Finally got a full packer brisket to turn out right after 3 tries

Last Saturday, I had a 16-pounder on my offset for about 14 hours. The key was wrapping it in butcher paper when the bark looked good, not just when the temp hit a certain number. It came out super tender and my buddy said it was the best he's had from my pit. Anyone else find that watching the bark is better than just watching the clock?

Bought a $300 laser level for a chimney rebuild and it was a total waste

I was doing a big chimney job in Springfield last month and figured a DeWalt DW088K laser level would save me hours. It kept losing its calibration every time I moved it on the scaffold, so I ended up just using my old 4-foot level and string lines anyway. Has anyone had good luck with a different brand that can handle being moved around a lot?

Just realized a bent coat hanger can fix a clogged suction line in a pinch.

The main line on our cutterhead dredge in Mobile Bay got jammed with a piece of tarp last week, and we were stuck waiting for parts. Straightened out a heavy wire hanger, fed it down the inspection port, and popped it loose in about ten minutes. Anyone got a better trick for clearing soft blockages fast?

Our book club almost broke up over 'Wuthering Heights' last month

We had a meeting in early March where two members got into a real fight about whether Heathcliff is a tragic hero or just a bad guy. One person said he's a victim of his time, and the other yelled, 'He's a monster, full stop!' It got so heated that our usual host had to step in and change the topic to the weather. Has your group ever had a book that nearly ended the club?

Honestly, my sourdough starter was a brick for months until I read a tip about water temp.

I found a blog post from a baker in Seattle that said if your kitchen is below 70 degrees, you should use 90 degree water to feed it. Tried it last week and my starter doubled in 4 hours for the first time ever. Has anyone else had to tweak the water temp to get things going?

My kid pointed out I was posting their school play photos without asking

They said it felt weird that their whole class was online, so now I use a private album and send the link directly to the grandparents. How do you handle sharing family stuff without oversharing?

Just finished my 500th drawer box and realized something weird

I was cleaning up the shop and found my old job log from when I started. I've built exactly 500 drawer boxes in the last three years, all by hand. The funny part is I can still remember the first one I ever cut, a simple pine box for a garage cabinet that took me almost two hours. Now I can knock one out in under 20 minutes if I'm focused. Has anyone else hit a weirdly specific number that made you stop and think about how much you've done?

I finally cleared up corroded battery contacts in a remote control

My friend's TV remote stopped working, and I found green corrosion on the batteries. I used a cotton swab with white vinegar to clean it, and now it works like new. What's your go-to method for cleaning battery corrosion?

PSA: Duct tape is for emergencies, not permanent repairs

I learned this the hard way when a 'fixed' pipe burst. Now I take the time to do it right with proper materials.

DAE notice how every shop around here tells you to replace brake pads at 3mm? My van's been fine at 2mm for months, no noise or issues. Why the rush?