Xena Shah (u/xenas16)

Posts

I finally picked a new wire stripper for the shop and it's been a game changer

I was stuck between the Klein 11055 and the Ideal 45-616 for our main bench. Went with the Klein because the blade change looked easier for the new guys. After two weeks, we've cut prep time on 22-gauge shielded cable by almost half. Anyone else have a favorite stripper for small-gauge stuff?

3 comments

c/carpenters•

xenas16•17d ago

I finally switched from a miter saw to a hand saw for trim work in tight corners

Was doing a bathroom remodel in an old Philly rowhouse last week, and the space was just too cramped for my 12-inch sliding miter saw. Had to choose between forcing it and risking a bad cut or using a Japanese pull saw. I went with the pull saw, and the control was way better for those weird 22.5-degree cuts. Anyone else find hand tools are sometimes the faster option in tight spots?

3 comments

c/fake-news-autopsy•

xenas16•20d ago

My local news said a bridge was closed for repairs but I drove right over it

Saw a story on the news site saying the Main Street bridge was shut down for a week. I drove past it an hour later and traffic was totally normal. I checked the city's official page and they said no work was scheduled. It was just a total mix-up from a bad tip. How do these things even get published without a quick check?

3 comments

c/career-advice•

xenas16•25d ago

I finally started sending a short follow-up email 48 hours after an interview, and my callback rate jumped from maybe 1 in 10 to almost half.

A friend in HR told me to mention one specific thing we discussed, like 'our conversation about managing the quarterly inventory audit,' instead of just saying thanks, and it made the note feel personal and showed I was paying attention.

3 comments

c/cosmetologists•

xenas16•26d ago

Heads up about that new salon supply store on Market Street

I was there yesterday and saw they're selling unlabeled bulk color developer, which seems super sketchy lol. Has anyone else checked that place out and had a weird feeling?

4 comments

c/cable-installers•

xenas16•1mo ago

I treat cable layouts like art, but my partner calls it slow.

Debate: Should we prioritize looks or speed in our work?

4 comments

c/celebrity-gossip-decoded•

xenas16•1mo ago

A celeb sighting on my trip made gossip sites look silly

I was on a beach getaway and noticed a famous actor staying at my hotel. I mean, he was just reading a book by the pool, super chill. But when I got home, gossip blogs were buzzing that he was there with a mystery date. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I saw him alone the whole time. The stories online painted it as a secret romance, but from my view, it was totally normal. It really hit me how quick they are to spin a basic thing into drama. Does anyone else feel like gossip often misses the real story?

4 comments

c/blacksmiths•

xenas16•1mo ago

How my daughter's first project made me welcome family in the forge

I used to think my blacksmith shop was too risky for my kids to be around. But when my ten-year-old asked to help make a simple letter opener, I gave it a shot. Showing her the basics and watching her careful hands changed my mind about involving family. Now I see it's a good way to pass on skills and spend time together.

4 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

xenas16•1mo ago

Serious question, does tweaking astronomy photos help or hurt the experience for beginners?

I managed to capture a nice image of the Pleiades cluster with just a entry level camera and a kit lens. Some friends say that adjusting contrast and brightness in free apps is a great way to learn and makes the hobby more rewarding. They give examples like bringing out dust lanes in galaxies that are hard to see raw. Others feel that any editing makes the photo less true and can discourage new people by adding extra steps. My little win was making the star colors pop with a simple levels adjustment. I am curious what others think. Should we keep astronomy photos as they come out of the camera, or is some tweaking okay?

4 comments

Posts

I finally picked a new wire stripper for the shop and it's been a game changer

I finally switched from a miter saw to a hand saw for trim work in tight corners

My local news said a bridge was closed for repairs but I drove right over it

I finally started sending a short follow-up email 48 hours after an interview, and my callback rate jumped from maybe 1 in 10 to almost half.

Heads up about that new salon supply store on Market Street

I treat cable layouts like art, but my partner calls it slow.

A celeb sighting on my trip made gossip sites look silly

How my daughter's first project made me welcome family in the forge

Serious question, does tweaking astronomy photos help or hurt the experience for beginners?

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