I know you don't want to hear this, as it's easier to get an exact answer..:)...This is something you will need to experiment with. With a 10 gallon rubbermaid type, I might start burying a 1/4 cup in a corner. Check it's temperature every-so-often but don't disturb/un-bury it. You could get a little cheapy thermometer, and leave it in the bin. You would like it to stay around 60-70 degrees. I do not like to jack the temps way up, which is easy to do with too much, and then let it cool way down. I think that is too stressful. When the grain cools off, the worms will move into it and you can bury in a different corner. If the temps did not come up on the first time to 60-70 then add a half cup this next time and see how that goes. Of course, I would use old grain that I could not use to eat. I do not like to buy stuff. That being said, corn meal is great and cheap. I have gone to a feed store and bought a 50lb, broken bag of chicken feed for $5 (2 years ago..and still have lots.) Ground up any kind of grain (old cereal) works just fine. I even grind up veggies and use that the same way.

HOW MUCH ! I wish I would have seen your post before you paid that. The guy @ the shop was full Of S*@%. Sorry for the language but I get very upset when I hear about an unscrupulious/ dishonest Mechanic. If your car came into my shop and we did the same work, You would be out of there for under $ 400.00 and @ that price I'm still making a few bucks. But when one of these so called Pros rips off an unsuspecting consumer, it just gives HONEST MECHANICS another black eye. I've attached a listing for a Catalytic converter ,that fits your car, from one of my suppliers. This is one of 4 suppliers that I can get these from. I am sorry that you where taken for a ride but hopefully it won't happen again. Good luck ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1995 Lexus ES300 Catalytic Converter $155.99 Engine: IMZFE Engine Year Range: 1994 - 1996 Brand: DEC Notes: Direct Fit Catalytic Converter Unit Shipping Options: Overnight, 2-Day or Ground OEM Converters View All Exhaust Catalogs

By now you may have realized no-one outside of the transaction knows exactly what took place here. Many vehicle owners fail to follow the manufacturers service schedule and suffer otherwise preveantable breakdowns. The chains have been keying on this type of maintanence for a few years now because they can do it with a lower waged (read less experience and training) technician. This approach results in significant profits with a relatively low expense (cost of doing business) and risk of anything going wrong that an otherwise experienced technician could avoid. It's commmon for these places to sell the road hazzard tire warranty, it lets them put out a price for the tire thats too cheap for an independent to match, and then puts the real profit right back into the sale. At the same time, you never know who is going to win that gamble, just like any other insurance, you have to bet that something will go wrong with the tire(s), they are betting nothing will go wrong before you replace the car. Not recalling if you actually OK'ed this or not isn't all that uncommon. Had you have gotten the estimate in writing and gone over it both with the consultant, and then a second time on your own before the repair was completed, this would not be a question right now. Questions like yours can arrise when a consumer gets momentarily distracted by the price of the tires for instance during the moment one of the smaller details is discussed. The chains know this and they actually try to avoid allowing that to happen. They know that if you miss any details of the conversation the first question you will ask is did I get ripped off? I don't recall saying to do that. That doesn't do them any good at all as a business when they may have done everything exactly right. You have e-mail, in the future if your not waiting for your car, have them e-mail the estimate to you, that would avoid this situation, which is one neither you nor the shop want to be involved in. Now if there is one possible question as to whether this was done correctly or not, what transmission fluid was used when the service was performed? What fluid was used in the transfer case, and what was used in the differentials? Look at your invoice and be very specific on the names and part numbers listed. Some of the chains use universal fluids because the manufacturer of the fluid claims it's good for everything. This is actually not true and the technicians are powerless to do anything about the corporate policy. In the corporates defense, they offer a significant warranty should your transmission ever fail "as a result of using this universal fluid" however that is IMO a weak defense because how would someone prove that the fluid was really to blame, reliably?

I don.t know what state you live in, but I live in So. Calif. and I can tell you what I would do here. First, I would get his license number and then check it on the state contractors license site to see if he is in fact licensed and insured and if there are any complaints registered against him. Next, I would ask him for three references and actually go see the jobs. Then I would ask him where he gets his molding. If he has it milled, it's generally better than what you get from a home supply store because it's crisper. I would also find out what kind of wood he is using. No foam or plastic molding. Then, I would have it painted before it is installed. I would ask how he is attaching it to the wall and if he copes inside joints. After this, I would put it all in writing, listing everything I could think of, and have him sign off. Also, a picture from a magazine or such, to have him initial, so you are both on the same page. Then, I would not give him any money until be brought a receipt stamped paid for the material. No money for the labor till the job is done correctly. An indication of a professional is he arrives in a truck with his business sign on it and the license number on the sign. Get at least three bids with references. I would be cautious about a guy that drops off a crew to do the job.