I was convinced a $20 ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight was a waste of money for camera parts.

After cleaning a Canon AE-1 shutter assembly by hand for the third time last month, I gave the cleaner a shot and it removed grime I couldn't even see. Anyone have a better solvent mix than just distilled water and a drop of Dawn?

My first attempt at the Orion Nebula got ruined by a neighbor's floodlight

I was set up in my backyard in Phoenix last month, had the camera tracking for a solid hour, and then their new security light came on and washed out the whole frame. I ended up having to pack up and drive 40 minutes out of town to a darker spot to start over. What's the most unexpected thing that has ever ruined a shot for you guys?

I thought those new wireless comms for divers were just a hassle until a job in Seattle.

We were doing a hull inspection on a ferry in Elliott Bay, and the old hardwire system kept snagging on the prop guards. The lead diver switched us to a wireless set, the Ocean Reef Neptune, and I was sure it would cut out. But we had clear chat at 60 feet for the whole 3 hour shift, even with the boat moving. Anyone else made the switch and had it actually work out?

I always thought the Sawtooths were overrated until I saw the view from Alpine Lake last month.

Warning about those cheap aftermarket wheel spacers

Had a customer in the shop last week with a bad vibration, and we found the spacer on his truck had cracked clean through. Anyone else seeing these fail more often lately?

Bought a $25 universal TV mount bracket from a local hardware store and it was a total headache

The instructions were basically pictures, and the included bolts didn't fit my Vizio's pattern at all. Ended up wasting an entire afternoon before I had to go back and get the right kit. Has anyone found a good brand for these that actually comes with the right hardware?

PSA: A simple trick for a nervous horse in the cross ties

I had a young quarter horse that would not stop fidgeting and shifting his weight while I was trying to trim his front feet. I tried talking to him and giving breaks, but he kept moving. Then I remembered something an old farrier said about pressure points. I started gently rubbing the spot between his front legs on his chest with my free hand for about ten seconds before picking up the foot. He let out a big sigh and stood perfectly still for the whole trim. Has anyone else tried something like this with a jumpy horse?

My uncle Frank told me to use a heat gun on a dent, and I should have listened

He said to warm the metal up just a bit before pulling, but I was in a rush on this Ford Focus in the shop last Tuesday and skipped it. Ended up putting a small crease right in the middle of the panel that took me an extra two hours to fix. Anyone got a better trick for stubborn door dings?

Vent: My band saw blade snapped right in the middle of a big pork loin order

It happened yesterday morning, right when I was trying to get through a 50 pound case of boneless loins for a local restaurant. I was about halfway through, making nice even center-cut chops, when there was this loud pop and the blade just went slack. I mean, it was a brand new 3/4 inch blade I'd put on maybe two weeks ago. I shut everything down and checked the guides and the wheel, and it turns out the weld on the blade itself had just given out. Had to stop everything, clear the table, and put on a whole new blade, which set me back almost an hour on a tight schedule. The worst part was the wasted meat from the partial cut that got messed up. Has anyone else had a problem with a blade weld failing like that so soon? Maybe I got a bad one, or is there something I should be checking more often to stop it?

Update: I bought a $300 spray booth filter system that clogged in two hours

I was finishing a set of six dining chairs and the pre-filter media just turned to mush, letting overspray wreck the main HEPA filter. The company said it was 'user error' for not changing it sooner, but their own specs said it should last a week. Has anyone found a better setup for small shop water-based lacquers?