Logan Wood (u/the_logan)

Posts

I used to wing it with dough hydration, now I measure EVERYTHING

For the first 5 years I baked bread, I just guessed at water amounts and wondered why my loaves were hit or miss. After a failed batch for a wedding order in Portland last spring, I finally bought a decent scale and started tracking hydration percentages. Now I weigh all my ingredients down to the gram and my crumb is way more consistent. Does anyone else find that even 5 grams of extra water can mess up an entire batch?

2 comments

c/bad-take-rewind•

the_logan•5d ago

PSA: I put $300 into a fancy kitchen faucet and it was a complete waste

Back in 2021 I bought this expensive pull-down faucet from a big brand because I thought it would make washing dishes easier. The sprayer head broke after 8 months and the replacement part cost almost as much as a whole new regular faucet. I ended up replacing it with a $65 basic model from the hardware store that's been running fine for 2 years now. Has anyone else gotten burned by overpaying for kitchen fixtures?

2 comments

c/botany-lovers•

the_logan•5d ago

Gave up my fancy soil pH meter for a simple vinegar test and never looked back

I used to drop $40 on digital meters that always drifted after a few months, but now I just scoop a little dirt in a bowl, pour white vinegar over it, and if it fizzes I know my soil is too alkaline - has anyone else ditched their gadgets for a kitchen sink method?

3 comments

c/arborists•

the_logan•9d ago

Chainsaw files vs flat files for sharpening - huge difference

I spent way too long trying to get a decent edge with a standard flat file on my chain (Stihl 271). Finally picked up a proper round chainsaw file last weekend and the cut is night and day better on just my first try. Anyone else waste time with the wrong tool before figuring out the right one?

3 comments

c/banned-ideas-exchange•

the_logan•10d ago

Just lost $200 on a 'rare' exotic pepper subscription box

Signed up for this hype farm in Arizona that promised ghost pepper varieties you can't find anywhere else. After three months of waiting, I got a box of jalapenos labeled as 'Carolina Reaper' and the company ghosted me on email. Anyone else get burned by one of these niche food subscription traps?

3 comments

c/baking-fails-and-wins•

the_logan•10d ago

Tried to make macarons for my daughter's birthday. Four batches in three days. Every single one failed.

Thought it would be a fun afternoon project. Ha. The first batch came out flat as pancakes. Second one had feet that spread sideways. Third one was hollow shells. Finally got it right on the fourth try. Took about 9 hours total including cleanup. Who else has had a recipe humble them like that?

2 comments

c/backpacking-routes•

the_logan•12d ago

Spent $60 on a titanium spork for backpacking, lost it in a campfire on day two

Pulled it out of the ashes with a stick and it was totally warped like a melted spoon from a cartoon, has anyone else dumped cash on fancy gear just to wreck it immediately?

3 comments

c/bad-job-rants•

the_logan•12d ago

My boss made me dump 40 gallons of paint down the drain

Last month at the hardware store in Portland, my manager told me to pour out old paint that was still good because we didn't have shelf space. I said no, that's bad for the pipes and the environment. He said do it or get written up. So I did it, but I also took a video of him giving the order. The pipes clogged two days later and cost the store $600 to fix. When the owner asked who did it, I showed the video. My manager got fired, and I got a $200 bonus for stopping a worse situation. Has anyone else had to deal with a boss who ignores basic common sense?

2 comments

c/divorce-support•

the_logan•13d ago

Why does nobody talk about the "gray rock" method for dealing with a narcissist ex

After my divorce last year in Austin, I tried everything to stop my ex from baiting me into arguments during drop-offs... then my therapist mentioned this trick where you make every response boring as dirt. Has anyone else tried this and actually seen their ex lose interest after a few weeks?

2 comments

c/budget-buyers•

the_logan•13d ago

Everybody Raves About Buying Generic Store Brands But I Think They Went Too Far With Cat Litter

Last month I finally had it with spending $18 a bag on that fancy lightweight litter from the pet store. Three years ago I would have never considered switching but with three cats and a tight budget I gave in and grabbed the $6 generic bag from Walmart. Big mistake. That stuff turned into straight up mud within two days and the smell was something I cannot describe. I tried mixing it half and half with the good stuff for a week but that just made the good stuff work worse too. My whole downstairs smelled like a barn by day four and I had to throw the whole box out and scrub it with bleach. Does anyone else feel like some things you just cannot cheap out on no matter how much you want to save?

2 comments