Yeah but did you check if the lock cam has any wear on it too?

Nailed it dude. Spent half the afternoon daydreaming about that AC unit like it was a lost lover or something. Pretty sure I hallucinated the sound of it kicking on a couple times. By the time I finally got home I just stood in my own driveway for a solid five minutes staring at nothing. Should have just charged them double for the mental anguish fee.

Trust me @lilys81, try it once and you'll never scratch again.

That bit about pulling the thread until it creaks hit home. I did the exact same thing when I started, thought tight sewing meant a strong book. Turns out you're just strangling the paper and making the spine fight itself. Once you loosen up and let the sections breathe, the whole thing opens like a dream instead of fighting you. YouTube tutorials push this idea that everything needs to be locked down tight, but real world use says different. I still catch myself yanking too hard on the thread sometimes and have to stop and remind myself to just let it sit snug not cinched.

Buy you a drink" is generous. Pretty sure a lukewarm soda they grabbed from their desk was the only consolation I got.