Things I have bought but wished I bought 5 years ago. (not investments)

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Things I have bought but wished I bought 5 years ago. (not investments)

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#1876547 3-Oct-2017 10:24

Speaking of BBQs and Webers in particular. One of these

https://www.amazon.com/Weber-6439-Audible-Meat-Thermometer/dp/B000ZBNDX0

Well I did buy mine 5 years ago but hopefully this post might mean someone else will pick one up. Never again suffer from over or under done meat.

MikeAqua

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#1876564 3-Oct-2017 10:39

mattwnz:

I think that is probably simialr to what they are looking for, perhaps with more of a mesh, so noodles couldn't escape through the holes.

Just crack the lid a little and pour the water out, works with rice and all types of noodles.

Keep moving slowly around the sink to avoid to stop the steam overheating the hand holding the lid.

You can also get spaghetti pots which have a built in strainer.

Mike

kryptonjohn

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#1876576 3-Oct-2017 11:01

I use the Redi Chek equivalent. It has two probes and two readouts - one for the meat and one for the BBQ temperature.

The old lags mock it and bang on about using the press test but I just laugh at them. Bung the fillet in on indirect and set the temp to anywhere from 120 to 200 depending on how much time I have and set the meat to beep at around 54. Take it off and while it stands the temperature will rise to about 58 and it will be *perfect* every time.

Roll the fillet around in some salt and sticky sweet soy sauce first for a nice salty crust. Hmmm....

[edit] Brother in law got the iGrill one that uses your iPhone as the display. Really nice feature is a time chart of the temperature you can extrapolate to guess the finish time. Downside is the probes constantly failing and harder/more expensive to get replacement probes. I found the Redi Chek probes last longer and are easier to replace. The heat kills the cables or the cable joints.

Talkiet

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#1876581 3-Oct-2017 11:13

IR temp gun... I use it in the kitchen, in the garage, at the racetrack, on computers.. everywhere! Cheap as chips from your favourite overseas store and great fun...

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

kryptonjohn

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#1876585 3-Oct-2017 11:26

Likewise, pen style multimeter. Aligator clip to ground and one-handed measure voltage at different points. Cheap as chips. E.g.

https://tinyurl.com/y7mghlq2

Micrometer. Used to be expensive, now cheap as chips. Especially useful for measuring drill bits, bolts and screws. E.g.

https://tinyurl.com/ydeuth9v

Geektastic

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#1876596 3-Oct-2017 11:57

As a general comment, I have found that almost always when I eventually get what I *should* have got but did not for whatever reason actually get, it proves to me that I really SHOULD have got it originally and saved the angst in between!! It would be very rare (if it has ever happened) that I would get what I thought I should get and then say to myself "nah the other option was way better!"

Wheelbarrow01

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#1876607 3-Oct-2017 12:22

MikeAqua:

Multi roller boat trailer (Hosking Trailers) - roll off/drive on. No pushing, heaving, slipping and cursing.

See I have the complete opposite opinion on this. My brother's Fi Glass Lightening has a multi roller trailer, and we find it a pain in the butt. The person driving the car has to get out and get their feet wet to remove the winch hook while the skipper applies forward power with the boat engine, before reversing off. Over time, the multi rollers have also done damage to his hull due to applying a lot of pressure over very small areas of the hull while on the trailer. Driving bumpy south island roads over long distances are the most likely cause, and I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that these multi rollers are no good for the hull structure over time.

My Bayliner Capri has two long skids on the trailer, and no rollers at all. We flip the winch rope off at the top of the ramp, and gravity holds the boat fast to the trailer as we reverse down the ramp. The boat floats free when it is deep enough and the skipper starts up and reverses off. Retrieving the boat is the same - reverse the car in to the appropriate depth (which we have down to a fine art), skipper drives the boat onto the skids under quite moderate power, then the car driver proceeds up the ramp with gravity holding the boat on the trailer, all without having to get out of the car at all. Then attach the winch hook once we are at the top of the ramp. Job done in seconds. We are very much in the camp of "no faffing about on the ramp" - we can launch or retrieve and be clear of the ramp in less than 30 seconds.

I guess it comes down to personal preference, but having used both skids and multi rollers a lot, I definitely prefer skids.

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dickytim

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#1876620 3-Oct-2017 12:42

Senecio:
Speaking of BBQs and Webers in particular. One of these

https://www.amazon.com/Weber-6439-Audible-Meat-Thermometer/dp/B000ZBNDX0

Well I did buy mine 5 years ago but hopefully this post might mean someone else will pick one up. Never again suffer from over or under done meat.

