Isn't it funny how we write off dark stains as too much until we see them done right? I had the same flip with my kitchen table, where a rich brown stain turned it from bland to kind of inviting. @eva468 is onto something with how tiny fixes can shake up a room's feel. My neighbor went dark on her porch rails and now the whole space looks solid instead of cheap. It's like our eyes need a minute to catch up to what actually works. Guess I'm joining the dark wood fan club after all.

What kind of paint gauge does your uncle use, the kind with the little wheels? I mean, even with a number, you gotta figure out what that perfect number is for your shop, right? Maybe keeping a stupid simple logbook next to the mixer to write down the gauge reading and how that specific pour turned out would help. That way it's less about getting it perfect one time and more about seeing what works over a bunch of tries.

Oof, that sounds rough. What's the hardest part about using the paper maps now, compared to the phone?

Nice! That's a really smart way to explain it.

Leave it there. You could get fined and mess it up for everyone else. Just take a photo.