Ugh, that's so frustrating! I had the same thing happen with some butterfly decals on my sunroom window. They looked nice and spaced out, but birds kept hitting the clear spots in between. I ended just putting up some strips of white masking tape in a grid pattern (looks messy, but it works). Maybe the hawk shape just doesn't break up the reflection enough for them.

Yeah, the "dropped in attics" part is what gets me. That's the real test. It reminds me of a time I was helping a friend run some wire and his cheap scope just died after a tiny bump. He had to finish the job blind, which was a total mess. Your point, james533, about saving for the better tool is dead on. That experience made me swear off the bargain bin for anything I actually need to rely on. A tool failing in the middle of a job costs way more than the extra fifty bucks you saved.

Actually, that weird 80-degree spike should have helped it ferment faster, not ruin it. Sounds more like not enough salt to me.

Wow, that sounds so frustrating for her... but I have to disagree with you @paige514. From what I've seen, that brand's figures are actually pretty solid. Maybe it was just a one-off factory defect? I've handled a few and they felt really sturdy, not cheap at all. It's a shame hers fell apart, but I don't think it means the whole product line is bad. Sometimes you just get unlucky with a single piece.

Mobile foreman sounds intense, but I've seen tiny tacks hold just fine on heavy plate.