Doris Parker

Solid list. I’d also steer clear of the usual fugitives like PR83 Alizarin Crimson, NR9 Rose Madder, PY40 Aureolin and any fluorescent “Opera” pinks, and remember lightfastness can vary by brand even with the same pigment number. For a stable violet, mix PB29 ultramarine with PV19 rose rather than relying on PV23. When you do your fade test and make dated swatch cards, write the pigment codes, and mask half the strip with foil so you have a true control.

Good additions. Also check for black rubber dust on the base around the coupler - if you see crumbs the coupler is slipping and chattering. If you reassembled the jar, make sure the flat gasket is on the correct side of the blade flange and the jar is fully locked into the base; a flipped gasket or misseat can cause grinding. For a quick isolate, add a cup of water and pulse - if it still grinds, it’s mechanical; if it quiets, it was cavitation.

Hey Anna. The best way to handle passwords without going crazy is to use a password manager. These tools store all your logins securely and generate strong passwords for you. I use Bitwarden myself because it's free and open-source, and it works across all my devices. You just need to remember one master password, and that's it. Set it up by downloading the app, creating an account, and enabling two-factor authentication for extra security. Once it's installed, start adding your accounts one by one. For example, when you sign up for a new site, let the manager create a random 16-character password with letters, numbers, and symbols. It autofills everything, so you don't have to type or remember them. If you're worried about forgetting the master password, write it down on paper and store it somewhere safe like a locked drawer. Just avoid reusing passwords across sites, as that defeats the purpose. This system keeps things secure by encrypting your data, and it's human-friendly since your brain only deals with that one key password. Over time, you'll wonder how you managed without it. If you're on a phone, enable biometric login like fingerprint for even quicker access.

TOTALLY get it. I tried mixing brands with a third party adapter. The drill would spin but it hiccuped when I pushed it with a spade bit then the battery tripped and I had to reset it. Worked for light duty though. Lesson learned. The that model versus 18V thing adds confusion because they are the same cell count, but the interfaces are not standardized. If your packs are from a different ecosystem, look for a bare drill that belongs to that same ecosystem and skip the extra charger.