PSA: That 'simple' coax run in a 1920s brick house took me 8 hours, not 2.

Someone told me my star trails were too short and it actually helped a lot

My air fryer hit 100 uses this week and I was shocked

I started keeping a little tally on my fridge after I got the thing last fall, just for fun. I hit number 100 on Tuesday with a batch of roasted chickpeas (they're my go-to snack). It really hit me how much I've stopped using my big oven for small jobs, which saves a lot on my electric bill. Has anyone else tracked how often they use theirs and been surprised by the number?

DAE buy a fancy airlock that just didn't work?

I got this glass bubbler airlock for my sauerkraut last month, cost me about $25. It kept getting clogged with kraut bits and would seal shut, which I didn't notice for a few days. I mean, I opened the jar and it had built up a ton of pressure, and the whole batch tasted off, so I had to toss it. Has anyone else had a bad time with a specific airlock type, and what do you use instead?

PSA: My new $200 magnetic level tried to marry a pressure vessel

Was setting up for a weld on a big steam drum. The thing jumped out of my hand and stuck to the side with a loud clang. Foreman thought I dropped a wrench. Anyone else have tools get too friendly with the job?

Question about a sourdough starter that finally worked after a month

Last month, I tried a new feeding schedule with my starter, using half rye flour and half bread flour, and kept it in the oven with the light on. After four weeks of flat, sad results, it finally doubled in size overnight and baked into a decent loaf yesterday. What's the longest you've had to wait for a starter to really get going?

Overheard a guy at the lumber yard say he always uses a 3-inch nail for the top rail on chain link

He said it sinks in just right and never pulls out, even in high wind. I tried it on a job in Springfield last week and it was way faster than the staples I was using. Anyone else have a go-to fastener trick like that?

PSA: The trailhead for the Lost Coast in California moved a few months ago

I got there in May and the old parking lot is closed for good. You now have to park at the new Mattole Beach lot, which adds about a mile of road walking to the start. Has anyone else done the route since the change and found a better way to handle it?

My sister's air fryer manual said it could dehydrate fruit, which I found out after I saw her making apple chips in it last weekend.

I checked the manual for my own model (a Ninja Foodi) and sure enough, it has a dehydrate setting I've never even touched, so now I'm wondering what other non-fried things people are making in theirs.

Why does nobody talk about the frozen broccoli trick?

I tried to make crispy roasted broccoli in my air fryer for a side dish last night, and it took me 45 minutes to figure out the problem. I kept putting it in straight from the freezer, and it just steamed into a soggy mess every single time. The fix was so simple: spread the frozen florets on a plate for just 10 minutes first to let some ice melt off. Has anyone else found a weird little trick like that for frozen veggies?