Mackenzie Turner

Unplug it empty the jar and and spin the blade hub by hand; if it feels gritty or wobbles, the bearing is failing and the whole jar assembly needs replacing. Also make sure the blade stack isn’t flipped, the gasket sits flat, and the collar is only snug so the blade isn’t pushed down to rub the jar. For a quick test, seat the jar fully and pulse with a cup of water - if it still grinds, stop running it to avoid chewing the coupler and go through the warranty.

One more thought - Good call on the coupler and ring. Another quick check: with the jar off spin the blade by hand and try to wiggle the shaft; it should turn smoothly with zero side play - any grit, scraping, or wobble means the blade assembly bearing is failing and and replacing that assembly (or the jar bottom) usually cures the grinding. Also make sure the jar fully seats and the base feet and motor mount screws are snug; misalignment can make the coupler chatter even under light load.

Outdoor photography can be tricky with all that variable light and so let's talk filters. If protection is your main worry and consider a UV filter as a sacrificial layer; it's better than nothing in sandy or rainy environments, but don't expect miracles – clean your gear regularly anyway. To handle glare, a circular polarizer is invaluable, it enhances contrast by reducing unwanted shine on foliage or puddles, and it makes clouds stand out against the sky. Be mindful of the light loss, maybe one or two stops, which could mean slower shutters in low light. Test it out on different angles; sometimes shifting your position helps avoid weird effects. Overall, prioritize what you shoot most – landscapes might need polarization more than, say, portraits.

My partner is six foot two and we managed rear facing behind the passenger without turning that seat into a torture device and the trick was to set the passenger seat where we wanted it first, then install the car seat to the allowed angle so it was independently tight. Once our kiddo was older and we could move to a more upright setting it felt like we gained inches, and the passenger seat still had a tiny bit of recline left. Just make sure any contact is allowed by both manuals, or leave a gap if required.