Smart Shop tips!

[fried1765]

I always loved this quote:View attachment 683561

THAT is one I use frequently!

 

[Topzide]

I save those pump shampoo bottles to put my hand cleaner in. That way it doesn't take up the whole counter next to sink plus allows me to add a bit a Dawn to help cut the grease and oil!

 

[the old grind]

Here's a tip: Never, ever, ever, wash your car, truck, bike, boat, tractor, ZTR, trailer, etc with dish soap!! You might as well be de-greasing/etching/prepping it for primer/paint.

If we understand 'road grime' we know to only power-wash our truck lowers with rinse water vs soapy. Dish soaps get our stuff too squeaky-clean exacerbating surface/nick rust. I use zip-wax-type wash stuff from bucket or to pre-soak at lo-pres with the power washer before blasting. It has let me put of touch-ups that don't 'grow' so much vs my past unknowing folly of using Dawn or similar.

 

[buck12]

I read a report from a man who said he used ether to clean his hands. After a while doing this he found himself in the hospital with multiple organ failure. He attributed the problem to the ether and advised against using it in that way.

For years I paid little attention to what I got on my hands. With age comes a little wisdom and I now try to wear latex gloves when I working with most chemicals.

Kinda like there was a time I thought nothing of firing off a box of ammo with no hearing protection. Now I’m protective of the hearing I have left.

 

[the old grind]

I use reversible, knit gloves more than any other type. They catch grime and absorb oil & fuel, can be switched/reversed from hand to hand to even-out wear, and can be washed with work jeans so dexterity is improved until I wear holes in them.

That said, they can suck when gardening, planting, or most work in dry soil or sand. 'Dust' will usually soak up any oil, dry my skin, and the on/off bits lead to dry hands and hangnails between wash-ups and lotion afterward.

For their loose fit and keeping hands cool in hot weather, less burns & nicked knuckles, easy on/off, etc the suede-faced cheapo gauntlets are my usual alt to the knits. I wear gloves and earplugs to surprise most other guys. (AKA religiously, 1/4" nuts & bolts are easy for me with knits on) :2cents:

 

[bindian]

Similar story with a neighbor who used naphtha for decades. He was an industrial painter.

I used to wash my hands with Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) at work. We used in for everything back when I rebuilt helicopters. Especially cleaning up around sealed skin repairs and replacements. Sealed for corrosion preventative for salt water environments. Now, nobody in aviation uses it. Just acetone.
hugs, Brandi

 

[the old grind]

Brandi, I love it when you talk shop, but it scares me to think of you having cleaned your hands with (shudder) that MEK stuff.

Of course acetone is a great cleaner (eats PVC & paints) but it sure isn't for hand cleaning. ...

btw, best wishes from a fan in MI.

waves, jon

 

[grsthegreat]

Mek is awful stuff. I never handled without hand protection and breathing protection. The thought of washing my hands with it. Yeiks

 

[PILOON]

If you were closer, I would have doubled your money for it.

I use an old Singer 31-15 for my auto upholstery, canvas and leather. I put a 3/4 hp servo motor on it so it'll sew just about anything you can get under the foot. I was so involved in upholstery for a while, I have a walking foot attachment and all sorts of feet for it. I was going to update to a Consew Industrial right before my open heart surgery but that pretty much retired me to hobby work now. That old Singer will even sew auto carpet. The only thing it can't do is backup. But I work around that.

I got extra lucky as my $25.00 Consew has reverse on it!
LOL, still only double?

I recall I bought at a Gov't surplus sale and had basically used it as a rolling platform tor all the goods I was buying that day.

At later sales I would bring a helper simply to horde my piles of buys.
Good old days.

 

[PILOON]

Mek is awful stuff. I never handled without hand protection and breathing protection. The thought of washing my hands with it. Yeiks

And costly!
Leave the cap off and the whole gallon evaporates overnight.

BUT, if U wanted a part squeaky clean it sure did the job.