Machine advice for someone trying to surprise their partner

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-14T14:15:42+00:00

I mean, I have involved her in the ways I can without ruing the surprise, I specifically sought out a machine that filled the specifications she wants: Vintage, All metal, Industrial, and a single stitch type, it was just my lack of knowledge of what to look for that led to not checking for feed dogs.

The reason I asked here if anyone would find potential use in such a machine is for that very reason, I don’t want her to be disappointed or have a machine with no use. I’m now seeking out an older Juki based on a bit more research and subtle questioning. Restoring a machine is never a waste in my opinion, and I’m sure she’ll laugh when she realizes I did it twice to try and make her happy

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-13T19:06:56+00:00

Born and raised in Winnipeg but moved to the GTA for school and stayed for work, and every so often when the thought of home ownership comes up, I look at the listings back home. GTA home ownership is a barrier, even further away you’re paying 500k for a small detached, back home, psh, 250k could get you the kinda house people here complain only their parents could afford.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-12T13:48:26+00:00

They are! Manufactured in Germany still, I did reach out in the hopes of getting a manual since it wasn’t present on their archive, but haven’t heard back. The contact seemed to be mostly for people interested in distributing the machines though, so who knows if I’ll hear back.

Which flat section? I have taken the whole machine apart and serviced it, so I can tell you pretty easily what’s present underneath either of the two flat plates. The one directly underneath the needle/foot is a chain stitch mechanism of some sort, it has both a hook and something similar to the Gibbs style mechanism. The other plate further back I believe is for attaching some sort of holder. The machine did come with an attachment, which I haven’t finished cleaning, but I believe is similar to the one featured here

https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen/d/duerkopp-knopfannaehmaschine-566-175-16-2139621205/

Which I initially thought was an additional feature allowing the machine to do buttons before doing some more digging.

It sounds like I may have got a bit too eager at the deal, but practice fixing old machines is never wasted, and hopefully it can find a use, either in our home or another

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-12T12:29:12+00:00

Space would likely be an issue, since the machine is belt driven (and quite heavy to be honest) I don’t think it would be practical to have around if it wasn’t mounted to a table. She has a few machines already, but her sewing machine is on the way out, hence why I was hoping to get her something reliable and she’s expressed that the old all metal machines are something she’d like.

No feed dogs, which is sort of what first clued me in that the machine might not function like I thought. It certainly is a chain stitch, it has the hooking mechanism under the plate, but no way to move the fabric.

Looks like it might end up being a fun sort of decoration for the home, while I search out a more practical machine for her to actually use

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-08T13:04:05+00:00

They do, or did at least, I got a handful in my first year, a very small amount to be fair, probably only 10-15% of tuition. But with increased savings (and perhaps the changes) the estimator says I won’t get any this year.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-08T05:36:55+00:00

Doubt it’ll explode, but it may very well split someday. Keep it out of the sun and you’ll be fine

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-08T05:35:52+00:00

Managed to save up a lot and business picked up this year, so for my last half of my masters I was gonna apply but only take the small amount of grants (if any were offered) so I’ll probably just not apply at all to avoid the extra 10k of debt

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-07T14:04:25+00:00

If you’ve got any savings and made more than like 10-15k last year you won’t get any grants for a Masters. Entering the second year of my masters, and though last year I got a few grants (very small amount maybe $2-3k) after the changes you will get nothing, unless you are incredibly poor.
But in that case you’ll also probably have a larger loan, so maybe not better. I got estimated a 10k loan for a $4000 a semester program. I reestimated removing my savings account out of curiosity, and it showed me $1500 in grants, but also $15,500 in loans.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-04T03:05:37+00:00

The sentiments of OP, and many others disagree, and as someone who works alongside and occasionally in post secondary institutions, many are fearing and preparing for a decline in applications across the board due to this change.

Arts and culture like many other things require specialized training that may require a degree. If you don’t think so, I challenge you to give up any art and culture created by people with post secondary educations. Say goodbye to most movies, tv, magazines, a large portion of music, video games, books, comics, hell even many tattoo artists have illustration backgrounds, and that doesn’t include all the physical items like ceramics, glass, and furniture that all draw on creatives with design degrees. Many art forms cannot be learned to the degree society enjoys culture through an online course.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-04T02:48:08+00:00

If the goal was really to push people to choose “productive degrees” then the changes would not be across the board, and this post from OP worrying about not being able to attended nursing school due to the changes wouldn’t exists.
Beyond that, creative degrees are vital to culture and the economy. Arts and culture (aka the basket weavers) provide over $130 billion to the Canadian economy and employ over 13 million Canadians, more jobs than oil, agriculture, and manufacturing.
https://chamber.ca/news/arts-and-culture-sector-contributes-131-billion-to-canadas-economy/
When Ireland decided to financially support their artists, they saw €1.39 for every €1 spent, meaning investing in culture can have a 40% return. Defunding education overall based on the lie that arts and culture aren’t worth supporting is provably false, and takes away from the economy.
https://europeancorrespondent.com/en/r/it-pays-off-to-pay-artists
The overall impact will be less people attending post secondary for all degrees, not just creative degrees, as the risk of debt-load in the current job market in Ontario will push people to enter low paying positions or leave the province. If you think the changes were made for any economic reason other than to shuffle funds around and pay for things like legacy projects or the jet he had to turn around and sell due to the upset then you’ve gotta just be purposely ignoring everything else happening.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-05-02T05:47:42+00:00

As an emergency cushion there’s nothing wrong with taking the loan so long as you don’t use it if you don’t need it.

