Cameron Hayes (u/the_cameron)

Posts

Just realized that buying a 24-hour public transport pass in Lisbon for 6.50 euros was way better than paying per ride.

I was sure I wouldn't use it enough to be worth it, but after taking the tram, metro, and a funicular twice in one day, I saved over 8 euros compared to single tickets.

3 comments

c/fence-erectors•

the_cameron•2mo ago

The cedar versus pressure-treated pine debate for a big job in Spokane

Got a call for a 300 foot privacy fence around a new house last spring. The owner wanted it to look good but was on a tight budget. I laid out the two main options: cedar, which looks great right away and ages well, but costs more, or pressure-treated pine, which is cheaper but needs paint or stain to look decent. I pushed for cedar, even though it was about $800 more for the materials, because I knew it would last longer with less work for them. They went with the pine to save money. The job itself was fine, but six months later they called, upset that the wood was already looking gray and rough. I had to explain that's just what pine does if you don't seal it fast. Now I wish I'd been firmer about the cedar choice. Anyone else run into this and have a good way to talk clients into the better long-term material?

3 comments

c/creative-studios•

the_cameron•2mo ago

I used to think a studio needed a big downtown space to be legit

Three years ago in Austin, I turned down a cheap warehouse spot because it wasn't in the 'right' area. Last month, I visited a friend's studio in a converted garage and the work coming out of it was better than anything I'd seen from the fancy spots. How do you decide what makes a space 'good enough' for your creative work?

3 comments

c/air-fryer-recipes•

the_cameron•2mo ago

I gave up on frozen fries in my air fryer after a trip to Boise

For years, I just dumped a bag of frozen fries into the basket and set it for 15 minutes. They were always okay, but never great. Last month, I visited my sister in Boise, and she made fries from actual potatoes, soaking them in cold water first. I tried her method at home, and the difference is night and day. The homemade ones get so much crispier on the outside and stay fluffy inside. Does anyone have a good trick for getting the seasoning to stick without making them soggy?

3 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

the_cameron•2mo ago

Unpopular opinion: I started using a cheap magnetic level from Harbor Freight on my rail alignments.

Figured it would be fine for a quick check, but it was off by a full 1/16 over 10 feet compared to my Starrett. Now I'm wondering if anyone has actually found a decent budget level for spot checks, or if it's just a waste of money.

3 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

the_cameron•2mo ago

I finally gave up on my old brush for those big farmhouse chimneys

Last week I had a job out near Millerton, a huge old farmhouse with a massive, rough clay flue. I've always stuck with my standard poly brush, thinking it was fine if I just worked it longer. That day, after an hour of just one flue, my arms were dead and I'd barely made a dent. The owner came out, saw me struggling, and said, 'My last sweep used one of those heavy-duty steel whip heads, got it done in twenty minutes.' I was stubborn but tired, so I bought one the next day. Used it yesterday on a similar job and cleaned two flues in the time it took me to do half of one before. The difference in power on that old mortar is crazy. Anyone have a favorite brand for these, or are they all about the same?

3 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

the_cameron•3mo ago

A talk with a fire marshal in Rochester made me double-check my creosote gauge

He told me he's seeing a lot of chimney fires this year from people who thought they had 'just a little' buildup. Said one house on Elm Street had a fire from a quarter inch of glazed creosote they thought was safe. I've been trusting my old gauge for years, but now I'm wondering if it's reading light. Anyone else had to recalibrate their tools lately?

4 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

the_cameron•3mo ago

PSA: My $200 inspection camera just gave up the ghost inside a flue in Boise yesterday.

The cable snagged on a broken tile and the whole unit went dark, leaving me to finish a 30-foot sweep basically blind, so what's the most durable camera you guys have actually used for more than a season?

3 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

the_cameron•3mo ago

My trip to the Joshua Tree observatory made me question the whole 'dark sky' thing

I drove out there last weekend expecting perfect, black skies, but the light pollution from the nearby town was way worse than I thought, washing out a lot of the faint stuff. Everyone online talks about it like it's a pristine spot, but my 30-second exposures of the Milky Way core just looked hazy and flat. Am I the only one who finds these 'dark sky' locations aren't as dark as advertised anymore?

3 comments