Bought a random boot dryer off Amazon for $20 last winter. It melted the sole of my work boots after three uses. Anyone got a brand that won't ruin $150 boots?
My buddy swears by patching his old Jansport with duct tape and says it's good for another 5 years, but after my third patch on a strap the whole thing ripped at a bus stop in Portland. Anyone else hit a limit on repairs where you just gotta call it quits?
I bought a Stanley thermos back in 2002 for my construction job, and it kept my coffee hot for about 10 hours every single day. Last month the vacuum seal started leaking, so I picked up a new one for $38 at the hardware store. The old one still held heat for 6 hours, but I figure two decades of dropping it off ladders is a good run. Has anyone else had a thermos last that long, or is there a better brand I should look at next time?
Last Tuesday I stepped in a puddle of oil at a loading dock and then walked through gravel for two blocks before I noticed. It ground that stuff deep into the leather and now I've got scratches that won't buff out even after two rounds of saddle soap. Anybody got a trick for fixing deep gouges in work boots?
I walked into this tiny shop in Portland last spring, no sign out front just a bell on the door. This guy in his 80s took one look at the 1940s Elgin I handed him and said 'your granddad kept this clean, I can tell from the mainspring tension.' He spent 45 minutes with a loupe and tweezers, refused to take my $60, just asked me to bring him a coffee next time I come by. Has anyone else run into that kind of old school craftsmanship where they value the story more than the money?
I was working on a roof gutter replacement near the Michigan Central Station and my grip slipped. The thermos hit concrete hard and only got a dent the size of a dime, coffee was still hot 8 hours later. Has anyone else had a flask or bottle survive something stupid like that?
I started applying a thin coat of neatsfoot oil every 3 months instead of just wiping them down. After a year of daily use on concrete floors, the soles still had good tread and the leather stayed flexible. Anyone else use a specific conditioner that really made a difference?
He meant well but that stuff just attracts grit and dries out the lube I should've used instead. Now I'm out $40 for a new chain and have a scar on my elbow to remember the lesson. What's the dumbest thing someone sold you on for gear care?
Some guy was telling his friend that a YKK zipper outlasts the jacket if you wax the teeth once a year. I tried it on my 6 year old winter coat and the zipper that used to catch every time now glides smooth. Has anyone else done regular maintenance on random parts of their gear and seen it last way longer?
I was torn between a $60 thrifted Woolrich parka and a $300 Patagonia down jacket. The Woolrich has held up through 3 snowstorms and a dog attack without a single tear. Anyone else betting on old gear over new stuff?
My grandma's 1974 Lodge skillet went from crusty black to glass-smooth after 4 rounds of oven seasoning, but my buddy swears the new lightweight preseasoned pans are better for everyday cooking because they heat up faster - which side are you on after seeing the difference?
I splurged on a 'tactical' brand off Instagram back in 2020 and the main zipper gave up halfway through my commute last Thursday. The stitching along the bottom was peeling for months before that, but I kept convincing myself it was fine. Does anyone have a solid backpack that handles city use for more than half a decade without needing repairs?
Was making a double batch of sugar cookies for a bake sale and the motor just stopped mid-mix with a burning smell. Took it apart and found the plastic worm gear was completely stripped to dust. Is it worth trying to replace that gear myself or should I just bite the bullet and get a new one?
Back in 2018, this guy in Buffalo spotted me about to grab a rusty Wilton and just said 'check the swivel base first, kid' - saved me a headache and a broken bolt. He walked off before I could thank him, but I still think about that 30 second interaction every time I use my vise.
I always scrubbed my cast iron with soap and water, then dried it on high heat. Last month a buddy who works in a restaurant kitchen saw me doing it and just laughed. He told me to stop using soap and just scrape it clean with a metal spatula under hot water. Tried it once and the seasoning actually stuck after that. Anyone else been cleaning their cast iron wrong this whole time?
i normally wear red wings for work. bought a pair of the 1088s about 4 years ago and they held up great. last month i stepped on a broken bottle on a job site in portland and it went clean through the sole. like right through. that's never happened to me before. took them to a cobbler on 3rd ave and he said the sole was just done, no fixing it. $350 pair of boots gone in one bad step. now i'm checking the thickness on soles before i buy anything. anyone else have boots fail in a way you didn't expect?
Grandpa told me back in 2018 to never store my work boots near the heater vent in winter. I thought he was just being old fashioned (he was 82 at the time). Sure enough, after last January in Cleveland those boots cracked right along the toe crease after 4 years of perfect wear. He was right about the leather drying out too fast, and now I keep them in the closet by the front door instead. Anyone else learn a specific care tip the hard way from ignoring an older relative?
Bought a 12x16 for $8 last spring and it turned into confetti after one winter. Lost about $40 on three of those before I finally bought a single $30 tarp that's still going.
I let a vintage skillet sit in a 50/50 white vinegar and water bath for 8 hours and the rust came right off with a scrub, but has anyone found a faster way that doesn't smell like a pickle factory?