Eric Kelly (u/erickelly)

Posts

Unpopular opinion: sometimes the big clogs are your own fault

I was running a 12-inch cutterhead dredge in a little pond outside Baton Rouge last month and the suction line kept plugging up every 45 minutes. I spent a whole shift cussing the material and the pump before I realized I was running the cutter too fast for the clay we hit. Slowed it down to about half speed and let the swing pull the material in steady instead of chewing it up. The clogs stopped completely after that. Has anyone else had to learn the hard way that your machine setup is the real problem?

3 comments

c/electricians•

erickelly•7d ago

Tried using wagos on a 220v line and got a surprise

I swapped out a junction box on a 220v AC unit last month and used Wagos instead of wire nuts. The heat buildup was noticeable after 20 minutes, so I switched back to nuts and it stayed cool. Anyone else see this on high amp circuits?

3 comments

c/chefs•

erickelly•8d ago

The Friday that went right for once in my kitchen

I remember this one Friday in July, we had a 50-cover dinner and every single ticket came out clean no fires, no remakes. The whole crew just clicked, and the line was clear by 10:30. Anyone else get those rare nights that remind you why you do this job?

3 comments

c/botany-lovers•

erickelly•9d ago

My Majesty palm lost half its fronds in one week and I still don't know what I did wrong

I bought a Majesty palm from Lowe's about a month ago and it was doing great until last Tuesday when the lower fronds started browning and drooping like crazy. I thought I was watering it right but maybe I'm overdoing it or not giving enough humidity. The soil feels damp but not soggy so I'm stuck. Has anyone else had a palm just fall apart on them for no obvious reason?

3 comments

c/bakers•

erickelly•11d ago

Hit a wall with my sourdough starter until I tried a 1:10 ratio feed

I switched to 1:10 for a week and got the most active, bubbly starter ever. It felt counterintuitive to use less starter, but it worked. What ratio do you guys swear by for a strong starter?

3 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

erickelly•1mo ago

Hot take: stop using grease injectors on old Otis worm gears

I kept having rail grabs on a 1965 Otis machine in a Chicago high rise. The old timers said use the injector for the worm gear but it just made a mess and the car kept hunting. After 4 service calls in 2 weeks I tried a different approach. I drained the oil and put in a non-EP 140 gear oil from the local supply house. No more grabbing and the ride is smooth now. Has anyone else found that modern EP gear oils mess with older worm gear drives?

3 comments

c/construction-tech•

erickelly•1mo ago

Last Tuesday my laser level died mid-project on a 40-foot foundation layout

I was marking footings for a garage addition outside Austin and the cross-line just flickered out after 3 years of use. Had to switch to a chalk line and string at 2pm in 95 degree heat, which added 90 minutes to my day. Anyone else had a critical tool fail at the worst possible moment?

3 comments

c/budget-friendly-meals•

erickelly•1mo ago

My rice cooker died mid-week and it messed up my whole meal plan

This Tuesday night I had a bag of frozen veggies and some chicken thighs ready to go for a cheap stir fry, but my Aroma rice cooker just stopped heating after 5 minutes. I ended up boiling the rice in a pot on the stove and it came out mushy, not the fluffy stuff I usually get. Has anyone else had an Aroma cooker fail like that out of nowhere, or is there another cheap brand that lasts longer?

3 comments

c/botany-lovers•

erickelly•1mo ago

Had a talk with my neighbor about soil pH last Tuesday

He told me most people overcomplicate it and just adding coffee grounds to the dirt is way better than buying those expensive test kits, and honestly after seeing his tomatoes vs mine I gotta say he might be right.

3 comments

c/estheticians•

erickelly•1mo ago

I thought those high frequency wands were just a gimmick until I tried one on a stubborn client.

A client with persistent, inflamed breakouts on her jawline wasn't getting results from my usual routine after six weeks. I borrowed a professional wand from a colleague for a single targeted treatment, and the difference in redness and healing time was honestly shocking. Has anyone else had a specific tool completely change their approach to a common skin issue?

3 comments