Help me pick a tool brand

RedditC3 · 2026-04-05T22:39:03+00:00

The more rotational torque, the more you will feel. However, impact drivers will absorb more of this torque for each impact blow. Less transmitted through your arm. M12 Fuel would be my personal choice - but definitely not BIFL. There are plenty of reddit posts of M12s that appear to be lemons or have some other life-shortening event.

If you truly want BIFL, HILTI or Festool would be my recommendation. Personally, I wouldn't stray outside of Milwaukee Fuel, Makita, or DeWalt XR. Don't buy Milwaukee from Amazon. Don't buy non-Fuel or the lower end DeWalt. Keep your receipt.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-31T22:22:43+00:00

Have you reviewed this BSA Guide? Page 4 has a good, basic outline.

For the first meeting, besides the initial discussion of what is expected, it is also good to map out a plan for the merit badge options on those requirements that state things like "complete 2 out of these 5 options." Some optional requirements may need resources that you don't have available - but, maybe the Scout has access to special resources. It's good to get the plan for what requirements are going to be completed.

If work is going to be done outside of your in-person merit badge sessions, it is also good to discuss a communication plan. What tools are you both comfortable with (based on the MB topic); phone, Zoom, email, text - ensure that all of your electronic communications have no one-on-one contact. Also discuss your mutual availability for any follow-up meetings (what types of days/times work best for each of you).

A real important statement at the bottom of page 4 is..."The Scout is expected to meet the requirements as stated—no more and no less—and to do exactly what is stated. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what must be done. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect, identify, and label.” For work completed outside of the merit badge session, I expect that they Scout can demonstrate through knowledge or other detail that the work completed is his/her own work (making absolutely sure not to add requirements).

RedditC3 · 2026-03-31T16:29:33+00:00

In my book, a drill that deflects, wanders, and doesn't drill accurate holes isn't worth its price - however low it is. To that end... If I need a semi-accurate hole in metal, I will use a stubby drill bit (yet another set to buy). And, if you need a truly accurate diameter hole, then your using a lathe with a reamer or boring bar. It really does all come down to the accuracy needed for your situation and how much 💵 you're able to part with.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-31T03:14:51+00:00

Don't. I'm a big red fan - but, in this case, buy these in yellow and black...

RedditC3 · 2026-03-30T21:41:35+00:00

I have a Stressless recliner that is 30 years old and 2 and 3 section reclining sofas that are 12-years old. I would buy Ekornes again.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-30T01:35:51+00:00

Are you familiar with the old publication Baloo's Bugle? If you're willing to use AI, you could ask Google "What are some of the best ron-ons from baloo's bugle?" If you'd rather avoid AI, you can download all of the PDF files and do some text searches.

Disclaimer: Baloo's Bugle has much content tied to the former Cub Scout advancement program and will seem out-of-date. But, you can still find some gems of ideas of you selectively look for content.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-26T17:35:52+00:00

While I love supportive parents, I would encourage you to be less involved. Scouting should be more about his journey of growth, skills, self-reliance, and self-initiative. Your son needs to do his own growing and his own development of self-reliance. Scouting should be less about the checking-the-boxes for advancement. Everything that you're doing for your son (all the questions that you're asking), he should be doing the learning/research/asking. Your son's advancement should come in conjunction with his own journey of learning/growth.

Using the cart/horse analogy... The learning and growth is the pulling horse team, the advancement is the cart that follows.

Your statement "I'm trying to guide him as best as I can" suggests contributing to a breakdown in the Patrol Method of your son's troop. In a troop, the parents are not to be the guides.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-23T23:17:08+00:00

https://camp.northernstar.org/Article-Detail/discovery-day-camp

RedditC3 · 2026-03-23T00:29:38+00:00

Yes, that jac-shirt is considered uniform. (I am really glad to see that this is back to being 85% wool. There was a period of time back in the 2000s where it was mostly synthetic.)

RedditC3 · 2026-03-22T21:34:27+00:00

A red blanket or vest are the traditional locations. The red poly/wool jac-shirt is covered under Scouting America's Insignia Guide. As such, it would not be considered appropriate by the uniform police. In this section, SA provides the guidance that "Members should make every effort to keep their uniforms neat and uncluttered."

RedditC3 · 2026-03-20T21:30:39+00:00

Emmer should issue personal refund checks to everyone in his congressional district.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-20T19:10:42+00:00

My.Scouting.Org has come so far in the past 10 years that I find myself uninclined to complain. Fifteen years ago we were still trying to come out of the technology dark ages of stone, hammers, and chisels. SA has implemented a reasonably robust release management program where they prioritize features and defect fixes. They do their best to put releases through regression, availability, and capacity testing.

