Exactly. The timer is the only way to stay consistent. I set mine for the halfway point and then again at the three-quarter mark. That second one catches the spots that don't get as much heat but still need attention. It's surprising how fast those hot spots can develop if you don't keep on top of it. Once you get that rhythm down, the finished product comes out way more even every single time.

I used to think rotating was optional but now I always set a timer for midway.

Oh man, the exact same thing happened to me. I grabbed a $35 Vivo arm off Amazon and it was great for about four months, then the tilt joint got loose and the monitor would just sag forward no matter how tight I cranked it. Tried tightening the hex bolt but stripped the cheap metal. Ended up buying a used Ergotron LX off Facebook marketplace for $60, and that thing is solid as a rock two years later. Did you end up replacing yours with something better?

How come nobody talks about chasing threads in aluminum? That stuff strips like butter.

Had a cousin tell me the same thing about my car repair fund. He laughed and said just put it on a zero percent card. Then his transmission blew, the intro rate expired, and he's been paying that off for two years. My $800 in the bank covered my alternator last month, no stress. Stick with your plan.