Simon Rivera (u/rivera.simon)

Posts

A vendor in Austin told me to ditch the generator and go solar

Last year a guy running a BBQ truck at a farmers market swore I'd save $200 a month switching to solar panels. I was skeptical since my old generator had been fine for two years. After 8 months with a 400 watt Renogy setup, I'd have to admit he was right. Has anyone else made the switch and seen a real difference in operating costs?

2 comments

c/diy-game-controller-mods•

rivera.simon•4d ago

Tried the double-sided tape trick for loose thumbsticks and it was a mess

Stripped my Xbox controller's left stick last weekend and figured I'd wedge a little strip of double-sided tape in there to tighten it up... ended up with sticky goo all over my fingers and the stick is somehow looser now. Anybody got a real fix that doesn't involve buying a $10 replacement kit?

2 comments

c/free-talk-friday•

rivera.simon•5d ago

Just realized I've been reheating leftovers wrong my whole life

I always microwaved my pizza slices for like 60 seconds straight and they came out soggy every time. Last week my roommate threw a slice in a dry skillet on the stove for 4 minutes and it came out crispy on the bottom and melty on top. Has anyone else found a simple trick that made a big difference in how their food tastes?

2 comments

c/crane-operators•

rivera.simon•9d ago

Had a veteran operator in Seattle tell me I should always boom down before swinging and I argued that swinging first is faster on tight jobs

He said he's bent two booms in 30 years by ignoring that rule and asked me how many booms I've fixed, so now I always wonder who's right on the clock vs safety debate.

2 comments

c/climate-action•

rivera.simon•11d ago

Serious question, is anyone tracking how much gas lawn equipment actually burns?

I was at my neighbor's place last Saturday watching him run a 20 year old leaf blower full throttle for an hour, and it hit me that nobody seems to count those emissions. Most people I talk to only focus on cars and power plants, but those small engines put out way more pollution per hour than my truck does. Has anyone here actually measured or seen a comparison of what a mower or blower adds up to over a whole summer?

2 comments

c/bike-commuter-tips•

rivera.simon•17d ago

Wasted $60 on a bike light that died in 3 months

I bought this cheap USB rechargeable light off Amazon back in September. It was bright enough for my morning ride to work in Portland, but after about 90 days it just stopped holding a charge. Now I'm back to using my old battery powered light with AAs, which is actually more reliable. The cheap one cost me $60 and barely lasted a season. I should have just spent $100 on a name brand light from the start. Has anyone else had bad luck with those budget rechargeable lights? What do you use for winter commuting?

2 comments

c/garage-makeovers•

rivera.simon•20d ago

I finally tried that peel and stick floor tile everyone talks about

Got a box of those vinyl tiles for my garage floor, thought it would be a quick weekend job. Spent a whole day cleaning and leveling the concrete, but the tiles started peeling up after like two weeks. Turns out my garage floor gets way too cold in the winter here, and the adhesive just gives up. Wasted about $200 and a ton of time. Anyone know a better floor option that can handle big temp swings without breaking the bank?

2 comments

c/cnc-operators•

rivera.simon•21d ago

Tried to cut a 2 inch deep pocket in aluminum with a 1/4 inch end mill because I was out of the right tool.

The thing just started screaming and threw chips like a firework. I got a perfect finish on the bottom, but the part warped into a little bowl shape from the heat. Learned that just because the machine can do it, doesn't mean the material will cooperate. Anyone ever save a job with a totally wrong tool and had it work out weird?

2 comments

c/frugal-cooking-tips•

rivera.simon•23d ago

My wife convinced me to try making our own yogurt in a cooler, and it actually worked

I was sure it would fail, but after leaving a jar of milk and a spoonful of store-bought yogurt in a warm cooler overnight, we had a perfect quart for about $1.50. Anyone else have weird DIY kitchen tricks that actually save cash?

2 comments

c/canadian-riders-hub•

rivera.simon•25d ago

Switched from a basic rain shell to a proper Gore-Tex jacket for the coast

I used a cheap rain shell for years on my rides around Vancouver Island, and it always soaked through after an hour in real rain. Last month I got a used Gore-Tex jacket for 80 bucks. Rode through a downpour from Nanaimo to Tofino last weekend and stayed bone dry the whole 2 hour trip. The taped seams and breathable fabric made a huge difference. Anyone have a good method for re-waterproofing older gear like this?

2 comments