Tip of the day.

[ning]

Stinky garbage...

FWIW...

Not everyone lives where they have garbage pick up and in many rural places garbage has to be taken to recycle centers etc...

Even though a lot of wet garbage gets composted...
It only takes a day or so for items like meat packaging (with the absorbing pads) to really start stinking...What we do is put the packaging back in the freezer until we make a garbage run...

I rinse and squeeze the absorbing pads in the sink before tossing them in the garbage. That's about the only "wet" garbage we ever have (other than roasted chicken bones).

Typically my wife will take wet garbage to work to toss since we go to the transfer station maybe once every 4 months, but the occasional wet trash dries out within a few days anyways if she doesn't take it.

 

[seville009]

Your funnels. Cover them up. I hang mine on the wall and throw an old shop rag over the top. Before that I would grab a funnel and spend a few minutes wiping the dust and dirt out of it. The film of oil just attracts dust and makes it stick.

I wrap my funnels in a large plastic bag - keeps everything out (bugs, dirt, etc) and even contains any leftover over drops until they dry out.

 

[ArlyA]

You’re not complaining too much. Similar complaint about engineering and using on another thread. Politicians make unrealistic regs. Engineers make a product to meet regs, but don’t use or have to use to experience the downsides of their design. Also, because the product is engineered, that cost has to be recovered, adding to more expense or a cheaper made product to make the difference.

But many people here are complaining about their $10-30 priced can's. Those engineer's are deigning a product to stay in that price range.

 

[seville009]

To keep car windows clean, in the winter, I keep a spray bottle of windshield washer fluid in a spray bottle along with an open bucket of washer fluid and a squeegee (foam and rubber wiper end) in it. Spray the windows with the spray bottle, then scrub and wipe with the squeegee. Gets the entire windows nice and clean. Cars are in the garage.



In the summer, same set up and method, but use plain old water with some Dawn dishwater detergent in it. Gets all of the bugs and road grime off.

 

[RSKY]

By accident my wife bought some 2.5 gallon freezer bags. The clear plastic kind with the press to seal closure. I keep my welding helmet, welding gloves, funnels, and anything else I want to keep clean and spider-free in one of those.

Also bought some dishwasher clean out tablets for use when she is gone all day and I wash tool boxes and other stuff in the dishwasher. Just have to time it so that washer can be cleaned out and cycled again with the clean out tabs before she gets home.

Stops a lot of drama.

RSKY

 

[Torvy]

This thread is for those silly little things you see someone doing and say, why didn’t I think of that. It could be a tool, technique, a homeowner thing, thread drift is expected.

My tip of the day. Dry erase board. I have one in my garage. It mostly contains oil change info for my vehicles, miles, date, how many quarts of oil it takes. I also started writing when I filled certain fuel containers that may get old. For example “chainsaw gas 10/23/22”.

We used one in the house when the kids were in school. Helped keep communication and schedules on track with 6 of us. At one point, we had 2. Still use one for planning.

 

[Torvy]

It took a special talent to change enough words etc. when writing a report etc. and get away with it...!

Now we have built-in cheater checks that tell you what % was copied and what source they used. Even works when they copy a friend.

 

[/pine]

Now we have built-in cheater checks that tell you what % was copied and what source they used. Even works when they copy a friend.

Plagiarism is frowned upon in school and punishable...too bad the same rules don't apply to those elected to office...especially those elected to high office...!

 

[jmc]

This one I learned from a friend when I bought a car from him and he had a couple airline barf bags in the glove box.

Are airlines charging for barf bags yet?

 

[Avenger]

Here's a tip: Use a paint pen to mark the psi for each tire on the rim next to the valve stem.

Here are more uses for paint pens around the shop:
Write on the oil filter, the mileage or hours of the last change.
Write under the hood the weight, amounts, and part numbers of every fluid and filter.
Keep bolts and other parts organized by marking baggies (I use a sharpie for this) and putting the parts into the bag
Mark tire chains to what tire they came off of when you take them off in the spring (same with snow tires, so you keep them in rotation).
Mark chainsaw bar every time you flip it to keep wear even.

 

[JethroB]

Add a light timer switch in the shop/barn. hit the 5 min button for feeding the cats and leaving by the back door. Or select any 1 hour time frame or constant on... never leave the lights on when not needed again. hopefully

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0184PH9TM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I put in motion dectector light switches in walk-in closets and the utility room. They can be set to ‘auto-off‘ in a minute or up to 10 minutes. Handy and about $25 each.

