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  3. What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

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  • P [email protected]

    A swiss army knife sd classic. I have it on my keychain and use it a lot

    A This user is from outside of this forum
    A This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #279

    Yes, this. The best multi tool is the one you have on you on when you need it, and with one of these on my keys, I comes in handy more often then I thought it would.

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    • D [email protected]

      I became a full-on programmer after joining Lemmy. Coincidence?

      P This user is from outside of this forum
      P This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by
      #280

      Nope not a coincidence at all

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      • viking@infosec.pubV [email protected]

        Is it an authentic aeropress, not a cheap knockoff? There are a bunch that sell under the same name but aren't in fact manufactured by aeropress ltd., and those can taste off since the cheap plastic is not certified for use with boiling water, and might not even be bpa free.

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        wrote on last edited by
        #281

        It's Aeropress™ and purchased from a reputable roaster. I suppose it's unknowable to me if some shenanigans were pulled further up the supply chain.

        I'll add that the thing I noticed is that it tastes plasticky if I use water at 205°F but not 185°. I prefer the hotter temp because I think it gives a better extraction, and I need the caffeines.

        viking@infosec.pubV 1 Reply Last reply
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        • 0 [email protected]

          It's Aeropress™ and purchased from a reputable roaster. I suppose it's unknowable to me if some shenanigans were pulled further up the supply chain.

          I'll add that the thing I noticed is that it tastes plasticky if I use water at 205°F but not 185°. I prefer the hotter temp because I think it gives a better extraction, and I need the caffeines.

          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #282

          Very strange, I'm using water straight from the kettle just after bringing it to a full boil, and don't taste anything plastic.

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          • G [email protected]

            I have a IKEA pergola on my backyard and I've been trying to come up with a way to attach some plastic paneling on top of it without drilling. This might be it.

            R This user is from outside of this forum
            R This user is from outside of this forum
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            wrote on last edited by
            #283

            Most common adhesives will be less effective under hot (ie sunlight) conditions.

            If you don’t need it to come off, 3Ms GPH (General Purpose High-temp) VHB tape. 50% of your car is probably held together by it.

            G 1 Reply Last reply
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            • G [email protected]

              Not to mention the broke single mum tech neckbeards!

              M This user is from outside of this forum
              M This user is from outside of this forum
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              wrote on last edited by
              #284

              Go mombeards!

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              • R [email protected]

                Most common adhesives will be less effective under hot (ie sunlight) conditions.

                If you don’t need it to come off, 3Ms GPH (General Purpose High-temp) VHB tape. 50% of your car is probably held together by it.

                G This user is from outside of this forum
                G This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #285

                Thanks, interesting industry knowledge. I need the panels to come off some day though. Otherwise I would have looked at glues/epoxies from the start.

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                • tetris11@lemmy.mlT [email protected]

                  Yeah double glazed, and no hasn't been an issue by my reckoning

                  L This user is from outside of this forum
                  L This user is from outside of this forum
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                  wrote on last edited by
                  #286

                  Thanks that's good to know!

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                  • leadore@lemmy.worldL [email protected]

                    I've tried (electrical tape) that but found it is gummy and leaves a sticky mess.

                    S This user is from outside of this forum
                    S This user is from outside of this forum
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                    wrote on last edited by
                    #287

                    That's true. It hasn't mattered for me, as I have never removed any from the lights I blocked with it. I would assume the purpose made stickers would be better about residue if they need to be removed.

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                    • B [email protected]

                      No kidding. I saved enough for a big bag of zip ties.

                      B This user is from outside of this forum
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                      wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                      #288

                      Other shoppers bundled this purchase with a really big american flag.

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                      • H [email protected]

                        No. The heat from peppers is an oil. Dry finger tips absorb the oil. So either gloves or rub a drop of neutral oil on your fingers before handling peppers.

                        L This user is from outside of this forum
                        L This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #289

                        What’s

                        neutral oil

                        and is it neutral regarding everything or just

                        peppers

                        H 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • catharso@discuss.tchncs.deC [email protected]

                          they make apple slices taste weird though 🍏🥴

                          L This user is from outside of this forum
                          L This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #290

                          Make sure you rinse or wash a knife after sharpening it. The invisible blades aren’t great for our health.

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                          • vetoftheseas@discuss.onlineV [email protected]

                            Be careful with a stungun. It requires close range confrontation, and It's not effective if the assailant is drugged up or heavily drunk and ignores the shocks.

                            Mace gives good distance, and pepper in the eyes doesn't care about the stimulants in your blood stream.

                            Also practice with it. A large number of people carry self defense tools and choke under pressure/fail to use it correctly during situations.

                            L This user is from outside of this forum
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                            wrote on last edited by
                            #291

                            I’m so so so so so afraid of needing to use a fire extinguisher under pressure

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                            • E [email protected]
                              This post did not contain any content.
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                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                              #292

                              I got a cheap office chair when I moved out after college. It was like $15+20 and it's super comfortable and still use it daily over 10 years later.

                              It's just foam stapled to plywood but really good support.

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                              • L [email protected]

                                What’s

                                neutral oil

                                and is it neutral regarding everything or just

                                peppers

                                H This user is from outside of this forum
                                H This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #293

                                Neutral flavor. So something like canola. Things with a strong flavor can impact the taste of the dish.

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                                • J [email protected]

                                  eating chips with chopsticks also slows me down and some times prevent me from overeating chips

                                  S This user is from outside of this forum
                                  S This user is from outside of this forum
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                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #294

                                  You'll get better over time, so it's a time limited benefit.

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                                  • B [email protected]

                                    Wireless phone charger. I'll be stuck somewhere looking at my low battery life, and suddenly remember it's in my purse. It isn't the fastest charge but it is useful.

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                                    wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                                    #295

                                    Or called powerbank

                                    B 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S [email protected]

                                      Or called powerbank

                                      B This user is from outside of this forum
                                      B This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #296

                                      Or that yeah.

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