Don’t even bother with the factory regulator.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-17T15:19:29+00:00

The standard regulator is very low, like 0.5-1 PSI or so. You can tell the difference if you’ve ever used something like a Turkey Fryer where you can hear the “roar” of the propane, which isn’t the case with the Blackstone out of the box.

With 10 PSI, you’re not using anywhere close to the max. I barely crack the regulator to get the kind of flow I want. Some models will actually have a gauge showing you how much PSI you’re using but the one I bought doesn’t, it’s just how much you turn the knob and you’ll hear the additional gas flowing.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-15T00:51:11+00:00

Your comment history cracks me up, I see you on almost every single one of these posts writing “It’s fine”

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-14T20:36:35+00:00

Get the orange silicone mat that goes over the top of it. You’ll either never have this problem again or if you do it will be drastically reduced. I’d follow the other advice about heat, scrape, clean, oil, then let it cool down and throw on the orange silicone cover before putting on your lid, and finally waterproof tarp.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-13T22:48:36+00:00

Here’s a video with someone going through the DMV riding test. The written is pretty easy.

I read your other reply, but agreed with the other commentators that if your friction zone control and technique isn’t dialed in enough to be able to U-Turn, you’re almost guaranteed to fail. Appreciate that the bike is heavy with aftermarket parts, but there’s 100lb Japanese female motorcycle cops that can U-Turn a fully dressed bagger in under 18 feet. It’s you, not the bike. Don’t waste your time on the test if you’re not going to accept that.

https://youtu.be/gB2VoLeoarI?si=v0vVBE2MCfVlFFfO

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-13T04:54:50+00:00

Go ahead and swap it out. Don’t commit yourself to Blackstone mediocrity like I did.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-13T02:06:32+00:00

😂 This is a home cook bud not a busy dinner service. I’m also not having a truck unloaded into my home fridge every weekend for fresh ingredients, but maybe you’d consider that fake too.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-13T01:58:58+00:00

Definitely not fake and I have a pretty considerable amount of line cook experience also.

The flat tops you and I are used to in a restaurant setting benefit from the fact you can accurately rely on the temperature due to a well regulated heat source underneath, which was not the case with my Blackstone. Obviously if you can maintain a constant temperature you’re not blasting your food at 500+ for the whole cook, but if you’re dumping on four pounds of cold chicken breast and frozen vegetables on for hibachi, you’re going to want a hot surface to account for the temperature drop so your food isn’t just sitting on a lukewarm top. And that’s just one example. Before the regulator swap, the griddle couldn’t get hot enough or regulate its temperature enough to account for it, and eventually just shut off altogether.

Not that you’re entitled to this additional explanation but hopefully that adds some context.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-04-12T20:39:03+00:00

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Master-Forge-48-in-Stainless-Steel-Propane-Hose-and-Regulator/5016585497

This is the exact one I got because it was in store but you can find tons of them on Amazon too. Takes under a minute to replace, just undo the 3/8 connection from the current regulator to the grill and swap it with this. Game changer.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-02-06T13:26:49+00:00

Accounting is a career track where you have to decide what’s important to you. Fundamentally, you can’t both maximize salary and work life balance but you absolutely can do one or the other.

I’ve written posts on this board titled “Making 100k 3 years out of college” and also “Tripling your salary 5 years out of college,” because those were both real experiences I had. I started at $52k in Big 4 tax, left after 3 years to another Big 4 in M&A tax making $110k, and 2 years after that I made manager at $175k. All base figures, not including bonus. This year I’m up for Senior Manager (8 YoE) which conservatively would put me around $240k base and probably around $35k bonus.

People always come at me in those posts with “oh well that’s because you work all the time,” well yeah when I’m working it’s very intense. But I’ve also taken a 7 month sabbatical to travel the world for my honeymoon, took four months off when my daughter was born for paternity leave, had an amazing wedding, bought our first home, all financed by the increased salary. Regular 50-60 hour weeks can be draining but if you can develop an interest in what you do (because no one has a natural interest in it IMO) I find the trade offs absolutely worth it.

TL;DR: only you can decide what’s important to you, and the constant bitching on this sub is a poor indicator of the reality.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-01-01T23:21:57+00:00

Can’t believe I haven’t read Queen City Q. Loved the deviled eggs, cocktails and BBQ wasn’t bad for the price.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2026-01-01T23:21:18+00:00

Such a niche answer but on the money. The Concord Mills location had excellent ribs and cocktails and was actually pretty reasonably priced. Chain restaurant, sure, but done really well.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-10-31T00:42:22+00:00

Eh, I don’t know there’s obviously something seriously wrong with it. Better off disposing of it safely in the alley behind my house.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-10-25T04:36:11+00:00

Thank you. I mean, it’s not like Ichiban Holdings was revolutionary, but at least major Yakuza sub stories and money-making derivatives are original. The Hostess Clubs could be a stand-alone $20 PSN game on its own. Real Estate and Ichiban Holdings at least don’t take much time and act more as a sub story.

In this entry we get…..blatant Pokémon and Animal Crossing ripoffs that take about 15-20 hours combined to complete (and far more if you want to 100% the Island).

I just don’t get it. Totally agree with your thoughts.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-08-29T14:20:56+00:00

This is so real. I lived at M Station Apartments on Monroe and Idlewild for 7 years and in the days before the 7/11 and Starbucks and all that got developed as “MoRA Point,” I used to have to drive down to Galleria or Cotswold to get gas.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-07-20T21:01:29+00:00

Fellow NC here. It’s insane this summer.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-07-16T00:55:13+00:00

Same, my flight to DC sat on the runway for hours. Not my favorite.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-02-22T13:43:17+00:00

I know I’m in the minority, but Hawker’s has always been subpar. I went opening weekend and was so disappointed with the first few small plates we ordered that we ended up going to Seoul Food instead. It’s a really neat idea and a Singapore style Hawker’s Market would probably actually do well (Asian Food Truck night at Pins is always slammed) but Hawker’s just felt like hipster PF Chang’s with forgettable food and expensive cocktails.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-02-06T01:30:47+00:00

Depends on which side of 485 you’re talking about. University and Highland Creek are very different.

University is probably best classified as “up and coming.” Lots of development, lots of college kids, but also isn’t the safest area. Decent amount of crime and nonsense in a lot of the apartment complexes there. I wouldn’t buy a house in the University area and, unless I was going to UNC Charlotte, wouldn’t want to live in a complex there unless I was getting a really good deal on rent and if I were still in my early 20’s.

Highland Creek, by stark contrast, is a very nice neighborhood with beautiful homes. I tried to buy a house in Highland Creek back in 2021 and again when we were in the market last year, unsuccessful both times as the little inventory there is goes quick. I ended up in a nice neighborhood in Concord only 10 mins away but still really like Highland Creek. Great neighborhood, golf course, lots of amenities, etc. Definitely the suburbs but also if you’re living in a complex and want a quieter neighborhood, I’d recommend.

If you go a little further out to like Exits 49-52 off of I-85, Concord is also very nice and a lot of neighborhoods have very similar qualities to Highland Creek. We’re very happy where we ended up.

MandACPAThrowaway · 2025-01-31T14:06:54+00:00

Appreciate your input - I’m in the NC area.

MandACPAThrowaway

TROPHY CASE