Smart Shop tips!

[Richard]

Perhaps not shop per se'..... but when I open a bottle (gallon) of bar oil for my chainsaws, I take the cap off but instead of taking the seal under it off, I punch a hole in it with a Phillips so now I have a much more controlled flow of oil into the saw.

 

[Big Barn]

Perhaps not shop per se'..... but when I open a bottle (gallon) of bar oil for my chainsaws, I take the cap off but instead of taking the seal under it off, I punch a hole in it with a Phillips so now I have a much more controlled flow of oil into the saw.

Wrong. That is a great shop tip!

 

[canoworms]

Perhaps not shop per se'..... but when I open a bottle (gallon) of bar oil for my chainsaws, I take the cap off but instead of taking the seal under it off, I punch a hole in it with a Phillips so now I have a much more controlled flow of oil into the saw.

I decent into a old twist top sauce bottle.
Easy to carry and fill the saw.
Cheers

 

[stuckmotor]

My Son is a mechanic. When I bought a new toolbox he gave me a pointer on how to organize it. Load the box as you think will suit you. When you start using it pay attention to the mistakes you make opening the wrong drawer. An example. If you open the third drawer down when looking for a pair of pliers twice, move the pliers there. I used that method. My box makes perfect sense to me and I never pull the wrong drawer. Being a sticker guy, I put stickers on each drawer front. When "guiding" someone to the correct drawer I mention the sticker.



View attachment 659190

Where do you get the stickers? I see them on tool boxes all the time but don't remember being given any. Maybe I toss them without thinking about it.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay... for those of you that do restorations, Big Barn are you listening? Don't start with Acetone (like I tend to do).

Take your time and start with less aggressive solvents and work your way up if you are worried about losing some identification. I am really impatient but it has cost me on metal labels, etc. where I wiped clean the info. Here is an example where I got lucky... if you see a tag riveted on... that is a clue.

 

[dragoneggs]

My last post reminded me of this Youtube video by King's Fine Woodworking on cleaning your bar clamps. I do this when they start bugging me and it works great. He also demonstrates the relative strength of various solvents which I found informative.

83 - How to Clean Dried Glue from Parallel Clamps and make them slide Better Than New - YouTube

 

[Big Barn]

Okay... for those of you that do restorations, Big Barn are you listening? Don't start with Acetone (like I tend to do).

Take your time and start with less aggressive solvents and work your way up if you are worried about losing some identification. I am really impatient but it has cost me on metal labels, etc. where I wiped clean the info. Here is an example where I got lucky... if you see a tag riveted on... that is a clue.

View attachment 659528

Do not start with this..
and end up with this...


and this. It should say CRAFTSMAN in the center.

 

[dragoneggs]

and this. It should say CRAFTSMAN in the center.

View attachment 659535

Ha... exactly what I am talking about!

 

[bindian]

Almost everything in my shop is on wheels. All my 'stationary' tools as well. About the only things that are not on wheels are my compact bender which is lagged into the cement floor (do wish I could move it as it doesn't get enough use to deserve the real estate), my sink (due to obvious reasons), and my heavy solid hardwood workbench. I need it to be rock solid when I lean on it or bump it and it is! I have yet to find a way to put something on wheels that will not budge under a side load.

Weld your bender to a receiver hitch tube. Mount numerous receiver hitches on your work table or benches. I have one on my tractor's loader bucket also. Vises can be done the same way.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dragoneggs]

Weld your bender to a receiver hitch tube. Mount numerous receiver hitches on your work table or benches. I have one on my tractor's loader bucket also. Vises can be done the same way.
hugs, Brandi

Hi Brandi, exactly my plan when I built the vise stands was to add a hitch receiver to my 4x8 steel table. Due to my tight confines, I just couldn't easily come up with a design that didn't compromise space for other 'implements'.

