Tool and shop tips & tricks FAQ

rocklobster87 said:

Not sure how many people know about these, but they can be very useful for layout and for measuring in general anytime when ~1/20" precision is adequate.

It's an engineers tape measure and it's graduated in 0.01', 0.1' and 1.0'.

It breaks feet into base ten like the metric system and lets you make measurements that are easier to add/subtract/divide quickly and without error.

View attachment 2079889


For example: I wanted to space these slider supports out evenly over a 3.16' span.


View attachment 2079897

3.16' / 4 = 0.79'

0.79' x 1 = 0.79'
0.79' x 2 = 1.58'
0.79' x 3 = 2.37'
0.79' x 4 = 3.16'

make marks at 0', 0.79', 1.58', 2.37' and 3.16' and done.

much easier than doing math on fractions or converting back and forth between them and decimal equivalents.

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Those fawking things should have huge warning labels on them. You know you could just go ahead and use the metric system for it's benefits instead of trying to make imperial untis perform like metric....

I needed to order some spare trailer axles, so I grabbed a tape and crawled under my trailer. I knew the spring perch distance I thought I needed. Used the tape and came up with a number that didn't make sense. Remeasured, still didn't make sense. I went and got another tape to compare thinking the first one might have stretched or been damaged. All the foot marks lined up, but the "inches" didn't.

I seriously considered tossing that tape into my contractor buddies truck for the ensuing funny, but decided against it.

Edit: Mine only had the tenths on it, not a combo tape like you're shown.

Muckin_Slusher said:

You know you could just go ahead and use the metric system for it's benefits instead of trying to make imperial untis perform like metric....

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Thanks for your permission.

I too prefer the metric system, but in a world where materials are dimensioned in inches this seemed like a decent compromise. If i need to think in inches for tube and so forth I can use the inch side of the tape. For point to point measurements or measurements that need to be added/divided/subtracted I use the engineers scale.

I would actually like to find a tape that had feet, inches, and tenth (even 1/20") inches. I think that would be very useful for what we do because you could just measure everything: tube, plate etc to the 1/20". All common materials with inch dimensions would have useful decimal equivalents, (i.e. 1 3/4" tube = 1.75" tube) which were easier to manipulate.

I actually thought that's what this was when i ordered it but it's still somewhat useful.

If you break a tap off in a blind hole, just get out your torch. The steel that the tap is made from has a high carbon content and will burn easily. Get it glowing good and bright and just bump the oxygen lever and the tap will disappear. You can also open the oxygen valve more than you normally do when adjusting your flame and let the oxidized flame eat away at the tap.

rocklobster87 said:

Not sure how many people know about these, but they can be very useful for layout and for measuring in general anytime when ~1/20" precision is adequate.

It's an engineers tape measure and it's graduated in 0.01', 0.1' and 1.0'.

It breaks feet into base ten like the metric system and lets you make measurements that are easier to add/subtract/divide quickly and without error.

View attachment 2079889


For example: I wanted to space these slider supports out evenly over a 3.16' span.


View attachment 2079897

3.16' / 4 = 0.79'

0.79' x 1 = 0.79'
0.79' x 2 = 1.58'
0.79' x 3 = 2.37'
0.79' x 4 = 3.16'

make marks at 0', 0.79', 1.58', 2.37' and 3.16' and done.

much easier than doing math on fractions or converting back and forth between them and decimal equivalents.

Click to expand...

Could always use a rivet fan too, spaces holes evenly over any distance.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=rivet+fan&client=firefox-b&biw=1280&bih=619&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSz4q0zubRAhUFG5QKHdT_BG0QsAQIJA

love my rivet fan! use it all the time

For storing nut, bolts, screws, and nails I take a empty plastic oil can and cut the top off right where it starts to slope up towards the spout. They are rectangular and fit into a drawer or on a shelf etc. without all the lost space from a round container. Tip-clean the inside before use..

When taking out a bolt in a hard to reach place or starting a bolt in a hard to reach spot (Be careful not to crossthread) I put a small wadded up bit of Duct Tape or Masking Tape into the socket. It holds the bolt in the socket yet releases it once it is installed.

If drilling through stainless, use mustard as a lubricant. We use it at work and have easily doubled the life of our drill bits and hole saws.

ElkyRacer said:

If drilling through stainless, use mustard as a lubricant. We use it at work and have easily doubled the life of our drill bits and hole saws.

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Pardon me; but do you have any Grey Poupon?

Cool tip.. I going to remember that.:smokin:

Jack Stands Caddie?

I have three sets of jack stands (6T,4t, and 3T) Does anyone have a novel idea for storing these pigs. I have a small garage and floor space is at a premium. :homer:

ElkyRacer said:

If drilling through stainless, use mustard as a lubricant. We use it at work and have easily doubled the life of our drill bits and hole saws.

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Great tip if it's true.
How many things did you try before you tried mustard? How a bout steak sauce or dandelion inner blood?

Asking for a friend
Thanks

mudtrux said:

Great tip if it's true.
How many things did you try before you tried mustard? How a bout steak sauce or dandelion inner blood?

Asking for a friend
Thanks

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Picked that up from an old electrician at work.

Same guy also showed us that Tabasco will clean up tarnished/corroded copper buss bar.

mudtrux said:

Great tip if it's true.
How many things did you try before you tried mustard? How a bout steak sauce or dandelion inner blood?

Asking for a friend
Thanks

Click to expand...

Soapy water (like Dawn) works great.

billdacat said:

I have three sets of jack stands (6T,4t, and 3T) Does anyone have a novel idea for storing these pigs. I have a small garage and floor space is at a premium. :homer:

Click to expand...

Dad always hung his on the wall.

When you have shitty C clamps and the little slide handles get all bent and shitty, cut them off and weld nuts to the end of the threaded rod. You can now tighten them with a wrench, or an impact. I center drilled my nuts on the lathe because they were 1/2in nuts.

Angle grinder adapter.

I found this angle grinder jig/adapter. Fucking looks useful.

Short Rear said:

I completely agree that over heating can be very dangerous, I was not recommending only a small amount of heat and only on the BLEEDER it self. It doesn't take more than a few seconds of heat then being cooled quickly to break the bleeder loose
Thanks for pointing out the dangers of overheating

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BLEEDER

FIFY

This ones a bit lame, but sweet sweet relief and fun at times.


If you need to drill a buncha holes, or a couple of big ones, straight up under a rig on a hoist, and possibly have muppet arm syndrome...

Place your tranny jack under the butt of the drill.

Gently jack the drill up as you drill. Muppet arms 100% relieved. Plus you can stand out of range of the swarf