A POST for tech tips.........

[Roothawg]

Remember last year some time I started a post about helpful hints that you have learned through years of hard knocks?

I can't seem to find it in the archives. It might have been on the old HAMB. Let's start it again. Good refreshers for old guys and new guys alike. Maybe we can add it to the tech-o-matic.

I'll go first.

If you are planning on using a file on a soft compound such as aluminum, brass etc. you can coat your file with bar soap and it won't load up the file.

[D Picasso]

a small, cheap touchup gun from Harbor Freight or similar is a handy tool for degreasing. fill it with lacquer thinner and use it instead of brake or carb cleaner. a big plus is that you can adjust the pressure and amount of cleaner, a feature no can of carb cleaner can claim.

[Fat Hack]

Cutting the heads off of a couple of sorta long bolts and using them as "guide studs" when bolting an auto tranny or a manual bellhousing up to the back of your engine while working from under the car alone can be a BIG help in getting the two big and heavy assemblies joined!

Then, you snug up the other bolts, unscrew the two studs and replace them with the bellhousing bolts they just subbed for!

I've had to do MANY jobs like this alone, and that trick is a real frustration saver!!!

[McGrath]

Chalk or Soapstone works good on Files too.

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Chalk or Soapstone works good on Files too.



[/ QUOTE ]

Soapstone is high in asbestos, stick with the chalk, and stay away from talc, it's a carcinogen too! (and we used to put it on baby's bottoms...)

[Roothawg]

If you are trying to buff something that has oxidized such as aluminum, add flour to your polishing compound. It acts as a cutting agent or abrasive.

[BigChief]

Gotta grind aluminum???? Run beeswax on your grinding wheel surface prior to use on aluminum to avoid loading it up.

-Mike.

[TINGLER]

This is the coolest post ever!

I already gave this one out, but here it is again.

When painting rims with the tire already mounted, a good way to mask the tire from the overspray is to use Vasaline.
Smear a good amount around the wall of the tire from the lip of the rim right on out to the tread. Spray the rim with paint, let dry for a few minutes and wipe the vasaline off of the tire along with all the overspray.
It works every time.

JT.

[RileyRacing]

Grandpa taught me this, as I have no common sense! When rebuilding drum brakes, only do one side at a time, and as you take off every piece, reassemble it on the floor or a bench, so you remember how to put it together. I screwed one up, obviously http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Jason

[TINGLER]

Heres another one.
This is just for the real dummies.

When welding near glass, ie: windshield, door glass, etc etc., ALWAYS mask the glass off with some heavy cardboard (or something similar).
Or remove the glass all together. Welding spatter WILL leave pock marks in the glass.

I know this one is elementary, but I have seen some crappy pockmarked glass. Ask Ratster about it! Some dummy screwed up a back glass for him with the old welding near glass stunt.

JT

[TINGLER]

Oh man! I love this post!

RocketJ2,

Take a digital "Before" picture. Print it off and keep it handy when dissassembling and reassembling!
Works like a charm.
With Digital cameras, you can also take as many pics as needed of the process.
No worries any more.

JT.

[RileyRacing]

I wish I could. Our newest camera is coal powered! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jason

[modernbeat]

Need some oil drain pans? Don't buy the $12 16 inch pans from the oil store.

Instead, take a trip to the building supply store and purchase a few mortar mixing pans. They are about 20x30 inches and only cost $3 each.

Good for catching the oil, digging through the bucket of bolts, holding the tools in one place when you're under the car, etc...

[fab32]

Another one for painting wheel with the tires on. Take an old deck of cards and wedge them between the tire and rim overlapping each one. Spray away , take the cards out, done, no need for cleanup. Works with index cards too.

Frank

[SKR8PN]

[ QUOTE ]
I wish I could. Our newest camera is coal powered! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jason

[/ QUOTE ]

HA HA HA....gotta LOVE that........
Use a "cherry picker" to lift those heavy loads. I could not get thru a single day without mine.They are also handy for pulling fence post's.........
Antifreeze is poisonous to dogs,cats AND people...store it properly.
Gasoline will burn and it will explode.
USE SAFETY GLASSES
A fan blade can and WILL fly off......stay outta the way,when you are revving the living SHIT outta your engine.
Inspect your tools from time to time and get RID of the broken/worn out ones. It just ain't worth losing a finger over a cheap/broken tool.
Use a couple of wraps of electrical tape,to "tighten up" a swivel adapter for your sockets.
Always use jackstands. Never crawl under a car that is supported by a jack ONLY......
Got a test light? Add six foot of length to it for checking your brake light circuits.
Ya know those bottle tops that come on dish washing detergent? The ones with the flip up lids? They fit PERFECTLY on one quart oil/trans fluid bottles instead of using a funnel,and are GREAT for storing an open container of the same.
O.K.......I'll shut up now....... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Paul]

when building anything "dry fit" first.

before you paint, apply gasket compound or whatever make sure all the parts and pieces fit!

