Emma King (u/emmaking)

Posts

Realized my timing belt was fraying after a road trip stop in Flagstaff

I pulled over to check a weird noise outside Winslow and found strands hanging off the belt. Anyone else ever caught a belt failure just by looking under the hood at a random gas station?

4 comments

c/carpet-installers•

emmaking•20d ago

Just hit 10,000 square feet of carpet laid this year last week

I didn't even realize I was tracking it until I added up my job sheets. That's a whole warehouse floor plus a few houses worth of stretch-in. Anyone else keep a running count of your yearly footage?

3 comments

c/climate-action•

emmaking•22d ago

Why does everyone treat composting like it's a science experiment?

I've been managing the community garden plots in my neighborhood for about 2 years now, and I keep seeing people throw kitchen scraps into a pile with no browns at all and then wonder why it stinks. Last week someone showed up with a full bucket of just coffee grounds and onion peels, no leaves or cardboard mixed in. How do I get people to understand that a 3-to-1 ratio of browns to greens actually matters?

3 comments

c/chicago-legal-advice•

emmaking•24d ago

My landlord said a verbal agreement was as good as written in Chicago

Last July my landlord told me rent would stay at $1200 for another year, just a handshake and a nod. Now she's trying to hike it to $1450 with 30 days notice and says the verbal thing means nothing. Is there any way to fight this in Cook County or am I just screwed?

3 comments

c/bakers•

emmaking•27d ago

Why does nobody talk about using old cake scraps for something cool?

I went to a bakery in Portland called Butterlove last week and saw they had a whole display case of cake pops made from leftover scraps. I used to just toss my trimmed edges or give them to my chickens, but now I'm thinking I should start saving them up. Do any of you repurpose your scraps into something you actually sell?

3 comments

c/ask-anything•

emmaking•28d ago

Had to choose between a used sports car and a reliable sedan last month

I picked the sedan because I commute 40 miles daily, and honestly now I'm bored out of my mind every drive. Has anyone else regretted playing it safe with a big purchase?

3 comments

c/cnc-operators•

emmaking•1mo ago

Tried going cheap on end mills from Amazon vs. paying up for name brand ones and wow what a difference on a 20 part aluminum job last month.

The cheap ones chattered so bad I had to rerun half the parts and the finish looked like garbage, has anyone else burned money on bargain bits just to learn the same lesson?

3 comments

c/chefs•

emmaking•1mo ago

Just came back from a pop-up in Portland and I'm still annoyed

This place charged $28 for a single plate of pasta that was clearly undercooked and they didn't even ask how we wanted it done. Has anyone else run into fine dining spots that think al dente just means crunchy?

3 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

emmaking•1mo ago

PSA: Stop using manufacturer wiring diagrams as gospel on older machines

I was working on a 15 year old Whirlpool dryer at a house in Bakersfield last Tuesday, the model number came back clean but the wiring inside was all kinds of hacked. The diagram said the thermal fuse should be on the blower housing, but someone had rerouted it to the exhaust duct with jumper wires. I spent an hour chasing a no-heat issue based on that diagram before I stopped and actually traced every wire by hand. Found a busted thermistor that wasn't even on the schematic. Ended up bypassing their bad splice job and putting everything back to factory spec. The drum still had a faint burn smell, so I told the homeowner it was time for a replacement. Has anyone else run into a situation where the original diagram was flat out wrong for a machine that old?

3 comments

c/drafters•

emmaking•1mo ago

Just had to choose between two detail levels for a big set of foundation plans

I was working on a commercial job in Phoenix and the client wanted the foundation drawings done fast. I had to pick between my usual full detail with every rebar callout, or a simpler version with just the main dimensions and notes. I went with the simpler one to meet the deadline, which was two days away. It actually worked out fine because the contractor on site is really good and knows the local codes. They called me once to confirm a pier depth, but that was it. Has anyone else cut detail to hit a tight turn around? How did it go for you?

3 comments

Recent Comments

2d ago

My sourdough starter finally came back to life after a week in the fridge

Oh come on, fancy flour didn't fix it, the rye just woke up what was already there.

2d ago

I was dead set against a monthly log until I gave it 3 weeks

Six missed appointments and a panic later, I finally caved and scribbled a monthly list.

3d ago

Botany conference in Portland changed my whole propagation setup

Wait, DAMP PERLITE in a ZIPLOCK BAG? That's it?! I've been using those little plastic dome things with heat mats and this whole ritual. My African violets are sitting there with their fancy setup looking at me like I'm an idiot right now. Three weeks flat is UNREAL, I've waited months sometimes. I'm actually kind of angry that I spent money on rooting hormone powders when a bag and some perlite does the trick. You just blew my whole mind with that one.

3d ago

Vent: That whole "gas stove ban" panic was a nothingburger

Oh my goodness, this is so frustrating. I had the exact same thing happen with my brother in Florida - he was ready to sell his house over some TikTok video about stoves. It really makes you wonder how these things spread so fast when the truth is right there if you just look. I spent a whole afternoon sending him links from .gov websites and news articles just to calm him down. He finally believed me when I showed him the CPSC chairperson herself saying there was no ban. It's exhausting having to do all that research just to undo what one viral post did in fifteen seconds.

4d ago

Rant: That $700 water damage claim I thought was a win - turned into a nightmare

@rodriguez.mia has a point though, one claim and you might get dropped by everyone.