Advice from the voice of EXPERIENCE !!

[dstig1]

When using a chisel (in particular, but applies to any sharp cutting tool), ask yourself "WHEN this tool slips with how I am using it, where will it go?" Then move your other hand out of the path. Note I said when, not if... Also applies to screwdrivers, pry bars (don't pry up on the Camry ball joint with the very long bar with the free end in the area under your chin...for example...), etc...

 

[Gunny]

After checking the drain plug and bilge on a boat and before releasing the bow strap, ensure the the boat will engage forward before backing off the trailer. Especially if you have electric shifting. If it won't go into forward, it get kinda problematic getting it back on the trailer.

 

[txdon]

It is exactly 9' 3/4" from the hatch back of a Grand Jeep to the windshield.
A 10' piece of 2" PVC WILL go through the windshield instead of bend when the hatch back is closed.
People will stare - you will be a driving distraction.

 

[mark02tj]

Lesson 1 - Be sure to strap down a brand new bath tub in the back of a pickup truck. Otherwise, at 70 mph, the boxed tub will slowly lift out of the back of the truck while your 15 year old friend/passenger looks out the back window of the truck and says "wowwwww!". Yeah, I was only 16 when this happened to me. Haven't lost anything out of the truck since.

Interestingly, the box was pretty much unscathed from it's slid across the highway. It wasn't until it was unboxed a few days later that the cracked corner became apparent. The guy at the lumber yard said "Yeah, these things get beat up pretty bad when they come in here on the train."

Lesson 2 - Don't tell your (now ex-) wife this story and expect her to not actually tell your parents about it - 15 years after it happened! hmmm, wonder why she's an ex? :laughing:

 

[crackerjack222]

Don't use a saw blade in a Roto-Zip without a blade guard.
That could cost you $400+ at the emergency room.

 

[RSKY]

# 13 - if building a potato gun, always use primer before using glue on PVC.

OK, I'll be the one.

What happens if you don't use primer? And more importantly, how did you find out?

RSKY

 

[RSKY]

Don't put the boat in the water before double checking the plug is installed. Once the boat is in the water check the bilge before backing off the trailer. I've only done this once.

I've done this once too and I have one from experience to add.

After launching your boat without the plug in, calming your wife and sister-in-law, running to boat into the bank, then finding the plug and inserting it. Do not idle out of the marina with the bilge pump running and decide to shove the throttle wide open. All that water in the boat will rush to the back and the boat will stand straight up on it's tail. You will be looking at the clouds in the sky. Then, when you pull the throttle back to idle the water will all rush to the front and the FRONT OF THE BOAT WILL GO COMPLETELY UNDER WATER. We ended up with only a few inches of my one year old boat above the water. Needless to say I idled out into the lake and let the little pump clean the water out. Was scared to death the water would short out the battery and kept the motor running. Scared the wife so bad I thought I was going to never get her back in it. After this SHE always checked the plug after I did.

RSKY

 

[Streetcar]

PVC without primer tends to come apart at the joints

 

[cat fever]

1.
When putting more firewood in the wood stove, always let the new wood catch fire before closing the door or combustion air inlets. Otherwise it will sit and smolder until you decide to open the combustion air up to get it burning and it explodes into flames pushing the 500 pound wood stove away from the wall and nearly falling off the 1000 dollar hearth and burning down the house. (almost) Make sure you have boots on while kicking the stove back into the fireplace opening. And then have fun cleaning the black soot off the pure white brick that you had to have on the whole wall inside the house. Not to mention the cleaning job the blast did on the flue tile chimney. Black soot on all my neighbors houses and cars and snow.

2.
As mentioned earlier, White gas is not the same as lighter fluid and will burn the hair off your arms, eyelids and eyebrows. And it will scare the crap out of you while doing said burning.

3. Can't believe this even happened. But make sure you unload your high powered rifle before getting into the truck and pulling the trigger. Otherwise your grandpa might accidentally shoot your father's head off. As luck would have it the bullet went out the other door that was still open not hitting anyone. But once again scaring the crap out of everyone.

4. Tractor related; after hooking up "anything" to the three point or drag bar walk around it a couple times and make sure the wood blocks are not in front on the tires or the stand on the blade is put up so you don't do your grading work and then find the stand bent to he!! on the brand new Landpride rear blade.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

1.
When putting more firewood in the wood stove, always let the new wood catch fire before closing the door or combustion air inlets. Otherwise it will sit and smolder until you decide to open the combustion air up to get it burning and it explodes into flames pushing the 500 pound wood stove away from the wall and nearly falling off the 1000 dollar hearth and burning down the house. (almost) Make sure you have boots on while kicking the stove back into the fireplace opening. And then have fun cleaning the black soot off the pure white brick that you had to have on the whole wall inside the house. Not to mention the cleaning job the blast did on the flue tile chimney. Black soot on all my neighbors houses and cars and snow.

2.
As mentioned earlier, White gas is not the same as lighter fluid and will burn the hair off your arms, eyelids and eyebrows. And it will scare the crap out of you while doing said burning.

3. Can't believe this even happened. But make sure you unload your high powered rifle before getting into the truck and pulling the trigger. Otherwise your grandpa might accidentally shoot your father's head off. As luck would have it the bullet went out the other door that was still open not hitting anyone. But once again scaring the crap out of everyone.

4. Tractor related; after hooking up "anything" to the three point or drag bar walk around it a couple times and make sure the wood blocks are not in front on the tires or the stand on the blade is put up so you don't do your grading work and then find the stand bent to he!! on the brand new Landpride rear blade.

I have done that, but straightened the stand back out by just lowering the blade and backing up. Well, it's sort of straight. I just whack the top with a sledge to lower the stand, and put the foot on a block of wood to raise it. Works fine, though.