Recent content by thecarfarmer

I'd look around pawn shops and craigslist for deals on good used pro stuff first... With so many guys buying the wider boxes, there should be a bunch of older professional grade stuff available. they bought several craftsman boxes for the animals here at the train yard. I just saw one on its...

Having worked for a (very) short time for the USDA, and in the meat processing industry as a food safety specialist, this description of "inspectors" in general really hits the nail on the head. They would write up a plant I was working in, and because they weren't really sure what they were...

Sounds like the mindset where I work: I'm an on-board train technician; all I carry of my own is a leatherman. The shop is supposed to supply ALL tools needed, which fall almost exclusively under catagory d. shown above. But there are a few that fit into e and f as well. Ten million dollar...

+1 more on the rebuild attempt idea. Like was said before... what'cha gotta' lose? On the flip side, almost everything new is less good than anything old - unless you drop real coin. Our society has somehow signed on to the idea that it's okay for things to be disposable. (I'm outraged that...

Kroil products. Work good enough I used to buy 'em and not use what the shop provided. -bill

I used to have a lot of friends whose cars I worked on for free, and saw them often. Once I decided to ask for a little money, I had a few friends, who I never saw when their cars ran alright, and always sang a sad song about how little cash they had... I got smarter, and started charging what...

The one I've got now.

Damn straight. Wish I could "1-800" that one! BTW, square & rectangular tubing can be cut to make lots of cool channels and angles. I know an engine swap kit manufacturer in Seattle who got his start that way. -bill

When I was having a house inspected (Seattle WA area), the guy called 2 wires into 1 breaker a 'double tap', and indicated that it is not to code in this area. I suppose you could keep the wiring from one breaker to one of the lights, and jump from one light to the other, and that would (I...

Whatever you do, don't worry about the garage being too big. It won't be. -bill

As long as your 3rd thread isn't: "I tried to sell a car on craigslist and heard from 10,000 people who wanted to know if I'd donate it to them". Just to forestall karma... send donations to thecarfarmer in MLT WA. Seriously, congrats on your scores; I've found that CL is a pretty good place...

Any brand name - or better yet, pics? Us guys from Mountlake Terrace gots no imagination... -bill

Add another fan for the nitrile gloves list. I've found they last way better than latex. I'm pretty big on keeping exposure to petroleum solvents to a minimum, so I like to use cooking oil as a solvent on my hands. Loosens up the grease, and then some regular soap will take it away all right...

When I went from working in an automotive shop to doing the maintenance for a food processor, I could no longer get snap on to sell me tools, or warranty the ones they'd sold me. Well, that's not completely true: I was told to look around for a snap on truck and get on when he stopped...

Garage is a mess; all under construction. Pay no attention to the mess surrounding the man behind the curtain. But I do have a kind of unique bench; can't get this at home depot. The green table is military contractor. Brass nameplate reads: "DEFENSE PLANT CONTRACTOR - AN INSTRUMENTALITY...