Technical Little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists.

Dan, as an old machinist I agree with what you said. There is one caveat that I would like to add. " More threads increase clamping ability" is correct for steel, but when you get into softer materials like aluminum or plastic etc., its generally better to use a coarse thread. The reason is that a fine thread has a shallower thread depth and the soft material may tear out easier. Having a deeper root also means a wider thread at the bottom of the thread.

 

Yes I was taught coarse threads in soft material as well, I didn’t word my post very well. I should’ve said 1 - 1/2 thread diameter with coarse threads in soft material and fine or coarse threads in harder material. Sometimes I know what I meant even when nobody else does lol
Dan

 

Old piece of grill. Great for storing and transporting bungie cords.


Harbor Freight toolbox drawer organizers, $6.99. Use for parts organization on disassembly. Got the idea from a traveling auto trans class.


3/8" square gas cylinder wrench from the welding store. Fits the bead roller.

 

Old guy at a radiator shop taught me this one. If ATF ever drips onto your drained anti-freeze, laying piece of newsprint on top of the anti-freeze will pick the ATF off the top.

 

Its often difficult to think of everything when putting stuff on the net. Most of us just try to help each other.

 

I love the corrections, clarifications and different points of view, this is what makes us learn and grow.
Thank you
Dan

 

Dan you done good on info. I have learned most of the things discussed here over time as well. some from you and some for others, its all great information well worth the read, thank you all.

 

Thank you like wise with you and many more here. I’m truly amazed at the knowledge and wisdom this group has.
As for me I know a lotta bit about a little bit and a little bit about a lot and the more I learn the less I know lol
Dan

 

You hit all the nails on the head with this and didnt bend any. Im finding out the more I learn the less I actually know, I learn something new every time I get on here and I look forward to it.

 

My garage tip of the day is to make sure and feed your wire wheel a full diet of metal, bastard jumped up and bit me, must of been hungry.

 

Wow hate to see this , glad that is all that happened . I was using a 9 in , Wildcat grinder years ago no guard , the wheel exploded . No damage to me , but my Buddy was , across the room , a piece of the wheel , stuck in his chest .

 

Didn't take long to wind up and it wouldn't unwind when I put it in reverse lol

 

I've got a "strawberry" on each leg from wire wheels on angle grinders. Both times I was wearing jeans and the jeans got torn without drawing blood from me. Also both times I was holding the workpiece with my left hand and the grinder in my right. Both times I told myself "don't do this." Both times my stupidity won out.

 

I Keep skipping the part where, and when I hear myself being cautious

 

Yep gotta watch them tools ! They will bite ya !

Had an uncle cutting a piece of wood with a circular saw, thought it'd be smart just to throw it across his leg, after a trip to the hospital and numerous stitches in his leg he found the errors of his way...

Another buddy drilling a 3" wide metal flat strap with a 3/8" drill bit also thought it'd be better to throw the 4' piece against his leg well after exiting the bottom of the strap the drill bit proceeded to go thru is pants and his right ball, another buddy drove him to the hospital all the while holding the drill in his hand. Once there the nurse proceeded to gently and carefully cut the twisted up jeans from around the drill bit, until the jeans consisted of a waste band and a couple partial legs. Then once down to the meat of things (pun intended) the doc came in while the nurse took over drill handling chores the doc slowly pulled the skin back away from the drill bit while the nurse gently turned the drill chuck by hand. Lucky nothing major was hit, but the buddy who drove him to hospital and watched it unfold was sure to tell the story when ever Danny was around !!

...

 

I hear you, man.

Cutting up scrap with a 4.5” grinder a month ago. Grinder bit, came back at me and grabbed my pants. Tangled up, and stalled.

Looked down, grinder close to parts I would rather keep, and growling at me from the stalled motor. Frightened to move in case it freed itself and started spinning.

Duck walked backwards, carefully, until the power cord pulled out. Removed grinder, asked the man upstairs for a miracle, and checked my leg. Pants have a 4” tear, but didnt break the skin.

Said thanks, went inside, changed undies.

