Smart Shop tips!

[BravoXray]

BUT DO NOT USE THE SPRAY ACCELERATOR!

I cut my finger bad one evening earlier this year but waited to go into the doctor until the next morning. The doctor looked at it and said it was really too late to stitch it up and used some 'medical' grade CA. A day later I was back in my shop and accidentally opened the wound up grabbing something and decided to self doctor using my own CA. Hurried the process using the spray and OMG! That stung!

I used the thin CA that sets almost instantly, so I didn't need to use accelerator.

I don't think I would have sprayed accelerator on an open wound though.

 

[Reb954]

In my shop wall space is scarce so my chains are kept in a plastic 15 gallon container with the top cut off. Chains inside the container, binders on the outside. Makes them easy to keep track of.

 

[sea2summit]

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 use old dish soap containers and fill them with bar oil. Easy to hit the target and no drip lid you'll never set down in the woods and loose. On the down sight UV light tears them up so they're really only good for about a season.

 

[stuckmotor]

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've done that trick on a mini lathe, but never thought to use it on a drill press. THANKS!

 

[PILOON]

In my shop wall space is scarce so my chains are kept in a plastic 15 gallon container with the top cut off. Chains inside the container, binders on the outside. Makes them easy to keep track of.
View attachment 682214

HaHa!
That is exactly how I store my tire chains off season.
Bonus is that they are never tangled either.
The bucket sits outside with a plastic domed hood to shed water.

 

[fried1765]

HaHa!
That is exactly how I store my tire chains off season.
Bonus is that they are never tangled either.
The bucket sits outside with a plastic domed hood to shed water.

I don't know where to find 15 gal. plastic containers.

 

[Reb954]

HaHa!
That is exactly how I store my tire chains off season.
Bonus is that they are never tangled either.
The bucket sits outside with a plastic domed hood to shed water.

That is the nice part of storing them that way, they don't get tangled so they are easy to pull out. And it is easy to see which chain I want.

 

[Reb954]

I don't know where to find 15 gal. plastic containers.

I'm not sure how to help you on that. I get them at work so they are free. I have two, one for chains, the other for diesel fuel.

I suppose the 15 gallon steel containers would work just as good but you may have to smash down the folded lip at the top if it is too thick for the hooks.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Big heavy duty trash can or steel barrel should work. Chains I spray different bright colors every few feet so I can find them!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

AWESOME POST!! Some great ideas here as I dial in my new shop. THANKS!!

 

[Doofy]

Also, you can never have to many electrical outlets. Spend a little extra and install 20 amp receptacles, better built and tighter. My opinion is to surface mount all electrical in conduit. Much easier to deal with, less air intrusion and easier to add circuits where needed.

 

[PILOON]

When I built my shop (had to call it a garage to meet code) I did all wiring with 12 gauge and all outlets at about 4 ft for easy access.
My outlets are about 4 ft between each to always have one close by.

Another feature I copied was a wall mounted swinging arm that centers over my work area c/w hanging outlet and light so that I never trip over extensions and power cords.
I simply reach up and plug in any power tools that I need for the task on hand.

It is just so handy to grab dedicated tools vs changing drill bits or driver ends for each operation.
One example is grinder #1 with wire brush and #2 with grinding disk. (and no cords to trip over!)

 

[Doofy]

Hanging receptacle cords are very handy. I need to add just a couple more.

 

[radios1]

did anyone mention to only use plain paper rags?. cloth or reinforced paper rags can pull your hands into machinery, not good at all!.. even gloves can do this!..

 

[Fuddy1952]

did anyone mention to only use plain paper rags?. cloth or reinforced paper rags can pull your hands into machinery, not good at all!.. even gloves can do this!..

That's a good one. I wear gloves a lot except around things that they could snag on! Same with not wearing my wedding ring or wrist watch. (I've never worn a necklace or ear rings either...no offence to guys who do).

 

[Sberry]

I try to gp around once in a while and give stuff I fab up, brackets and pullers a zip of yellow and get them tossed aside where I got a chance of finding them. I need to take an hour or so as it is and shoot a few things I am behind on. Good idea about the chains and rigging.
Here is another shop tip for the day, re mark the old 19/32 in old sets 15MM. I keep the forklift in the storage building and hang a bunch of chains and rigging on the back as additional counter weight.

 

[buck12]

When I built my shop (had to call it a garage to meet code) I did all wiring with 12 gauge and all outlets at about 4 ft for easy access.
My outlets are about 4 ft between each to always have one close by.

Another feature I copied was a wall mounted swinging arm that centers over my work area c/w hanging outlet and light so that I never trip over extensions and power cords.
I simply reach up and plug in any power tools that I need for the task on hand.

It is just so handy to grab dedicated tools vs changing drill bits or driver ends for each operation.
One example is grinder #1 with wire brush and #2 with grinding disk. (and no cords to trip over!)

I did a similar thing with outlets except over my workbench. I spaced them every 24 inches over my workbench.

 

[GeneV]

Homemade heavy duty hinge A.K.A. Mother of Piano Hinges

Bought 1/4" spring steel piano wire from hobby shop, 12 hinges from Menards. Removed hinge pins, ran 1/4" drill thru hinge parts, reassembled on 4' piano wires.
View attachment 682025 View attachment 682026

96 wood screws later, have large under stairs door for chemical storage. No problems in 16 years.

This is real smart!

 

[stuckmotor]

did anyone mention to only use plain paper rags?. cloth or reinforced paper rags can pull your hands into machinery, not good at all!.. even gloves can do this!..

I don't want to say how many times I've wrapped the fingertip of a nitrile glove around a drill bit.

 

[sea2summit]

I don't want to say how many times I've wrapped the fingertip of a nitrile glove around a drill bit.

Always buy another box of nitrile gloves as soon as you open one...especially during the last 12 months.