Tips & Tricks

[Plombob]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A trick I learned from the Secret Service. For those ATMs that are locked inside and have a card swipe to open the door. Don't use your ATM card, any card with a mag stripe will work. Keeps the crooks from getting your number. Also cover your hand with your wallet at the keypad. That kept my account from getting sucked dry.

 

[kelpaso1]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Here is a picture of the first one I built and kept as a spare, had the ring tongue terminals and would put the nuts on, I found the clamps to be quicker and easier. My buddy has the good one working on his trailer. You can do the same thing with a 7 pin if need be.

How do you tell if the running lights are working when you have 1157 bulbs? Since they are all connected together and the sig/brake filament is brighter you can't tell if the running filament is good. You need to have the running light wire on it's own separate alligator clip...Unless I'm missing something

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I can usually look up through the bottom of the lights and see if both filaments are lit. If not I pull off the lens from the side marker and peek in that way. All using 1157 bulbs. I did switch the trailer under the Grady to LED lights last fall so I may have to make the modification that you mentioned

 

[HAP]

Re: Tips & Tricks

How do you tell if the running lights are working when you have 1157 bulbs? Since they are all connected together and the sig/brake filament is brighter you can't tell if the running filament is good. You need to have the running light wire on it's own separate alligator clip...Unless I'm missing something

Turn on parking lights and then your hazard flashers. Should see bright and dim if both are working.

 

[ggoss]

Re: Tips & Tricks

If you don't have a bit ratchet, but need one temporarily, try this. 1/4" ratcheting wrench + neodymium button magnet + screwdriver bit = ratcheting right-angle screwdriver.



Want to use a 5/16 impact driver bit? No problem! Flip over the wrench, and (as a bonus) use a 1/4 bit extension as a handle.

 

[I PLAY FOR KEEPS]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Just a couple -

I have my cordless charging station on a timer so if I happen to forget I left batteries charging it'll automatically shut off.

I keep worn out brushless motor rotors like others have used speaker magnets to catch metal shavings and small parts.

My wife sprays the doorjambs with water and a couple drops of peppermint oil to keep spiders away and its non-toxic so if i have the baby with me in the garage he's not breathing poison.

 

[taumac]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Here's a idea I've been using. I got sick of break those dremel cutoff wheels.

So I started making my own from old 4 1/2 cut off wheel.




I just use a scrap piece of metal to round it up.



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Re: Tips & Tricks

what I have done is I had a square drive 1/4 in for what ever but mine was for the fitting on refrigeration valves. I would just take one corner and grind a little off the edge of the hex and the same on the other opposite end and it would slide into the 1/4 square with a little tap it holds in place.

 

[ggoss]

Re: Tips & Tricks

This isn't really all that clever, but might be useful to someone.

I had an extra 3/8" drive 1/4" screwdriver bit socket (missing a bit), and didn't particularly need to replace the missing bit with anything specific, so I modified a magnetic screwdriver bit extension to fit in its place. Should be useful if I ever need a bit socket that I don't have.

 

[rick carpenter]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Sleeve your screwdriver shanks with shrink-wrap. How many times do you spin with the shanks?

 

[go4donuts]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Using a shop vac to **** liquid into a bucket without any liquid entering the shop vac.

I have a small amount of water in my basement sump this spring, but the level is not high enough to make the sump pump kick in. I have a small portable wet/dry shop vac, but I didn't want to **** liquid into it and make a dirt soup in the dirt receptacle. So...

I got a plastic bucket. I found a scrap of plywood big enough to cover the top of the bucket. I cut two holes in the plywood - one the right size to snugly insert some 3/8" vinyl tubing that I had laying around. The tubing is long enough to reach the liquid in the sump. The other hole is larger - approximately the size of my shop vac hose. (I didn't have a hole saw the correct size to snugly insert the shop vac hose, so I just have to hold it there.) Apply the suction hose of the shop vac to the larger hole on the bucket lid, while holding the plywood firmly in place to cover the bucket. It won't seal perfectly, but enough suction is created in the bucket to **** the liquid from the sump into the bucket. Then dump the bucket as needed.

