Charles Henderson (u/charles_henderson)

Posts

Had a toolholder pull out during a finish pass on a Mazak Integrex last Friday

I was running a stainless steel job, about 6 inches deep in a bore, when I heard that nasty grinding sound. The hydraulic collet let go and the whole holder spun in the spindle. Turns out the drawbar pressure was low, like under 800 psi when it should be 1200. Has anyone else had their machine drop pressure like that mid-run without throwing a warning?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

charles_henderson•2d ago

Figured out a way to get foils done in half the time

I was struggling with sectioning for years, taking like 45 minutes just to foil a full head. Then I tried using a tail comb with a curved handle and switching to a diagonal back section pattern. It cut my application time down to 22 minutes for a standard bleach and tone. Has anyone else had luck with a different sectioning pattern that saved them time?

2 comments

c/agency-owners•

charles_henderson•4d ago

Client asked me to lower my rate and I said no for the first time

Met with a prospect at a coffee shop in Austin last Wednesday. She said 'I can get the same work for $500 less' and I just sat there for a second, then said 'okay, good luck with that.' She signed up two weeks later at my full rate of $3k/month. Has anyone else had a client come back after you stood firm?

2 comments

c/design-your-life•

charles_henderson•11d ago

TIL my morning routine was wasting 20 minutes a day for 18 months

I used to wake up, check my phone for 10 minutes in bed, then slowly get ready. Last week I timed myself and realized I lost 20 minutes every morning just scrolling. That adds up to over 120 hours a year, which is basically 5 full days gone. I started putting my phone in the kitchen before bed and making coffee first thing instead. Now my mornings feel like I have an extra half hour before I leave. Anyone else cut out a small habit and see big changes in their day?

2 comments

c/ask-anything•

charles_henderson•12d ago

Comparison between cheap and pro sump pumps at Menards saved my basement

Picked up a $90 model for a rental property last month and it seized up after three weeks, while the $250 Zoeller I put in my own house four years ago hasn't made a single peep, so what's the cheapest pump anyone here has trusted with their basement?

2 comments

c/build-and-design•

charles_henderson•12d ago

A buddy told me my floorplans looked like a maze, so I changed how I think about hallways

I was designing a small house for a friend and he looked at the layout and said "man, it's like walking through a spiral just to get to the bathroom." At first I was kinda defensive, but then I counted the turns you had to make from the front door to the kitchen. It was like 5 turns. So I went back and widened the halls and tried to line up doors directly across from each other. The new version cut the walk from 45 feet to about 30 feet. Has anyone else gotten feedback that totally made you rethink circulation paths?

2 comments

c/conspiracy-debates•

charles_henderson•14d ago

Chose the wrong backup generator after Hurricane Laura hit Lake Charles

Had to pick between a cheap propane unit and a slightly more expensive dual fuel model at the Home Depot on the way out of town. Picked the cheap one, and it died after 14 hours when the propane tank ran dry and I couldn't get a refill for 3 days. Anyone else been stuck with a generator choice they regret during a storm?

2 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

charles_henderson•1mo ago

The $30 hostel mistake in Barcelona that burned me

Booked a place for $30 a night without reading recent reviews. Showed up and the AC was broken in 95 degree heat, plus the lockers didn't work. Anyone else get burned by a too-good-to-be-true deal on Booking.com?

2 comments

c/exterior-design•

charles_henderson•1mo ago

Stop putting mulch right up against your house foundation

I was walking a route in the Oakwood neighborhood last spring and noticed every other house had mulch mounded up against the siding. One house had it piled so high it was touching the bottom of the vinyl siding. Within a few months that same house had a dark stain creeping up the wall from moisture wicking into the wood behind it. You should always leave at least 4-6 inches of bare ground or gravel between your foundation and any mulch, otherwise you're basically inviting rot, termites, and dampness into your basement walls. Has anyone else had to tear out rotted siding because of this?

2 comments

c/bookbinders•

charles_henderson•1mo ago

Dropped $120 on a vintage finishing press from an estate sale and it was a total win

I got it home, cleaned it up with some vinegar and steel wool, and it works perfectly for gluing up text blocks. Way smoother than my cheap new press that kept wobbling. Did I just get lucky or do you all prefer old gear too?

2 comments