The Garage Journal – Page 26 – Garage Design & Tools For The Working Man!

Iris Drawing Tool

For some damned reason, I’m always having to draw circles in the shop. Sometimes I’m making gaskets, sometimes I’m rounding corners, sometimes… You get the idea. Typically, I use a compass or one of those plastic sheets with tons of holes in them scribed with their sizes. Both methods work just fine for me… Neither are as elegant as this gorgeous little drawing tool. Details here. See Comments on the forum.

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Reviews & Features

The Milwaukee Chuck

So I am a Milwaukee guy… Not because of any kind of brand loyalty, but simply because I’m tied to the battery. About five years ago, I bought a 2604-20 M18 drill. It has served me well. Really well. But the chuck has ALWAYS sucked on this thing. It slips, it tears up bits, and has jus generally failed since day 1. Anyhow, after tearing up yet another bit today I decided to test the water here on the Garage Journal. Does anyone else have this issue with their Milwaukee chucks? Or is this just an issue with my older …

Old Crap

When I need a “new” tool, my first inclination is ALWAYS to seek out the old. I just like the texture of age… Sometimes, obviously, I don’t have the time to refurbish or need the technology of new and have to go to market. But if it’s a tool that works as well aged as it does shiny, there’s no question which direction I am gonna go.

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Deals

QuickJack Hot Deal

The guys at BendPak are buddies of mine… and they just sent over an update to their ad that caught my attention. Essentially, you can get one of their QuickJacks from Costco for only $899. They normally sell for just over $1400, so that’s a pretty decent discount. These things are actually pretty great too. I got one of their early prototype units years ago and have used it both at the shop and at the track. It’s literally irreplaceable when I take the 964 to COTA and in the shop, it’s nice to have something you can get the …

A Means To An End

There are really two types of people in the DIY/Maker world – Those that live to be in the shop and those that get in the shop to live. By that, I mean that some guys get more enjoyment out of making stuff than enjoying the thing they make. And conversely, some folks persist in the shop to make the thing they make so that they can truly enjoy it. I’m sort of a hybrid myself… Some projects I can’t wait to get done with so I can use them. And others I don’t really even care all that much …

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