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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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  • A [email protected]

    An emergancy fm/am radio with a crank generator and solar panels.

    Came in clutch when power was out, not only could I listen in on the news, I could also charge my phone.

    I'd list it as unexpected because I did not expect to actually have to use it. But im really glad I had it.

    R This user is from outside of this forum
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    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #274

    The answer to infection is here

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    • 0 [email protected]

      I've found that it tastes kinda plasticky compared to my glass French press. Am I aeropressing wrong?

      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
      #275

      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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      • E [email protected]
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        wrote on last edited by
        #276

        A large magnet. I bought it on a whim ~20 years ago for $20 (still online for same price). I got it on a whim while buying gifts from an educational toy website. It comes in handy whenever I drop something small that ferrous or just need it to hold onto things.

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        • W [email protected]

          I have one always in my pocket, too, but I'd argue it's not "unexpectedly useful".

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          wrote on last edited by
          #277

          Ima be honest, I didn't think it would be this useful. I just thought it was probably ok for a good emergency knife but I have used all of the tools in this small handy dandy tool many times over.

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          • K [email protected]

            Honing does remove material. It shears off the ragged edge grains, and presses the other grains into alignment.

            Anytime you use a hone, you can run your fingertips along the knife edge and gather the removed grains of material.

            It's a very small detail but to say that a hone does not damage a knife or remove material isn't 100% right.

            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
            #278

            Oh I thought it just aligns the edge. I guess it does remove an amount of material. But I think it should be a lot less than sharpening

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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
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              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
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                [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.

                  0 This user is from outside of this forum
                  0 This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  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
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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
                        [email protected]
                        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
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                          [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
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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.

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                              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.

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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.

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                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #289

                                  What’s

                                  neutral oil

                                  and is it neutral regarding everything or just

                                  peppers

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                                  • catharso@discuss.tchncs.deC [email protected]

                                    they make apple slices taste weird though 🍏🥴

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                                    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]
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                                        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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