Paul

[Unkl Ian]

When your finished,remove the chalk from your files with a stiff brush of file card.Otherwise the chalk can attract moisture,causing corrosion which will dull the cutting edges.

[Unkl Ian]

Liquid soap makes a good anti-spatter spray substitute for welding.Great for protecting threads,easy to remove when finished.

[Paul2748]

The original hints are included in kustm54's post of tech items complied by atch two or three days ago.

[autocol]

taking off window winders with those pesky clips behind them? don't buy the special tool, the best tool is an old rag.

slip it behind the window winder and yank it back and forth. when you yank it, it pops the clip off, and stabs it through the rag so it doesn't fly across the shed, into the huge pile of shit you can never find anything in!

[Kustm52]

You know how your air hose ALWAYS hangs under the tires when trying to drag it around a car while spraying? Take an old brake shoe and wedge at the edge of the tire (on the floor). No more hanging lines...works for extension cords too.

Vertically challenged and can't quite reach the center of the roof of the car you are spraying? Let the air out of the tires...

I'll think of some more....

Brian

[Harrison]

Need to replace the outer axle housing seals on a banjo rear end? Get a 12 inch length of all-thread, place a nut and 2 inch washer on one end, slip the seal down onto the washer.

Then drop a string down the housing and tie it to the end of the all-thread, pull it up to where the seal "bottoms out". Next drop a 2 inch washer onto the all-thread (sticking out the end of the housing) and tighten a nut down. This will pull the seal up into place.

JH

[modernbeat]

A text file of the old post of shop tips is at

http://lonestar.texas.net/~mcdaniel/hamb/shoptips.txt

[I go pogo]

[ QUOTE ]
a small, cheap touchup gun from Harbor Freight or similar is a handy tool for degreasing. fill it with lacquer thinner and use it instead of brake or carb cleaner. a big plus is that you can adjust the pressure and amount of cleaner, a feature no can of carb cleaner can claim.

[/ QUOTE ] Spraying flammable liquids through a paint gun is not a good idea. Atomizing the thinner makes it more volatile. Thats why your carburetor does it.

[D Picasso]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a small, cheap touchup gun from Harbor Freight or similar is a handy tool for degreasing. fill it with lacquer thinner and use it instead of brake or carb cleaner. a big plus is that you can adjust the pressure and amount of cleaner, a feature no can of carb cleaner can claim.

[/ QUOTE ] Spraying flammable liquids through a paint gun is not a good idea. Atomizing the thinner makes it more volatile. Thats why your carburetor does it.

[/ QUOTE ]

what is carb cleaner, brake cleaner, and paint, if not a flammable liquid? hmmm? that's why it works....

[Buford]

Color code each end of your 4-way lug wrench with your old spray cans. Works great...you know exactly which one to use. Frank

[safariknut]

I keep a couple of the old gallon antifreeze jugs around with the sides cut out and a small hole punched near the cutout on the bottom end.Have a bungee cord(the flat rubber kind with the removeable metal hooks)attached thru the hole and around the handle end.Makes a great drain bucket to hang around a brake assembly while you're spraying it down with cleaner.
I have a couple bigger ones(2-2 1/2 gallon)that some weed killer came in that I cut up the same way and use for extra drain pans and to wash small assemblies.When you're finished draining(or washing down parts)simply unscrew the end to empty.Much easier than trying to pour out a regular drain pan.
Also I bought a bunch of small alligator clips for a variety of uses(not holding joints).I use them to hold wires out of the way when disconnected and I also use them to hold my paint brushes in a rack(bristle side up)so the preservative can run down into the ferrule.I also have a couple attached to my palette so when I'm painting with several different brushes,I can leave paint in them without contaminating them.

[choprods]

Never use cement blocks to hold up a car........they can crumble-And never put jackstands under a car on the ground.....[use only on cement floor]-never tie up your muffler after it falls down with a nylon rope http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif!!!![learned that one from my 5th grade teacher lady]!keep a small can of waste laquer-thinner[kept covered] as a way to clean up putty spreaders after applying bonduuuuuu.keep those old 4-1/2"grinder wheels that are now two inches or less in size-you can get in the corners of a chopped rear glass opening with them and also you can finish enlarging the dash/guage holes after your hole saw makes them too tight to install guage.On any chop top where the top is now narrower than the lower posts on the body[by 1" or less]tack one side securely-then slip a peice of sheetmetal in between the two that are "off"-Then take a "come-a-long" and wrap old seat belts around each post then hook the come-along to TOP of tackedwelded post and BOTTOM of lower post on opposite side and pull it over a click at a time-TILL ALIGNED!-pull out sheetmetal "slider" and then tack that one too![you also need to slip a peice of bar stock in the drip rail] where seatbelt is wrapped or it can crush the drip!HMMMMMMMMMM http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[CharlieLed]

[ QUOTE ]
Use a "cherry picker" to lift those heavy loads. I could not get thru a single day without mine.They are also handy for pulling fence post's.........


[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that I was the only one who used my cherry picker for so many other tasks...it works great for tranplanting trees, lifts them straight up and sets em down real nice....