Cheers,
Harv

 

Thinking of this thing I used to do many decades ago.
The 'trick tip' developed through sort of osmosis.
Doing a lot of road calls, I'd find the deal where the GM solenoid was pooped out.
Start switch position only produced a nice click and no crank.
So bridging the distance between the batt. pole and / smaller lug will give the engine a spin to go.
A screw driver or wrench often can ground out on something else making for unwanted sparks.
Something metal small enough to not contact engine block, starter body, or frame;
but heavy enough to carry the volts was found in the pocket of my pants.
A good ole quarter, pushed flat against the lugs, fits the span just right;
and is heavy enough to not get hot.
footnote:
Extra fun, if I had no quarter, and asked the customer for the quarter, then, scootch
under the car and crank her up, resurface and return said coin to a perplexed driver.
Since this took place on the road I'd caution the client to not touch his key switch
'til he arrived at his service garage

 

Not sure about you, but I would consider them "major".....

 

no guts no glory...that's the way it is in the fabricating life...

 

I have seen lots of terrible burns , and even did it myself . Can’t determine how hot the welded material is under the helmet .

 

Someone oughta make these angle grinders where they rotate backwards as well as forward like the battery powered drills do..........might save a few trips to the emergency room.

I have a heavy duty Milwaukee angle grinder that I run a 6" wire wheel on for removing rust off steel plates and stuff. It has grabbed my shirt a couple of times........but at least I'm cautious enuff to keep it away from crotch height!

 

I need to make a BIG sign for my shop that says "IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RED TO BE HOT."

 

B-t-w; as a "tip for hobyists" please clamp your metal workpiece to your drill press table before you start the motor.

 

I did kinda of the same thing this summer. A 4 inch coarse wire wheel on my angle grinder, cleaning my garage and decided to clean the dirt and rust on a few tent stakes. Put a stake in my vice grabbed my grinder installed wire wheel , I’d taken the handle off for my previous project couldn’t reach what needed grinding with the handle on, I’m only going use this for a minute - Mistake #1, Oh I don’t need a face shield, long sleeve jacket, or gloves - Mistake 2. The grinder has a on or off switch - Mistake 3.
While buffing a tent stake the wheel grabbed an edge and ripped the grinder from hands Said grinder goes bouncing around hit me at least twice. I got 5 stitches and a raspberry about 2 x 3 inches.
I now own a grinder with a paddle switch.
The Dr asked me what I did, Well I did some stupid shit. Was the worst accident I’ve had with shop tools.
Moral of the story: Use safety equipment and think through your actions. Everything is OK when we can laugh at these things however it could be real serious.
Dan

 

My father would watch me work on something, then pick it up only to drop it quickly as it burnt me. Every time he asked "Bit heavy?". Thinks he is a comedian.

Somehow the kids learnt the same expression, and now ask me "Bit heavy?" when I do it. I go through 5 seconds of thinking they are a wise-ass, to smiling because they picked up something in their grandfather's shop.

Cheers,
Harv

 

Anyone have a new rod building tip?

 

Sorta new; sorta continuation.

I use angle grinders with wire wheels somewhat often. One of the best things I ever did was buy a leather apron that covers me from neck to knees. I no longer have to pick wires out of me/my clothes.

 

Why? Have you cut yours off with a grinder?

 

One more thought to add to the wire wheel/grinder subject. After a 35 year career in welding on heavy equipment (earth movers), I have spent a large number of hours holding grinder handles.

When using a grinding disc or wire wheel, only use the side of the disc or wheel that pulls the tool away from you. With clockwise rotation that would be the right side. If it's pulling away from you, you have complete control and it can't grab because you determine how much pressure is against the cutting surface of the disc.

If you use the end of the disc it's pulling the tool to the left side. A handle on the right side will give you some amount of control if the disc grabs because the tool is pulling away from you. A handle on the left side (using the end of the disc) is almost useless because the tool pushes toward it and if it grabs at all, it sort of wraps into the material and the harder you push to keep it away from you the harder it grabs. This happens so fast that you lose control. Using the LEFT SIDE of the wheel will nearly always end in DISASTER.

I have explained this to many apprentices over the years and almost every one of them was nodding their head and saying yep, while thinking to himself, "Shit, how damned smart do you have to be to operate a grinder, besides I'm big and tough I can hold on to it no matter what it does." If I watched them for just a minute or two they would almost invariably have the grinder try to jump out of their hands. Most of them would make a comment sometime later that maybe I knew a little bit about the subject.

How OSHA let any company build grinders without a paddle switch is something I'll never figure out.

 

After cutting out a chunk of steel, soak it overnight in vinegar to get rid of the mill scale. Wash it off, let it dry and give it a spray with WD40 to stop surface rust . This saves you having to get all wound up in a wire wheel! (Unless you're doing a chassis rail or something big!)