Tips & Tricks

[lilredex]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I had to deal with one of these the other day.

Never any fun when you're crouched behind a dryer. So, I opened the clamp and put a 1/4" washer over the squeeze points. When everything was in position, I took my needle nose and pulled the washer off. Wished I'd thought of that a few times when pliers just kept slipping off.

Or.......Cut a couple of lengths of (brake) tubing and use them as handles. Could be bent to suit if you cannot get it in position, straight on.

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I had to deal with one of these the other day.

Never any fun when you're crouched behind a dryer. So, I opened the clamp and put a 1/4" washer over the squeeze points. When everything was in position, I took my needle nose and pulled the washer off. Wished I'd thought of that a few times when pliers just kept slipping off.

That's what these are for:

 

[lilredex]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Drill Press.

Bit index.

Fence.

"V" blocks.

Hold down clamps.

Wheels.

Vise, never an excuse to hand hold things with this set up.

Version two. Missing and yet to come are slip in stepped jaws to eliminate drilling into the bottom of that vise. Keep some old bearing races around, like pictured below the table, to keep those fast jobs from drilling into the table. The race keeps the work off the table and parallel to boot.

Make a small cabinet to hold your accessories. It can be removed if it gets in the way of drilling jobs.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Re: Tips & Tricks

That's what these are for:

Corbin hose clamp pliers. I have 3 pair and none of them are worth a flip.

 

[Zeke]

Re: Tips & Tricks

That's what these are for:

I have those. The clamp spread is too wide and the clamp wants to roll over and pop loose if you do load it up partially compressed. But those do work well on most spring clamps, just not the cheap dryer ones.

Normally I wouldn't even use those type of clamps, but I was on a job and that's what I had to work with. I you really had experience with these POS, you'd know they roll over no matter what you use.

Except that washer.

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I have those. The clamp spread is too wide and the clamp wants to roll over and pop loose if you do load it up partially compressed. But those do work well on most spring clamps, just not the cheap dryer ones.

Normally I wouldn't even use those type of clamps, but I was on a job and that's what I had to work with. I you really had experience with these POS, you'd know they roll over no matter what you use.

Except that washer.

Did appliance service for a while - anytime I ran across those clamps, I tossed them and replaced with worm clamps. Always.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

That's what these are for:

I drilled holes in the ends of my pliers to do the same thing(some are very hard material)

 

[48Classic]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I had to deal with one of these the other day.

Never any fun when you're crouched behind a dryer. So, I opened the clamp and put a 1/4" washer over the squeeze points. When everything was in position, I took my needle nose and pulled the washer off. Wished I'd thought of that a few times when pliers just kept slipping off.

When placing clamp back on, I always take a cable tie and pull it tight opening the clamp all the way open. Once it is in place and I am ready I just cut the cable tie and it is in place.

 

[IONH]

Re: Tips & Tricks

many tapes have belt clips, clip it to pants.

I've used that trick a few times recently. Once I remember it's on my hip (and stop looking for it) it's very convenient!

Paint each "tooth" or notch on your jack stands a different color using Testors model car paint. A quick glance will tell you if the jack stands are the same height without the need to count the teeth.

I've counted teeth so many times. Great idea to paint the teeth!

 

[alan camby]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Paint each "tooth" or notch on your jack stands a different color using Testors model car paint. A quick glance will tell you if the jack stands are the same height without the need to count the teeth.

I think this is a great idea. It does look a little silly. Reminds me of the candy store.

Used a Sharpe for the black, car touch up paint for the red and dk blue, paint markers for the white, and yellow.

my new years resolution is to give up notch counting.

 

[skulldrinker]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I think this is a great idea. It does look a little silly. Reminds me of the candy store.

Used a Sharpe for the black, car touch up paint for the red and dk blue, paint markers for the white, and yellow.

my new years resolution is to give up notch counting.

Jack Stands.....good one! Maybe paint every third one same color won't be to confusing. You could tell if you were off 3 notches.

 

[alan camby]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Jack Stands.....good one! Maybe paint every third one same color won't be to confusing. You could tell if you were off 3 notches.

Yeah, I agree. I am just testing it out on these stands.
These will be my paint, and hold up stuff for project stands. The cheap Chinese welds, questionable steel and castings scare me every time I go under a vehicle.

Just ordered the US jack 3ton and 6ton garage stands.
http://www.usjack.com/products/Jack Stands.pdf
Little bit of money, but think it will be worth it.
The 6 ton stands are rated at 6tons per stand. My China specials are 6 ton for the pair. The new ones will also have double locking paws.