 

[go4donuts]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A valve grinding tool (stick with rubber cups on each end) works well to help unscrew burned out light bulbs from recessed spotlight fixtures. I never have, and never will grind a valve, but I keep the tool in the kitchen drawer.

 

[dladcock]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I use ball bearings, marbles, and the like to transfer holes in brackets. Balls are self-centering and can transfer multiple holes at one time. Something like a 6 hole flange can be a challenge to transfer one hole at a time, but 6 balls, held in place with a dab of grease, it's a snap.

dla

 

[JonnyMac]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Disposable chop sticks with a little cloth on the end to get polish from the tight crevices on your car where you can't get polished out.

 

[Slednut]

Re: Tips & Tricks

When taking your coveralls off do you ever have a hard time getting them off your shoulders?

If you put the cuff of the sleeve in your bench vise they come right off.

 

[doan]

Re: Tips & Tricks

When a wood screw wont tighten up, fill the hole with tooth pics and reinsert the screw. I had some gutters comming loose and found long screws to replace the nails that went into the soffit. The hole was too big for the screw to grab so I put 5 or 6 tooth pics in the hole and the screw held tight.

I do the same thing with pieces of zip-ties

 

[doublej1965]

Re: Tips & Tricks

4 tips-
1. Buy a handtruck, NOW,especially if you work alone. Now! I wish I had bought one thirty years ago.
2. Put solid wheels on it. It gets old pumping up the tires EVERY SINGLE TIME!
3. Buy a tiedown strap-$5.00 at Walmart, pays for itself every time I use it.
4. Throw a thick sweatshirt on it when you don't want to scratch something.

What I found useful as well is to apply pipe foam insulation on all the round metal parts and use those cheap self sticking carpet squares for the bottom plate.

JJ

 

[48RON54]

Re: Tips & Tricks

When a wood screw wont tighten up, fill the hole with tooth pics and reinsert the screw. I had some gutters comming loose and found long screws to replace the nails that went into the soffit. The hole was too big for the screw to grab so I put 5 or 6 tooth pics in the hole and the screw held tight.

Thanks for the tip! I do the same with golf tees. They are great for hanging doors when the original screw holes are all worn out. I will try the tooth pic idea when i come across a hole that the golf tee won't fit. Thanks again!

 

[48bill]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Thanks for the tip! I do the same with golf tees. They are great for hanging doors when the original screw holes are all worn out. I will try the tooth pic idea when i come across a hole that the golf tee won't fit. Thanks again!

Wooden matches with the heads cut off or wooden slivers cut with your utility knife also work. Add some wood glue for a permanent fix
.

 

[48RON54]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Wooden matches with the heads cut off or wooden slivers cut with your utility knife also work. Add some wood glue for a permanent fix
.

Thanks again! I am going to try one of these ideas on a couple holes I have in a stucco wall where my downspout is supposed to mount...I think this may be the answer I've been looking for. We'll see how the wood holds in the stucco. Might have to try gorilla glue or something similar instead of wood glue... We'll see.

 

[Joe69]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I've used tooth picks for small holes, and wood skewers for larger ones.

Joe

 

[Yarz]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Using a shop vac to **** liquid into a bucket

If you have a smaller older one, you may be able to put the top of the shop vac right onto a 5 gallon bucket. My dad had one like this for years!

 

[Bobaloo22]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Another trick for the wooden plugs, I take small wood dowel rod and put it in the pencil sharpener. The point with a dab of glue fills the stripped hole perfectly just saw or chisel off dowel end and you're good

 

[WVBrady]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I am 74 years old and my arms are easily bruised and cut when I am reaching down into the engine compartment. I used to dread changing the alternator and A/C belts on my Probe. Recently, I got some long nitrile gloves with cotton lining that really help with that problem. The nitrile coating is very tough and doesn't snag on things like a longsleeved shirt would do. I cut the ends of the fingers off for better feel. They are a little hot and sweaty, so I just use them when I need them.

I got them from www.DrsFosterSmith.com and the item no. was 27805 (XL ATLAS NITRILE GLOVES). Ther were $10.99 each plus 5.99 shipping. I got three pair, because I figured that I also had other uses for them.

