Smart Shop tips!

[neverfailyou]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Try this.

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

 

[Reb954]

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]

got a link?

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

Try this.

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



View attachment 682936

Thanks BB.

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.

 

[Reb954]

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.

I'm not a toolmaker or even a machinist but I do the same thing. Within .005 I use a ruler. Within .001 I use an edge finder. Indicator for anything closer which for me is rare.

 

[CADplans]

Within .001 I use an edge finder. Indicator for anything closer which for me is rare.

Anything closer than 0.001,, I just eyeball,,,,

but,, I also have x-ray vision,,,,,,,,,,














:laughing:

 

[the old grind]

Was a toolmaker? My job ran out and I retired, but I haven't forgotten much.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Was a toolmaker? My job ran out and I retired, but I haven't forgotten much.

I've moved up in the world. I'm now a design engineer. I was looking at prints that made no sense and thought "I could do better!" It was a nice transition. I get pushback from other engineers because I have no college degree in engineering, but my experience is where I'm miles ahead of them. Now I don't have to work overtime (60 hours a week standing on concrete was tough on my feet). And I come home clean, not smelling like a machine shop. Plus now I have all sorts of connections for anything I need for my at-home engineering projects, and time to actually work on them. And I have access to SolidWorks.

I haven't forgotten anything, I just use the knowledge differently now.

 

[fried1765]

I've moved up in the world. I'm now a design engineer. I was looking at prints that made no sense and thought "I could do better!" It was a nice transition. I get pushback from other engineers because I have no college degree in engineering, but my experience is where I'm miles ahead of them. Now I don't have to work overtime (60 hours a week standing on concrete was tough on my feet). And I come home clean, not smelling like a machine shop. Plus now I have all sorts of connections for anything I need for my at-home engineering projects, and time to actually work on them. And I have access to SolidWorks.

I haven't forgotten anything, I just use the knowledge differently now.

Sounds like a fantastic transition!

 

[jjp8182]

I've moved up in the world. I'm now a design engineer. I was looking at prints that made no sense and thought "I could do better!" It was a nice transition. I get pushback from other engineers because I have no college degree in engineering, but my experience is where I'm miles ahead of them. Now I don't have to work overtime (60 hours a week standing on concrete was tough on my feet). And I come home clean, not smelling like a machine shop. Plus now I have all sorts of connections for anything I need for my at-home engineering projects, and time to actually work on them. And I have access to SolidWorks.

I haven't forgotten anything, I just use the knowledge differently now.

Not sure I'd always say that's moving up in the world as engineers can be a rather odd bunch (speaking as an engineer myself) - but still the pay can be good and the work interesting if irritating at times (usually most irritating when dealing with other engineers who think being an engineer means their education makes them smarter than reality/mother nature/God/etc. )

If there's one thing that life has taught me: it's that reality is always right and trying to believe/do otherwise is a quick path to a rude awakening and (in extreme cases) personal injury/death. ..and it's one of those lessons that only experience seems to be able to teach.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Sounds like a fantastic transition!

It is sure nice to be off my feet for a change. This is the first full time job I've had that I wasn't on my feet the majority of the time.

Not sure I'd always say that's moving up in the world as engineers can be a rather odd bunch (speaking as an engineer myself) - but still the pay can be good and the work interesting if irritating at times (usually most irritating when dealing with other engineers who think being an engineer means their education makes them smarter than reality/mother nature/God/etc. )

If there's one thing that life has taught me: it's that reality is always right and trying to believe/do otherwise is a quick path to a rude awakening and (in extreme cases) personal injury/death. ..and it's one of those lessons that only experience seems to be able to teach.

Moving up for me meant more time off my feet and with my family, and just a better quality of life. Because of all the overtime I was working as a toolmaker I actually took a pay cut to become an engineer. After doing it for 4 years I'm now back up to my previous salary. I do mostly improvement and new design on machines. It takes certain traits to be a good engineer, being odd is just one of them. I know what you mean about other engineers, mostly the recent college graduates. They don't have "that" experience. I've always been cautious, so reality has never bit me that hard, plus I learn by observing others.

"One may learn by reading, a few may learn by observing others, the rest just have to pee on the electric fence."

 

[Fuddy1952]

This is sort of a shop tip, hopefully help someone. Yesterday I went to put on my favorite coat and the zipper broke.
I bet most people throw out and buy new, but a good coat isn't cheap.
At Walmart they sell Coats & Clark made in USA zippers, get the heavy duty coat one.$2.47!!!!!
I use upholstery thread, if you notice I didn't sew perfectly straight but three passes, it's on there. Heavy metal not plastic zipper.
I have two other ones I've I've repair like that over the years, new zipper outlasts the coat.
Fixed for less than three bucks.View attachment 683186

 

[the old grind]

I suggest that your sewing is quite good. :thumbsup:

Many of us struggle to get the thread & bobbin tensions right for the material we sew.

Proves a guy can do more domestic stuff than just cook dinner.

btw, I've been doing laundry & dishes for 50 yrs. We can do this s__.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I suggest that your sewing is quite good.

Many of us struggle to get the thread & bobbin tensions right for the material we sew.

Proves a guy can do more domestic stuff than just cook dinner.

btw, I've been doing laundry & dishes for 50 yrs. We can do this s__.

Thanks. You're very kind!
I sew on machine once a year, maybe. I worked next door to an upholstery shop years ago and enjoyed talking with the guys (I was watching though and picking up tips ). I got up nerve and reupholstered a chair we have. To me it wasn't difficult. I'd love to have one of those industrial sewing machines like they had.
There's no masculine or feminine in being able to do things! Now if I could only cook!