 

[softailgarage]

Re: Tips & Tricks

many tapes have belt clips, clip it to pants.

" If I'm on a major project I'll have it on my belt,"
Is that what the clip is for?
I dont have 6 or 8 tape measures and if I did they'd be mounted under the top of the workbench
And, yes, your right copper not brass

 

[Shadowdog500]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I think this is a great idea. It does look a little silly. Reminds me of the candy store.

Used a Sharpe for the black, car touch up paint for the red and dk blue, paint markers for the white, and yellow.

my new years resolution is to give up notch counting.

Or you could take a silver sharpie and number them.

I did that to the safeties on my Mohawk lift since you can raise the far arm independently and early on I had the one side one latch off from the other.

Chris

 

[HandsomeDan]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Great Tips & Tricks;
I use long zip ties, knife cut alternating barbs away from tip ~1/16" deep & ~1/2" apart. Great to remove hair from clogged drains. .

I do this, too.

 

[Oldbear]

Re: Tips & Tricks

many tapes have belt clips, clip it to pants.

I do use the clip, then take the tape off my hip with the work bench or a chair or my kid's head...

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Great Ideas!! I will try some of them.
like the Drill Press organizer & tools, & using zipties/washer to hold the Dryer clamp open. Think I will paint every other notch red & Yellow, should be able to eye the difference.

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

"I do use the clip, then take the tape off my hip with the work bench or a chair or my kid's head... "

Yupp! Been there, Done that!!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I think we all know why the work light in the picture is called " a drop light " or " a trouble light ". Attaching a brooder lamp clamp to the drop light takes care of the challenge that gravity presents.

 

[DAVID5300]

Re: Tips & Tricks

So I've been following Rothaus' build thread on his "Airboxer Garage" and stumbled upon his simp...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

Your idea is much more sophisticated than mine. I hot glued 2 bottle caps together then drilled a hole through them.

 

[bucket-t]

Re: Tips & Tricks

This combined with a digital camera (for taking pictures, not sitting in the closet..) and an area on your work bench for the large parts and you should be good to go.

Cheers

I do this on a regular basis anymore. Memory is as it once was, but my digital camera never forgets.

 

[e-tek]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Not sure if this has been posted, but I like to magnetize screwdrivers when working with small fasteners - just stroke the screwdriver over a strong magnet and Viola!

 

[KSwiss]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I hate it when I grab a screw driver that isn't magnetic.

 

[AV tinker er]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I use http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=hand&item_ID=643217&group_ID=681249&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog and it has enough magnetism (usually) to hold screws.

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Not sure if this has been posted, but I like to magnetize screwdrivers when working with small fasteners - just stroke the screwdriver over a strong magnet and Viola!

I hate it when I grab a screw driver that isn't magnetic.

I hate it when a screwdriver gets magnetized - it collects all kinds of ships and bits.

Starting fasteners in difficult places is what these are for:

 

[JakeKohl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Not shop related but.......My wifes uncle,Myself and his son were out gigging one night,We hit a rock and slice a 8-10 inch gash in the bottom of the boat! The only thing we could find was a box of tampons in the dry box,Stuffed them in the hole and after a few seconds the bilge pump was gaining on the water.After a few minutes the boat was almost dry again! We headed for the boat dock but it seemed to be working so we went back to gigging(Beer was involved in this decision) Don't know how long it would last but i know it's over 3 hours

Why did three dudes, gigging in a boat, have enough tampons to fill a gash in the bottom of a boat?

 

[Racecarl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Another use for valve lapping compound"

You are working on a wheel bearing nut or some other large fine-thread device that some knothead narfed up the threads somehow. Put a little lapping compound on the bad spot and work the nut back and forth over the damaged area. If the damage is at the end of the spindle, work the nut back and forth where the nut gets tight. Just keep working it back and forth and you will notice that each time the nut will turn a little further each time.

After removal of the nut, it would be a good idea to replace the old nut if possible. If the new nut does not want to thread readily, use the old nut and a little more lapping compound to further smooth the spindle. Make sure you get ALL the lapping compound cleaned off the spindle before final reassembly.

 

[ariscus]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Not really a shop trick, but I put a second catch for my side yard gate on the fence to hold it open. I've personally never seen it done before, now all my friends have done it. I hadn't painted it to match the fence yet, but you get the picture.

