{{ Stuff that just works }}

[IMA SOL MAN]

Pentel P series mechanical pencils. Became fascinated with these the first time I saw them on my Dad's desk when I was a little kid. I'm partial to the P209 lead size so I swap the guts from those into different colored bodies. This Rhodia notepad is sweet as well.View attachment 91511

I picked up a RHODIA notepad in Paris, France in 2005, and oddly still haven't used it up (I don't really care for the graph paper). It cost a ridiculous amount of money. I don't understand why things are so expensive in France (is it the trade unions?) but at the time I found writing paper there was very expensive compared to the USA prices.

When I was in school and later when I worked for a living, I used mechanical pencils quite a bit (they were called "Eversharps" in my youth, that may have been a brand name, IDK.) Now I never use mechanical pencils. I carry a short stubby pencil with my Rite As Rain notepad, but seldom use it. For the most part I use G2 gel pens (love medium in blue). They are a little messy, as the ink takes time to dry, but short of a fountain pen, it has been the smoothest pen I've found. My wife likes the Bic Crystal stick pens, but I detest it, too much rolling resistance, and I just hate writing with it.

 

[TPA]

You can say that again!

View attachment 91512

I had the Black 0.5 and Blue 0.7 Pentels like that in school. I hated writing with regular pencils as they wouldn't maintain a sharp point for long. At some point in the 80s I bought a Pentel(?) mechanical pencil which would automatically advance the lead when it became too short. Very 80s design, nice rounded edges throughout, ribbed all the way down, some teal accents.

I don't use mechanical pencils much these days, but I do have a few of the Uni Kurutoga pencils which automatically rotate the lead as you write.

 

[Bucur]

Mechanical pencils are my absolute favorites for woodworking. Since their tips are not conical (like conventional wooden pencils) the line does not get wider as it gets longer. Precise drawing tools have 0.5 mm holes for the tip to fit. Therefore, line width on wood remains consistent throughout. Knowing whether the inside or the outside of the line matters enhances precision.

 

[GMT2330]

Just received a new old stock Fisher space pen refill that I bought from ebay.
Date on the refill is 10/96. Still works! Not bad for nearly 30yrs old.

 

[Monocrom]

A quality refillable pen. It's always the cheap ones that crap out on me.

 

[TPA]

I still have one of these in my desk drawer, and yes, it still writes. These were quite the desirable pen 20 years ago. Whether at the medical school or in the hospital, everyone wanted one of these when the pharma salesholes came peddling their drugs:

 

[dc38]

I still have one of these in my desk drawer, and yes, it still writes. These were quite the desirable pen 20 years ago. Whether at the medical school or in the hospital, everyone wanted one of these when the pharma salesholes came peddling their drugs:

Wow...talk about memory lane, I had a few variants of that design, but they're all gone now...

 

[orbital]

+

Got one of these s a while back on a Lightning Deal ~ to give me more charging options off one of my inverters.
It lists PD3.1 which means up to 28V (and everything in between)
Plugging it into a 20 Amp 12V car type charger on my inverter was getting 136W,, so it has to be doing 28V since Type C is only 5Amps max.

why an I posting it??
Easy, Iv purchased a couple different things that say PD3.1 X and are not!

this actually is

https://www.amazon.com/LISEN-Charger-Adapter-Charging-Macbook/dp/B0CX1W5W41/ref=sr_1_3?cr

 

[pnwoutdoors]

Stuff that just works ...

30% Cleaning Vinegar -- diluted into a 32oz spray bottle of water, for a ~6% solution (5oz vinegar to 30oz water).

Good basic sanitizer, following a surface cleaning. Even fairly decent as a cleaner itself. For doorknobs, the toilet seat, kitchen countertops, kitchen cutting board, the clothes washer (assuming color-fast clothing), carpeting (if color-fast). Minus a short-list of various materials and surfaces (as the solution is moderately acidic).

Available at ~$20gal for the Harris branded product for the 30% (acetic acid) concentrated stuff, at any Home Depot or Tractor Supply. The "cleaning" vinegar at the typical grocery is generally 5% acetic acid content. Many of the off-brand, supposedly "cleaning" vinegars are <1% (ie, Tile Plus).

 

[troutpool]

Fiberglass step ladders.

 

[TPA]

Vinegar is wonderful stuff, but man, I can't stand the smell of it.

I do use it in place of fabric softener with my laundry and have done so for 25+ years. My towels are still absolutely as fluffy as new. I also use Charley's Soap.

 

[dc38]

Diatomaceous earth...If bugs had voices, You'd probably hear them complaining how thirsty they were up to the point when they died...Literally death by a thousand cuts. Also, don't breathe it in, It'll behave similar to fiberglass and asbestos.

 

[iacchus]

Do we have a Bags/backpack thread?
We should.

 

[TPA]

I just received my fan. It is incredibly powerful! I like the lights on it too. Thanks for the suggestion.

Just curious, does it have a user-replaceable battery? I just ordered another one and was originally enthused that they replaced the Micro-USB with a USB-C. BUT... no user-replaceable battery! No battery door whatsoever. Boo, hiss.

 

[TPA]

1 power strip, 22 outlets, 6 USBs:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP39NF2X/

I have a few of these now and it's nice to only have one power strip where I had 2-3.

I saw some Chicken Little on YouTube totally trashing these, "Oh noes... peoples are going to plug in 20x 15A appliances into one power strip and burn down their house!"

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

Fiberglass step ladders.

View attachment 93767

Shiver me timbers!

 

[The Hawk]

Just curious, does it have a user-replaceable battery? I just ordered another one and was originally enthused that they replaced the Micro-USB with a USB-C. BUT... no user-replaceable battery! No battery door whatsoever. Boo, hiss.

I do not see a way to replace the battery.

 

[ButchW]

Fiberglass step ladders.

View attachment 93767

Maybe a 10’er?
Butch

 

[troutpool]

Maybe a 10’er?
Butch

That would have been better, you're right!

 

[Monocrom]

Manual pruning secateurs.