Huh, that's interesting about the feeler gauge. I've been using paper for like 8 years now and never thought to switch. But here's something nobody's really brought up - what about using a piece of shim stock instead of a feeler gauge? I keep a few different thicknesses of shim stock in my toolbox for setups, and a .002 or .003 piece works just as good as a feeler gauge. You can cut it to whatever size you want so it's easier to handle on small tools. Plus shim stock is way cheaper to replace if you drop it in the chip tray compared to a whole feeler gauge set lol.

You know what nobody brings up about dental floss? It's actually waxed, so it repels water way better than regular thread. That's huge for outdoor gear like a jacket, since moisture is what makes seams rot and fall apart over time. I've patched up camping gear with it before, like a tent pole sleeve that kept splitting, and the floss didn't get all mildewy or brittle like cotton thread would. Plus the wax makes it slide through fabric easier, so you don't have to fight with tangles when you're repairing stuff on the go. Your jacket's basically getting anti-water seams now, which is kind of brilliant even if it was an accident.

Yeah, you mentioning "under-torquing by 15 lb-ft" really hits home. I had the same thing happen when I switched from an old beam style to a click type on my boat trailer lug nuts. I thought I was being careful, but the beam wrench just wasn't consistent. It's easy to misread the needle or have it bounce around, especially if you're working in a weird position. Plus, beam wrenches rely on you looking at them dead on, and if you're off to the side, that reading can be way off. So yeah, the digital or even a good click type makes a huge difference for accuracy, especially on critical stuff like airplane bolts.

I used to think more water was always better too, this completely changed my mind. My own orchids perked right up when I spaced out their watering, just like your friend said. Sometimes loving a plant less actually makes it healthier.

20 minutes per box? That math feels off. I'd have to see it to believe it.