Classic! Those old recipe cards are always falling apart when you need them most. Trying to guess the vinegar amount is like playing a culinary game of telephone. For your dad's birthday, you could just wing it and call it a "family secret" version. But seriously, maybe compare it to similar pickled beet recipes online to get a range. Just be ready for your dad to say it tastes "different" from his childhood memory. Good luck, and hope the beets turn out tangy, not tragic.

Your point about management resisting changes is familiar. A friend had a similar issue with a broken safety guard on equipment at his factory. The supervisor kept delaying the repair, calling it low priority. My friend started documenting close calls with photos over a week. He laid out the photos and explained the clear danger. The supervisor approved the fix immediately after seeing the proof. Sometimes you have to show them the problem right in front of their eyes.

Check the other bolts in that area too. UV dye can miss slow seeps that don't glow bright. I found a leak once that came back after just tightening one bolt. The problem might be a bad gasket or cracked seal. Quick fixes like that rarely last long.

Wait you're using naphtha for that? The fumes alone would knock me out lol.

Personal checks work fine if you build in enough time for them. Adding another person doesn't fix a crazy deadline either.