 

[Nexussian]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I am 74 years old and my arms are easily bruised and cut when I am reaching down into the engine compartment. I used to dread changing the alternator and A/C belts on my Probe. Recently, I got some long nitrile gloves with cotton lining that really help with that problem. The nitrile coating is very tough and doesn't snag on things like a longsleeved shirt would do. I cut the ends of the fingers off for better feel. They are a little hot and sweaty, so I just use them when I need them.

I got them from www.DrsFosterSmith.com and the item no. was 27805 (XL ATLAS NITRILE GLOVES). Ther were $10.99 each plus 5.99 shipping. I got three pair, because I figured that I also had other uses for them.

I've seen some of the "heat sleeves" that had a coating to reduce snags, but the coating was perforated so it would breath.

Not these, but the same idea.

http://www.mechanix.com/heat-sleeves

I've used sleeves like that working on sheetmetal projects to keep blood loss to a minmum.

Thanks for the link, I'm sure I'll find a use for those as well.

 

[WVBrady]

Use for magnetic trays

I discovered a new use for the magnetic trays such as HF sells.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=magnetic+trays

When taking off lug nuts with an impact wrench, the nuts tend to stick in the socket and I have to tap the socket on the floor to get them to come out. I found that if I put the end of the socket down in the tray, the magnet will usually pull them out.

 

[adpprop]

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.

This works really well when you just need a temporary magnetic screwdriver as well. Charge it up as said above or rub it against a magnet and when you are done just whack it against a vise a couple of times and voila the magnetism is gone.

 

[owenst7]

Re: Tips & Tricks

If you have a smaller older one, you may be able to put the top of the shop vac right onto a 5 gallon bucket. My dad had one like this for years!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-BH0100/202017218

 

[over40pirate]

Re: Tips & Tricks

When that container of thousands of small screws falls on shop floor, I use a bulk tape eraser to pick them all up. At least the ferrous ones.

 

[MScott]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Just found this thread. Great tips. Bump.

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I have one of those small 3 jaw chucks on a #2 MT - the kind that uses two tommy bars to tighten and loosen. Being of oriental manufacture, the small tips of the bars eventually break off. Being only about 1/8" in diameter, they are not too strong to begin with. So, what to replace them with? Masonry nails, of course. Masonry nails are pretty darn tough, and when you grind the points off and round the tips to the proper diameter, they work extremely well.

 

[Theruse]

Re: Tips & Tricks

my Wife's yoga mat works great when getting under my car. Nice cushion, rolls up quickly and cleans easily. Beats getting driveway pebble in the back of my head.

 

[i4ni]

Re: Tips & Tricks

To avoid injury always leave belts on drill press'es loose enough that when the bits catch the belt will slip. Need I explain more ?

 

[Kmt803]

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

Tampons were made for gashes

 

[Shadowdog500]

Tips & Tricks

Tampons were made for gashes

Heavy duty Tampons should be in everyone's emergency kit If you get a real serious injury that band aids or gause can't handle. Tampons can stop you from bleeding out.

Chris

 

[InPrimer]

Re: Tips & Tricks

a cheaper( and useful) magnetic trays... hit the 99 cent store look for dog food or cat food s/s dishes, grab a speaker magnet out in the junk yard off a broken speaker, a touch of epoxy or liquid nails = cheaper than HF

 

[cdestuck]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Heavy duty Tampons should be in everyone's emergency kit If you get a real serious injury that band aids or gause can't handle. Tampons can stop you from bleeding out.

Chris

Tried that once. Now I can only pee sitting down.

 

[dcmus]

Re: Tips & Tricks

I've used tooth picks for small holes, and wood skewers for larger ones.

Joe

We frequently use steel wool when strap buttons come loose on guitars. Never had any problems over the years.

 

[67CarGuy]

Re: Tips & Tricks

Just seeing if there are any more ideas out there that have escaped so far...
Thanks for all of the suggestions so far, folks!

 

[jim whitney]

Re: Tips & Tricks

A golf ball drilled and driven onto the shank of a file makes a great handle !