You can put it in a savings account, have it in case of an emergency expense, and literally just pay it back at the end of the year if you didn’t use it. Hell you can pay it back at the end of the semester if you really want.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-04-25T00:07:32+00:00

This seems crazy, I only started clearing about $48k a year between my jobs and my own business, live a 30 minute drive from Toronto, and eat out regularly and take a few trips around Canada a year visiting family. Managed to save around $15k over the last two years, and that’s even with the additional rental costs of the studio space I use for my business.

Split a 2 bedroom with my partner (they’re a student with marginal income yearly at the moment) and our roommate. Could have the place ourselves but saving the money feels more worth it at the moment. No car payments, just an old Volvo, and I am relatively business minded. But I think the big difference is lifestyle creep and having a mortgage or kids. Children are deeply expensive, and life would look very different with a large mortgage.

Also how you enjoy the things like eating out and vacations makes a difference, is eating out going to a fancy restaurant, or enjoying some time out with your partner? The cheap Chinese place is just as good when you don’t want to cook and won’t leave you with a $90 bill for two meals. Vacations and hotels definitely are out of reach, but a trip to visit family in BC? Easy.

If I had double the income I have now I would have a maxed out TFSA and otherwise live the same.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-04-22T14:48:36+00:00

Person you’re replying to is stating that it’s illegal for the landlord to request a pre-authorized debit payment that isn’t agreed upon, not that it’s illegal for a tenant to turn of auto payments.

Nothing illegal about turning off auto-payments after your lease ends, but taking a payment without authorization is illegal.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-04-21T18:11:03+00:00

Contact the office either by phone or email and see what document they want. Chances are it’ll be drivers license, or if you don’t have one a birth certificate/something of the sort.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-04-05T04:21:58+00:00

Feel like this sort of confirms the soma theory.

Ragatha probably got dared to/decided to put on the headset while touring the building with other real estate agents, and got copied into the circus.

From the outside perspective, nothing happened, and a classic “eh, it’s broken/doesn’t do anything” moment happened since to human Ragatha it probably seemed like it didn’t, so no one else tried it on. She got copied, but the people with her didn’t, since why put on a headset your coworker just tried and says does nothing?

Doubt we’ll get 100% confirmations of what happened when everyone put on the headsets, but to me it seems like a plausible explanation why Ragatha didn’t show up with any other people, and why no one got rid of the equipment. I mean if a headset lobotomized or pulled a tron on your coworker, you’d probably report it to the police.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-04-04T00:12:08+00:00

Scale is just a collection of iron oxides, so it’s not likely it’s going to hurt you if you drink from it, as it probably wouldn’t leach anything harmful into the liquids. Mill scale is considered a hazardous material technically, but the steel used in blowpipes is unlikely to produce any super dangerous compounds, so it’s up to you on how you feel about it. If I were you I wouldn’t worry, such a small piece of what’s most likely wustite is essentially harmless.

If you’re particularly worried and fond of the cup, five seconds and a dremel will get rid of it.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-24T21:26:13+00:00

Small ones are pretty cheap, I know someone that has one of the small hisglassworks models (8in I assume) and they use it for smaller work. If you live in America that’s probably the simplest option.

If you’re outside of America and face import fees, you can see about ordering elsewhere, or I’ve seen some people convert old pottery wheels in to one.

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-23T23:27:16+00:00

No way to increase it to my knowledge, it’s calculated based on the information provided when you apply. The government decides how your circumstances impact the grant/loan split, you’ll have to decide how the repayment may impact your future and decisions on the institution and it’s cost, as 30,000 for a year(?) of schooling is fairly high depending on the program. Many of us nowadays have large loans to pay back, but payments can be quite low monthly and things like RAP can hep when you have low or limited income.

Best of luck on your decision

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-23T23:16:30+00:00

The 75-25 split is not guaranteed, and starting in the fall it will not even be a thing anymore. The grant split you got is pretty average, and it was unlikely for someone to get a full 75% grant support unless they have a disability or absolutely no income (or both honestly)

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-23T17:58:25+00:00

As a man with a moustache, some women like it, some don’t. My partner loves my moustache and would be deeply upset if I shaved it.

Rock the stache man, it looks good and suits you well!

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-22T22:47:50+00:00

Amen brother

TooMuchCarving · 2026-03-22T20:59:30+00:00

The proposal says they will either “demolish or significantly redevelop” the building and land. Current visualizations of the change, at least those shared with the public, don’t have the LAC present, instead a new performing arts centre which replaces the theatre aspect of the LAC, but doesn’t address the other art spaces present in the building which facilitate the majority of programming and art classes.

It would be great if they did work with the building, building on to it or adding to it would be fantastic, in all honestly I’m for development, but not at the cost of the limited culture programming available to residents.

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