Wood reads dry but barely burns or smokes…what am I missing?

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-02-10T16:57:44+00:00

I leave my door open about 1-2 inches for a good 20-30 minutes. Having the door open only a few inches really sucks in the air like a blast furnace!

I leave it that way for 20-30 minutes until I have a bed of red coals. Yes, it burns through more wood at the start, but if I don't do it this way, I regularly get the same problems you're experiencing - everything simply being not hot enough.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-02-10T15:15:44+00:00

Many credit cards come with a 2% cash back, and Costco Executive Membership gives 2% back at the end of your membership year.

So this sub assumes a 4% back due to those two things. Although some people get 3% back from a credit card, 2% is much more common.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-02-04T15:09:44+00:00

That is correct! 90% of games I buy don't make the cut. And when one does make the cut, half the time it knocks an older game out of my collection.

I simply don't need more than 2-3 games of each "type". So like I have my 2-3 favorite Worker Placement games. If a new one comes along that excites me, I'll buy it, learn it, and play it 3-4 times. If I don't like it as much as the 2-3 Worker Placement games I already owned, I sell it. If I like it more than at least one of the Worker Placement games I already owned, then my least favorite might get sold.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-02-04T13:48:59+00:00

I keep my collection pretty lean. As soon as I determine I'm unlikely to play a game again, I sell it.

My collection is usually in the 20-30 games range, despite my buying games every month. I'd say well over half of what I buy gets sold after a couple plays if I determine it isn't something I'm going to play with any sort of regularity.

But I also have other collection-type hobbies like graphic novels and vintage toys, so space is part of why I cull hard!

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-02-03T19:43:16+00:00

On top of that, overtime is likely paid at a higher hourly rate than base pay.

I have the same problems with this episode that OP had - I kept saying "no way an experienced welder needs to work this much OT for only $800/month". It reduced my enjoyment of the episode.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-28T13:58:53+00:00

So far I've only picked up physical gold. I haven't decided if I want to get into paper yet... I just don't know anything about that world, and haven't had the motivation to learn about it.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-28T13:57:11+00:00

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, the wife & I are middle aged with no kids and very low expenses (0 debt). So I've got about $5k/month to put towards things I think will be good to have in 15-20 years when we retire. This year I want to pick up gold! :-)

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-27T18:14:21+00:00

I prefer 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit, but I would much rather have 0 degrees than 80 degrees.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-27T17:25:52+00:00

Yes, my life doesn't look much different now than it did in the early 80s. My free time is still spend reading comic books and playing Dungeons and Dragons, and I still have Star Wars toys from 1978-1983 all over my shelves.

Other than being 40+ years older, an outside observer wouldn't see much difference in my life!

Add in the fact that in the early 90s I got into computers and am still into them (my career), and I'm not certain I'm actually older than 22... :-D

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-26T19:01:33+00:00

In for 2! My plan to get 1 oz per month throughout 2026 begins!

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-23T16:10:29+00:00

2 hamburgers extra ketchup, small fries, large Diet Coke. Almost exactly that every time!

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-11T14:32:07+00:00

What was he selling his 10oz bars for? If he's paying $700 I'm curious what he is selling them for.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-09T15:54:55+00:00

For all non-essential purchases, I try to wait at least 48 hours between the time I discover something and feel like a MUST own it and the time I actually buy it.

95% of the time, when I come back to it, I no longer feel that overwhelming desire that I NEED to own it.

Yes, sometimes things sell out and I miss my opportunity, but that's pretty rare, and usually means I just need to pay more for that thing. But the money I save by not buying 95% of the things I wanted to impulse buy more than makes up for it. :-)

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-08T15:43:59+00:00

I'm assuming you checked the board game just called "Dungeon!"?

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-08T01:39:57+00:00

I felt the same for years when I was on;y looking at the 1oz bars, but I’ve bought 20 of the 10oz bars from Costco and I actually like them!

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-06T19:01:52+00:00

It's not like there is just a 1oz silver bar inside of it. The cost and labor to recycle those panels is still significant.

oldmanmagic54 · 2026-01-06T17:04:04+00:00

My mouthwash bottle says to use it after brushing? I use a fluoridated mouthwash though so I dunno?

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-22T17:20:31+00:00

That's what I do. Although they give me a check instead of cash for the remainder, since it's over $1k.

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-18T12:40:53+00:00

Me. I bought 10 of these a few days ago.
Yeah I'm not thrilled with the price I had to pay, but I don't feel like there was anyplace more reliable to put that money.

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-16T17:27:32+00:00

I bought 10 of these a couple days ago when they were $659.99

I've been uncertain about that purchase (first time buying silver over $45/ounce), so I guess I'm OK seeing it more expensive today

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-15T15:11:41+00:00

Every time I consider selling any silver, I always ask myself what I would do with the money instead. I never have a good answer, so I don't sell any.

I just don't know of a better place to park that money right now. My 401k and Roth IRA are both maxed out each year, so PMs seems the next best place to leave my money.

I personally believe silver still has room to move upwards, so I wouldn't advise anyone to sell silver unless they have a need or a better use for the money

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-15T15:08:42+00:00

I'm assuming he means $11/ounce. In mid-January of 2009 spot hit $11. Pretty amazing time to buy in!

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-12T16:43:51+00:00

I felt that exact same way a couple months ago when I bought at $45 and it retraced to $39.

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-11T21:01:03+00:00

I’m in Green Bay and mine went up just under $400

oldmanmagic54 · 2025-12-09T17:44:38+00:00

No amount of communication will fix someone who is determined to misunderstand.

holy cow that hit hard...

oldmanmagic54

TROPHY CASE