Main catch

Secondary catch

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I remove the magnets from old speakers, tap & thread a small eyebolt, attach string & swing. use it to pickup metal debris, (after drilling, wirebrush, grinding, etc.) I just stick it on inside of truck bed so always available on job, cover it with a old sock or bag, makes it easy to remove all the partials, just turn inside out & dump debris. many speaker magnets strong enough to hold several pounds to drag underwater. also good to magnetize screwdrivers.

 

[headwrench]

Re: Tips & Tricks

when painting , say in an engine compartment, use foil to cover what you dont want paint on. it forms to any shape & you dont have to use tape to hold it. quick & easy & cheap. i get the foil @ one of the dollar stores.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Not sure if this has been posted, but I like to magnetize screwdrivers when working with small fasteners - just stroke the screwdriver over a strong magnet and Viola!

I have one of those cheapy magnetizers for the screw driver probably well under $10 and the good thing is if you wipe it in another place on the outside it removes the magnatisim which is helpful.

 

[ariscus]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Another trick for magnetizing tools that I was taught in freshman autoshop, was to wrap the tool in wire and touch each end to a car battery, it will arc a little then you have a magnetic screwdriver, the more you wrap the stronger the magnetic charge the tool will have. I think I magnetized every screwdriver my dad had after that day of shop. He was less than thrilled, and I think I drained the battery on his pickup.

 

[premierplayer]

Re: Tips & Tricks

In the garage, in the house,wherever. Got a nasty hole or gash in drywall to repair, quick? No time to wait for multiple coats of mud to get you up to finish? Even quicker than 90 min quick mud is .... Bondo. Use it as a base coat to fill in the nastyness, once dry, skim with regular mud and youve got it.

 

[MP&C]

Re: Tips & Tricks

When I built my rotisserie, I used 1/4" wall square tubing (actually .22) which gives a slight clearance except for the welded seam down the inside. I had to make a tool to remove this weld for the various pieces to be able to telescope inside each other. My solution was to Tig a 1/4 diameter rod to the end of my cutoff wheel arbor. Got it right the first time, no wobble at all. Added a cheap 1/4" id bearing to the rod (not shown in picture) to be able to slide the bearing where needed, & apply pressure to the weld without the rotating rod burning your hand.

Works well for accessing those hard to reach areas

 

[dbabicky]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Why did three dudes, gigging in a boat, have enough tampons to fill a gash in the bottom of a boat?

Actually, you should keep some sanitary napkins(pads), in your first aid kit in your shop. They are the best thing to stop the bleeding if you cut yourself real bad or chop off a digit.

 

[24ModelTFord]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Smurf mattresses are in every first aid kit I own. I even threw some in the toolbox at work.

This thread is great! Lots of great ideas!

 

[Matt M PA]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I don't know if I added these or not...but they just came to mind.

I keep a roll of the thick, clear plastic like you'd use under landscaping stones. If I have a drippy, messy project...i roll a length out and park the project on top. I did the suspensions of three 1956 Oldsmobiles in in my new garage. The grease, brake fluid, oil, etc all collected on the plastic that I just rolled up and threw out. I even cover the bench the same way if needed.

I also keep the cheap plastic dropcloths on hand. If painting an engine in the car...unfold the cloth over the front of the car and just cut a big enough slit to get the cloth around and under the engine.

 

[nkachur]

Re: Tips & Tricks

For anyone that is interested in the powerpoints for the Frets website here they are.

tips 1-100

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!214&authkey=!ABCaqldMYJkj6zI

tips 101-200

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!219&authkey=!APP6So48IzdyRAw

tips 201-300

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!220&authkey=!AL4PbVLmBENPV_I

I am still working on powerpointing the rest.

 

[premierplayer]

Re: Tips & Tricks

For anyone that is interested in the powerpoints for the Frets website here they are.

tips 1-100

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!214&authkey=!ABCaqldMYJkj6zI

tips 101-200

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!219&authkey=!APP6So48IzdyRAw

tips 201-300

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCE9E5CF90C37BE7!220&authkey=!AL4PbVLmBENPV_I

I am still working on powerpointing the rest.

Nice, thanks

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Last summer I restored a 1969 Craftsman 10" table saw. The aluminum cover plate that shows the blade angle couldn't be rescued. Having a decal made to show the blade angle or buying a cover plate off of ebay was too costly for the project. A $5.00 HF angle indicator against the blade took care of the problem.