[CharlieLed]

[ QUOTE ]
You know how your air hose ALWAYS hangs under the tires when trying to drag it around a car while spraying? Take an old brake shoe and wedge at the edge of the tire (on the floor). No more hanging lines...works for extension cords too.

Vertically challenged and can't quite reach the center of the roof of the car you are spraying? Let the air out of the tires...


[/ QUOTE ]
So do you let the air out of the tires BEFORE or AFTER you wedge the brake shoes in place? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That is a good idea, but I don't think I own any brake shoes anymore...

[CharlieLed]

I save gallon milk jugs for various uses. Naturally to store old fluids, but they work great as packing material when you're shipping something bulky, just keep the cap on tight. I also cut the bottom off, turn the jug over and use it for a funnel. Other containers work equally well if you don't need a BIG funnel. Best part is the you don't have to clean it, it's so cheap just pitch it when you're done (especially good for old oil that you need to pour out of your concrete mixing pan http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)...

[modernbeat]

Along the gallon jug thread...I take antifreeze jugs, lay them on their side and cut a big window in the top side. They become containment trays for fastners in the parts washer. I also use them to hold small parts when I'm disassembling something.

[D Picasso]

check for ice cube trays at the next garage sale. often they have 16 cubes, which makes 'em dandy for holding lifters in sequence- much better than the standard one and a half egg crates. otherwise they're great for fasteners and small parts and they stack nicely as well.

[Zodoff]

Always tight the tip of the mig welder with just your fingers.It will make the wire come loose easyer,if you have a little "melt-down" in the tip..And remember to adjust the wire-feed wheel,so you can easy stop the wire by holding it between two fingers.. You save a lot of trouble that way.
Never use your Zippo to check for oil,or to lighten up in the distributor hole,on a engine that wont start.. :$

[k-member]

For an axle thats hard to get out, take a piece of chain about 6ft in length and bolt it to one of the studs with a lugnut and give it a snap,the axle usually hops right out.

[286merc]

If working with Super Glue or epoxies keep some acetone handy. It will dissolve the mess on your hands before it cures.

When working with acids always have a bucket of cold water/baking soda solution handy as well as soft towels. Just in case you arent dressed properly for safety.

[Johnny Ace]

Another Quick paint tip that works in thousands of situations....Use any type of Saran wrap or self-clinging plastic wrap to mask off large areas...it adheres to all sorts of various shapes without the adhesive from tapes,friskets,"low-tack" films,etc...No need for newspaper....pull tight,secure tension with masking/painters tape, spray.....pull everything off in one move....

[Fat Hack]

No shit!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

That saran wrap trick rules!!! So simple....I love it!!

Gonna have to remember that one! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[DrJ]

Some auto paint stores, even in CA still stock lacquer but they can't legally sell it to you to paint a car, but they can sell it to you if you tell them you are going to paint your refrigerator or kitchen cabinets or jet ski.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Rix2Six]

Everyone has one (or more) coffee cans of assorted nut/bolts/washers etc. I make a liner for them by cutting up an old bed sheet. That way, if I need to find something I can pull out all the contents easily and spread them out to find what I'm looking for. When I'm done, I can pick up the corners of the sheet and put it back in the can.

[Rix2Six]

This may be an obvious one but when I'm doing a large project, I bag up all the little parts into different sizes ziplock baggies and then I write what they are on the baggy with a sharpie permanent marker.

[Digger_Dave]

Need to "tap" threads in thin material?

Use a piece of thick material (I use a scrap of 1" aluminum) DRILLED for the bolt size that you need to tap in the thin stuff.

The "guide" helps keep the tap at right angles when you clamp/hold it above the hole that needs to be tapped. My "guide" has about 6 holes in it for various sizes.

[I go pogo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a small, cheap touchup gun from Harbor Freight or similar is a handy tool for degreasing. fill it with lacquer thinner and use it instead of brake or carb cleaner. a big plus is that you can adjust the pressure and amount of cleaner, a feature no can of carb cleaner can claim.

[/ QUOTE ] Spraying flammable liquids through a paint gun is not a good idea. Atomizing the thinner makes it more volatile. Thats why your carburetor does it.

[/ QUOTE ]

what is carb cleaner, brake cleaner, and paint, if not a flammable liquid? hmmm? that's why it works....

[/ QUOTE ] The difference is the the spray cans are charged with a non flammable gass and it pushes the liqued through the nozzle the spray gun draws the liqued through the gun with air thus atomizing it. basic physics. It's true the fumes of both are flamable but the flash poiny of the spray gun is much higher( it tekes less to set it off) and the bang much bigger. if you want to use thiners put them in a polyethylene pump bottle. A 409 bottle works.

[I go pogo]

.keep those old 4-1/2"grinder wheels that are now two inches or less in size-you can get in the corners of a chopped rear glass opening with them and also you can finish enlarging the dash/guage holes after your hole saw makes them too tight to install guage.

[/ QUOTE ]You can also gang them together to make a grinding face that gets into small spots.they may be uneven to start but they wear flat quickly.