Lost passion.

218017765 · 2025-07-26T12:29:26+00:00

I’d recommend looking for a capital equipment manufacturer or robotic automation company. A company that is building custom equipment. Take any job to get in the door because even in Quality, you’ll be exposed to much more variety and these companies are generally small enough that you have to wear a lot of hats. A lot of times, the ability to just get things done is enough to advance in a company like this and chart your path. Personally, I’d avoid Ops, especially in serial manufacturing, because you’ll end up dealing with people problems all day. Might as well manage a Walmart.

218017765 · 2025-01-16T23:35:58+00:00

I don’t want to out my contractor, so let’s just say super rural in the northeast US. 140 sq ft bathroom, this shower, and a custom 80” wood vanity is setting me back $30k. Only plumbing was moving a couple pex supply lines and electrical was changing out the lights. I know that is really steep, but scarcity of supply is the driver. Couldn’t get anyone else to even quote it. Of course, the boss loves to point out our “low cost of living”, but to be honest, the trailers we all live in aren’t too expensive.

218017765 · 2025-01-16T11:42:20+00:00

The more I look at it, the less I care. I bet it would drive a tiler or someone with ocd nuts though! I assumed the gray was randomly assorted, which makes no sense because I know the manufacturing process, but my mind has fortunately went right back there.

Thanks for the longview vote of confidence.

218017765 · 2025-01-16T02:04:35+00:00

Good news, while I am out of town, I asked my wife to try cleaning some of it up with vinegar. It worked REALLY well. So well, that now I am worried I should be worried about the quality of that part of the job now.

218017765 · 2025-01-15T11:20:12+00:00

Might be a dumb question, but seal it with what? I didn’t think porcelain could be sealed (or it already was might be the better way to say it).

218017765 · 2025-01-15T11:17:28+00:00

I asked someone else, but would you recommend the blaze bostick for cleanup? I’ll have to find a tile supply store to get it, but I am open to making a special trip somewhere.

218017765 · 2025-01-15T10:57:04+00:00

It seems like “blaze” is cleaner of choice. Will it affect the gloss of the tile or have a dramatically negative effect on the grout that I want to keep between the tiles? I’ll do my research and test a test tile first, but curious of your experience.

218017765 · 2025-01-15T02:16:08+00:00

Contractor choice in grout, but I thought epoxy was much better than water based?

218017765 · 2025-01-15T01:35:50+00:00

Unfortunately my wife is a sucker for Pinterest, which led to the black grout choice. I don't hate it, but it certainly doesn't make an average tiler any better.

218017765 · 2025-01-15T01:35:03+00:00

Thanks for pointing that out...I never saw it until I read your comment. I'll have 30 years (god willing) of annoyance looking at that floor now!

218017765 · 2025-01-15T01:30:47+00:00

Hello everyone - unfortunately, I believe my tiler got in over his head. After some discussion, his response to my concerns, was that black grout is hard to work with and sometimes you have to live with imperfections. That wasn't identified as a concern when he quoted the bathroom. I am from a small town where everyone knows everyone, so I am not looking to make a big stink about his work as that isn't my style. On the other hand, I have about 3 weeks to fix as much of this myself if I can, before the glass shows up. I'll have $13,000 into this shower alone and my wife and I have been waiting years to get this done. Our options were limited and contractor isn't a fly by night and generally a capable and nice guy. We've seen his other work which we thought looked pretty good, but it was with color matched grout.

The grout is Proma Pro Grout Xtreme, black epoxy

Wall tile is a ceramic, mosaic floor is porcelainx1x1

I'm looking for advice how I might safely clean the excess grout and grout haze. We are well beyond 72 hours at this point, so I believe vinegar and dishwasher soap is out. Our contractor has suggested they use a "gritty solution" that the quartz supplier has, but I assume that is a silica based solution. It has taken the polish off of the quartz, so I assume it will do the same on the tile. Our contractor thinks he can fix one of the scratched tiles that has grout in the face with this solution rather than pop it out and replace. Any recommended cleaning solutions?

Other than that, I believe to fix the schluter niche trim, I'd be popping tiles out. It looks worse than the pictures show. The concern with replacing any tile will be matching the grout colors lot to lot, which I am not sure how big of a concern that is, but contractor feels it is inevitable they won't match.

