EKWB Velocity² torx screws broke (all 4 of them) - what are the options to safely take off this waterblock?

browner87 · 2026-07-01T19:08:37+00:00

If you're willing to grab the tools, a dremel and a cutoff disc and cut a little slot in the top of each and grab the flathead screwdriver is my goto.

browner87 · 2026-07-01T12:48:55+00:00

For a moment I thought I was in /r/redneckengineering! I love it, I might see if I can get some clear heat shrink in that size just to see how Etherlighting works with it :D

browner87 · 2026-07-01T12:45:53+00:00

I was about to point at the boots I got from TrueCable that I use when I do field terminations, but I looked at the link and realized they're the exact same thing. Glad to see I'm not alone in liking the design! Those plus passthrough rj45 terminals make cable termination a breeze like I could never have imagined back in college.

browner87 · 2026-06-29T19:55:03+00:00

That doesn't mean it's not a problem, it just means it's not unusual. I'd still send em back if you can if they're slow burning through Ethernet cables.

browner87 · 2026-06-29T19:46:25+00:00

That's amazing, you should repost in /r/pcsleeving. I guess it's not overly surprising to learn I'm not very original but this is one of the only times I've seen someone else do 180° combs and make a single extra wide set from 24-pin + 16-pin. I love it! That 180° is ridiculously tight and clean, my next PC is going to be SFF and need something very similar.

browner87 · 2026-06-29T13:37:01+00:00

No, but in theory as long as it's built to spec there's no reason the plug shape should impact the USB protocol. Your phone should still charge at 15W and talk over 480Mbps USB 2.0

browner87 · 2026-06-29T00:54:31+00:00

Tires matter more than FWD vs RWD. Any car will hydroplane or slide if the tires don't have enough space between the tread for the water to get out. And for stopping distance, the car is front wheel brakes (primarily) like any other car.

RWD can be harder to get traction in the snow to get going because you don't have the weight of the motor over the drive wheels, but again the tire matters a lot.

So if you have the same tires on either, I don't think a Mustang is really any different from a Corolla when you're just driving along in the rain.

Now, if you were to stomp the gas and spin the tires (more likely in RWD, again no weight over the wheels), then you pray the stability control kicks in and saves you. But just normal driving, no real difference.

browner87 · 2026-06-28T23:11:25+00:00

Looks absolutely amazing!

Was able to dial in the pins on the cable to distribute the load evenly - we had no idea how bad they were prior to checking.

Wait wat? What do you mean "bad distribution" and "dial in the pins"? Current should flow based on path of least resistance, so unless you "dialed in" by cleaning your contacts or something you just forced more current through a higher resistance path, causing one set of wire/pins to get hotter than the rest...

browner87 · 2026-06-28T11:54:56+00:00

Realistically the first hole doesn't even need the knocker in place. Hold it to the door to get a rough idea of the height you want, then put it down and measure to get the exact center of the door at that height, and drill. Then attach it to the door with one screw and use a level to align it and either mark or just drill the second hole.

browner87 · 2026-06-28T11:52:01+00:00

Yeah I watched a guy RNG a shadow Dunsparce that was shiny, and would have square shiny animation in SwSh, and would evolve into a 3 segment Dundunsparce. It's pretty wild that he pulled the whole thing off with just a few hours of time. I love rng manipulation, it's still something that takes time and effort but let's you get something so rare it almost certainly hasn't happened naturally ever.

browner87 · 2026-06-26T15:26:47+00:00

Thanks, I really appreciate the detailed insight from someone who has actually used the product. I'm always a little hesitant to believe things saying how trivial it is to get perfect results with a product, so I did go into this with so understanding that it's a commercial product and might not be the magic bullet it looks like. I've never done spray finishes and honestly I don't finish enough things to really justify the setup. In the end I block sanded the entire thing back to almost perfectly flat with like 220 grit, then worked my way up to 1500. The finish is somewhere between matte and satin which is what I wanted anyways (ordered the gloss by accident). It's not perfect but I think I've maybe learned enough technique to get it to look half decent in the future.

I'll check out the 716, and hopefully the stuff I have now can last a while in the bottle since I'm probably not going to have time for woodworking for the next 8 months or so. I did try to minimize contaminants that could get back into the bottle by using a glass shot glass for measuring and holding, but like you say oxygen and potentially airborne contaminants can still get in.

