Greatest thing you ever got, or bought?

Sorry guys, I posted this same OP last night and then deleted it. Nothing bad, I'd just woken up in the middle of the night, posted, and then realized I didn't have enough personal gas to keep up with the thread before going back to sleep. I noticed just a moment ago a couple people had responded (to my then deleted thread) because they had read it and were responding when I deleted it. So, I thought I'd re-post it.

Here's the original thread...

What’s the greatest thing you ever bought or got from someone? I’m referring to that thing which you said… “How did I ever live without this thing?” That one thing which makes your life easier in ways you could have never imagined. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, some of these can be very small. And, it doesn’t have to be an expensive thing, some can be less than a dollar. If it made your life easier, then I’d love to hear about it regardless how big or how much.

I’ll go first. Mine is a little bit big, and the price was what deterred me for many years (i.e. not cheap), but once we finally got one, I couldn’t believe how useful it was.

We’d had neighbors and other folks telling us about these for years, but they were expensive (and I’m cheap sometimes). We had something sort of similar, and I just couldn’t justify (in my mind) getting something bigger. What we had worked…most of the time…but there was always some sort of a hassle or concession with it.

One day my MIL and FIL were visiting, and my FIL just infuriated me about something (not the point), and I told the wife… “Hey look, we’ve got some money, let’s just go buy one of these things…like TODAY!” It was totally not related to why my FIL pissed me off (well, maybe indirectly), but I’d had enough of people saying how useful one of these things was. I know, I know…so what is it, FCD!!??? Right?

Okay, so some people call them “Gators”, but “Gator” is actually a trademarked name by John Deere, their real name is a UTV, or Utility Task Vehicle. They are essentially a side x side ATV (four wheeler), except they are much larger. Now, you’ll see some of these things called “Razors”, and those are the fast sport versions, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the utility version with the dump bed, 4x4, off-road suspension and flotation tires.

We wound up getting a Kawasaki Mule and they had one in a diesel version, so we got that one.

This thing has turned out to be the most useful vehicle I could have ever imagined. It goes through anything. It will out-four wheel my truck. It will float across deep sand. Go through deep snow, carry tons of wood, fix fence, tow trailers, haul stuff, plow snow, go anywhere, do anything. These are just incredible vehicles.

For years we had tried to make a regular ATV (four wheeler) work. It had racks on the front and back for hauling stuff, but there was always a concession. Something would fall off, or you needed (12) bungee cords to hold something else on. It was endless. Then we got the UTV. I can pile bags of concrete, miles of wire and all other crap in the back of this thing and still haul me, the dogs, AND the wife out to where we’re going without a single hitch.

Now, I’m not selling UTV’s here; not everyone needs or even can use one, but I’m just describing that one tool you never knew you needed until you got it. And then it was like… “OH MAN!” Big or small, doesn’t matter; everybody has one.

What’s yours?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

A Masonic tie-stick pin. Grandfather, 1933, killed by train in Blythville Ark....

..that was all that was left of him...and hi heart ( the only part found n buried).

God Bless

I really like our Airfryer. It's really convenient. And it's a multi use one that let's you bake, broil, toast ec.

a reply to: grey580

Yeah, that's a good one! A friend of the wife gave us one when she upgraded hers. I'd always thought they were just a gimmick until we got that thing, and I was pretty shocked at how well it worked. Makes the best chicken wings ever!

The air fryer would definitely be on my list of "How did we ever live without this thing!".

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Yes, sentimental items can be important inspirational things. I have a couple knives which fit into that category. Started a lifelong obsession with knives.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

My Engineering ring.
Wear it 24/7/365.
Got it upon graduation.
Stainless steel ring worth $20, but it's value is the work it represents to study and pass Engineering

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

My own TIG welder! Before I get it, I always sayed I never need a welder, I can always borrow for the hot glue action I need.

Then I get the TIG welder -can do aluminium too- and now I find excuses for things to weld all time. Most of time currently I weld on a similar UTV that I built myself with the help of a friend. It is side by side, wider but lower than like the polaris RZR, has racing suspensions.

It got created from a similar idea like you need it for. I do like dirt hill climb and driven truck trials and wanted my own private hill climber. My friend looked for a mix of a tractor and ATV for steep hill tree work and need roll bar. I wanted make a roadster type frame but with the roll cage it is safe. I wish she could see it driving.