Add my name to the Weber camp. I use mine 2-3 times a week and at the MIL 2 times a week.

Basically 2-3 meals a week not from the Weber!!!

kryptonjohn

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#1876626 3-Oct-2017 12:55

Wheelbarrow01:

MikeAqua:

Multi roller boat trailer (Hosking Trailers) - roll off/drive on. No pushing, heaving, slipping and cursing.

See I have the complete opposite opinion on this. My brother's Fi Glass Lightening has a multi roller trailer, and we find it a pain in the butt. The person driving the car has to get out and get their feet wet to remove the winch hook while the skipper applies forward power with the boat engine, before reversing off. Over time, the multi rollers have also done damage to his hull due to applying a lot of pressure over very small areas of the hull while on the trailer. Driving bumpy south island roads over long distances are the most likely cause, and I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that these multi rollers are no good for the hull structure over time.

My Bayliner Capri has two long skids on the trailer, and no rollers at all. We flip the winch rope off at the top of the ramp, and gravity holds the boat fast to the trailer as we reverse down the ramp. The boat floats free when it is deep enough and the skipper starts up and reverses off. Retrieving the boat is the same - reverse the car in to the appropriate depth (which we have down to a fine art), skipper drives the boat onto the skids under quite moderate power, then the car driver proceeds up the ramp with gravity holding the boat on the trailer, all without having to get out of the car at all. Then attach the winch hook once we are at the top of the ramp. Job done in seconds. We are very much in the camp of "no faffing about on the ramp" - we can launch or retrieve and be clear of the ramp in less than 30 seconds.

I guess it comes down to personal preference, but having used both skids and multi rollers a lot, I definitely prefer skids.

I too have carpet bunks (skids) on my Malibu trailer. Seems to be popular on USA craft.

Pros: very good support for the hull. Holds the hull on a slope even if the winch and safety chain are off. No embarrassing roll-offs onto the ramp!

Cons: You absolutely cannot winch the boat onto the trailer. The ramp needs to be deep enough that you can drive the boat on. I am constantly getting told off for doing this at the Tuakau ramp but there's no other way. If the ramp is shallow you're stuffed. I can't use the Tuakau concrete ramp when the river level is low. Doesn't automatically centre the boat on the trailer like rollers do (might be because my boat has bugger-all vee).

But for all that, I do prefer the bunks. But if I was a fisho launching from variable ramps I'd definitely go for rollers.

Geektastic

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#1876642 3-Oct-2017 13:47

Maybe you should just buy one of those Sealegs boats that has wheels...!

kryptonjohn

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#1876658 3-Oct-2017 13:57

Heh! Not a good boat for skiing and barefooting as has a large wake... But I would if I had $squillions.

PhantomNVD

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#1876707 3-Oct-2017 14:16

kiwifidget:
PhantomNVD: Electric car

*edit and Bluetooth ‘Tiles’ I don’t lose my things all over the house/office/garden/bedroom anymore!

@PhantomNVD are those bluetooth thingies expensive?

Depends how much you hate losing your keys (and how often!)
I got the first one from an ‘unwanted gift’ trademe ad, and the next 3 from a trademe retailer for $26 ea.
(https://www.trademe.co.nz/1429282162)

I now have 4, on my wallet/keys/bag and spare keys and they rock!
(I can even find my phone by using a Tile to force it to ring too 👍)
Seriously thinking of putting one on each of my kids if I can find a way to make it humanely un removeable!

msukiwi

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#1876713 3-Oct-2017 14:26

The Renovator Extra Pair Of Hands.

Wish I had it more than 5 years ago - especially while renovating.

Even more so in the last 3 years. (Had to re learn my right side after a "normally" fatal stroke.)

(Birth defect that took 50 years to show itself! And unable to be fixed!)

You never know what's lurking.

Pricey - but does "what it says on the box". Mitre10 Mega have them.

geoffwnz

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#1876724 3-Oct-2017 14:54

Two things that I can think of:

Renovator multi tool. Been handy for working on cars and on actual renovations. Nice clean edges cutting out holes in gib for power points etc.
OBDII scanner. Useful for checking and clearing error codes on cars without having to pay dealer workshop hourly rates. Cheap off Aliexpress.

MotorDrive Rallying

kryptonjohn

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#1876736 3-Oct-2017 15:15

Just a pair of quick clamps like these:

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/tolsen-150mm-quick-ratchet-bar-clamp_p08908927

So many uses, particularly for holding a work piece to a bench or sawhorse. And of course holding pieces being glued.

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