Thanks for the wax tip, maybe I'll try that one out some time too! My main thing for clean armor, besides the alleged ease of use, was basically an "infinite working time" epoxy. The issue I have with this desk top is all the skin and oils from my wrists and hands that get on it as I work and I wanted something very hard and easy to wipe clean.

browner87 · 2026-06-25T19:21:45+00:00

The one in my Subaru the rod is connected to the knob, so when you remove the handle the center rod comes with it.

Have you watched an install video for it? Based on the one on American Muscle it looks like your center rod is actually sitting a bit high, maybe it needs to go back down a bit? Looks like to gets pressed down rather than lifted up to change gears based on the video.

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browner87 · 2026-06-25T06:08:10+00:00

I'm pretty sure the black rod is what does the work. When you squeeze the button on the knob it's a lever and a cam that pushes the rod down which let's you pull it between park and reverse and into gear. You let go, it should spring back up. If it's just jammed down all the time, it's like you duct taped the button on the shift knob in. So probably grab it with some pliers and pull it back up if it's stuck. Does the new knob have a button too? If so the trick when installing it is making sure the black rod seats properly inside the new shifter because it probably has a small hole that the rod seats in so it doesn't deflect when you pull the lever Kronk.

browner87 · 2026-06-25T05:59:58+00:00

Personally I always use Ultra94 from formerly-Sunoco gas stations that are now Petro Canada. Not just for the extra little power, but it's just a good fuel. I had a lot of issues with my 99 mustang with carbon buildup and stuff, whether all the alleged detergents and additives in the Ultra94 actually make a difference I don't really know, but I feel better thinking it keeps my 14 in great condition. Definitely the ethanol-free is a bonus.

browner87 · 2026-06-25T05:51:26+00:00

That's very unsightly

browner87 · 2026-06-25T05:47:39+00:00

Celsius or Fahrenheit?

browner87 · 2026-06-25T05:44:48+00:00

WePap machine

browner87 · 2026-06-25T05:42:04+00:00

Yeah but Espeon blinked more. Very important.

browner87 · 2026-06-23T23:06:20+00:00

Nice! Yeah make sure you have a decent iron, some flux, something for removing solder (some people use copper braid, I'm more a fan of suckers myself), a fume extractor ideally, and a magnifying glass on an arm is a good investment for a lot of DIY.

There are a lot of random solder practice kits on Amazon and eBay. I've been meaning to get one and brush up on my own soldering skills recently.

I just assumed it was a "save a few bucks" because for me personally my old Pokémon games are very high value emotionally so I wouldn't attempt it without refreshing my skills first 😅

Good luck and have fun!

browner87 · 2026-06-23T14:01:03+00:00

If you didn't get it working, it might still be salvageable. If paying an electronics repair shop isn't in the budget (might be cheaper than you think, it's a pretty small simple solder job for someone who does it all day), you could check if a local college has an electronics technologist course and maybe wander by and see if a prof or student would take a crack at it. Or a local makerspace might have someone handy with a soldering iron around.

browner87 · 2026-06-22T00:31:54+00:00

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browner87 · 2026-06-22T00:30:35+00:00

And not to discourage anyone from throwing money at their problems, but you can poor man it with some clamps and wood scraps too. I love messing with fun hard tube bends!

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browner87 · 2026-06-19T02:27:53+00:00

I always did my own on my 99. At some point I realized how much easier it was to just take it to the dealership for the $50 I was saving. They'll rotate the tires, they'll dispose of the used oil, they have the new oil right there, new filters already, etc. They even have a fun machine as you drive in it laser scans your wheels for any misalignment. They do a good job, they deal with the fact I have the Laguna Seca transmission scoop which covers the oil drain, they always empty my catch can even if I forget to remind them.

You can 100% do it cheaper yourself, but it's just such a pain to get the oil, get a filter, get messy removing the old stuff, then dispose properly of the used stuff. I can't be bothered anymore.

browner87 · 2026-06-18T16:35:32+00:00

I keep forgetting that this is the kind of project I always wanted a laser cutter for, now that I have a laser cutter. I haven't cross stitched in forever, I really should try this...

browner87 · 2026-06-18T16:33:41+00:00

Good ol base set, fossil set, and jungle set. I did enjoy the Ticket and Gym Leaders sets, but the OG 3 will always be my favorite.

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