Recent content by fxgmech

I loan and borrow tools frequently. I expect all the youngsters to get their own stuff. Until then, I'm happy to loan tools to anyone who'll bring things back ASAP, in the same or better condition. Loaning tools is a small favor to my fellow employees but a big favor to our employer.

I recommend it. 40 years from now your elbow may thank you.

I did and it made for some nice dry air. And warm hands, too. But it did not last because the owner sold out anyway.

19 or 20 mm bolt heads are on 10 mm bolts, as determined by bolt shank size. 10mm is just slightly larger than 3/8" and it turns out for me that 3/8" drive will handle them no problem without breaking or stripping much. I use bolt shank size (I should have said thread diameter), not head size...

Antiseize compound is a one-time lubricant for stationary parts. Get it? You only need it to move one time when you unscrew the threads, repair the part, and then reapply the antiseize when you reassemble. Great stuff, I use it every day:beer:. Thread locking compound works for keeping the bolt...

I use 1/2" drive every day at work but it's determined by the size bolts I'm working on. I use a rule-of-thumb: up to 3/8" or 10mm bolt shank size I grab 3/8" drive; up to 1/2" or 12mm I grab 1/2" dr; and so on, usually on an impact wrench, smallest first unless I already know better. Tough...

If you crank on the fasteners going the other way until the wrenches are straight, no warranty will be needed.

I've only been not losing my chuck keys for 40 years. Place it where you would expect it to be if you were not paying attention; and then pay attention!

You need to develop some feel for what you're doing. Or rub more grease in it better.

Assuming that happened during highly humid weather, it does not mean you had water in your compressed air or didn't do a good job on the system. The local cooling at the blowgun tip can also condense water out of the surrounding air. When that happens I watch the air flow off the tip and if it's...

Duh, sorry to seem so harsh but all the dealers I've known will bend over backwards to make things work for you but you gotta buy stuff! Then the genius comes out. Original owner don't mean squat. Relationship, especially cash flow, means you are a tool user and paying for it. Nothing wrong with...

...but I can't warranty it because I got it second hand. It's not the name on the tool but your name that matters. If you're not spending any money, any dealer is probably going to jerk you around just for sport. And he should. Want a good warranty? Then don't be picking leftovers and trying to...

I highly doubt that extension will survive high bolt breakaway torque and shock but it should not need to. If you can get that tool in there you can get a breaker bar, or at least a beat-on box wrench, in to do its job first. Then I would use whatever motor is handy to spin the Tite-reach and...

I want the relay in the circuit when testing for intermittent faults. The relay jumpers give access to all the circuits while everything is working, and then not working. If you're tracing a fault that is there when you are just tap the relay. If it still doesn't cycle I mark it and swap it with...

I'm retiring soon but still buying tools. (I may last only another day or it may be 10 years; it depends what my bones tell me:dunno:). Resale value is now the second thing I think about after it has long been ignored completely. (First is reduction of repetitive stress because I like working...