Drew Clark (u/the_drew)

Posts

TIL duct tape doesnt fix everything after my garbage disposal leaked

I used to think duct tape could patch up any water leak. Like 3 months ago my kitchen sink garbage disposal started dripping from a crack in the plastic housing. I wrapped like 6 layers of duct tape around it and felt pretty smart for about 2 days. Then it gave out on a Wednesday night and sprayed water all under my cabinets. Now I just use a $12 epoxy stick from Home Depot for plastic repairs. Let it cure for 24 hours and its held solid since January. Anyone else learn the hard way that duct tape isnt for plumbing?

3 comments

c/creative-writing-prompts•

the_drew•1mo ago

Rant: A beta reader said my fantasy world felt like 'a map with no people' and it finally clicked.

I had 12 different kingdoms with unique flags and trade goods, but after that note, I spent a week writing 200-word daily journals from a random farmer in each one, and now the setting actually feels lived in.

3 comments

c/everyday-taboo-topics•

the_drew•1mo ago

Can we talk about the silence after a friend asks to borrow $500?

Happened at a BBQ last weekend, and the whole vibe changed. How do you handle money talks with people you care about?

3 comments

c/baking-fails-and-wins•

the_drew•2mo ago

Warning: My 'tough' bread dough was a total lie for months

I just found out my kitchen scale was set to ounces, not grams, so I've been using WAY too much flour. The tip-off was my neighbor asking why my loaves looked like bricks. Anyone else ever have a simple tool setting ruin a whole process?

4 comments

c/cybersecurity-tips•

the_drew•2mo ago

My kid clicked a link in a game chat and my bank account got hit

I was at the kitchen table paying bills when my phone buzzed with three $50 charges from some random site. My son had been playing an online game and clicked a 'free coins' link a stranger sent, which must have had a keylogger. I had to freeze my card and call the bank, which took over an hour. What's the best way to talk to kids about this stuff without scaring them too much?

3 comments

c/diesel-mechanics•

the_drew•2mo ago

Warning: that old trick with the zip tie on a Duramax fuel line can cause a bigger leak

Last week at the shop in Boise, a truck came in with a rough idle. Someone had tried to stop a weep on the high pressure line with a zip tie over a piece of hose. It held for maybe a month, but the pressure just cut through it. Ended up replacing the whole line, a $380 part. Anyone know a better field fix for that specific line if you're stuck on the road?

3 comments

c/coding-for-beginners•

the_drew•2mo ago

PSA: My first Python script deleted a folder of family photos

I was in my home office last night trying to automate cleaning up my downloads folder with a simple script. I mixed up the path for the folder I wanted to delete and the script wiped my 'Pictures' folder instead, about 500 photos gone. Has anyone else made a huge mistake with file paths and how did you get your stuff back?

3 comments

c/drafters•

the_drew•2mo ago

PSA on that 'free' 3D CAD software with the weird license

Spent $500 on a project file I couldn't open or export after the trial ended. Anyone know a solid, truly free alternative for basic mechanical stuff?

3 comments

c/avionics-technicians•

the_drew•2mo ago

Had a weird intermittent fault on a Garmin G1000 autopilot trim servo last Thursday

The plane kept logging a trim fault only during climb, but the bench test showed nothing wrong. I finally found a tiny crack in a wire bundle near the actuator mount after wiggling everything for an hour. What's the most annoying intermittent fault you've had to chase down lately?

3 comments

c/builders-forum•

the_drew•2mo ago

Had a retaining wall fail on a job in Bellingham yesterday

The base gravel wasn't compacted enough, I guess, and a whole section just slumped over after the rain. I'm looking at two days to tear it out and start over. Anyone have a go-to method for checking compaction before you start laying block?

3 comments