That spray-on-hands trick is a lifesaver. What brand was the flexible hold hairspray you used? Some formulas get sticky in that kind of damp heat.

Tricky four-pair job" is where you really see the value. I mean, once you stop fighting with a basic tester on something like that, you just won't go back. It's one of those tools that pays for itself fast.

Long star trails in a 5-minute exposure" just sounds like a bad polar alignment to me.

Saw a thread where someone said they saved up and bought the second machine after a year.

Totally get that. I saved a big piece of maple for a guy who makes guitars, and it just felt better. Last week a neighbor took some branches for her garden beds. Makes the whole thing less wasteful.