Thomas Gonzalez (u/thomas_gonzalez)

Posts

Found a cracked head on a 6.7 Cummins that had been helicoiled 3 times before

I pulled this engine apart last Tuesday in Fresno and found 3 helicoils stacked in one cylinder head bolt hole from previous rebuilds. Has anyone else seen hack repairs like this holding up surprisingly well?

2 comments

c/community-help•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

Got some tough feedback on my volunteer grant writing last month

I was helping a small animal shelter in Tacoma with a funding application, and the person who runs it told me my first draft was 'too corporate and cold.' She said it didn't sound like our shelter at all. I mean, I was just trying to make it sound professional, you know? So I went back and put in a specific story about a dog named Bruno we helped, with real numbers from his vet bills. It felt way better. Has anyone else had to totally change their writing style for a community group?

2 comments

c/auto-mechanics•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

Found a weird trick for stuck caliper slide pins on a 2015 F150

Was doing a brake job last week on a truck that came in. The lower slide pin on the rear caliper was totally frozen. Instead of fighting it with heat, I grabbed a can of penetrating oil from my box. Let it soak for about ten minutes, then tapped the caliper bracket with a small hammer. The pin popped right out. Found this tip in an old forum post from 2018. Anyone else have a go-to method for these that doesn't risk wrecking the bracket?

3 comments

c/glitch-in-the-matrix•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

My whole Tuesday felt like a rerun of Monday, down to the same spilled coffee

Last Tuesday, I woke up, made coffee, and spilled some on my counter. I cleaned it, drove to work, and saw the same blue car with a dented fender I saw Monday. At lunch, the deli guy gave me the exact wrong order, again. That night, my neighbor's dog barked at 7:15 PM, just like the night before. Every single detail was a copy. It wasn't deja vu, it was like the day got stuck on loop. I even checked my phone calendar twice to make sure. Has anyone else had a whole day feel like a perfect repeat, with tiny, weird details matching up?

2 comments

c/fashion-design-ideas•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

Rant: I chose a heavy wool over a tech fabric for a winter coat design

I was making a long coat and had to pick between a modern waterproof fabric or a classic 800-gram wool from a mill in Scotland. I went with the wool, thinking it would look and feel better. The final piece is warm and has great shape, but it's a lot heavier than I expected. Has anyone else found a good middle ground for a smart winter coat that isn't so bulky?

2 comments

c/baking-fails-and-wins•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

Question about using a stand mixer for bread dough

I tried using my KitchenAid on a high hydration sourdough recipe from a book... it just climbed the hook and never really kneaded. I learned you need to keep it on a lower speed for that wet of a dough, or just use your hands. Anyone have a mixer model that actually handles sticky dough well?

2 comments

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c/cheap-eats-club•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

I had to choose between a bag of potatoes or a box of pasta for my main cheap carb this week.

The potatoes were $2.50 for five pounds, and the box of pasta was $1. I went with the potatoes because I realized I could roast them, mash them, and even make a simple soup. It worked out great, and I got four different meals from them. Anyone have other cheap ideas for a base ingredient that can be used in a bunch of ways?

3 comments

c/commercial-divers•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

A deckhand on a Seattle tender told me 'you're just a tourist down there' and it's been bugging me.

We were cleaning up after a job and he said most divers just follow the shot line, do the task, and come up without ever really seeing the site. He said if you don't know what's ten feet to your left and right, you're just visiting. That hit different because my last inspection felt rushed and I barely looked around. Do you guys make a point to scout the area even on simple jobs?

3 comments

c/estheticians•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

Spent a full 45 minutes trying to get a stubborn milia out before remembering my mentor's trick with a warm compress and a comedone extractor.

What's your go-to method for those super deep, stubborn ones that just won't budge?

3 comments

c/farriers•

thomas_gonzalez•1mo ago

A horse in Spokane taught me to always check the frog first

I was trimming a draft cross at a barn out there about six months ago, and the owner kept saying the horse was just 'off.' I went straight for the hoof wall and sole like usual. After twenty minutes of frustration, my mentor, who was watching, just said, 'You're looking at the wrong part.' He had me feel the frog, and it was mushy and hot. That one comment shifted my whole process. Now I start every single job with a frog check. Anyone else have a moment that totally flipped their routine?

3 comments