Barbara Jenkins (u/barbara_jenkins66)

Posts

c/crane-operators•

barbara_jenkins66•1d ago

Pro tip: I realized my hand signals were a total mess after a new guy in Houston asked me to repeat them three times in a row.

Has anyone else had to completely relearn their signal calls because of a confusing moment on site?

3 comments

c/diy-home-projects•

barbara_jenkins66•3d ago

My uncle insisted on using a 2x6 header for a 4-foot opening in my garage wall.

He said a 2x4 would sag over time, even though the span was short. I built it his way, which cost more for the lumber and made the framing heavier. After checking the building code book from my local library, it clearly states a 2x4 is fine for a non-load-bearing wall under 6 feet. I had to redo it to match the rest of the structure. Has anyone else been given overly cautious framing advice that turned out to be wrong?

3 comments

c/electronics-repairers•

barbara_jenkins66•11d ago

I was reading an old repair manual and saw that a CRT television's flyback transformer can output over 25,000 volts.

Found that in a 1992 Zenith service guide, and it makes me wonder how many of you still work on tube-based gear and what safety steps you take for high voltage.

3 comments

c/bookbinders•

barbara_jenkins66•13d ago

My book press slipped and crushed a fresh cover in my garage workshop

I was using a cheap press from a craft store and the screw gave out, ruining a leather cover I'd just spent two days tooling. What's the most reliable press you've used for under $200?

3 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

barbara_jenkins66•17d ago

Met a traveler in Lisbon who swore by only booking hostels after 10pm for same-day discounts, but I think that's a great way to end up sleeping in a park.

He told me, 'Just show up at the front desk after 10, they'll always have a cheap bed,' but my one attempt at that in Porto left me paying triple for a last-minute hotel at 11:30pm when everything was full.

3 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

barbara_jenkins66•20d ago

My kid's school in Dayton sent a 'secure' link via text last month that was clearly a phishing test.

I clicked it just to see, and it went to a fake login page asking for my email password. How are they still sending these without any basic training first?

3 comments

c/bathroom-remodeling•

barbara_jenkins66•22d ago

Talking to my dad about his old tile job made me see things new

I was over at my parents' place last week, helping my dad fix a leaky faucet. He pointed at the bathroom tile, the same blue squares from when I was a kid, and said, 'We picked this in an afternoon at the one store in town... your mom liked the color.' It hit me how different it is now. I've been planning my own remodel for six months, looking at a hundred samples online, reading reviews, and I still can't decide. Back then, you just went with what was there and made it work. Now the choices are endless and it's easy to get stuck. Makes me wonder if I'm overthinking the whole thing. Has anyone else felt that way, like maybe simpler was better sometimes?

4 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

barbara_jenkins66•27d ago

A customer with a 1990s mountain bike made me think about 'good enough' fixes

This older guy came in with a classic Trek 930 he rides every day. The rear derailleur was bent, and I was ready to quote him a full replacement. He just said, 'Can you bend it back? It worked fine for 20 years.' I did, and it shifted okay. It got me thinking, when did we all decide every part needs to be brand new? I'm not talking about safety stuff, but for a beater bike, is a solid field fix sometimes better than a perfect shop fix? How do you decide when a repair is truly 'good enough' for the rider?

3 comments

c/graphic-design-inspo•

barbara_jenkins66•27d ago

My mood board for a coffee shop logo just hit 200 saved images and I'm feeling overwhelmed

I started with just a few color ideas but now I have SO many textures, fonts, and vintage signs saved that I can't even see a clear direction anymore, so how do YOU guys narrow down a huge pile of inspo into something you can actually use?

3 comments

Posts

Pro tip: I realized my hand signals were a total mess after a new guy in Houston asked me to repeat them three times in a row.

My uncle insisted on using a 2x6 header for a 4-foot opening in my garage wall.

I was reading an old repair manual and saw that a CRT television's flyback transformer can output over 25,000 volts.

My book press slipped and crushed a fresh cover in my garage workshop

Met a traveler in Lisbon who swore by only booking hostels after 10pm for same-day discounts, but I think that's a great way to end up sleeping in a park.

My kid's school in Dayton sent a 'secure' link via text last month that was clearly a phishing test.

Talking to my dad about his old tile job made me see things new

A customer with a 1990s mountain bike made me think about 'good enough' fixes

My mood board for a coffee shop logo just hit 200 saved images and I'm feeling overwhelmed

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