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What is something really stupid you purchased that turned out far better than expected? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by RanchOnPancakes to c/asklemmy

652 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I bought a piece of 1.5 inch stiff foam to try to fix a sag in a bed. It didn't work but having that thick piece of solid foam around has been a life saver.

Need something flat to put a laptop on? Throw it on the foam. Going to be doing something that requires you to be on your knees for a while? Get the foam!

It went from stupid purchase to something I'd gladly replace if it broke.

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[–] BeardyGrumps 48 points 1 year ago (2 children)

A cheap usb microscope. I wanted to get into macro photography but my eyesight is pretty terrible even with glasses and struggle to see fine details so struggled to set the mounts up. (Small insects, grains, etc)

Saw a usb microscope for 20€ on Amazon and thought for 20 euro it’s going to be terrible but worth a punt. It’s bloody brilliant. Have used it for a whole variety of things from threading needles to soldering work, repairing stuff with glue and tightening up glasses as well as the macro stuff. Coupled with some ‘helping hands’ it’s a permanent fixture on the pc desk.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Hey you just reminded me I have one of those! Mines basically a tiny webcam on a stick, works great! ... Now where did I put that thing?

[–] DaCrazyJamez 2 points 1 year ago

Along the same vein, I bought a flexible desk lamp with a built in magnifying glass for this type of stuff - use it almost daily.