Guides and how-tos
Page 3 of 4, from 39 guides in all.
3D Print Filament Storage: Moisture, Drying and Shelf Life
Why wet filament pops at the nozzle, which materials go off fastest, safe drying temperatures for each, and the storage setup that actually holds under 20% RH.
PrintVault 7 min read 
Jobsite Photo Documentation: What to Capture and When
The photos that settle a dispute are the boring ones nobody thinks to take. What to shoot on a job, at which four moments, and what makes a photo record credible.
SiteProof 8 min read 
Sequence of Returns Risk: Why When You Retire Matters as Much as How Much
Two retirees with identical average returns can finish six figures apart. Here is the mechanism behind sequence risk, and what actually reduces it.
FireCalc 7 min read 
How to Winterize an RV, Step by Step
What actually splits when RV plumbing freezes, why pink antifreeze freezes at +16°F, and the order of operations that leaves nothing holding water.
RV Maintenance Log & Tracker 8 min read 
Coast FIRE Explained: When You Can Stop Saving
Coast FIRE is the point where your existing investments will grow into your retirement number on their own, even if you never contribute another pound.
FireCalc 5 min read 
The 4% Rule and Safe Withdrawal Rates Explained
Where the 4% rule came from, what its original study actually tested, and why the man who invented it now says 4.7% while others argue for 3.7%.
FireCalc 5 min read 
What Is My FIRE Number? How to Work Out What You Actually Need
Your FIRE number is roughly 25 times your annual spending, but the spending figure is where almost everyone goes wrong. Here is how to get it right.
FireCalc 5 min read 
How to Fix a Green Pool, Step by Step
A green pool is an algae bloom, and the fix is chlorine held high for days rather than one big dump. Here is the sequence that actually clears it.
ClearPool 6 min read 
NFPA 10 Fire Extinguisher Inspection Requirements Explained
Monthly inspection, annual maintenance, six-year internal, hydrostatic test: four different jobs on four different clocks. Here's what each one means, who does it, and how the intervals differ by extinguisher type.
Extinguisher Inspection Log 8 min read 
When to Replace Running Shoes: The Mileage Rule
Running shoes wear out from the inside, long before they look worn out. Here is what the 300 to 500 mile guideline really means and how to judge your own pairs.
ShoeMile 6 min read 
Baker's Percentages and Hydration, Explained Simply
Once baker's percentages click, you can read any bread recipe, scale it to any size, and change a dough on purpose instead of by luck. Here's the idea in plain terms.
BreadMath 6 min read 
Board Feet Explained: How to Measure and Buy Hardwood
A board foot is a volume, not a length, and mixing the two is how you end up with the wrong pile at the till. Here's the formula, the quarter system, and how to buy hardwood without overpaying.
LumberList 8 min read