 

[jmc]

I keep finding new uses for my hydraulic lift, roll-around shop cart. Discount tool outlets sell them.

Heavy items in your pickup truck can be slid onto it at tailgate height, rolled elsewhere, and then eased almost to the ground where you can deal with it. Or reverse that process to load your truck.

If you have a portable vise, you can stabilize it on your cart table, clamp your workpiece, and adjust the height to comfortably drill it, grind it, paint it...

It can be an improvised table extension for cutting long pieces, or as an outfeed table. Matching the heights is easy. Matching higher table heights, like my radial arm saw, requires some blocks on the cart table.

500 lb. Capacity Hydraulic Table Cart

Amazing deals on this 500Lb Hydraulic Table Cart at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Avenger]

I put in motion dectector light switches in walk-in closets and the utility room. They can be set to ‘auto-off‘ in a minute or up to 10 minutes. Handy and about $25 each.

I do something similar around the outside of my home, in the darker areas. I use these

https://www.amazon.com/4-Pack-Outdoor-Solar-Lights-Waterproof/dp/B08VMTQ84G/ref=sr_1_24?crid=27UAD6BN08LXI&keywords=litom&qid=1667702707&sprefix=litom%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-24

They are outdoor solar powered motion sensor lights. Mine stay dim at night and turn bright when motion is detected. Great for paths, the back side of the shop, etc. Not blinding, but just enough to be able to see while watering the tree at night

 

[BravoXray]

Not blinding, but just enough to be able to see while watering the tree at night

You water your trees at night too?

 

[JethroB]

I have bought several used old style heavy steel filing cabinets at surplus stores. Usually for $40-50 each. They are compact standing upright but have an amazing amount of storage. I use some drawers for all of my equipment owners manuals and service guides, and others for tools and miscellaneous.

And two drawer file cabinets make great pedestals for a low workbench or desk. Just add plywood or my favorite, a piece of Formica countertop.

 

[ponytug]

And two drawer file cabinets make great pedestals for a low workbench or desk. Just add plywood or my favorite, a piece of Formica countertop.

I have used a door on top of filing cabinets as a desk since I was a kid. I love the acreage.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I keep finding new uses for my hydraulic lift, roll-around shop cart. Discount tool outlets sell them.

Heavy items in your pickup truck can be slid onto it at tailgate height, rolled elsewhere, and then eased almost to the ground where you can deal with it. Or reverse that process to load your truck.

If you have a portable vise, you can stabilize it on your cart table, clamp your workpiece, and adjust the height to comfortably drill it, grind it, paint it...

It can be an improvised table extension for cutting long pieces, or as an outfeed table. Matching the heights is easy. Matching higher table heights, like my radial arm saw, requires some blocks on the cart table.

500 lb. Capacity Hydraulic Table Cart

Amazing deals on this 500Lb Hydraulic Table Cart at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I want one of these BAD!

 

[newbury]

Add a light timer switch in the shop/barn. hit the 5 min button for feeding the cats and leaving by the back door. Or select any 1 hour time frame or constant on... never leave the lights on when not needed again. hopefully

Along the "let there be light" ideas:
I've about 4 areas in my shops that could be as dark as hades for all I care 95% of the time. One shop is 30x60 with no windows and I've about 30 four foot overhead LED lights, that originally were controlled by 2 switches near the entrances.
But for the last five years or so it's been mostly storage.
I found I often had to go in there, flip on a bank of lights, then paw around for some of the stored stuff - bolts, plumbing fixtures, etc. And usually find what I need quickly, leave and not need the light anymore.
I disliked turning on and off an entire bank of lights for brief usage, so I've got several motion detector lights from Amazon that act as spot lights, sort of "under cabinet" lights.

 

[newbury]

There are good, steel, American made cans out there that are durable and don't leak. I own three of them and used and abused them for years. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQO15I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

View attachment 768950

I've bought about 6 of those and the Justrite AccuFlow 5 Gallon over the last 10 years. I think I've had to replace one of the gaskets IIRC. They take a lickin and keep on tick'n.

$114 per can! They better be good. I keep 5 cans at home, but dont have that kind of budget.

Yeah, when I bought mine they were going normally for ~$65, on sale for $45 or less.

 

[jyoutz]

And two drawer file cabinets make great pedestals for a low workbench or desk. Just add plywood or my favorite, a piece of Formica countertop.

I made those desks for my sons when they were in grade school. Worked well and were cheap.