That's a great point. Sometimes the simplest fix is just checking your workholding before you even touch the offsets.

Until it strips" seems like a stretch for most manuals. They usually give a torque spec for a reason. I've never seen one that actually tells you to break the hardware.

Thomas said it makes you want to lock down every little variable, but that's the wrong way to look at it. Trying to control everything just sets you up for more stress when the wind changes. Sometimes you just have to accept that stuff like a tangled tagline is part of the job, not a problem to be solved. Spending hours trying to prevent every little snag is a waste of energy better used dealing with things as they happen.

Switched to an antenna, like mila278's friend should try.

Been there. My first one was junk too, always needing that calibration fluid. I switched to an Apera Instruments pen a few years back. It stays steady for months with my sourdough starter and sauerkraut. The little cap has built-in storage solution, which seems to make a big difference. What are you brewing besides kombucha?