I was working on a roof gutter replacement near the Michigan Central Station and my grip slipped. The thermos hit concrete hard and only got a dent the size of a dime, coffee was still hot 8 hours later. Has anyone else had a flask or bottle survive something stupid like that?
I started applying a thin coat of neatsfoot oil every 3 months instead of just wiping them down. After a year of daily use on concrete floors, the soles still had good tread and the leather stayed flexible. Anyone else use a specific conditioner that really made a difference?
He meant well but that stuff just attracts grit and dries out the lube I should've used instead. Now I'm out $40 for a new chain and have a scar on my elbow to remember the lesson. What's the dumbest thing someone sold you on for gear care?
Some guy was telling his friend that a YKK zipper outlasts the jacket if you wax the teeth once a year. I tried it on my 6 year old winter coat and the zipper that used to catch every time now glides smooth. Has anyone else done regular maintenance on random parts of their gear and seen it last way longer?
I was torn between a $60 thrifted Woolrich parka and a $300 Patagonia down jacket. The Woolrich has held up through 3 snowstorms and a dog attack without a single tear. Anyone else betting on old gear over new stuff?
My grandma's 1974 Lodge skillet went from crusty black to glass-smooth after 4 rounds of oven seasoning, but my buddy swears the new lightweight preseasoned pans are better for everyday cooking because they heat up faster - which side are you on after seeing the difference?
I splurged on a 'tactical' brand off Instagram back in 2020 and the main zipper gave up halfway through my commute last Thursday. The stitching along the bottom was peeling for months before that, but I kept convincing myself it was fine. Does anyone have a solid backpack that handles city use for more than half a decade without needing repairs?
Was making a double batch of sugar cookies for a bake sale and the motor just stopped mid-mix with a burning smell. Took it apart and found the plastic worm gear was completely stripped to dust. Is it worth trying to replace that gear myself or should I just bite the bullet and get a new one?
Back in 2018, this guy in Buffalo spotted me about to grab a rusty Wilton and just said 'check the swivel base first, kid' - saved me a headache and a broken bolt. He walked off before I could thank him, but I still think about that 30 second interaction every time I use my vise.
I always scrubbed my cast iron with soap and water, then dried it on high heat. Last month a buddy who works in a restaurant kitchen saw me doing it and just laughed. He told me to stop using soap and just scrape it clean with a metal spatula under hot water. Tried it once and the seasoning actually stuck after that. Anyone else been cleaning their cast iron wrong this whole time?
i normally wear red wings for work. bought a pair of the 1088s about 4 years ago and they held up great. last month i stepped on a broken bottle on a job site in portland and it went clean through the sole. like right through. that's never happened to me before. took them to a cobbler on 3rd ave and he said the sole was just done, no fixing it. $350 pair of boots gone in one bad step. now i'm checking the thickness on soles before i buy anything. anyone else have boots fail in a way you didn't expect?
Grandpa told me back in 2018 to never store my work boots near the heater vent in winter. I thought he was just being old fashioned (he was 82 at the time). Sure enough, after last January in Cleveland those boots cracked right along the toe crease after 4 years of perfect wear. He was right about the leather drying out too fast, and now I keep them in the closet by the front door instead. Anyone else learn a specific care tip the hard way from ignoring an older relative?
Bought a 12x16 for $8 last spring and it turned into confetti after one winter. Lost about $40 on three of those before I finally bought a single $30 tarp that's still going.
I let a vintage skillet sit in a 50/50 white vinegar and water bath for 8 hours and the rust came right off with a scrub, but has anyone found a faster way that doesn't smell like a pickle factory?