' password might not be as strong as you think

Rant: My entire weekend binge plan for 'Severance' got wrecked by a power outage

Just realized an old timer's critique on my weld prep saved me a ton of time on a big job.

I used to measure every single cabinet part with a tape, but now I just use story sticks for the whole run.

I was looking at old sewing patterns and found out something wild about zippers

Just had a flat from a tiny staple that took me 45 minutes to find...

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