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My Ridgid air compressor is starting to pump a lot of milky oil froth into the air line. I thought I might be able to just re-ring it, but I discovered that no replacement parts are available. I enjoyed having this compressor; 4.4SCFM @ 90 PSI was the best performance I could find for a unit...

My father-in-law used this bench grinder in his workshop for many years. I'd never thought much about it, other than I found it odd that it only had a spindle on one side. However, we're currently clearing out my in-laws' home, so I did a little research. It turns out that it was originally a...

I've been scheming for quite a while about getting the parts, supplies and tools for my never-ending vintage bike project out of our garage (a raised ranch with a drive-in basement) and into a dedicated workshop. The good news is that we have a long corner lot with plenty of room for a shed...

I'm just curious; how many of you are entrepreneurs who run your own business? How many of you wish you did, or do and wish you didn't? It seems as though there's a certain type of person who just can't be happy unless they're their own boss. Then there are others who love the comfort of the...

Anybody know of a source for cheap nylon rod and sheet stock? Quality/durability doesn't have to be anything special, because I just want to use it to make test fit/prototype motorcycle chassis parts that will eventually be fabbed from steel or alloy. Wood is compressive and splinter-prone, so...

I'm trying to make two simple spacer plates out of ordinary 1/8" mild steel. I just need to drill a couple of 17mm holes and shape it a little with a grinder. Really, really, simple stuff. Well, here are my first three failed attempts: I ordered a couple of "precision" metric hole saws...

The attached screenshot is just so typical. "In Stock" until you click on the "calculate shipping" option. Then it's backordered. I don't even know why I still bother going to their website nowadays.

I'm planning a small detached "micro-shop," mostly for working on my motorcycles. I'm trying to keep costs and yard space down while not ending up cussing it later on because it's too cramped. In playing around with how big it needs to be to fit my stuff and still provide enough space to work...

I'm looking at various shed plans to use for a detached mini-workshop, around 12x16 or so. I'm debating whether to simply build it on-grade with 6x6 skids, or have a foundation poured. I've been quoted $2150 for a 12x16 reinforced slab (including all the trenching and gravel) which would raise...

I know a lot of guys (including me) use the "freeze-and-heat" technique when removing and replacing valve guides, bearings, seals, etc. Most guys I've talked to just use the kitchen range and refrig/freezer, but that's not the best option if you're doing it regularly. (I hate running upstairs to...

When Clarke went under a couple years back, several people assured me that the Italian manufacturer was still up and running, and they expected somebody to eventually pick up parts distribution in the U.S. Well, it's been two years, and I can't find anybody here or overseas to source repair...

I was over at my mother-in-law's house doing some repairs earlier this week, and I found myself in need of a metric wrench. My father-in-law passed away last fall at age 82, and typical of men of his era, the only metric tools in his workshop were three box wrenches covering 8-13 mm...and I...

Hi. I've been lurking here a while, soaking it all in, while I consider my own garage project, but I still can't decide what direction to go. First, here's the situation: Our raised ranch has a rather odd and inefficient tandem basement garage (see sketch), with a 7-1/2-foot ceiling. It...