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Is a plazma cutter a better choice than an oxy/acet torch? Or have both? I know an oxy/acet torch can heat and cut through much thicker metal than can a plazma cutter. But for sheet metal work up to what thickness may be a better choice? I have a project coming up with a lot of sheet metal work...

Just replaced the friction drive wheel on my 2008 Ariens 924 snowblower. Found the original wheel was near down to the steel, so a $45 replacement OEM wheel from ACE hardware went in, done. But my frugal Dutch brain (nice way to say I'm cheap) is looking at the origianl wheel thinking I could...

in the process of trim for my recent windows/door installation. Next I'd like to match the new trim to the early 70s dark stained woodwork. Valspar gel stain in the Kona color comes close but not quite. Anyone out there have tips to make it darker? I may mix Valspar gel Kona and Ebony 50/50 to...

Took advantage of some unusual Wisconsin warm November weather recently to finally rebuild the living room south wall of my 1973 built architect designed contemporary home. The south wall was a 17' span of doubled 2x12s, two 8' patio doors with one 6" wooden post with NO...

About five years ago I bought a Ryobi inspection light/cable/camera for looking into walls, ducts, tight access areas. The devices holds your smart phone and Bluetooth pairs to your phone via the Ryobi Phoneworks app. Except as I found out today, Ryobi has discontinued the Phoneworks app, so now...

Meaning, how much tree lean is dangerous. I have many mature, large, 100'+ tall oaks and maples on my property, and most of them are properly vertical. Two white oaks on the west of my lot have enough lean to the south that makes me anxious. To me, because of the lean angle the load center of...

I have a Millermatic M35 with a small wirefeed gun for 023 wire. I need to source tips for the gun, but it may be out of date. The tips fit into a chinch clamp with the nozzle tip.

Tapped four 8mm holes in mild steel, and once again the crappy tap handle frustrated me. Now, 8mm threads are near 1/4" size, but still not very big and the tap kept turning in the clamp portion of the handle. Constantly have to try and tighten the nut. Any decent tap handles to buy out there?

I have a project coming up where I'd like to use a quality metal flake paint subcoat under clear coat, but all done with a spray can if possible. I can get automotive spray cans made locally at Automotive Supply here in Green Bay. But anyone else have good results with other options? I have used...

Got a small metal fab project, 16ga sheet metal. I'm making a fairing mount for my Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 (looks like a Harley Road King) to support the fairing from the frame headstock area. After cutting the flat layout on the band saw I needed to bend flanges for stiffness. I was planning to...

My wife and I were discussing our next/final home, planning about five years out. I said one thing I will not consider is any home in a HOA. I read too many reports of power hungry HOA boards maintaining their fifedoms to make everyone conform, or pay. Or worse, suffer a lien placed on your...

My dad, though he's been gone since 2002, still influences my shop. He was from the WW2 era of Holland where he made do with whatever he had at hand. Back in the 90s he bought a simple upright band saw from Menards. Not sure if the original motor burned out, or he didn't like that it was a...

I have a fab project coming up with a need to bend sheet metal flanges. Thinking a 24" max length will meet my needs, maybe up to 14ga. I'm making a sheet metal motorcycle fairing bracket to fit around the headstock on the frame. Flange width maybe 1.5". Harbor Frieght has a 30" bench mount...

I definitely need an adjustable high intensity light to shine on my welding area. To many times I've tried to get by, but my welding experience is limited and developing, so I need more targeted lighting. Thinking of getting some sort of flexible neck device with a high output LED light on the...

I have some vintage motorcycle crankcase covers, die cast aluminum, that have a good bit of discoloration I cannot rub out with steel wool/WD40, or Mothers, or Chemical Guys metal polish. I'm thinking the cover first needs to be bead blasted of baking soda blasted, and then go to the polishing...

When in my shop ideas suddenly hit me. I have some five gallon pails, if one was tipped at say a 60 degree angle, attach a shaft to the bottom center with a pulley from a dryer, open end of the pail supported on small rubber wheels, then mount it to a piece fo plywood and mount a small electric...

Back in 74 my dad was trying to drive a well sand point on property they bought for a place up north. Me and my dad were trying to use a drop hammer onto the well pipe to drive the sand point. It weighed, maybe 75lb? We tired quickly, making little progress. Dad Mcguyered a solution, just took a...

I installed Lifeproof brand vinyl planking in my kitchen remodel. This was my 1st ever floating vinyl planking installation, leanred some things. Now, I've done sheet vinyl flooring, small tiles on mortar, large tiles on mortar, basically processes that involve glueing or mortar to bond the...

so, those fancy looking "lazer" welders on YouTube and FBM, real or just more AI BS? They show quick, no filler wire or rod, perfect welds, no prep. Gotta be fake right?

I am looking for a device that makes retaining a repeatable load in a trailer a consistent and quick easy action. The chorale group I am in has a large van trailer to transport our performance risers. In the trailer we use D-rings in the floor, to which we use large caribiners and turnbuckle...