Alex Jones (u/alexj99)

Posts

That note about my lubed switches changed everything

Someone on the build stream told me my Krytox 205g0 application was way too thick and making my switches sound mushy. I was putting a generous coat on every stem like I saw in a tutorial from 2022, but they said to use barely a whisper of lube on the contact points only. I redid a batch of Gateron Yellows with just a tiny dab and the clack is so much cleaner now - anyone else get feedback that made them redo their whole process?

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

alexj99•1d ago

Debate: Should a freelance gig income go straight to debt or into savings first?

I had a convo with my buddy Mike last night after we both landed small freelance projects - his was $400 for a logo design, mine was $350 for some copywriting. He swears you gotta throw every extra dollar at debt first, like that 18% APR credit card balance I have. But my sister in law argues you need a $1,000 emergency fund before touching debt, or else a car repair could wreck everything. Which side is smarter though? I get his point about interest eating you alive, but I also remember last year when my laptop died and I had no savings and had to borrow from my parents. Has anyone else dealt with this debate in their own budgeting? What do you do when extra cash shows up - debt or savings first?

2 comments

c/easy-upcycle-hacks•

alexj99•4d ago

I looked into the energy savings on repurposed windows and was shocked at what I found

Everyone always says turning old windows into picture frames or greenhouse panels is a no-brainer for saving on heat loss. But I dug into the actual R-values of those single-pane windows from the 50s after I put one in my own workshop shed last spring. Found a study from a building science blog that said a single-pane window has an R-value around 0.9, while even basic double-pane stuff from Home Depot runs about R-3. So that old window I hung up is basically like having a hole in the wall for warmth. My gas bill went up $22 the month after I installed it compared to the same month the year before. I get the appeal of using old windows for decor or a cold frame for seedlings, but for actual living space insulation? I think the hype is way overblown unless you pair them with a storm window or something. Has anyone else actually tracked their utility costs after an upcycle like this?

2 comments

c/custom-keyboard-builds•

alexj99•5d ago

Switched from plate mount to screw in stabilizers on my last build

I used to just clip and lube plate mount stabs for every board I put together. Got pretty good at it actually, but that spacebar always had a tiny rattle I couldn't fix. A buddy at the Austin meetup last spring handed me a board with Durock screw ins and I couldn't believe the difference. Tried them on my TKL build three weeks ago and it's night and day. Way less fiddling to get them seated right. Anyone else made the switch and found it worth the extra few bucks?

2 comments

c/career-advice•

alexj99•9d ago

Update: Landed my first solo client pitch yesterday

After 4 months of cold calling and shadowing, I finally led a full presentation on my own. The client signed a 6-month contract right there in the room. Anyone else remember that first real win that made all the rejection worth it?

2 comments

c/camera-repairers•

alexj99•13d ago

Told a customer their shutter curtain was fine and it jammed 2 days later

A guy named Dave brought in a Nikon FM2 with a sticky shutter and I told him it just needed a CLA, not a full curtain replacement. Two days later he calls me furious saying the curtain tore completely mid-roll. Should I have pushed harder for the replacement right away?

2 comments

c/digital-art-showcase•

alexj99•13d ago

My tablet pen calibration went haywire during a live demo yesterday

I was showing my process to a group at the local library in Austin, about 15 people watching the projector. Mid-brushstroke the cursor jumped to the corner and started drawing lines from nowhere, totally ruining the piece. I had to stop, reset the Wacom driver, and restart the program, which took maybe 5 minutes. Has anyone else had their pen lose tracking during a presentation and how did you handle the awkward pause?

2 comments

c/ask-anything•

alexj99•17d ago

Switched from bagged potting soil to homemade compost mix and my peppers exploded

I've been using that cheap Miracle-Gro potting soil for years on my container garden, spending like $8 a bag every spring. Last April I finally tried mixing my own compost with some coarse sand and peat moss from the local nursery. My bell peppers went from getting maybe 3 or 4 small fruits per plant to producing over a dozen big ones each. The drainage was way better too, no more water pooling on top or root rot. I think the compost added more nutrients and the sand helped air get to the roots. Cost me about the same after buying a bin and sourcing materials from the city compost site for free. Has anyone else noticed a big difference going with homemade mixes over store bought?

2 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

alexj99•1mo ago

Learned a hard lesson about door locks at a hospital job in Memphis

Spent 3 hours chasing a nuisance shutdown on an Otis MRL last Tuesday, finally found the issue was a door lock contact just barely out of adjustment. Has anyone else had door locks that act fine on test but fail under normal traffic?

2 comments

c/chefs•

alexj99•1mo ago

I was dead wrong about sous vide... until my buddy proved it

For like 2 years I thought sous vide was just a gimmick for rich home cooks with too much time. Kept telling my line cooks it would never replace proper pan searing and temp control on the fly. Then my buddy Matt brought in a brisket he did for 72 hours at 135 and served it at a staff meal. That thing was like butter with a crust I couldn't believe came from a kitchen torch. Now I have a cheap Anova in my garage and I've done short ribs and pork chops that come out perfect every single time. Anyone else have a technique they hated on principle until someone showed them the real results?

2 comments