Sun leaving lighter rectangles" - did you try touching those up or just gave up?

Four clients in a row" lmao dude skipped convincing you and just let his clippers do the talking. I was the same way with the cheap white plastic guards that came with my Wahl kit, swore up and down they were fine until I finally caved and bought a proper set. Now I look back at the hacked haircuts I gave with those things and cringe hard.

Yeah I actually read a repair guide online that mentioned lighter fluid for sticky blades, always figured it was one of those old wives tales people swear by. Never tried it myself since I mostly shoot digital now but good to know it actually works on those old AE1s. Always better to try the quick fix first before gutting the whole thing.

You been out there yet? I have, and I'll be real with you, it's one of those places that hits different when you're actually standing in it. The heat and the dust and the complete silence just make those carvings feel even more ancient, like you're looking at something that shouldn't exist yet. My advice is go on a weekday morning if you can, way less people and the light is better for photos. Bring good walking shoes too, the ground is uneven as hell and you don't want to be that person staring at your feet instead of the pillars.

Agree completely - I did the same thing with my own kitchen a few years back and ended up with a fine layer of sawdust on everything including the cat. That conversion varnish stuff is no joke though, a buddy of mine used it on his place and it came out glass smooth compared to my roller marks and brush strokes. You might still be able to throw a coat of something like General Finishes high performance topcoat over what you've got, just test a small spot first to make sure it sticks.