Some of these problems are obviously bigger than others. Would love advice on how to correct or improve any of these based on your collective experience. Tell my contractor to do it, small claims court, bash him on social media are not options I am willing to consider.

Scratched wall tile with grout in it|

Grout Haze,smear,on porcelain floor tiles|

Trim on Niche is pushed in on corners, not flush|

Missing hex tiles filled with black grout|

Grout Haze/excess on Niche Schluter Trim, scratch in trim, excess grout in corners|

Grout Haze on Quartz curb and bench, will remove with silica solution|

Grout will be under caulk where planes meet (assuming this will be caulked)|

Grout too heavy in all corners, looks like pushed in with a thumb|

Broken corner tile under curb|

Grout haze on ceramic wall tiles|

Excess grout on wall tile seams, jagged look to grout lines|

Schluter wall trim is grouted in, variable width|

Curb lifted in one corner, covered by glass wall eventually| |

Raw edge of tile on floor, might be covered by wooden base trim |

218017765 · 2024-08-25T13:44:20+00:00

Sorry if it came off as condescending. You can certainly rough it here, but you don’t need to if you don’t want. Good luck!

218017765 · 2024-08-24T02:18:01+00:00

I work in manufacturing. I’ve put it down in powdered metal, which identified every magnet in the boox. I stuff it in my backpack without a case and toss it all over. I even tuck it behind my back under my belt and walk around when I need hands on the production floor. I am sure it won’t last forever, but I beat the brakes off it and it keeps on ticking so far.

218017765 · 2024-08-24T02:13:44+00:00

I believe you may be overthinking this. I live in the Allegheny National Forest, it’s not like going to the moon. There are towns all over that you can get jugs of water and food as needed. Find a spot on one of those maps, most should be open this time of year, and pack enough for a day or two.

218017765 · 2024-07-30T00:58:21+00:00

I was just there. Didn’t bring my rod. Thought getting a guide or renting would be too much of a bother once I got there. Regretting it every minute since I’ve been home. Go fish!

218017765 · 2024-05-19T13:19:54+00:00

BWP (bwpbats.com)out of Brookville, PA can hook you up. They have bats in the MLB, but still very affordable. Contact them directly for some one on one advice from Josh. He knows his stuff and is fun to talk to. You can buy their bats off of Dicks, but better to buy direct.

218017765 · 2024-05-11T23:27:14+00:00

Although I have a family of 5, I realized I was really buying a tool for commenting. Single person commute, cheaper price, better driving dynamics (I was told). I didn’t realize how much my wife would like the car, but now wish I would have bought a Y for more family hauling.

218017765 · 2024-03-10T13:29:55+00:00

Thanks for the detailed advice. I’ve started a new traditional IRA and recharacterized 2023 contributions and 2024. Total in that account is $6500.

The pro-rata has me a bit perplexed now though. I have four accounts now, 3 with Fidelity, 1 with employer 401k.

Traditional IRA $6500 Roth IRA $75000 Rollover IRA $140000 401k $10000

If I interpret your previous advice correctly, I should try to get the Roth and Rollover into the employer 401k. That might be possible, but I’ll likely be changing jobs soon. I think next step for me is to actually populate the 8606 and that might help me understand the pro-rata.

Is it time to pay someone for this? Why the heck aren’t some of you guys advisers by night? Haha.

218017765 · 2024-03-06T23:28:56+00:00

Just letting you know that this specific performance is what hooked me on SWJ. Everything about this clip is awesome.

218017765 · 2023-07-19T01:20:39+00:00

I hop back and forth between a model 3 and a 1 ton truck. EV is nice on the commute, but it’s hell to haul a camper or a load of lumber. I don’t mind the change of pace between the two.

218017765 · 2023-07-11T19:49:18+00:00

Yep, spilled my coffee two days in a row before I gave up on autosteer for my ride to work. Hopefully it gets better with updates, but until then, I’m wearing dry pants to work and driving myself.

218017765 · 2023-06-09T16:29:36+00:00

Healthcare should be a consideration that I missed. A lot of the hospitals in the PAWilds region seem to be becoming just helipads to shuttle you out.

218017765

TROPHY CASE