Shop Tricks

[Ken45101]

Correct Tire Pressure

I have so many tires on my various pieces of equipment I can hardly count them let alone remember the optimum pressure for each one. I read this tip somewhere, probably on TractorByNet.

Use a permanent marker and write the tire pressure beside the valve stem for each tire. Then, when topping off the tire pressure you have the correct value for that tire, without having to go by memory/guess.

Clem

Good idea although the trailers all have black wheels But it would certain show up on Kubota orange

It always amazes me, tire manufactures stress the importance of proper tire pressure and the hide it in almost impossible to find small print I remember one camping trailer we had, I had to crawl underneath and look at the inside wall, the recommended pressure was only on one side of the tire!

Ken

 

[Bedlam]

Anyone have a preferred type of marker to write on tires? Do the tire shops just use a crayon? I cant seem to find anything that writes on then easily and bright.
Maybe chalk like the parking cops use?

 

[Ken45101]

Anyone have a preferred type of marker to write on tires? Do the tire shops just use a crayon? I cant seem to find anything that writes on then easily and bright.
Maybe chalk like the parking cops use?

Maybe just put it on some duct tape in the cab area (out of the way but easy to see when you are looking for it) and write it with an indelible marker.

Ken

 

[Kernopelli]

Anyone have a preferred type of marker to write on tires? Do the tire shops just use a crayon? I cant seem to find anything that writes on then easily and bright.
Maybe chalk like the parking cops use?

Paint pens (markers) work great. My wife buys me the Diagraph GP-X brand and they are excellent to use an any surface. The first set she purchased was off the Internet and while being very good/durable-they aren't cheap. Since they are made right outside of our town, we called them and found out we can buy them direct at the plant for about 1/2 the retail price......anyway, they're great to use on everything from glass to rubber, work in the hottest or coldest weather, come in assorted colors ( I use them to color code my hydraulic QD's) and dry quickly.

 

[woodyacres]

You can now find paint pens at any office supply store. I also love the silver sharpie's. They cost a little more than the black ones but are well worth it since they show up on almost anything.

Small hint, when you store silver sharpie's or paintpens, store them with the tip down, it will keep them from drying out.

 

[Bedlam]

Thanks...

 

[Gem99ultra]

Diagraph, of course, is the first class way of permanent marking on anything made. Second choice (cheap) is paint sticks that they sell at the lumber yard. I keep a full set of all colors around just for things like you need to mark now.

One word of caution though, once marked, you'll play heck washing them totally off. BTW, they're great for marking tool size imprints. Just rub them across the size stamp, wipe across them with a paper towel, and let them dry.

 

[JustGary]

Definitely silver sharpies. And like most "permanent" markers, you can easily remove them with alcohol.

And for my shop tip, I just figured out this weekend that an air chisel is the best thing for chipping welding slag. Use light pressure to chip the slag head-on, and bear down with a very shallow angle to pop off the nearby specks. Even the big blobs pop right off.

Run over everything with a wire brush cup on an angle grinder to clean everything up for painting.

Regards,

- Just Gary

 

[Workstead]

Paint pens (markers) work great. My wife buys me the Diagraph GP-X brand and they are excellent to use an any surface. The first set she purchased was off the Internet and while being very good/durable-they aren't cheap. Since they are made right outside of our town, we called them and found out we can buy them direct at the plant for about 1/2 the retail price......anyway, they're great to use on everything from glass to rubber, work in the hottest or coldest weather, come in assorted colors ( I use them to color code my hydraulic QD's) and dry quickly.

Have you used these to mark metal to be cut/welded? Do they remain visible after being heated? How thick is the line it makes?

Thank,

Clem

 

[The Haymaker]

Have you used these to mark metal to be cut/welded? Do they remain visible after being heated? How thick is the line it makes?

Thank,

Clem

If the metal is clean, I used a mid-sized Sharpie. It'll stay well and turns from black to white and then disappears under the flame of the torch or buzz-box.