Actually depends on the wood and how it was built, in my experience. Some of those cheap, soft pine ones will definitely twist up if you look at them wrong. But a well-made hardwood pallet can take a lot more abuse, @paigeg52. I get why it's frustrating when they fail, though. Storage matters, but the starting material matters just as much. I've had some sit outside for months and stay pretty much flat.

What made you finally give coolant a shot...

Yikes, that's tough. I once tried to explain avionics to my family and ended up confusing myself more. Avionics are like the brain of the plane, so if something's wrong, it's not just a fix it later thing. Family often sees it as just another job, but in aviation, later could mean big problems. My mom still thinks I just turn wrenches on fancy cars, so I feel your pain. How do you even start to get them on the same page?

@henry_campbell15, practicing with a mentor helped me big time.