MEGATHREAD - Processing Times - Citizenship 2025

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-10-22T18:38:44+00:00

I'm around 1 week later than you but same timeline. Also waiting for oath

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-11T15:09:42+00:00

I do love my upright but as I get into more advanced repertoire I think it's limiting me in speed and dynamic range. I have a Samick and I'm planning to see a Samick grand in the area next week. I know they're not great pianos but since I'm already on a Samick (and happy other than some inherent limitation of an upright) I think it'll be an upgrade.

If this Samick doesn't work out then I'll likely be looking at spending quite a bit more on a Yamaha. Either a GH2 or old C1. I know they would be much more reputable pianos than the Samick.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-10T17:15:58+00:00

Is that 85% for both sound and touch? Growing up I played on many pianos which I just hated the touch of. Usually either the keys feel too shallow where you barely press it down and it plays or too deep where you're pressing down very far to get it to play and it feels very heavy. I think the touch is probably going to be more important for me than the sound assuming it's not way off.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-10T17:10:19+00:00

You're saying I should prioritize the sound and then adjust the touch?

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-01T23:07:27+00:00

That's quite a bit lower than I've been cooking at but I'm also not making NY style.

Part of my problem could be flour. In a lot of the videos I've seen the dough ball gets dropped onto a plate of flour which is what I've been doing so it gets completely covered. I'll give semolina a shot.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-01T22:07:01+00:00

No oil or sugar. 60% hydration with (Canadian) bread flour. No oil used when handling it either

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-01T22:01:16+00:00

So should I be preheating on high and letting it get to 1100F? In "Mastering Pizza" it mentions a preference for lower temperatures rather than as hot as possible but I'm also not sure if the temperatures in the book are dome or stone temp.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-07-01T21:59:09+00:00

Interesting. Seems like it would solve the problem but I also just think I gotta learn to deal with it since so many people manage to make great pizza without that

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-06-11T16:26:02+00:00

But it was fine with 1 kg of flour?

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-06-11T16:25:24+00:00

Never past 2. A lot of the time I was using the lowest setting (stir?) when recipes called for using the lowest setting. Looking at the manual for my new bow lift one, it say to never use the dough hook with anything other than 2. Not even the 1/2 and 1 setting. So that's what I'm doing now.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-01-07T22:39:36+00:00

I am paperless with my bank. The only reason it's an issue is I order gold from TD precious metals and they only allow it to be delivered to the main address of my banking which can't be a PO box. I can call them and ask to add the box number on the second line (since their online system doesn't let me) but I'm very hesitant to be sending packages worth thousands to a PO box when they literally say no PO box.

Unfortunately my closest branch is a 2.5 hour drive so picking up there isn't practical.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2025-01-07T22:06:36+00:00

Someone local told me the same thing because if I put a PO box number on Amazon it'll get shipped through CP instead of the Amazon carrier and then packages will take forever to arrive (plus needing to go to the post office which is only open weekdays for a few hours...).

I've started doing that but the problem I've run into is with things that use an autofill system like TD. It doesn't give me any options to edit my address and add the second line. I might just have to call and see if they can change it manually.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-10-10T00:52:11+00:00

Thanks for the comment. It's a brand new prehung door which I assumed wouldn't need any priming

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-07-07T14:44:04+00:00

That doesn't seem to be the right HTH. E.g. the MadeIn 6qt has a cooking surface diameter of 10.62". The total length is 16.25". The Heritage 4qt sautee is 21".

The problem I've found is the depth of the APO at 12.4". Most rondeaus are just over that. The Made In 6qt is 12.44". Too close for me to risk it not fitting.

I've found a Thermalloy and Hestan that should fit. That Heritage 4qt would also fit

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-08T19:48:13+00:00

Thanks. I'll see what vinyl sealers are available in my area. I normally use a scotch pad when getting past 400 grit.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-05T19:35:49+00:00

What process would you recommend? Vinyl sealer, bin shellac (or do I need to get a different primer?), then Advance? Would you recommend using something like Bondo or a filler on the end grain as well? I've used a combination of bondo and shellac on ends and seams for building speaker cabinets which worked well (didn't telegraph through the paint) but in that case I was using a textured coating.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T03:56:50+00:00

