I read somewhere that hot mud tends to shrink more than the pre-mixed stuff when you force it on thick or too fast. Might explain the cracking near the window where the temperature changes. Did you let it set fully before sanding or just go by the clock?

Man, that's a good point about impacts. I actually read an article a while back that explained how impacts work and it said the same thing, you lose all that feedback when the bolt starts to bind up. It's like you're just trusting the tool instead of feeling it yourself. I've seen too many bolts snap or get stripped because someone got lazy with an impact and just kept hammering away. Hand ratchet is slower but you can tell way better when it's snug enough and when to stop.

Mike told me the same thing but that friction drove me crazy on light cuts.

Had a buddy named Rick who swore the old light was fine till he sat through two full cycles watching nothing but leaves blowing across the intersection. Now he's all for the roundabout crew.

Yup, that burnt toast smell means you cooked the grease inside too. Had a buddy's winch bind up solid a week later.