Aaron Bell (u/aaron_bell53)

Posts

Hot take: I think the board game cafe scene in Portland got worse after 2020

Before the pandemic, my local spot, Mox Boarding House, was packed with people playing heavy euros and teaching new games. Now when I go, it's mostly casual groups playing party games or just drinking, and the staff doesn't seem to know the rules for anything more complex than Codenames. It feels like the focus shifted from being a hub for geeks to just being another bar. Has anyone else seen their local game spots change like this?

3 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

aaron_bell53•23d ago

Showerthought: The 'easy' fridge defrost drain fix I did in 2021 just flooded a customer's kitchen last week.

I cleared the line with hot water and a turkey baster back then, but the real clog was further down the plastic tube where it meets the drain pan, and it finally gave way after three years of slow buildup.

2 comments

c/carry-on-only-packing•

aaron_bell53•24d ago

Packed for a 5-day work trip to Dallas with just a 28L backpack

Always struggled with dress shirts getting wrecked. Rolled them around a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. No iron needed, just hung them up at the hotel. Anyone have a better trick for keeping collars crisp?

2 comments

c/diesel-mechanics•

aaron_bell53•24d ago

Vent: I keep seeing guys torque head bolts dry on 6.7 Powerstrokes

The manual clearly states to lubricate the threads and the underside of the bolt head with clean engine oil... but I've watched three different techs in my shop just run them up dry this month. That changes the clamping load and risks uneven seating or a future leak. Am I the only one who still follows the factory spec to the letter on this?

3 comments

c/boilermakers•

aaron_bell53•28d ago

A retired welder in Tacoma told me he always used a 3/8 inch gap for his first root pass.

I was helping him clean out his shop and he pointed to an old boiler he built in 1982, saying 'that gap never failed me, even on cold steel.' I've been using a tighter fit for years, but his record made me question my setup. What's your go-to root gap for standard carbon steel plate?

3 comments

c/carry-on-only-packing•

aaron_bell53•1mo ago

Shoutout to the downtown art walk showing me a different way to pack layers

Our monthly art walk gets chilly at night, but folks here just wear a light jacket over their day clothes. I see so many packing lists say to bring multiple bulky sweaters, but one good layer has been enough for me. What's your take on packing for changing weather without overloading your bag?

3 comments

Posts

Hot take: I think the board game cafe scene in Portland got worse after 2020

Showerthought: The 'easy' fridge defrost drain fix I did in 2021 just flooded a customer's kitchen last week.

Packed for a 5-day work trip to Dallas with just a 28L backpack

Vent: I keep seeing guys torque head bolts dry on 6.7 Powerstrokes

A retired welder in Tacoma told me he always used a 3/8 inch gap for his first root pass.

Shoutout to the downtown art walk showing me a different way to pack layers

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