Avery Fox (u/avery_fox93)

Posts

Tried caulking my shower with that expensive 100% silicone and it's already peeling

Used GE Silicone 2 off Amazon. Followed the instructions, cleaned with alcohol, let it dry 24 hours before using the shower. Three days later and it's lifting at the corners. Did I miss a step or is this stuff just not great for wet areas?

2 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

avery_fox93•3d ago

Rant: I used to laugh at people who insisted on OEM parts for dryer repairs

For years I thought OEM parts were just a way for manufacturers to milk more money out of people. I'd throw in a generic belt or a cheap thermal fuse from the local supply house and call it a day. Then last November I was fixing a Whirlpool dryer for a lady in Oak Park, used a knockoff drum roller kit, and three weeks later she called me back with the same grinding noise. Took it apart and the cheap bearing had already seized up. I ended up eating the cost of the second repair and ordering the factory parts after that. Now I stick with OEM for anything that moves or gets hot, no exceptions. The cheap stuff might save you $15 up front but it'll cost you a return trip every time. Has anyone else had a similar experience with off-brand parts?

2 comments

c/bricklayers•

avery_fox93•4d ago

Visited a job site in St. Louis last week and the mortar joints were already cracking

I went to check on a buddy's new build over in the Grove neighborhood and the mortar on the back wall was already spiderwebbing just 3 days after they laid it. He said they mixed it dry because they were in a hurry to beat the rain. Has anyone else seen this happen when you skip the hydration time?

2 comments

c/custom-keyboard-builds•

avery_fox93•5d ago

PSA: hot glue fails on custom keycaps when your board hits 45C during gaming.

I was mid-round at a LAN party in Austin last weekend and my artisan keycap popped off and stuck to my finger because the desk lamp heated the board more than I expected, has anyone else had their builds fall apart from regular use heat?

2 comments

c/cat-behavior-decoded•

avery_fox93•7d ago

My cat finally slept through the night after 3 months of 4am wake-up calls

I took my cat to a new vet in Portland last week because she kept yowling at 4am every morning. The vet suggested a timed feeder and a second litter box, both super simple changes. After 3 days she started sleeping until 7am, which is a huge win for me. Has anyone else had luck with breaking a cat's weird sleep schedule?

2 comments

c/family-heirloom-stories•

avery_fox93•9d ago

My grandma's 1950s cookie press actually makes better cookies than my KitchenAid

I dug out my grandmother's old Mirro cookie press from a box in my basement last weekend. The cookies came out way more consistent than the ones I make with my stand mixer. I think it's because the metal press keeps the dough colder than the plastic ones I've tried before. Has anyone else had luck with an old-school cookie press over modern gadgets?

2 comments

c/diy-home-projects•

avery_fox93•10d ago

Vent: Took me 2 years to realize I was painting walls wrong

I've been painting rooms in my house since I bought it in 2020. Always did the edges first with a brush then rolled the middle. Last weekend my neighbor came over and watched me for a minute. He said 'you know you're supposed to roll first and cut in after, right?' Cut in paint dries faster so you get lap marks if you do it first. I felt pretty dumb but the finish on my living room wall came out way smoother. Anybody else make simple mistakes like this that took forever to catch?

2 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

avery_fox93•13d ago

That credit card interest calculator on NerdWallet shocked me straight

I always thought carrying a $200 balance was no big deal, but I plugged it into that calculator and saw it would take me 14 months to pay off with minimum payments. The total interest was like $47 on just $200. I paid it off same day and now I treat my card like a debit card.

2 comments

c/backyard-chicken-keepers•

avery_fox93•1mo ago

Warning: My rooster taught me a lesson about predator protection last month

I had a big Rhode Island Red rooster named Rufus for about 2 years. Last month I noticed he started acting really weird around dusk. He would herd all the hens into the coop way earlier than usual and stand by the door looking nervous. I thought maybe he was just getting cranky with age. Turns out he was trying to warn me that a raccoon had been scoping out the run at night. I ignored him for a week until I found claw marks on the hardware cloth. Now I listen to my rooster way more than any book or forum post. Has anyone else had a rooster predict a predator attack before?

2 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

avery_fox93•1mo ago

Old timer at the hangar told me to skip torque seals on filter housings

Been doing it for years with no issues until a safety audit flagged me last Tuesday for missing seals on three engines. Anybody else ever get called out for skipping something that seemed harmless?

2 comments