The TIG welder, by far.

a reply to: Naftalin

Another good one! I was kind of in the same boat as you. I always needed stuff welded, but never had a welder. Last year I bought a MIG/TIG/Stick welder (fairly nice one). I've never TIG welded though, so I still have to learn that part. It's quite a bit different than MIG/Stick welding. Man, there's some people who can do some fantastic looking TIG welds. That's a real art form, and you'd never think of welding as an art form...until you see some of welds these guys do on stainless exhaust systems and pressure vessels. Amazing stuff.

I learned to stick weld back in HS, but MIG welding is so much easier, especially when you get the machine set up correctly.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I have done the industrial welder training with certificate and could use the one's at work when needed. Then changed job and was missing capability in my garage.

Yes there are some real artful welds on stainless, many of them only look good and would not pass the xray. I learned stick welding, then MIG and TIG in two training units. TIG is my favorite it is clean work and precise. MIG is easy as long as the welder is setup a child could weld.

But TIG is easy too once comfortable. Last weekend I welded and found my helmet cage broke. Had to hold it in one hand like the cheap shields. With the filler wire in same hand and the TIG in the other, free handing it on a 12cm -4 inch- root weld that looked good.

It's just training, training, training and flesh lessons. Last year I crawled in the tubular frame with the welder and rob forward and lean on the fresh weld spot with my under arm, where the glove ends. Burned the pattern of the glove's border into my flesh, second degrees with oozing. Drove the thing 380km the next day to vacation in rain and wearing a t-shirt, the wound in the wind since no windshield and nothing.

Who needs tattoos or brandings, when you're swinging a welder?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

In Intensive care over a Christmas..I traded a Rosary for Moslem Prayer Beads...to a kind nurse.

Another, brought me a stuffed animal...a dog cause ours was locked home alone n I was worried..alone on a floor, Christmas, wife admitted 2 floors below.

It's the small things in life, that can be HUGE

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Agreed!

a reply to: Naftalin

Yeah, you learn real quick why welders wear those funny hats...right after you take a molten hot BB inside the shirt collar and down the back. Even old guys like me can learn to do the most fantastic and gymnastic ballet moves in less than a half a second!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I posted this on your now deleted post. So again...


Buckwheat husk pillow. Got one as a gift. Loved it so much I bought one years later as a replacement.

They take a few nights to get used to. Where most pillows are soft and "spongy", the husk-filled pillow is firm (some would even say "hard") and form-fitting, like a bag of sand. But is this firmness that provides complete support for your head and neck muscles, allowing the muscles of your neck and shoulders to fully relax during sleep. This support also helps maintain your airway during sleep for those who predominantly sleep on their backs.


A good night's sleep can be priceless!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I have always wondered.......can you go through moderately deep water in one of those things? Like does it have one of those things scuba things to extend the exhaust?

I'm gonna say my cat. He's not a cool gadget or anything hehehe. And he was free. Kinda. I mean, he was a stray and I always saw him at my window every day and then one day he just wasn't there and I was concerned. Made a trip to the shelter since I know they trap cats out here and there he was! Scared in the corner of a box in a cage hiding at the shelter. They had trapped him. Imagine their surprise when this skittish little kitty came right up to me and basically jumped into my arms.

It was then I realized how attached I was to this stray cat hehehehe.

I had to pay a $145 ticket for "cat at large" from the city wow. And took my kitty home and he has never once not even one time gone outside since then without a leash.

Definitely the greatest thing I have ever gotten.

a reply to: Shoshanna

They always say a cat picks us, whereas we pick a dog.
Rainbows
Jane

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

lol yes, is why I got me a TIG with high frequency ignition. Is just clean welding, no sparks.

Unless the argon runs out, then you get a flame spitting torch, panic and draw foot long green arc from the metal table.

a reply to: Mantiss2021

Yes, thanks. And sorry about that.

I'm going to have to check those out. I'm actually having some difficulty getting a good night's sleep lately too.

a reply to: Shoshanna

Yes, you can get 'snorkels' for them (intake and exhaust), but the existing intake is up pretty high already. I've never tried it, but I've seen other people go in above the doors deep. You wouldn't want to go in much deeper than this because then water would be coming up over the dash (ours is open except for a windshield).

Your kitty story is cool. Love seeing stories like yours. I'm sure your kitty is very happy in his home with you.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

If you get one, you can add or remove some of the husk filling to adjust the firmness.

And get a zippered pillowcase cover to keep the husk pillow clean. Although possible, and occasionally necessary, emptying and refilling the husks from the pillow to launder the cover is a bit of a pain.


Sleep well!

That’s awesome Shoshanna. Pat him to within an inch of his life for me 👍

a reply to: Shoshanna