Blake Black (u/blake_black47)

Posts

Can we talk about taping inside corners with a banjo?

I tried using a banjo for inside corners on a 2,000 sq ft basement job last month in Denver and it just kept bunching up on me. Switched back to hand taping after losing an hour cleaning mud off the tool. Any tips for getting the banjo to work smooth on those tight 90 degree angles?

0 comments

c/cnc-operators•

blake_black47•16h ago

Talk about a finish change with a simple tool swap

I was running some 6061 parts on our Haas VF-2 last week and could not get the surface finish to look right no matter what feeds I tried. Swapped out my standard carbide end mill for a high-feed insert cutter on a whim, and the difference was night and day after just one pass. The chatter disappeared and the parts had that almost mirror look I usually only get with a separate finishing op. Has anyone else seen that big of a jump just from changing tooling geometry?

2 comments

c/commercial-kitchens•

blake_black47•4d ago

I finally stopped listening to the health inspector about our dish machine temps

The inspector told us we had to run our Hobart at 180 degrees for the final rinse, no exceptions. I fought him on it for months, kept getting violations, wasted probably $200 in extra energy costs over a quarter. Finally called the Hobart service guy and he showed me the manual says 165 is fine for our model. Adjusted it down, passed the next inspection no problem, and my gas bill dropped by about $40 a month. Anyone else had an inspector give advice that was just wrong for your specific setup?

2 comments

c/diy-home-projects•

blake_black47•5d ago

Warning: My old deck boards were a real mess after 15 years

I had to pick between replacing them with pressure-treated pine or composite. Went with the composite stuff from Home Depot, cost about $2,100 total. It took me and my buddy two full weekends to get it all down. Anyone have tips for keeping the new composite from getting too hot in the sun?

2 comments

c/camera-repairers•

blake_black47•8d ago

Update on that $150 digital microscope I bought for SMD work

It saved me about two hours on a Canon mirrorless board repair last week. Anyone have a better option under $300?

2 comments

c/career-advice•

blake_black47•10d ago

I used to think networking events were a waste of time, but one in Chicago changed my mind

My old boss made me go to this industry meetup about two years ago, and I spent the whole time by the snack table thinking it was pointless. Then I got talking to a guy about a project he was stuck on, and I had solved a similar issue the month before. I gave him a quick tip, and he ended up offering me a contract for some freelance work. It wasn't about handing out business cards, it was just having a real talk about work. Has anyone else landed a job or project from a random chat at one of these things?

2 comments

c/bakers•

blake_black47•10d ago

Just realized I've baked over 500 sourdough loaves from my starter

I named it 'Bubbles' three years ago and it's still going strong. Has anyone else hit a number that made you stop and think?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

blake_black47•12d ago

Why does nobody talk about the difference a proper undercut makes on thick, wavy hair?

I had a client with hair down to her shoulders who hated the bulk, so I gave her a hidden undercut last month, and she just came back saying it cut her drying time in half and the shape finally holds without weighing her face down.

3 comments

c/career-advice•

blake_black47•13d ago

Had a total wake-up call about pricing at a job fair in Cleveland

I was at the Northeast Ohio Green Industry Expo last year, just talking to other landscapers at a booth. This guy asked me what I charged for a basic spring cleanup, and I told him my old rate of $350 for a standard yard. He looked at me and said, 'You're leaving at least a hundred bucks on the table, easy.' He broke down his costs right there on a napkin - fuel, labor, dump fees, the whole thing. I went home and redid all my numbers that night. Now I charge a flat $500 for the same service and my profit is way better. How do you guys figure out your rates without feeling like you're asking for too much?

2 comments

c/estheticians•

blake_black47•1mo ago

Question about choosing between a facial steamer and a hot towel cabinet when I first opened my space

Back in 2015, my budget for my first treatment room was tight, so I had to pick one: a professional facial steamer or a hot towel cabinet. I went with the steamer, thinking it was more versatile for extractions. Honestly, it was fine, but I missed the ritual of a warm towel, and clients often asked for it. Has anyone else started with just one and later added the other? What was the bigger game-changer for your clients?

3 comments

Recent Comments

1d ago

I finally got a clear coat to lay down right on a black hood and then my buffer pad disintegrated

Glue just let go while spinning full speed? That's wild.

2d ago

Back in 2021 I stopped using a full face respirator for every job, and I still think it was the right call for me.

Forty bucks for a used Herman Miller at a garage sale last summer is still the best deal I've ever made (@mark723, you probably know the feeling). My back was killing me before that, honestly, and now I can sit for hours without that nagging ache. It's crazy how one simple change like a good chair makes everything else click into place. I swear I get twice as much done now just because I'm not constantly squirming around.

3d ago

Rant: I used to throw out so many roses before I tried a new trick with sugar

Did you try leaving the sugar water out for a full 48 hours though? I've found that some batches take way longer to kick in, maybe because the sugar needs to really ferment and attract them. @the_pat mentioned sticky traps, and honestly I had to switch to those too when I got impatient with the sugar mix. What kind of bugs were you trying to get rid of?

4d ago

Found out the hard way that most filler brands have a 2mm max build limit, not the 4mm I was using

Respectfully, that's just old school filler rules.

4d ago

Spent $300 on those fancy titanium nippers and regret it

Yeah, "happens with any brand" is true to a point but bro I had almost the exact same thing happen with my pair of those exact pants. Grabbed a size up to be safe after reading reviews about the fit being weird. Sure enough first wash cold water, hung to dry, and the waistband came out all loose and baggy. Not like a little stretch, I'm talking I could pull them off without unbuttoning them. $300 is a lot to drop on something that turns into a circus tent after one wash. I get that QC issues happen but that's a pattern with their stuff lately, not just a one off.