Recent content by metalmagpie

Just did the same thing. Didn't bother counterbalancing the magnet. No apparent ill effects.

I did architectural fabrication for a few years. The 4" rule is very real. It's called the baby's head rule. I had my work inspected a few times and no inspector I ever saw would fail you for a single bent wire. I'd just call the inspector and ask if 4x4 hog wire is acceptable.

I restored a 20" Taiwanese floor model drill press. Like yours, it had a rack and worm/pinion to adjust table height. The pinion gear and worm were badly worn. I found the same drill press made by Jet (mine was imported by Foremost) and downloaded the manual. I found the part numbers and ordered...

First, you can do a pretty good job with one of those simple tools that use stainless wire for clamping. Link: https://clamptitetools.com I made a knockoff version which is pretty crude but I can get decent results with it and it cost me practically nothing. Second, I have done a lot of...

If you know a builder, ask the builder for his/her recommendation for your contractor. That's what I did and it worked out amazingly well. The contractor bent over backwards for us and always treated us like friends not just clients, because we were friends of his friend the builder you know...

I have 4 stacks of Kennedy rollaways. Things like what you describe are stored in locations governed by 2 principles. A place for everything and everything in its place. Keep like objects together. If you don't have enough drawer space to store your stuff then go get more drawer units.

Take the two ends and hold them in one hand. Pull slack until you can grab the middle with the other hand. Put the middle with the two ends. Now the cord is quartered. Repeat as necessary until you have a bundle about 4 feet long. Now tie the whole bundle in a single overhand knot loosely. Hang...

I suspect the original post was a troll. Who can't tell cheap from quality?

Looking at your picture, it looks to me like if you put that thing in a bath the solution would seep inside and when you took it out of the bath it would not be possible to get it all out. So I would rule out any immersive technique. One option is to simply paint it with hammered type paint...

One technique I use is to thread a short piece of allthread in place of one of the mounting bolts. Then you can lift the part up and slip the hole over the allthread and let it take the weight while you move the part around to install the other bolts. In the end, unscrew the allthread and put...

I'm not super picky but I am looking for a set of 1/2" drive 6 point metric sockets. For example, 10-24mm and I hate sets with holes in them. If you have a 15mm socket and a 17mm socket you'd better have a 16mm socket or I'm the wrong customer for you. In my box already I have Klein, Armstrong...

I had 3 cylinders like that. Never found a use for them and so I scrapped them.

Old 55 gallon drum and a 30x30x3/8" plate. When you're done, turn the drum upside down and lean the plate against a tree. Every year or so knock off any loose rust and wipe down with boiled linseed oil. After a few years it won't rust anymore. I used this exact setup for about a decade once. I...

I vote for laying the big 350 on its side and pull it with a rope. That smooth tank side would slide easily on grass or mud. You can always repaint it later.

I live in Washington State. I have owned tanks since the '80s. I am generally gobsmacked by what people have to put up with in other parts of the country. I am well known at the welding supply store where I swap my cylinders, and I have not been charged a hydrotest fee in at least 20 years if...