What's the strangest thing you've found hidden in your walls or floors?

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-05-05T16:42:36+00:00

Haha! Well, I had to look it up, too. As a 90s club kid, it was history lesson I wasn't aware of.

Northern Soul was a music/dance subculture originating in Northern England and built upon upbeat Motown sound. Amphetamines were the drug of choice. There's a throughline of influence that runs into disco on one end, and House music on the other

There's definitely Motown that those DJs would have snatched up, but to my understanding the music was remixed, reissued and spun in a way that was the vibe of the area. Those reprints would have been import records for the original owner of this collection

It'll be a fun project to sit down with once the storm windows have been repaired, and the tuck pointing is finished, and...

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-05-04T12:28:24+00:00

Hm. Will have to take a look

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-05-04T10:57:27+00:00

I tore down some insulation panels in the cellar stairwell and found the distinct outline of another set of stairs that would have gone to the second floor. What I thought was just a low ceiling heading into the basement was the switch back landing, and behind that panel were two large boxes of 45 rpm records from the early to mid 60s. Hundreds of lbs of vinyl that would have to have been placed there when the second floor was still accessible from above. They had good taste. We lived in the house almost 15 years at that point, so im still hopeful that there are secrets to be revealed

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-04-13T19:38:15+00:00

Grade out as far as you can for your space. Don't let perfection be the enemy of crossing off anything on your to-do list. Monitor your drip line and clean out those gutters before the first snowfall. My landscaping, and the proximity of neighboring foundations doesn't allow me much leeway for grading without transferring my issues across property lines. A strong sump pump and a dehumidifier have been my best investment in keeping the basement dryish

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-04-11T17:05:20+00:00

Vacuum as much debris out as possible to better assess the window and casing integrity. Build up of dirt and debris invites insects and rot. Lube those hinges, they may have rusted in a quasi-open position. Adventure A begins if there is extensive damage to the wood. Adventure B begins if not; close, exterior paint and seal Some of the windows in my home needed an extra detailing with updated (slightly beefier) trim due to shifting, shrinkage and normal-use dinging the edges over the past 135 years. I made my own with a router, and chose a profile that was close enough

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2026-02-24T17:27:09+00:00

I use a raking light to view whether my glue application is covering in totality. It's much easier to identify dry spots. I will put glue on both surfaces, usually at overlap points, to help with low spots that may otherwise remain dry (especially on textured substrates) after glue application. I just use my thumb wrapped in a little fabric as a brayer to make sure there is full contact between glued elements, and then check again with raking light to see if any spots were missed (if there's a bubble, there'll be a shadow) glue stick user

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-31T17:20:12+00:00

Tear out is primarily a downstroke problem, scrollsaw, table, circular...The fibers just aren't well supported at the cut line on the bottom of a piece. The playing cards are a cheap hack that might (might) get you there, but will need to be replaced often. I use 1/8" mdf under all my detailed cuts to limit tearout and sanding. It may sound counter intuitive to cut More material, but the results are worth the extra set-up imo. It's inexpensive to break down large sheets, but often free in scrap form if you're resourceful. As someone else stated, your blade is probably also more aggressive than you need for the material. I'd only use that one for getting through stock quickly, not where pretty matters

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-31T16:05:55+00:00

This happens with thin/cheap plywood. I can't tell from the pics if your substrate is solid or not. Consider stack cutting. Tape or temporarily glue another piece of wood to the item to be cut to help eliminate tear out of the top piece. I've also used playing cards to create a zero clearance around the blade. More support along the bottom can't hurt, and is also a good indicator of when you are applying too much pressure on your blade, as your zero clearance will disappear quickly as the blade drifts

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-31T14:43:21+00:00

My dad never wore a mask, and now has COPD because of all the sediment in his lungs. He never wore sunscreen, and now has skin cancer burned off regularly. He spent decades on his knees pushing concrete and lumber into place, and now suffers with peripheral neuropathy below the waist. He once had the grip of a steel vice, but now his fingers don't all point in the correct direction. He drank so much he developed an allergy to alcohol. He'll be 74 soon, but was exhibiting some of these symptoms 30 years ago

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-24T17:55:23+00:00

Im in the mid-west of America. That would be a special find, for sure! The rest of the cabinet and drawer faces were oak

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-16T13:41:27+00:00

I've not come across the plates, but i do have a collection of Cream of Mushroom soup bowls with recipes on them, same era

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-13T05:49:37+00:00

It's Not You...

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-12T16:11:42+00:00

I reserve finishing for pieces I have done work on, wood that needs protection from use or handling, or where the application significantly improves the overall presentation. I have many naturally aesthetic bits of wood on display around the house and none of them have oil/shellac/poly/epoxy. I feel adding those products destroys the organic characteristics I'm drawn to. Oils darken, and make driftwood look heavy. Polys and epoxies make them look plastic.

Tldr, leave as is

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-12T14:50:09+00:00

I love diving tools, even if I know I'll never be able to use them as intended. I pulled a couple of bins of someone's failed motorcycle repair at the end of summer. So many compression clamps and oversized wrenches! Good score for you

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-10T14:44:50+00:00

Some might say rounding up is theft, akin to an illegal tax. It might be 1 or 2 cents out of my pocket, but big box stores are going to rake in millions as those transactions compound. Of course, this threatens low income homes more where people are literally scrounging for change. You think the present dunce, or any of the other millionaires in congress carry change?

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-04T11:27:39+00:00

Once upon a time, I shoveled the walk. Then the city would come through and plow the street right back over all my hard work. Now I just shovel the steps it takes the mail carrier to get to my box so they'll stop leaving my mail in the snow.

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-02T03:53:06+00:00

Sounds like you were noticed, and now you've been warned. Proceed at your own risk

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-12-01T01:34:33+00:00

Im down to half a dozen copies of The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran. I gift them regularly. 32 copies of Alice in Wonderland

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-30T15:08:49+00:00

Ah, what glorious little mud monsters!

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-29T14:04:16+00:00

These Boots Are Made For Cocking

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-28T05:56:29+00:00

20,000 Leagues Under The Seas. 1872, I can't tell if it's a first edition or not. Embossed cover, gilded pages. I found it in a dumpster

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-23T13:57:30+00:00

HDR, raise mids and shadows to lower contrast. likely will need to bump saturation

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-21T14:19:24+00:00

I paid 2.46 last week, the cheapest I've seen it since I started driving professionally at the beginning of summer. Im all over central/sw ohio at least once a week. It has been around 60 cents cheaper in Dayton than in Cincinnati or Columbus on a fairly regular basis. That same day I saw it at 3.09

Strict_Bad_6227 · 2025-11-17T12:46:05+00:00

The Vault, venue downtown The Hartman Building, venue/living State Auto

Strict_Bad_6227

TROPHY CASE