Smart Shop tips!

neverfailyou · Jan 9, 2021

Doofy said:
Works fine. I tried an automatic drain years ago but it began to hang up and leak. This is cheap and idiot proof.

Good idea.... I will order today!

PILOON · Jan 9, 2021

Big Barn said:
I know what DOESN'T work is the specialty kits they market to rejuvenate headlight lenses.

Yep!
Mostly they are fine sand paper all the way to 1000 grit.
Auto body rubbing compound will do that job just fine at a fraction of the $$'s.
Heck even tooth paste (very mild compound) will do it also with more elbow grease.

Doofy · Jan 9, 2021

neverfailyou said:
Good idea.... I will order today!

I just made it a habit to pull the cable every time I'm in the garage. No more standing on my head to bleed off the moisture (Cable operated tank drain).

fried1765 · Jan 10, 2021

PILOON said:
Yep!
Mostly they are fine sand paper all the way to 1000 grit.
Auto body rubbing compound will do that job just fine at a fraction of the $$'s.
Heck even tooth paste (very mild compound) will do it also with more elbow grease.

Yup!
3M auto body compound works great!

PILOON · Jan 10, 2021

fried1765 said:
Yup!
3M auto body compound works great!

Another use for compound,
Cleaning baked on crud on the kitchen range , the area splattered around the burners.

TheFarmerInAdell · Jan 12, 2021

Reb954 said:
Most probably know this already but if you are needing to find the center of round stock to drill a hole, the quickest way I have found is to use a ruler or something straight on top of the round stock, then place the drill bit on top of the ruler. As the material is moved back and forth, the ruler will rock from side to side accordingly. Once the ruler is straight you are in the center of the material, or at least close enough for most purposes. The same can be done on a lathe to get the cutting bit in center.

View attachment 682151 View attachment 682152 View attachment 682154

I have a tool for that. Chuck up the round part and the V will pivot on the round stock until the two lines are lined up. Won't work in the lathe, but works on mills and drill presses.

bigtiller · Jan 12, 2021

TheFarmerInAdell said:
I have a tool for that. Chuck up the round part and the V will pivot on the round stock until the two lines are lined up. Won't work in the lathe, but works on mills and drill presses.
View attachment 682924

got a link?

Big Barn · Jan 12, 2021

Try this.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/76416528

Reb954 · Jan 13, 2021

TheFarmerInAdell said:
I have a tool for that. Chuck up the round part and the V will pivot on the round stock until the two lines are lined up. Won't work in the lathe, but works on mills and drill presses.
View attachment 682924

Yup, I have seen those before. I'm just cheap though, I use what is handy.

TheFarmerInAdell · Jan 13, 2021

bigtiller said:
got a link?

This was handed down to me. I'm sure it was purchased prior to the internet's existence.

Big Barn said:
Try this.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/76416528

View attachment 682936

Thanks BB.

Reb954 said:
Yup, I have seen those before. I'm just cheap though, I use what is handy.

I used it for work when I was a toolmaker, so I had to be precise. If I needed to be more precise I'd use an edgefinder on both sides and split the difference. That only works with a mill, though. If I needed it to be within 0.0005" I'd use my indicator, but that's a whole different ballgame than garage work.