Search results

I know what you mean about smiling at some of your old tools. I have several that I bought at garage sales and auctions of old timers friends that were cutting back or couldn't do the work anymore and I remember everyone of them when I use their tools. Most are no longer alive but will live in...

I have used the electrolysis method numerous times over the last 5 years. I don't have a fancy setup just some assorted containers of different sizes and shapes and setup whichever one fits what I am de-rusting. For many applications it is better than sandblasting, even if it is slower. It...

This one is a pass with a warning. 1.5 AMP ONBOARD BATTERY CHARGER They claim it is water proof and it may be when it is not in use. I used my first one for 1 1/2 years with no problems then complete failure. I dissected and it failed when the water got deep enough inside to short out the...

I have no idea if this will make your problem better, worse or do nothing. Now that I have put in the disclaimer. I was told by a friend that has done unbelievable things restoring very old tires for display that he used glycerin that you can buy at a drug store. It will soften and allow old...

I pickup cheap old tuner/amps at garage sales and throw them on a high shelf above the entrance door (makes it easy to turn on and off as I come and go. When it dies I pitch it and buy another, usually $5-20 range. Currently it is an old Sansui. I have a large pair of old speakers screwed to...

The ring suggestion is so true. I never really wore rings much, before I got married. My future Father-In-Law almost lost a finger when his wedding band caught on a nail when he jumped off a farm wagon and my Father got his across a large battery and had a very bad burn. Neither ever wore...

I thought of converting part of my shop to an office/light project area a few years ago but came to my senses before I started putting up walls. Make real sure you want to sacrifice shop space for office space before you start. You really don''t need a big office, I know a fellow that runs a...

I picked up an old metal filing cabinet and keep the books spine up in the drawers. Keeps them clean, and keeps the mice out. Jeb

I have had good luck using electrolysis. Not sure what ********* tool collectors think, but I have seen it recommended by several hobbies as a non destructive way to remove rust. The tool comes out looking like it was just a well taken care of old wrench when you are done, if there wasn't deep...

I used flake board most places that doesn't have peg board. Painted it white for lighting. Didn't bother finishing seams or edges, it is a shop after all. My first shop I used drywall and it didn't hold up between dampness and impact. The flake board has worked well, I can hang stuff on it...

Was surprised I didn't see the obvious one. Model A Ford, you can fix them along side the road with 2 or 3 sizes of wrenches and a screw driver. A little bailing wire is always helpful to. Well you did say easy to fix not fast. Jeb

What do you have your tank temperature set at? I use a 40 to heat out house and when I had the temperature set at 110 it would not heat when it got below about 28 degrees. I now run it 140 degrees and have no problems. I still crank it back spring and fall when I don't need as much heat so I...

Very nice job. I'll have to think about where I would put something like that. Jeb

I built a small portable fire pit to haul in my truck camper in one of the wheel well storage compartments. I burn scrap wood in it when I want a long burning fire that I can add to. If I want a cleaner shorter burn length I use chunks of wax logs. In my setup I dump lava rocks over the wax...

Not sure it was a good idea but a friend that had an old garage with the same setup had the upper floor blacktopped. Jeb

I find I have the best balance between me and the buyer by ending between 9-11pm EST on Thursdays. This gives the whole country time to get home from work and I don't compete with weekend activities. I have time to pack and send packages to people who pay right away before the weekend...

Other than cost, you might want to look into a tankless hot water heater. That is what a friend is using for his under slab shop heat. I use a 40gal to heat our house with. You need to look into how man BTUs the heater is capable of and how much you need. Jeb

Not sure what style or vintage heater you have, but it shouldn't be all that obnoxious, if they are burning correctly. And they should not put out much CO, but do put out a lot of CO2 and moisture and will use up O2 if it is a real tight shop. If it is that smelly I would see if there is...

In my old shop I put up wires that I hung painter tarps from plain old plastic curtain rings pop riveted on. The wires were supported in the middle with hooks that I could drop the wire off of when I wanted to push the tarps out of the way. I had big heat looses but I could get the area in the...

I build lots of shelves, everywhere I could find space. I built mine out of rough sawn lumber so they don't look as nice as what you get from nice pine or plywood. The big difference is mine are made of rock maple and cost less than 1/4 as much, and I have yet to put anything on them that...