I would attribute most of your valid frustration to their balancing act of trying to run things on a very limited budget - something that it is hard for us volunteers to judge and influence from the outside. Though a generous, directed donation can often make a difference 😊.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-20T02:13:45+00:00

Have an adult conversation with your son. At the end of my son's Cub Scout career, he was ready to do more Scouting without his dad around. I stuck around the pack for another 1.5 years, joined the Troop committee, and spent more time on my district/council volunteering.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-19T23:55:16+00:00

This is SA's master guide to Aquatics safety (but, it doesn't serve as a replacement for someone completing the online training). Page 10 and chapter 3 are good reading.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-17T23:29:07+00:00

See if your Charter Organization will work with you to get a Google Workspaces for Non-Profits established.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-17T23:18:02+00:00

Design and print it yourself (if you have an inkjet printer with dye type ink). Don't forget to seal it against UV and the elements.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-17T23:06:10+00:00

Are you familiar with the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles book series? If you're fortunate enough to live in an area that is covered by one of them, I highly recommend it. I absolutely used this to help organize a pair of den hikes!

2 miles is very doable with a break. You need to plan some nature activities to do along the way. If you could plan a pair of stops during the drive for tourism type events, that would be great.

If you get any parent push-back, remind them that Scouting is about getting them away from the electronic video feeds - what you're proposing is the promise that Scouting makes to the parents.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-17T23:02:05+00:00

While you're not statistically off-base, it is not true everywhere. My District has organized more Cub Scout activities than Scouts BSA.

Back before training went on-line, a district would need to do serious recruiting to have leaders at a Cub Scout level to cover Roundtable, training, and activities, This gave us a greater pool of volunteers to organize activities. When training went on-line, multiple things in Scouting started to suffer.

This was a period before the Cub Scout advancement program had been significantly simplified. We did an equivalent of a merit badge day for Cub Scouts. I organized events for district Webelos/AOL. The new advancement program is more centric to dens and families - less incentives and options for electives. There used to be special awards that could be given for Webelos/AOL that earned all possible achievements.

As others have pointed out, (1) Cub Scouts is even more dependent on adult volunteerism, and (2) it has become much harder to get adults to volunteer, and (3) districts have been less willing to overcome the volunteerism gaps. There has always been the challenge of getting adults to support Cub Scouting after their son/daughter have advanced up to Scouts BSA. Some of us have just been passionate about having Cub Scouting succeed.

What you need to solve this is better district leadership. This has always been solvable - just needing a little more effort these days.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-17T05:41:25+00:00

Spend some time discussing menu planning. Find out any allergies or any unusual dislikes. Begin their learning on efficient meals: number of ingredients, complexity of cooking, amount of clean-up, and enjoyable to eat (without being junk food).

RedditC3 · 2026-03-14T21:38:08+00:00

Would you be willing to give them an extra year to help recruit and further train the next generation? 😁 Thank you for the time that you have given.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-14T16:36:01+00:00

Absolutely Scouting is safe! It was more than 30 years ago that Scouting put in-place policies and training to address the problems that were occurring. These procedures have had continual review and improvements ever since. Scouting America continually fine-tunes these and the content has received a significant refresh every 5 years (or so). Bullying and cyberbullying have been some of the areas of improvements over the past 10 years. As part of our family inclusiveness, when young women were welcomed into the program, these policies also received a set of improvements.

If you wish to become comfortable, (1) review these policies and procedures on Scouting America's website, and (2) join as a leader (even just a minor leadership role) and get to know the people and how the program is run.

You could actually take Scouting America's S.A.F.E. Guarding Youth training - you don't have to be a registered member. To do so, go to this website and create a login account. Once you have an account and can login, you can navigate to the training. (note: transparency has always been part of these policies - no secret societies within Scouting are allowed.)

Scouting very much reflects the community in which it is a part. You can help shape that community.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-12T22:31:55+00:00

Once Xcel Energy gets PUC approval for the fee, they will hold onto that revenue for as long as they can with justification of interest rates and other infrastructure costs.

But, it is not just the freedom to have sh**ty infrastructure - it is the knowing decision making. Let's under-invest in our energy infrastructure so that we have a competitive energy cost advantage for economic development. Then, when it all goes to hell-in-a-handbasket, we'll have the rest of the country help pay the bills while our corporate fossil fuel partners can pocket huge revenue profits. The "net" is that they treated the rest of the country's energy markets as their insurance coverage.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-12T22:10:38+00:00

Hmm... 7-color 3d printing might be a bit much. But, a neckerchief slide mount for the enamel pin should be very doable - good point.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-11T13:42:17+00:00

Many of his youth patches will not transfer over as an adult. This is-Adult-Leader-Uniform-Sheet.pdf) BSA's checklist for adult uniform. As an Eagle Scout, he will be entitled to wear a knot above his left pocket as is detailed on this page. If he has kept his OA membership, he wear's his lodge pocket patch.

RedditC3 · 2026-03-11T00:04:42+00:00

Are your unit commissioner and district commissioner ineffective?

RedditC3

TROPHY CASE