No way! I was always told concrete was non-negotiable, like it was a law. Willowwilliams has a point about it not being the holy grail. I've seen concrete trap water right against the wood, which totally speeds up rot. And in winter, that whole block just lifts and cracks. How long have your gravel-packed posts actually lasted without any lean?

That's a straight-up scam dressed as company loyalty. Working weekends without overtime pay just lets management squeeze more hours out of you for free. Calling it 'commitment' is a cheap way to guilt trip people into accepting worse conditions. Your personal time has value, and giving it up for nothing hurts everyone in the long run. If they need more work done, they should hire extra staff or pay proper overtime.

Start by letting him try a full season with you to see the real grind. I mean, my cousin jumped into his dad's welding shop and it totally changed his view after a few months. Maybe just give it a trial run before any big decisions.

Genius. That's such a smart way to get it exact instead of just eyeballing it. I've messed with shims before and it's always a huge pain. Pure relief for anyone fixing up an old camera.

Pair it with quiet basics to let it pop.