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I've been on the look out for a torque wrench for checking RV lug nuts that need about 110 ft/lbs. I'm not building racing engines with it, I just want to make sure the wheels won't fall off a 8 ton 5th wheeler in BFE. Lowe's has this one on sale for about $50. It's a good deal but if it's a...

I had to remount the mud flaps on my 35' fifth wheeler today because they were scraping on the body skirt. It seemed a simple job once I got the wheel off to peer into the wheel well. The left side went well. All I had to do was pull the mud flap off and drill a couple of holes through the...

I'm looking for a metal cantilever tool box to store tools that are specifically used for BMW airhead motorbike service. Although I'm in reasonably good shape at my age of 73, I'm definitely on the short side of mortality. At my passing I want my wife to donate the tools to my motorcycle club to...

Last time I used my Makita BO4510 sander I had a real problem with the sandpaper moving on the felt pad. I bought the sander in late '70's or early 80's and it has served me well on many projects. I have a dining room table in my RV that I need to refinish soon, so I disassembled the sander last...

I'm considering a medium small-ish cantilever tool box to store tools that are strictly used for working on BMW aircooled motorcycles. The Stahlwille 83/010 or 83/09 looks like it could fill the bill but I was wondering about the quality. Any of you out there have experience working with this...

My 1/2hp Craftsman block grinder came with two grinding wheels. One was so coarse I really have no use for it so I replaced it with a nice 6" Weiler wire wheel from Zoro. It fit inside the stock wheel guard housing and runs with no interference but I was wondering what the upside and downside...

It seems like I'm always needing to paint small parts in my restoration projects. Good quality spray paint is getting around $15-20/ can plus it seems just as I'm getting near the bottom of the can it spits some blobs and ruins the work. Yes, I shake the can adequately and always clear and clean...

How strong (and expensive) a tubing bender do I need to make old school hot rod nerf bars out of 1" or 7/8" tubing. I was thinking .120 wall chrome moly but there might be a more appropriate spec to use. As a bonus I was also thinking of using the same bender to bend 15mm/19/32" bar stock for...

What small sheet metal brake would be good for creating small interior boxes and odd shaped consoles for race and street rod interiors? I've seen this kind of fabrication in helicopter avionics and broadcast equipment interior consoles but I don't have any idea of what size or capability brake...

I threw this into an Amazon order at the last minute and was very pleased with the package when I got it. It includes a 9v battery, spare fuses, soft case, and some pretty beefy looking leads for $6.30. Don't know yet about the internal build quality but it looks and feels good for a palm sized...

I've been looking for a smallish steel box (preferably made in USA) to throw all my BMW specific motorcycle tools into . These tools are willed (in the unlikely event of my demise) to some stand-up guys with similar bikes. I just want to make it easy so no one has to sort through my garage to...

As a confirmed tool junkie I've been contemplating the purchase of a small set of ratcheting spanners. I came across a Stahlwille set with 8; 10; 13, 17, 19 mm that caught my eye. I've been pleased with my set of Stahlwille combos. I wondered about the angle of the ratchet ends and the...

I recently acquired a 1/2 hp Craftsman "block grinder". I plan to use it mostly for cleaning and polishing small motorcycle parts. Can you recommend a good vendor and perhaps some specific info on the best buffing wheels (sisal? sewn cotton) and wire wheels for this application? Also I was...

I recently scored a 1/2hp Craftsman block grinder on craigslist. I want to have a welder buddy fabricate a work stand for it. I previously had a big-*** Dayton grinder that had a stand made of 3" tube welded to a 16.5 Chevy truck wheel. This grinder had so much torque it would rotate the the...

I'm in the process of refurbing a vintage coke machine. The metal frame that mounts the compressor in the bottom of the cabinet has been lightly rusted with the residue of what I guess to be coke syrup. I want to strip and paint the frame to preserve it. What sort of stripping disc or flap...

Any tips or leads on a rebuild kit for a Craftsman 43785 ratchet? I haven't disassembled it yet but it feels like the pawl is stripped. This is a hand me down set from my late father-in-law and I'd like to make it the resident socket set in my 5th wheel RV. Not interested in an off-shore...

I am becoming acquainted with a new (to me) 5th wheel RV. As I was taking a look at the water input panel and assorted plumbing I saw a lot of plastic tubing. It wasn't blue like some pex but more clear or translucent. It seemed to be reinforced with some kind of fibers. Some connections...

I've been mucking about using aluminum bar stock and semi-straight 1x2's for circular saw guides when cutting plywood and pegboard. The results have been less than satisfactory. MY most likely application would be long rips for shelves and light to medium weight plywood for crate and storage...

I'm tired of using the color coded insulated crimpon wire terminals. I want to use non-insulated male and female spade terminals from now on with heat-shrink to insulate the joint. I'm going to spend the bucks for a Pressmaster or Hozan crimper that does two crimps. A deep one for the bare...

I am working mostly on vintage motorcycles these days. Several years ago I bought a set of SK ball head hex drivers thinking they'd be more versatile in restricted spaces. Turns out I always feel like I'm going to round out the heads when the bolt is in there tight. I looking for a set...