Tips & Tricks

[e-tek]

Re: Tips & Tricks

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

I found "permanently" magnetized drivers picked up too much **** - until they lose their magnetization....then it's back to my tip.

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

Which is why it's better to magnetize them temporarily, for the job at hand.

Starting fasteners in difficult places is what these are for:

Have you actually tried those? They don't work at all....(for me)

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Starting fasteners in difficult places is what these are for:

Have you actually tried those? They don't work at all....(for me)

Have several of about three different types, many sizes, and yes, I do use them. Invaluable in some situations.

 

[bigbubba]

Re: Tips & Tricks

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

His wife had left them in the dry box from the last camping trip,They are now staples in all of our boats as well as a few friends boats!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Re: Tips & Tricks

OK. Heres one about magnets. If I had to mount a new component in an electrical control panel, I would have to drill and tap some mounting holes. When drilling the holes, place a speaker magnet in the area that you are drilling the holes in the panel. the magnet will catch the shavings and keep them from causing any short outs. An air gun will blow the shavings off of the speaker magnet.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A trick that I found on the fly and it saved my *** a real headache one day:

The handles of Crastman screwdrivers (I don't own any other brands to test) can be fit into a socket, preferably a deep well, for added torque.

I'm sure most of you here have bit drivers and such that you could use instead, but I have a specific sized hex head Craftsman Hex-head screwdriver that I bought for a specific project a while back that ended up being the perfect size to take the sponsons (little fin things) off my wave runner. Unfortunately, one of them was being a royal pain in the ***, so I got creative and slipped the socket over it because I do not (then, I do now) own a bit-driver set.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A trick that I found on the fly and it saved my *** a real headache one day:

The handles of Crastman screwdrivers (I don't own any other brands to test) can be fit into a socket, preferably a deep well, for added torque.

I'm sure most of you here have bit drivers and such that you could use instead, but I have a specific sized hex head Craftsman Hex-head screwdriver that I bought for a specific project a while back that ended up being the perfect size to take the sponsons (little fin things) off my wave runner. Unfortunately, one of them was being a royal pain in the ***, so I got creative and slipped the socket over it because I do not (then, I do now) own a bit-driver set.

Good idea. For years I've been using a small adjustable wrench on the square shaft of the screwdriver for leverage.

 

[larry_g]

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.

Great idea. But for the angle finder to read directly off the blade the table top MUST be level. If not working off a level table top then measure the angle of the table top and then measure the angle of the blade. The difference between the two will be the angle of the cut. Angle of blade - angle of top = angle of cut.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[alan camby]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Great idea. But for the angle finder to read directly off the blade the table top MUST be level. If not working off a level table top then measure the angle of the table top and then measure the angle of the blade. The difference between the two will be the angle of the cut. Angle of blade - angle of top = angle of cut.

lg
no neat sig line

Sounds like a Oregon problem. Here in Indiana, the ground is always flat.

Cost a little more, but this would be slick.
http://www.wixey.com/anglegauge/index.html

Just zero it on the table first.

 

[hookm]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Simple epoxy mixing at last. Stick a 2" piece of masking tape to your bench mix epoxy on it and peel tape off and dispose after the job is done.No more using a piece of cardboard or whatever.You can even stick it on the job to be done if space requires.

T

I use a empty beer/soft drink can turned up side down to mix in.hookm

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Yup!! the deep socket on the screwdriver handle works great! good leverage & control as you can bear down on it to keep it from slipping out. like to use a 3/8" slip "T" breaker.

 

[thightower]

Re: Tips & Tricks

One of the best cheater's I've found is a aluminum baseball bat. Take out the plastic end or cut the end off, Wa La, cheap, light and strong cheater pipe. I used an old one my son used in little league.

 

[Sureshot]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Another good cheater is aluminum conduit. I get it from a friends scrap pile. Various sizes that fit nicely inside each other.

It also makes good handles for hydraulic bottle jacks. Make them longer to keep you out from under the car on a muddy road in your Sunday best(the only time you get a flat). I also carry one of those super cheap tarps in the small size as a disposable place to kneel or lay in a jam.

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Gota try that baseball bat trick! opening should be large enough for combo wrench & strong! also good grip... sometimes I just hook another box-end to the open-end for extra leverage...

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Good idea, when it is level & you set your blade angles, place (marker) marks at pointer to the set angles. usually only need a few i.e 45deg. & you can return to it...

 

[BigAl62]

Re: Tips & Tricks

We all have cordless tools (don't we?). To keep the batteries usable I have started recharging mine monthly. On the first of the month I go out into my garage and put batteries on the charger I have 5 chargers and 15 batteries (8 LiIon and the rest NiCad). This keeps them ready for use and also keeps them from going "bad" (not accepting a charge).

I've built a charging stand on the back of my workbench (I need to get a picture) and I can store all the batteries and chargers there and the chargers are all plugged in so they can be used at the same time. I got sick of having to juggle chargers and take up space on my workbench (it's for storing everything else, right? ).

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I keep my cordless drill and screwdrivers connected to one plugin strip that is hooked up through a simple plugin timer. It only turns on for about 3 hours a night around 2 AM. This keeps them charged fully in the off hours without overcharging them.

 

[split150]

Re: Tips & Tricks

That's a great idea!

