Evan Schmidt (u/evanschmidt)

Posts

Warning: A new hire fresh out of training asked me why we still use a certain old tool

I was showing a kid, maybe 22, how to prep a drop in a tight attic in Omaha, and he saw my old manual fish tape spool. He said, 'My instructor said these are basically museum pieces now, everyone uses the glow rods.' It hit different because he wasn't being rude, just genuinely curious, and it made me realize how much the gear has shifted in just a decade. What's one piece of 'old' kit you still keep on the truck that the new guys always ask about?

3 comments

c/ask-anything•

evanschmidt•1mo ago

My old pressure washer finally gave out on me this morning

I was about to start a driveway job in Springfield and the motor just seized up, no warning at all. Had to run to the rental place and grab a new unit, which set me back $85 for the day. What's a good brand for a reliable residential pressure washer that won't quit after a couple seasons?

3 comments

c/barbers•

evanschmidt•1mo ago

Always thought a hot towel before a shave was just for show

For years, I skipped the hot towel step on my own shaves, figuring it was just a fancy thing shops did to charge more. I saw it as a waste of time. Then, about three months ago, I had a guy come in with really coarse, curly beard hair that was giving him bad razor bumps. I was out of my usual pre-shave oil, so on a whim, I used a steaming hot towel on his face for a full two minutes. The difference was night and day. The hair was way softer and the skin was more relaxed, so my blade just glided. He came back two weeks later and said it was the first clean shave he'd had without irritation. Now I do it for every straight razor service. What's your go-to method for tough beards like that?

3 comments

c/auto-body-repairers•

evanschmidt•1mo ago

Serious question, do you still use body filler on quarter panels or go straight to metal finishing?

Back when I started at a shop in Kansas City, we'd slap on filler for every quarter panel dent, no question. The old guys taught me to get it close with a hammer and dolly, then just bury it in filler and sand it smooth. That was the way for years. But about 3 years ago, I started working with a guy who was a total metal maniac. He'd spend an extra hour with a shrinking disc and a planishing hammer to get the metal perfect, using maybe a skim coat of glaze at most. At first I thought he was wasting time, but the repairs held up way better, especially on cars that see salt. Now I'm split. The filler method is faster for getting the car out the door, but the metal work feels more honest and lasts. What's your shop's standard for something like a door ding that's pushed the metal in a good inch?

3 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

evanschmidt•1mo ago

Finally got that vintage Campagnolo derailleur to shift smooth after a full day of fussing

This old 70s Paramount came in last week, and the owner just wanted it to ride nice. The rear shifting was a total mess, sticky and clunky. I spent maybe six hours total over two days, cleaning every pivot point with a tiny brush and Tri-Flow, adjusting the limit screws a hair at a time, and re-threading the cable housing. The moment it clicked into the highest gear without a sound, I just sat back on my stool and grinned. It's not a flashy fix, but getting a piece of history to work perfectly feels so good. The customer picked it up this morning and his face lit up when he tested it. That reaction makes all the fiddly work worth it. Anyone else get a special kick out of bringing old, finicky parts back to life?

3 comments

c/carpet-installers•

evanschmidt•1mo ago

Rant: My rush job proved carpet acclimation isn't always needed

I had a client who needed carpet laid fast for an event. Many installers swear you must let it sit for hours to match room humidity. I went ahead and put it down straight from the truck. Two months later, there are no bumps or seams coming loose. In my view, we sometimes waste too much time on this step.

3 comments

Posts

Warning: A new hire fresh out of training asked me why we still use a certain old tool

My old pressure washer finally gave out on me this morning

Always thought a hot towel before a shave was just for show

Serious question, do you still use body filler on quarter panels or go straight to metal finishing?

Finally got that vintage Campagnolo derailleur to shift smooth after a full day of fussing

Rant: My rush job proved carpet acclimation isn't always needed

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