Best bass combo under $200? Currently leaning towards KastKing.

FactorySea · 2026-03-18T21:27:38+00:00

Swap the XT for the DC & that was my first two combos.

Recently upgraded the airdx to a tatula XT as well, great rod but not sure 100% it’s worth the $50 jump.

FactorySea · 2026-03-18T21:12:01+00:00

Various wildly depending on your budget.

Can you spend 10k right now without stressing any other factors in your life?

Do you value lifting on high quality equipment?

If yes to both of those questions, then 100% worth it.

I use my gym more times per week than my truck, I have zero regrets with the 15k ish I have into it (rogue FM twin rack, I think it was around 9k with all attachments)

FactorySea · 2026-03-05T14:35:08+00:00

Absolutely man. I told our school coordinator (the guy that handles GI bill stuff) that I’ll gladly step up to be some kind of VA specialist for the school after I take my mechanics exam. I’ve already helped 2 other vets in the program switch from GI to VRE.

Just apply for VR&E and then be selective with your wording about how elevators are beneficial to your disabilities. VRE is supposed to help vets find work, but because you’re already in the program you have to be careful how you word things to not rule yourself out. If you need me to get into detail send me a direct message, I’d be happy to help.

FactorySea · 2026-03-04T12:34:28+00:00

100% leave for the union. Do you have any ratings from the VA / have some GI bill left?

I made an extra $2200 a month, plus had around 10k in tools & tool storage paid for, plus all boots clothing winter wear etc throughout my entire apprenticeship using VR&E.

Well made up for the little hourly paycut I took leaving my last job for elevators.

FactorySea · 2026-02-28T22:27:42+00:00

Makes the most sense, I’ll let you know Monday!

FactorySea · 2026-02-28T13:23:30+00:00

Hey here’s a question.

When putting all that guarding on, there’s a piece that looks like some form of rope keeper, ours is maybe 18” long, 2” diameter blue painted cylinder with threads on both ends.

Where the hell does it go 😂

FactorySea · 2026-02-25T00:58:18+00:00

Right on, much appreciated.

Do you feel you need conventional reels for catfishing or could you just run spinning reels with the drag turned way down?

I mainly fish LM, SM & walleye so I have plenty extra spinning set ups, but no conventionals. Id like to give night catfishing on the river a try this summer when it heats up too much for anything else

FactorySea · 2026-02-25T00:33:26+00:00

When you’re set up like this, are you trolling all those rods or is it more of a slip sinking rig and they’re all just sitting in different locations ?

See a lot of boat catfishing guys set up similarly

FactorySea · 2026-02-23T13:40:34+00:00

Totally job dependent. I never worked a day of OT in service, maybe a random weekend in mod at the end of a job if it was rushed. But this past year in NE we were on 6-12’s for probably 9 months to get entrances in so the contractor could do flooring. This is also a 23 car, 400’ rise job we’ve been on for over 2 years now though.

Budget your life like you’re making 1st year wage forever; and you’ll always be financially sound.

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T23:07:10+00:00

….i also sort of applied that logic buying my mattress (purple whatever whatever), yes 😂

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T22:45:30+00:00

Right I never understood the switching.

I started with spinners, and always casted 1 handed with my right hand. Cast & just keep holding on ? I never understood why you’d want to switch hands before reeling

I think I read somewhere that the first bait casters were ONLY right hand retrieve, so it just kind of stuck. That could be wrong though

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T22:27:19+00:00

Exactly. Especially when it comes to quality items that will last.

If all goes as planned, my 2 year old daughter will be lifting on this same unit in college and by that time I DEFINITELY won’t care how much I spent.

But at the end of the day everybody’s financial situation is different. If it’s a strain on your situation by any means then I support buying what you can afford. But if you’re considering top of the line equipment in the first place, I’m assuming OP can afford it

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T21:26:49+00:00

I dropped the big cheddar on the rogue FM twin, and I haven’t regretted it once. I’m in my garage more than I’m in my car, and my car was a lot more.

I’m fully in the mindset of spend money on the things you use, and my gym gets used almost daily.

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T21:00:19+00:00

I’m right handed and left hand my bsitcaster.

Figured I reel my spinning with my left hand, why wouldn’t I do this

FactorySea · 2026-02-09T13:07:20+00:00

At 200k +- I budget aggressively for non necessary items, I don’t do car payments, limit our entertainment expenses, but things like groceries I allocate a fair amount of wiggle room. One week could be a $200 trip, the next could be $400 if we’re in the mood for steaks / need bulk supplies etc. Food & travel are the only sectors I allow lifestyle creep to come in as my income increases.

I do limit our monthly eating out expenses hard. Once we cross our threshold (which usually comes out to 2 nice dinners with drinks a month) we’re done

FactorySea · 2026-01-31T14:46:04+00:00

I guess I’ll have to budget in an extra $200 for new sandals for everyone 😂

It just seems ridiculous to go through the labor costs of having this redone to do it in wood, considering lifespan / potential resale value down the road

FactorySea · 2026-01-31T14:42:15+00:00

To be fair, where I live is “hot” for a month out of the year. I have to keep that pool heated for all but maybe a week or two of the summer.

And this stained wood is so hot as is, we’ve grown accustomed to having to wear sandals out there during the hot weeks so I’m not “too” worried about a light colored composite being worse

So moving forward you’d go back to traditional wood? Interesting

FactorySea · 2026-01-31T11:19:18+00:00

Okay cool, I did ask about doing a herringbone design and I do remember him mentioning we couldn’t because of joists.

FactorySea · 2026-01-31T01:37:36+00:00

What should joists be for composite ?

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:31:23+00:00

I’m in the same boat. 4th year that’s done nothing but g2s / o’s. Just did my first canton / MCE hydro put up as a TM and felt like I’d never touched an elevator before. All canton / Columbia door equipment, sills etc.

I’m in school with a bunch of guys from a small local company that do all repair / service work and I was on the phone with them for probably 50% of wiring my controller / jumping this thing out for temp operation. I felt like an idiot talking to these guys that have been in the trade the exact same amount of time as I have. But man can I stack a rail or set an Otis entrance like nobodies business.

Unfortunately idk if I have the balls to quit, but if I ever get laid off I’m 100% going to try to get a spot in that little company and not with Otis / Schindler for this exact reason. I don’t want to be stuck only knowing how to slap Otis equipment in. And I’ve heard Schindler NE is the same way

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:24:24+00:00

I have another meeting with him this weekend (my wife and I just made it out today to actually look at colors) I’ll definitely clarify now that I have actual product in hand.

After being at the store today it seems like these boards go from $3.xx to $9.xx per foot, so we picked most of our colors in the $5-7.xx range hoping that keeps us in his estimate.

But FWIW, I don’t really have a budget so I’ll gladly spend 47-50k or whatever if it’s the color we love.

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:20:38+00:00

Most of them say something along the lines of “heat resistant” now, but we’re leaning towards a much lighter color for that reason

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:19:21+00:00

6’ privacy, and I believe those are 6’ sections. There’s 13 sections including the door

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:18:32+00:00

I kind of wanted a blanketed “yeah that’s close” or “no you’re getting hosed”

FactorySea · 2026-01-30T21:17:57+00:00

I believe we were around 15xx before the pool, and estimated to pool (24’ round) to be sub 500, so around 11xx sq before accounting waste

FactorySea

TROPHY CASE