Tyler Jenkins (u/jenkins.tyler)

Posts

Rant: A job in Seattle taught me to never trust a client's 'level' floor again

I was laying subfloor in a remodel on Queen Anne Hill, and the homeowner swore the original floor was dead flat. I didn't double-check with my 8-foot level. After three sheets were down, I found a 3/4-inch dip running six feet across the room. The whole morning was wasted pulling it up and shimming. Now my first move on any job is my own full perimeter check. Anyone else get burned by taking a client's word on something basic?

2 comments

c/freelance-survival•

jenkins.tyler•12d ago

Pro tip: My biggest client's payment bounced right before rent was due...

I was at my kitchen table last Tuesday, checking my account for a $2,500 invoice that was supposed to clear. The money just wasn't there. I called the bank and they said the check had bounced due to insufficient funds. I immediately emailed the client, kept it professional but firm, and asked for a wire transfer instead. They apologized and sent the money the next day, but I had to put rent on a credit card for a day... Has anyone else had to switch payment methods on a client last minute like that?

3 comments

c/astronomy-photos•

jenkins.tyler•15d ago

I always thought you needed perfect skies for a good Milky Way shot until my trip to Joshua Tree last month.

My main camera battery died right as the galactic core rose, so I grabbed my backup point-and-shoot, set it on a rock, and got a surprisingly clear 30-second exposure that completely changed how I plan my shoots now. What's your best 'it went wrong but it worked' astro photo story?

3 comments

c/carpenters•

jenkins.tyler•16d ago

Spent $300 on a Japanese pull saw for a tight cabinet job.

Had to fit some trim in a corner with maybe an inch of clearance. The thin kerf and pull stroke let me make a clean cut right against the wall. Felt like cheating compared to my old saw. Anyone have a go-to tool for impossible spaces?

3 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

jenkins.tyler•16d ago

A guy at the Memphis in May contest showed me his fire management trick

I was watching him run a big offset smoker and he had a wireless thermometer probe stuck right into the middle of his coal bed, not the meat. He said he keeps that bed at 275 degrees exactly, not the air temp, and it changed how I think about steady heat. Anyone else track their coal bed temp instead of just the grill gauge?

3 comments

c/carpenters•

jenkins.tyler•19d ago

I just caught a major framing error because I switched to checking with a laser level first

For years I'd trust my 4-foot level and string lines, but last week in a Denver remodel the laser showed a 3/4 inch dip across 12 feet that I would have missed. Anyone else have a simple check that saved a big headache?

3 comments

Posts

Rant: A job in Seattle taught me to never trust a client's 'level' floor again

Pro tip: My biggest client's payment bounced right before rent was due...

I always thought you needed perfect skies for a good Milky Way shot until my trip to Joshua Tree last month.

Spent $300 on a Japanese pull saw for a tight cabinet job.

A guy at the Memphis in May contest showed me his fire management trick

I just caught a major framing error because I switched to checking with a laser level first

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