Yeah shellac flakes go bad way faster than people think. That old timer knew exactly what was up because fresh cut dries totally different. Always check the date and store it airtight.

That's a huge bummer, and it puts you in a tough spot. Did you check the motor's power rating before you bought it? Sometimes the cheaper ones just don't have the guts for real work, even if they're sold as pro tools. It's frustrating when the specs on the site don't match what the machine can actually do.

Actually, a 2-inch conduit is pretty standard for main lines. It's probably just overfilled already, which is the real problem. Builders never leave enough slack for future work.

Honestly, the fact that yours in NoDa did it too just proves it's a city-wide conspiracy. Tbh I'm starting to think they all get the same terrible memo from some secret landlord meeting. It's always the same lame excuse followed by the same huge rent hike. Ngl I'm just waiting for mine to try and charge extra for the view of the dumpster.