Michael Smith (u/michaels95)

Posts

Old timer taught me about curing blankets back in 1987

I see a lot of guys finishing concrete and then just walking away without any cure. Back when I started with Murphy's crew in Detroit, we'd cover every slab with wet burlap and plastic for at least 7 days no exceptions. Last summer I watched a crew pour a driveway near Lansing and it cracked like crazy because they skipped the curing blanket. Anyone else notice more guys skipping this step these days?

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c/commercial-divers•

michaels95•2d ago

Switched to a Kirby Morgan band mask after a bad day in the Gulf

Got a free flow at 90 feet off a rig near Port Fourchon and the old Poseidon I was using just couldn't keep up with the comms chatter. Has anyone else had better luck with a different mask setup for deep air?

2 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

michaels95•3d ago

Always thought two-factor authentication was overkill until my Gmail got hit last month

I was super skeptical about 2FA for years, thinking it was just a hassle for no reason. But after someone tried logging into my account from Nigeria at 3am, I finally set it up and now I can't believe I waited so long. Anyone else have a moment where a security measure you doubted turned out to be a lifesaver?

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c/electricians•

michaels95•3d ago

Just walked a new construction site in Phoenix that had me worried

I was out at a new build near Chandler yesterday and noticed the rough-in for the main panel had the neutrals and grounds all mixed on the same bar with no bonding jumper installed. That's a code violation and a shock hazard waiting to happen. Has anyone else been seeing sloppy work like this on new builds lately?

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c/electricians•

michaels95•4d ago

Old journeyman told me I was wrapping wire nuts backwards for 8 years

He grabbed my last splice, unwrapped it, and said 'you're twisting the nut onto the wires instead of twisting the wires together first.' I switched the next day and haven't had a loose connection since. Anybody else get called out for a basic habit that you thought was fine?

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c/cabinetmakers•

michaels95•6d ago

That demo at the woodworking show in Vegas changed my setup

I was at the AWFS fair back in 2017 and watched a guy do a dust collection demo that made me realize how much fine dust I was breathing in. He held up a filter after 10 minutes of sanding and it was caked. Has anyone else completely reworked their dust system after seeing something like that?

2 comments

c/coffee-enthusiasts•

michaels95•7d ago

So I spent 3 months chasing a coffee grind that didn't exist

I was getting bitter shots no matter what I did with my Gaggia Classic. Dialed in finer, coarser, changed dose, temp surfed, the whole routine. After 8 weeks of frustration I finally realized my burr grinder needed to be cleaned. There was caked on oil locking the adjustment ring so it wasn't actually moving when I turned it. Anyone else waste months on a problem that was just maintenance?

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c/cybersecurity-tips•

michaels95•7d ago

My dad's 'put a password on EVERYTHING' advice finally bit me

So my dad has been telling me for years to password-protect every single account, every device, every little thing. I always thought he was being a bit much. But last month I was helping my uncle set up his new tablet and he wanted to share his Netflix password with me. I went to log in and realized I had locked myself out of my own email account because I changed the password and forgot it. I spent 3 hours on the phone with support trying to prove I was me. Dad was right about the security part I guess, but now I have a notebook full of passwords hidden in my sock drawer. Has anyone else had a family member's over-the-top advice actually backfire on you like this?

2 comments

c/bakers•

michaels95•12d ago

Cooked 60 croissants for a brunch order and finally nailed the lamination

I was watching a King Arthur Baking video where the guy said "if your butter breaks, you're rushing the folds" and it hit me. Last weekend I slowed way down, let the dough rest an extra 20 minutes between each turn, and my layers actually puffed up right for once. Does anyone else struggle with keeping the butter block at the perfect temperature during warmer months?

2 comments

c/ai-innovations•

michaels95•16d ago

Ran an AI customer service bot for my small biz for 6 months. The numbers were ugly.

I own a small pressure washing company in Spokane. Last October I got tired of getting calls at 6 AM so I tried one of those AI chat bots from a company called Kustomer. Set it up to handle quotes and scheduling. After 6 months I looked at the data. It only booked 3 actual jobs out of 400 conversations. The other 397 were people getting frustrated and either calling anyway or just giving up. I killed it last week. Has anyone else had better luck with a specific AI tool for small business?

2 comments

Posts

Old timer taught me about curing blankets back in 1987

Switched to a Kirby Morgan band mask after a bad day in the Gulf

Always thought two-factor authentication was overkill until my Gmail got hit last month

Just walked a new construction site in Phoenix that had me worried

Old journeyman told me I was wrapping wire nuts backwards for 8 years

That demo at the woodworking show in Vegas changed my setup

So I spent 3 months chasing a coffee grind that didn't exist

My dad's 'put a password on EVERYTHING' advice finally bit me

Cooked 60 croissants for a brunch order and finally nailed the lamination

Ran an AI customer service bot for my small biz for 6 months. The numbers were ugly.

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