Keith Gibson (u/keithgibson)

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Pro tip: I stopped drawing every single bolt on a flange and it cut my time in half

For years on big industrial layouts, I would draw every bolt hole on a 24 inch flange because I thought it was the 'right' way. After a project in Toledo last fall, a senior guy saw me doing it and said 'Just use a center mark and a note, kid. The shop only needs the pattern.' I switched to that method and now a drawing that took me 2 hours takes about 50 minutes. Has anyone else found a detail that's better left as a note?

2 comments

c/entrepreneur-network•

keithgibson•16d ago

TIL most people at my local startup meetup ask for help the wrong way

I went to a networking event in Charlotte last Tuesday and heard at least five people just say 'I need more clients' or 'I need funding'. That's way too broad. I started telling them to ask for one specific introduction instead, like 'Do you know anyone who runs a small gym?'. It changed the whole conversation. How do you get people to ask for the right kind of help?

2 comments

c/auto-mechanics•

keithgibson•17d ago

My dad always said to soak a seized bolt in ATF and acetone, not just WD-40

Tbh, I brushed it off for years thinking any penetrant would do the job. Then I got a 2004 Silverado with a rusted caliper bracket bolt last spring. I sprayed it with my usual stuff for three days and it wouldn't budge. I was about to drill it out and remembered his mix. I made a 50/50 blend in a little jar and let it sit overnight. The next morning, it came loose with just a regular wrench, no heat or breaker bar needed. I've used it on exhaust manifold studs and old suspension parts since. It really does work better. What's your go-to trick for frozen hardware that actually works?

2 comments

c/camping-gear-reviews•

keithgibson•21d ago

My tent zipper broke in a downpour on Mount Hood

I was up near Timberline Lodge last October when a surprise storm rolled in. The main door zipper on my 3-person tent just gave out halfway through the night, letting in a cold spray of rain. I spent the next two hours holding the flap shut with one hand and trying to sleep sitting up. The next morning, everything in the vestibule was soaked. Has anyone else had a tent fail like that, and what did you do to fix it on the spot?

2 comments

c/am-i-overthinking•

keithgibson•22d ago

I spent $400 on a 'perfect' planner system and it made my life worse

Everyone online says you need a fancy paper planner to get your life together. I bought into it hard last fall. I got a special binder, expensive inserts, stickers, the whole thing. It cost me about $400 total. I spent hours setting it up, but then I was so scared of messing up the 'perfect' pages that I stopped using it. I'd avoid writing things down because my handwriting wasn't neat enough, or I'd use the wrong pen. The system that was supposed to free up my brain just gave me more to worry about. Now it sits on my shelf, and I'm back to using a cheap notebook I'm not afraid to scribble in. Am I the only one who overthinks a tool so much it becomes useless? What simple system actually worked for you?

2 comments

Posts

Pro tip: I stopped drawing every single bolt on a flange and it cut my time in half

TIL most people at my local startup meetup ask for help the wrong way

My dad always said to soak a seized bolt in ATF and acetone, not just WD-40

My tent zipper broke in a downpour on Mount Hood

I spent $400 on a 'perfect' planner system and it made my life worse

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