Home Improvement Thread

[LITT]

how do i make popcorn?

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Homemade popcorn on the stove is the bomb.

That being said, I respectfully disagree with meow’s opinion

[mac5155]

Whirly pop dude

[NTP66]

how do i make popcorn?

My wife got this when she had to choose an anniversary gift at work, and her and my daughter love it: https://a.co/d/fDOQj8B

[meecrofilm]

Whirly pop dude

This is the way. Superior to air poppers, assuming you're using the correct amount of popping oil.

If I'm craving a quick salty snack I may still put in a microwave bag since it's a smaller amount and takes zero steps, but when I'm settling in for a proper content night it's a big batch of whirly pop all the way. With a stove-friendly butter pourer as well of course.

[mac5155]

The stink bug invasion has begun. And this year they're bringing their friends, the spotted lanternfly. I just sprayed the entire perimeter with Demon WP, a cypermetherin based insecticide that has worked for the stink bugs in the past. I'm hoping it handled the SLF also. I found the tree where they're all feasting and sprayed it as well. Of course it is a tree of heaven. It'll be removed during winter. I've already removed about 25 over the past few years in preparation for this.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Mac what is your playbook for killing tree of heaven ? I have one growing behind my garage. Ive tried cutting it (before I knew what it was) and spraying it (didn’t work)

[mac5155]

You can "hack and squirt" to kill it using a hatchet and triclopyr (Garlon 4 is my choice but just get online to match up the active ingredient and %). You have to get the herbicide into the heartwood. Then, you cut it down after about a month. Do not connect any of your hacks together. The tree will assume it has been cut and send up shoots from the roots. Now is the time to do this. After you cut it immediately (like within minutes) treat the stump. Then I would continue to treat the soil for any suckers for several months using standard glyphosate.

[mac5155]

https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven

They say glyphosate kills it. In my experience it only kills small green suckers. The ones I am removing (and have removed) are fully grown, 40 feet tall/12-15 inch diameter trees. Triclopyr was the only thing that worked. (my wife works for a right of way clearing company so I got the advice from their staff arborist)

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Thanks. I gotta kill this mother effer because it’s in a supremely crappy spot.

[mac5155]

July to winter it's sending nutrients down to the roots. That's why you kill them now. In winter to July it sends nutrients up, so killing is less effective.

[mac5155]

It's very frustrating seeing them cutting alongside roads and they are just mowing them over and not treating. If the state wanted to take SLF seriously they'd require more strict treatment. Every one you cut down will send 5-10+ up depending on size

[nocera]

We get tiny ants every fall/spring. Normally terro bait makes quick work of them. This time, even after the terro, they’ve been sticking around. I’ll usually see a few on the walls/ceiling. They’re now showing up in the bathroom and generally avoiding the bait, even after a switch to Advion bait.

There are never more than a few at a time but I’ll generally be able to spot them each time I enter the bathroom so clearly there are more somewhere. It might be time to admit defeat and call an exterminator company. Any Pittsburgh recs?

[nocera]

Blame Morkle.

[nocera]

Blame Morkle.

[nocera]

Blame Morkle.

[willeyeam]

Yo dawg heard you're getting some ants

[willeyeam]

Our company uses Terminix in Pittsburgh

[Ad@m]

Yo dawg heard you're getting some ants

[NTP66]

Garage door was open all night, and I must have missed the alert in MyQ. Started playing around with the travel and force, but had to leave for my doctor’s appointment. It just dawned on me that the insulation on the door probably came loose at the bottom and is triggering the automatic reversal. I regret touching that travel knob because it’s going to be a pain to adjust again.

[count2infinity]

I guess this would go here? Not sure where else to put it.

Any suggestions on temp control for beds? Wife is having some night time temperature regulation issues. Lots of sweating. Was curious if there are systems out there that do some sort of ventilation or active cooling. It seems like there are... bed jet, eight sleep (subscription for this? no thanks), sleep me, etc. Just curious if anyone has experience with such devices and products.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Sleep Number has some options, but the bed's are way overpriced and I generally wouldn't recommend from my experience as I don't think the benefits are worth the costs. Granted, I haven't tried their newer options that have temperature regulation embedded into the bed.

The option that we went with is called DualTemp. It attaches to the bed and basically blows either warm or cold air into a mat that you put on top of the bed. It works okay, but it is noisy so it might wake you up if she puts it on in the middle of the night. You might be able to get it by itself to use on a non Sleep Number bed.

[nocera]

We didn't go with any of the temp pads but I really do love our sleep number. We have a "I8 Flextop King 360 FlexFit 2" which is a ridiculous name for a bed. But, it's the best bed I've ever slept in. And for the money, it better be.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Sleepnumber beds are just fancy inflatable mattresses. We owned one for 5+ years.

[NTP66]

Got our first electric bill in like 9-10 months… for $3.59.