Tips & Tricks

[Ryan]

So I've been following Rothaus' build thread on his "Airboxer Garage" and stumbled upon his simp...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

[mgilde13]

Here's one that I've been doing for years when siphoning old gas out of lawnmowers, snowmobiles, atv's, etc. What I do is I shove an air tool fitting into the end of the fuel line then shove it the tank. The reason I use a fitting is to weigh the end of the line down so it stays on the bottom of the tank, allowing me drain it as far down as possible. Once the line is in the tank, I then place a shop rag on the opening and hit it with light burst from the blow gun. The air pressure pushes fuel through the line causing the siphoning process to begin. So there you have it. An empty tank and no gas in your mouth.

[carhunter]

I use this nifty bottle drainer from Oil Saver. Hangs on the side of my oil storage cabinet.

http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Saver-Bott.../dp/B008LFKZ9W



You can fit 5 quarts at a time, or jugs fit sideways. Amazing how quickly you can recapture a quart of oil. Since its mixed brands and viscosities, I only use it on lawnmower or a beater car.

Only drawback is that its open to the atmosphere, so probably a good idea to keep the tray covered.

[Oldbear]

Sorry I don't have pictures, but I use old speaker magnets on my drill press to catch filings as I drill.

Gas line antifreeze in my seasonal fuel tanks each year to help remove water from condensation.

A comb to hold finishing nails as I hammer.

And old panty-hose on the end of my shop-vac to find small dropped parts.

[Crazy Dan]

I recently came across this "99 life hacks" blog thing, there's some good stuff in there:
http://shialabeowulf.tumblr.com/post...ur-life-easier

[marty_p]

I love ideas such as these, and usually the simpler the better!

If only I could remember them all to put them in practice...

[Always_Thinkin]

Ever spill small finish nails or a small hardware organizer drawer and small hardware goes flying across the floor? Turn a sandwich baggie inside out and insert a magnet. Use the magnet to pickup the steel hardware/nails. The turn the baggie right side out and pull the magnet off of the bottom of the baggie. Now dump the contents into your hardware organizer or storage box.

[Imcrazy]

Originally Posted by Oldbear

Sorry I don't have pictures, but I use old speaker magnets on my drill press to catch filings as I drill.

I've seen a variation of this where you put the magnet in a ziploc bag. It makes it easy to clean the magnet off when you are through.

[Jhoff310]

Tampons--for removing gas/oil from a tank, they will hold ALOT

Old silverware dishwasher basket--holds an asst of screwdrivers, files or whatever else you decide to use it for.

Jeff

[uniballer]

I do metal folders coffee can with four hole in top for oil bottles. My dad showed me in the 80's.

[ratdoggy]

Remote for tv and stereo go in a sandwich bag so they don't get nasty.

[uncletater]

Originally Posted by ratdoggy

Remote for tv and stereo go in a sandwich bag so they don't get nasty.

You should do that when you stay in hotels also. The remote is one of the things in a hotel room that rarely gets cleaned.


Just food for thought

[BigAl62]

When disassembling small stuff, I put the parts in ice cube trays and fill from left to right so I remember what order things go back together in (getting old sucks, I am getting more forgetful!).

[kiatech]

Dont have time to wait for every last drop.

[Charles (in GA)]

I've drained oil bottles for years. I do it to keep a little bit of pollution from the landfills. I have a plastic 5 qt ice cream bucket with a flat plastic lid. I used a hole saw to cut holes in it and just upturn the oil bottles in the holes, they help to keep the dust out of it. Weeks later the next oil bottles go in there and the old ones are done draining and go in the trash. I use this in a old Sarlo bicycle wheel mower I use for mowing edges and rough areas.

At work aircraft turbine oil comes in metal quart cans. After emptying them into an engine, we have to put them in a drain rack that drains into a used oil drum. Again this is to prevent the oil from getting into the landfills.

Charles

Charles

[Grazz256]

Originally Posted by BigAl62

When disassembling small stuff, I put the parts in ice cube trays and fill from left to right so I remember what order things go back together in (getting old sucks, I am getting more forgetful!).

This combined with a digital camera (for taking pictures, not sitting in the closet..) and an area on your work bench for the large parts and you should be good to go.

Cheers

[Stephenw]

Many replacement parts come with packing plugs. I like to save these plugs for future use. They are great for plugging holes during disassembly to keep dirt and moisture out of a component.

[toolfanatic]

I am a great fan of neodymium rare earth magnets, even the smaller ones are very useful- I tape one around the chuck key to keep it at the pillar drill where it belongs. I also taped one around the handle of the push stick for the router table and table saw- that way they're always to hand. I use one from an old pc hard drive to recover screws and nails from the workshop sweepings- I then use my very own child labour (daughters aged 6 & 7) to sort them for me, which they love (great while it lasts!).

[IONH]

Originally Posted by carhunter

I use this nifty bottle drainer from Oil Saver. Hangs on the side of my oil storage cabinet.

I like this. Might have to do something like that myself. I do wish it would come with a cover though, seems lacking without.

[goodysgotacuda]

Originally Posted by kiatech

Dont have time to wait for every last drop.

I agree on a home use level. At a dealership level, at BMW, we got oil by the quarts for cars. I drained every bottle I used. I ended up with about 1-quart of fresh new oil a day for my own use. I quit more than 2 years ago and still have BMW in my Jeep today. In volume, it works well.