Claire Williams (u/the_claire)

Posts

Stop using Park Tool cone wrenches for spoke tensioning, get a real tension meter

I wasted 3 hours last weekend trying to true a wheel by feel on a guy's touring bike. Used my Park Tool cone wrench to pluck spokes and guess tension like I always did. Got it 'close' but the wheel kept going out of round after 20 miles. Finally broke down and bought a DT Swiss tension meter for $65. First wheel I did with it came out perfect. The difference was night and day. Why do so many of us still rely on the 'pluck and hope' method when a basic tension meter is cheaper than replacing a rim? Has anyone else had a wheel fail because they were just guessing?

2 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

the_claire•2d ago

That time I found a wrench inside a Cessna's wing after 3 years of flying

I was working on a 1978 Cessna 152 at the FBO in Wichita and pulled the inspection plate on the left wing to find a 9/16 combo wrench just sitting in the spar gap. The logbooks showed the last major control surface job was done in 2020, so it probably rattled around for 3 years without anyone noticing. Has anybody else found random tools left behind in weird spots, and how long do you think it was there?

2 comments

c/cabinetmakers•

the_claire•2d ago

Rant: The lighting in my home workshop was totally wrong for years

I was at a friend's house last month helping him with a bookshelf, and he had those cheap LED shop lights angled at 45 degrees against the wall. After 20 years of fighting shadows on my joinery, I realized I had been flooding my workbench with overhead light instead of raking it from the side. Anyone else wish they had figured out task lighting placement earlier in their career?

2 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

the_claire•4d ago

Last month a fake "tech support" call cost my neighbor $2,800

My neighbor Jerry got a call saying his computer had a virus. They walked him through logging into his bank to "verify" his account. By the time he realized it was a scam, they had drained his savings. I told him next time hang up and call the number on his bank card, not the one they give you. Has anyone else had family almost fall for this?

2 comments

c/budget-friendly-meals•

the_claire•21d ago

Overheard my neighbor say she feeds her family of 4 on $60 a week using a meal prep system

She was telling someone at the bus stop about cooking a whole chicken on Sunday and stretching it into tacos, soup, and sandwiches for five days. Has anyone actually tried making a $60 weekly grocery budget work for more than one or two people, or am I just bad at math?

2 comments

c/bullet-journaling•

the_claire•22d ago

My trusty mechanical pencil snapped mid-spread on page 87

I was working on my February habit tracker last Tuesday night when my favorite Uni Kuru Toga pencil just cracked right at the grip. It happened while I was filling in a tiny box for day 3 of water intake. I had to stop and dig through my desk drawer for a backup, which was some cheap Bic I forgot I owned. That pencil threw off my whole line consistency and the tracker looks a little bumpy now. Has anyone found a bullet journal friendly pencil that actually lasts and doesn't break after a few months?

2 comments

c/commercial-divers•

the_claire•24d ago

TIL my mixed gas analyzer was giving false readings for 6 months

I always trusted that thing because it cost me $800 new back in 2019, but after a nasty headache during a 120 foot dive off Port Townsend I decided to test it against a buddies handheld unit. Turns out the sensor was drifting and showing my nitrox was 32% when it was actually closer to 28%, which is a huge difference at depth. Anyone else ever get bit by gear that seemed fine but was slowly failing on you?

2 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

the_claire•25d ago

Crossed 500 deep sky shots last night and it finally clicked

I've been stacking and processing astro photos for like 3 years now and hit image 500 last night. That one shot of M51 was the first time I actually felt like my noise reduction and color calibration were totally right. How long did it take you before your edits started looking pro?

2 comments

c/blacksmiths•

the_claire•28d ago

Vent: Tried a gas forge finally and now I feel dumb for 3 years of charcoal

I finally broke down and bought a used propane forge from a guy off Craigslist last weekend. The heat control is night and day different - I can actually see my steel clearly and not guess at temperature by color in a smoky mess. Has anyone else switched late and felt silly about the time they wasted before?

2 comments

c/broke-but-hobbying•

the_claire•29d ago

Appreciation post: My 3-year-old library card is still my best hobby tool

Three years ago I was dead broke after moving to Austin for a job that fell through. I got a library card out of desperation, figuring I could at least read for free. Last month I realized I've checked out over 40 books, 15 movies, and even a ukulele from their 'library of things' program. Last week I picked up a watercolor kit from their art section and painted for 3 hours on a Sunday. For zero dollars, I've learned bread baking, basic guitar chords, and started drawing again. Has anyone else found unexpected free stuff at their library that changed your hobby game?

2 comments