I did add a hitch receiver to the front of my BX that has come in handy. I have to drop the bucket to use it but with a QA, it's quick. :laughing:

 

[bindian]

Perhaps not shop per se'..... but when I open a bottle (gallon) of bar oil for my chainsaws, I take the cap off but instead of taking the seal under it off, I punch a hole in it with a Phillips so now I have a much more controlled flow of oil into the saw.

Dad got me using a gear oil empty bottle, the ones with the pointed squirt tip and replaceable cap, to fill the chain saw with oil. It is fast and no spills. I still carry the gallon jug to refill the gear oil bottle in my chain saw milk crate. The milk crate has everything needed for the saw and also some neon orange felling wedges.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Hi Brandi, exactly my plan when I built the vise stands was to add a hitch receiver to my 4x8 steel table. Due to my tight confines, I just couldn't easily come up with a design that didn't compromise space for other 'implements'.

I did add a hitch receiver to the front of my BX that has come in handy. I have to drop the bucket to use it but with a QA, it's quick. :laughing:

I have been wanting to make a bench grinder mount that swings out and up to use, then stows back under the bench. Just too too many projects ahead of it.

I have a half inch steel plate just begging me to start on my welding table.
hugs, Brandi

 

[JK22]

My last post reminded me of this Youtube video by King's Fine Woodworking on cleaning your bar clamps. I do this when they start bugging me and it works great. He also demonstrates the relative strength of various solvents which I found informative.

83 - How to Clean Dried Glue from Parallel Clamps and make them slide Better Than New - YouTube

Cool tip. I’m liking this thread. Waiting to see some really ingenious idea though that make me want to run out to my shop and implement right away.

 

[dragoneggs]

Cool tip. I’m liking this thread. Waiting to see some really ingenious idea though that make me want to run out to my shop and implement right away.

Sounds like a challenge! :licking:

 

[Gem99ultra]

How about LID LIFTERS for plastic 20 liter pails?

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What a novel idea! I hate to admit in being so ignorant about there even being such a thing as a 'lid lifter', but I will. Just this week I fought a plastic can with a lid for about a half hour. Finally got out my sabre saw and cut the dang thing off. Silly me. I'll be buying one of those - as soon as I find them for sale. Thanks for the tip.

 

[dragoneggs]

Everyone probably already knows this, but since I was spray painting a bit last night...

First, start spraying before aiming at the project and make light full passes. After using spray rattle cans, turn them upside down and spray until the paint stops flowing. This obviously clears the tip for next time. Caution however... there are certain rattle cans that this doesn't work but it usually says on the can that it sprays in any direction.

 

[Big Barn]

For all position rattle cans I clean and soak the nozzles in solvent.


Rattle can shaker.

 

[dragoneggs]

For all position rattle cans I clean and soak the nozzles in solvent.

View attachment 659583
Rattle can shaker.

View attachment 659584

Ha ha. Never thought to put a rattle can in a shaker!

 

[bigtiller]

Shaking up a spray can is one of the hardest things for me to do. Arthritic wrist. I need/want a can shaker like BB's.

 

[Richard]

Speaking of spray cans.... I've got a neighbor who keeps all the spray TIPS from these type things. I thought that was a good idea so started tossing them into a drawer literally a couple weeks ago.

I go to store to get some goodies, end up bringing my first ever, can of Kroil home. I think it cost me $25 for the can. I am replacing the King Pin on my backhoe and it's STUCK so we've been heating, cutting, heating, squirting oil....

So I go to pull the brand new "if this won't do it nothing will" Kroil out.... pop the top off......and there is NO spray tip in there!!!

ARGGGGG

Wait! I just prior, started to keep those, so I smugly go up to toolbox, open drawer and there two of them are.....grab one..... it doesn't fit.

WHAT?

I grab the other....and IT won't fit.

Seems the Kroil stem that comes out of the can is ever so slightly larger than the tips I had saved.

My pal who's helping me with the welding & doing some machining for me took the can with him and brought back two new tips for it along with the extension tube.

So now, I'm becoming a fan of keeping the old tips when you're done with the can.