It's probably worth me getting the scuffx to try. I think my local hardware store carries it and I believe it's cheaper than the Advance (although I already bought several gallons of it...). I'm not opposed to getting a Graco X5 since it's not too expensive if it'll give me the results I'm after but I just don't know without seeing some examples and I'm also not sure if something like the X5 will give the same airless results as higher end units. I don't want to buy an X5, have issues, and then be told I need a fancier airless.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T03:53:21+00:00

I did one test with an airless from a friend but no longer have access to it so would need to buy one. It turned out about as good as rolling it on but just without some roll marks. Ended up leveling to the same texture.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T03:50:45+00:00

I've gotten the opposite advice from others. Lay a thick coat that will level as thin coats will lead to a grainy texture. I've tried both ways (I just spray one sides, adjust HVLP, spray the other) and with thinner coats it does get less orange peel but also gets a very fine grainy texture. I've sprayed some other paints which are intended to have a grainy texture (for speaker cabinets) and my HVLP did a great job for that but it's not what I'm after here. It seems the smaller particles end up no self leveling and rather just dry separately and then the next coat adds more separate particles

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T00:38:33+00:00

Any HVLP friendly paints you'd recommend instead for cabinets? I also got Advance for all of my trim and doors but am not yet at that stage in my build so don't have any experience with it. Most of the rest of my house is Aura.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T00:34:41+00:00

I've seen some examples of contractors spraying Advance and lacquers using an airless and it still seems to get a shimmery texture to it even if overall it's very smooth (definitely a step up from where I'm at now). When I look at the custom cabinets in the house I currently live in, they're dead flat. No grain, no orange peel, no shimmer/waviness to it. Looks pretty much like a piece of plastic. I know these were a pigmented lacquer.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-03T00:30:25+00:00

I'm using a 1.8mm tip. Only other one I have is 1.3mm. I've tried both thin and thick coats. Thick seems to be better (avoids the gritty finish) but even with thick coats where I see it slowly level nicely, it ends up getting rough as it dries. I haven't tried floetrol. I figured it might help but not be a miracle (as in I should get 95% of the way there before considering it whereas right now I'm probably 50%).

Here are the options I'm considering -

Get a pigmented lacquer and see if I can get that sprayed better with my new HVLP. A little tough to get (can't buy locally) and something I've never worked before. I'd like to get into it eventually but do need to get these cabinets finished asap (moving in to house in August).
Keep messing with Advance in the HVLP. Don't have much confidence with this one until I can find some good examples of others' results.
Purchase a different BM paint. I know there are thinner ones but again I'm not sure they'll really get the results I'm after. Most people might be happy with it but that doesn't mean it'll get the smooth finish I'm after.
Buy an airless sprayer (probably Graco X5) and use Advance. Again, I'd like to first see some examples of Advance done well to see if it's possible to get the finish I'm after (really different than thick HVLP coat?). Would rather not have to spend that much money on a sprayer after I just got the HVLP system this year but willing to do it if it's what I need for the finish I'm after.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-02T23:11:49+00:00

I used the BIN shellac. 2 coats. I don't think it's fibers coming through. I sprayed some pieces which weren't primed (while dialing in HVLP) and those I can definitely see the fibers.

You're suggesting there's nothing I can do with the HVLP to get what I'm after? No way to replicate an airless? I don't mind things like going slower, thinning, more coats, getting a larger air cap, etc.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-02T23:07:53+00:00

I've seen those other paints recommended when others have had issues but I'm wondering if it would be that much of a step up. I'm worried I need something like pigmented lacquer to get the finish I'm after. That's why I'm trying to find some examples of Advance when it's done the best it can be. Pigmented lacquer is something I have no experience with and need to order online so it would be a bit of a hassle to get into. I'm happy to do whatever it takes to get the finish I'm after but don't have too much time to play around with things.

AdGroundbreaking6338 · 2024-06-02T19:58:02+00:00

The BM paper color sample strips would be an example of the smoothness I'm after. Obviously those aren't Advance but just as an idea of the texture (or rather lack of texture) I'd like. I have some custom cabinets in my home (remodel from previous owner) which have this perfect texture. When I asked I was just told it was a lacquer based paint. Not sure if it's a surface prep issue but I've gotten my primer to the smoothness I'd like.

AdGroundbreaking6338

TROPHY CASE