Interesting how different shops can be. Our system runs best with a bit more clay, around 6.8% bentonite, but we also use a much finer grain sand. That extra clay helps us hold detail on complex parts without the scabs, as long as the mulling time is right to keep it from getting too dense.

Funny you mention Phoenix pours. Had a buddy out there who swore by magnesium floats, right up until his whole slab spiderwebbed. Maybe beng51's hammer test would've caught it.

The park service seems to have a real thing for those tiny, cryptic signs. I swear they hide them on purpose. I ended up asking a ranger about it once, and he just shrugged and said "part of the adventure.

Wait, how much headroom are we talking about, @victor651?

Totally agree with @wood.jana about looking more awake! I started paying attention to what's behind me too. A cluttered background can be just as distracting as bad lighting. I swapped my messy bookshelf for a plain wall and it made a huge difference. It's crazy how these small tweaks make you look so much more put together on camera.