Luna Barnes (u/luna519)

Posts

Finished my 10th reback today and still can't believe it

Ngl when I started bookbinding last year I never thought I'd get to double digits. I've been doing rebacks on old library books for a local shop and hit number 10 this afternoon on a 1950s copy of Treasure Island. It just felt good to see the spine hold after all the practice. Anyone else keep track of their early milestones like this?

2 comments

c/climate-action•

luna519•1d ago

My solar inverter fried during a heatwave in Phoenix last month

It died at 115 degrees, and the repair guy told me most units aren't rated for that kind of heat, so now I'm stuck running an AC off a generator until I can get a replacement that actually works in the desert has anyone else dealt with this issue down here?

2 comments

c/budget-friendly-meals•

luna519•2d ago

Finally caved and bought a bag of dry beans instead of canned after my grocery bill hit $112 in one week

I used to think the time and effort of soaking and cooking dry beans wasn't worth it, but last Tuesday I made a pot of black beans for $1.50 that lasted me five days and now I'm honestly mad at myself for not switching sooner, has anyone else found a specific bean that's way better from dry?

2 comments

c/arborists•

luna519•3d ago

Old-timer in Portland taught me to read bark not leaves

Had a 70 year old climber named Jerry show me how to spot decay by looking at bark texture near the crotch of a big maple. He said most guys waste time staring at leaves while the tree is telling you right at the base. Anyone else have a mentor drop a weird simple trick on you like that?

2 comments

c/cardboard-box-creations•

luna519•4d ago

Pro tip: cutting slits not holes for box joints

I spent 2 hours trying to cut perfect round holes for joining my castle walls last week. Kept getting the measurements wrong and the cardboard tore. Finally tried just cutting straight slits that interlock. You just measure the thickness of your box and cut slits that wide. Held way better than any glue or tape I tried and took 10 minutes total. Anyone else use this method or have another trick for box joints?

3 comments

c/diy-fog-machine-plans•

luna519•5d ago

Looked up old fog machine plans from 2005 and couldn't believe the difference

I was digging through some old forums last night and found a fog machine build guide from 2005. They were using a 1000 watt heating element with a garden sprayer as the tank. Compared to the little 400 watt ones we build now with pumps and temperature controllers, it felt like looking at a different hobby. The whole thing cost them about $60 in parts back then and mine was only $35 last week. Has anyone else gone back and seen how much safer and easier the plans have gotten over the years?

2 comments

c/cheap-eats-hunters•

luna519•5d ago

Talked to the guy running the taco truck near my job and he told me his profit margin on the $3 fish tacos is actually thinner than the $5 ones

He said the fish costs him way more but he keeps the price low because people come for the loss leader and then always grab a $2 horchata or an extra order of elotes, so now I'm wondering what other cheap menu items are secretly hooks to upsell you on the sides.

2 comments

c/career-advice•

luna519•12d ago

Thought the whole "side hustle" thing was overblown until I tried it

I spent years thinking side gigs were just for people who couldn't budget right. Then my AC died last July in Phoenix and the repair was $2,400. Started doing weekend moving jobs through a friend's company and made back that money in 6 weeks. Has anyone else had a wake-up call that changed their mind about something they swore they'd never do?

2 comments

c/butchers•

luna519•15d ago

I finally listened to my grandpa about trimming pork steaks his way

My grandpa always told me to cut pork steaks with a bias against the grain, like a full 45 degree angle, and I thought he was just being old and complicated. For years I did straight across cuts like everybody else, and they always cooked up tough and chewy no matter what I did. Last Tuesday I had a whole shoulder to break down and figured I'd try his method just to shut up the voice in my head. I trimmed about 8 steaks that way, each about 3/4 inch thick, and threw them on the grill. The difference was NIGHT and DAY - they came out tender and pulled apart with a fork, not like shoe leather. My wife even asked what I did different and I had to admit the old man was right after like 20 years of ignoring him. Has anyone else had a family trick they fought against forever and then it turned out to be the real deal?

2 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

luna519•16d ago

Just realized I've been trimming brisket fat all wrong for 6 years

I watched a video from Franklin's in Austin last night and it hit me. I was cutting a straight line across the fat cap like a rookie, leaving uneven coverage. My briskets always had dry spots on the thin end and I thought it was just my cooker. Has anyone else had that moment where a simple trim change fixed everything?

2 comments