I keep my cordless drill and screwdrivers connected to one plugin strip that is hooked up through a simple plugin timer. It only turns on for about 3 hours a night around 2 AM. This keeps them charged fully in the off hours without overcharging them.

 

[rickyboy]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I recently came across this "99 life hacks" blog thing, there's some good stuff in there:
http://shialabeowulf.tumblr.com/post/33670447154/99-life-hacks-to-make-your-life-easier

This has some good ideas, thx

 

[Hotz]

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

the rod vibrates (oscillates) very?

 

[Hotz]

Re: Tips & Tricks

jaw pieces to protect bench vise
with aluminum profile make this very easy for bench vise protection, thus protecting parts

http://informationbyhotz.blogspot.com.br/2012/01/mordente.html

 

[Ronzzr11]

Re: Tips & Tricks

OK. Heres one about magnets. If I had to mount a new component in an electrical control panel, I would have to drill and tap some mounting holes. When drilling the holes, place a speaker magnet in the area that you are drilling the holes in the panel. the magnet will catch the shavings and keep them from causing any short outs. An air gun will blow the shavings off of the speaker magnet.

If you put the magnet in a plastic bag first,that will keep the magnet completely clear of shavings.
Ron

 

[Smiliesafari]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Tooth picks make excellent epoxy mixing tools. If you have a very small spot to touch up (paint) Q-tips work great.

 

[papabil]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Tooth picks make excellent epoxy mixing tools. If you have a very small spot to touch up (paint) Q-tips work great.

I have been using a match from a book of matches for a touch up brush

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Use a whisk to stir a one gallon and smaller cans of paint works really well. A lot easier than using a paint stick and less messy than using a drill/mixing attachment.

 

[24X26]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Use a whisk to stir a one gallon and smaller cans of paint works really well. A lot easier than using a paint stick and less messy than using a drill/mixing attachment.

That would really piss my wife off though.

 

[Hotz]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Making a center punch.

The tip is very simple to use Diesel injectors ....

More details at my Blog http://homemadetoolbyhotz.blogspot.com.br/

 

[Builder302]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A tooth pick makes a perfect tiny paint applicator for touching up small rock chips on the front of your car. Just dot the toothpick into the chip until good coverage, much better than the big brush that comes with most touch up bottles.

 

[Fueler]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Before you send that old dead computer to the recyclers, take the hard drive out of it and dismantle it. You will basically have to destroy it to get it apart in most cases.
1: So no one can access you stuff.
2: More importantly to get the magnets out of the hard drive. Those things will hurt you they are so strong. Perfect for some of the aforementioned tips and tricks.

To add to the magnet tips.
If you are **** welding two pieces of metal together like thin sheet a magnet across both pieces will hold them until you get them tacked. You can't tack too close to them as the magnetism can mess with your arc.

 

[Hotz]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Super Magnet Neodymium superpotent, many things do with it ....

good tip

 

[boiler7904]

Re: Tips & Tricks

That would really piss my wife off though.

Probably not as much as taking one of the paddles / beaters from a hand mixer and using it in your drill for a quart of paint or small batch of drywall compound.

 

[SGTCornewell]

Re: Tips & Tricks

One of the best cheater's I've found is a aluminum baseball bat. Take out the plastic end or cut the end off, Wa La, cheap, light and strong cheater pipe. I used an old one my son used in little league.

I use the handle from an old floor jack over the handle of my 20" craftsman 1/2 drive breaker bar. I haven't lost yet. It's also great for checking rollers on masts and carriages.

 

[Fixnfly]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Plastic shopping bags are great for keeping funnels clean

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I use this nifty bottle drainer from Oil Saver. Hangs on the side of my oil storage cabinet.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LFKZ9W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You can fit 5 quarts at a time, or jugs fit sideways. Amazing how quickly you can recapture a quart of oil. Since its mixed brands and viscosities, I only use it on lawnmower or a beater car.

Only drawback is that its open to the atmosphere, so probably a good idea to keep the tray covered.

After I pour in the first qt of oil I use a razor knife to cut off the container top. Turned upside down it makes great funnel to drain the other quarts into a waste/mix jug.

 

[budl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I buy cheapo throw away aluminum roasting pans to catch leaks or suspected leaks under my cars and to drain fluids.

Bud

 

[bemanrob]

Re: Tips & Tricks

great idea. do you have any plans......if not i ll design something. regards,
robert

 

[plym49]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Tooth picks make excellent epoxy mixing tools. If you have a very small spot to touch up (paint) Q-tips work great.

Disposable chop sticks from the take-out place. Mix the epoxy on the lid from your meal.

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

Re: Tips & Tricks

"Disposable chop sticks from the take-out place. Mix the epoxy on the lid from your meal."

Sounds like you need to order Pot Stickers!
}

 

[oldtools808]

Re: Tips & Tricks

popsicle sticks work great for mixing epoxy... after you mix & apply epoxy, leave the stick on the disposable mixing surface (I use old playing cards) to check when epoxy is hard enough...

 

[Stephenw]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Lay down some masking tape on your bench top and mix your epoxy on that. When the epoxy hardens, peel up the tape and throw it in the trash.

 

[IONH]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Lay down some masking tape on your bench top and mix your epoxy on that. When the epoxy hardens, peel up the tape and throw it in the trash.

I'd be concerned about it eating through the tape. Maybe painter's tape would be better, but then some of the blue / green / whatever might end up tinting the epoxy.