Hello.... THAT was not my idea... I only use vinegar to clean the coffee pot! I'd have walked that nasty azz rod right over to the bead blaster and 50 seconds later it'd be rust free...

THEN --- my idea was to make a TIG torch holder.... and that's where YOUR talent should begin.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Will be a kool project.

I save cereal boxes because they are about the right thickness to use for sheet metal work. I use them for patterns to make sheet metal parts.

I had a thought the other day to build a template for a transmission hump. I covered the hole over my TKO with cardboard, used a 3" lid to get the diameter of the shifter plate.

I screwed the cardboard to the hole, covered it with wax paper, and then began the fiberglass layup process.

Fits like OJ's gloves :lmao:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...psb8b66514.jpg

"If the glove doesn't fit, you must vote to acquit!" (or whatever was actually said)


Hope it fit better than OJ's glove! Thanks for the bad memories.... LOL


GREAT IDEA BY THE WAY!!!

We always used cornstarch on bare aluminum airplanes to clean and brighten the finish back in my high school days. Flour seemed to "gunk up" and cause streaks. Worked great on our 1948 Cessna 140. Cheap and quick, but not always easy, lol:) Note: wear a mask!

Did the same on a T-6 once. ONCE! Way to much surface area IMO. Worked great though.

got to give you credit for this, tremendous help on doing my brake lines

Actually that is a great idea for laying out brake lines... I keep old junk sections I pull out of cars and straighten them to use as mockups while bending but this is even better.

This also works well for removing stubborn bellhousing dowel pins you aren't reusing. Weld a bolt on to the end of the dowel pin with the threads facing out, use a piece of pipe with a washer that allows the threads to stick out. Antiseize the threads and put a nut on... tighten with impact gun and the dowel pin will pop right out.

Once a guy learns how to read and use the markings on his bender - the only tool you need is a tape measure. Whether you're bending a 45* or a 90* or measured to the outside or center etx. The minute you figure that out you're bends will look more professional and will land where you want them to.

Just sayin'

Yes, but tight space stuff comes out nicer if you mock it up first... especially when trying to connect two points in space (like an apron to a master cylinder) with multiple lines and make it all look nice.

Agree with both of you. In my case I used mock up because it saves a ton on Ss material and wanted lines to run through very specific points. For example on picture below. That line goes from MC to front passenger wheel , undisturbed ( one piece ) it follows weld line on sub cross member and very tigh on all places. With multiple bends , on multiple planes and odd degree bends ( 13s , 17s etc )
There is no way I could have done it any other way.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...ps641e37d9.jpg
The see through protractor was indispensable for me also.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0305f5e0.jpg

Keep a small notebook and pen in your toolbox. We have all had those moments where if we had only written that down...

Use your tax return to buy insurance a year at a time.

Replace your tire iron with a torque wrench (duh).

can u explain the tax return insurance thing?

Does your car insurance provider not offer an annual rate? I was under the impression that it was common practice to offer a 12 month policy with a one time annual payment. You renew the policy each year by buying another 12 month policy with one big payment.

So, rather than paying for car insurance every month with paycheck money, buy it once with money you never saw anyways.

I need to make some carburetor jet plates yesterday for 1/4" 6061 aluminum, when laying out grids graph paper comes in handy, just center on the material and use a self-loading center punch.

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-w...wDg5wGx-X2.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-m...m3d4PFr-XL.jpg

I also made a fuel capture tube out of mild steel.

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-B...BTzQxkL-XL.jpg

V blocks FTW!!


Nicely played.

Guess we know what gets Mr Greg weld excited

Those jet plates are nice, gonna make room for ALL the jets and air bleeds? :D

Add magnets, so you can have it on the fridge!

Graph paper is a great idea Seig!

Restoring plastic parts
 

I learned from a Chemist on another forum a trick for restoring old plastic car parts.

If you boil water on the stove or your microwave, remove it, and then drop the parts in they become pliable. Somehow it affects the molecules and sort of restores the plastic.

Shown below are two 1969 Ford Torino spot mirror gaskets. They were very hard from years of use. As you can see after several cycles in the boiling water I could twist them.

I have tried this on allot of small parts and it works great.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...psatbxxpas.jpg


http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps1h25zrmi.jpg

Good idea! I saw a you tube show Autorestomod where they used a heat gun on interior plastic and it cleared up some of the faded areas on the plastic.

Nice!
 

This works on exterior UN-PAINTED plastics as well...like the bumper cladding on Jeeps or Avalanches...if gnarly, run a torch across it really quick..just don't burn it!

This works as well on interior panels that have been lightly scratched or flexed and have that white discoloration.... lightly heating the panel with a torch gets the plastic to melt just enough to bring the color back out. Obviously be very careful.

Just dug this back up from the dead (look at your avatar :-) ) And realized how useful this is going to be when I do my firewall!

Thanks!

I found this to be a great little trick. I know everyone, (at one time or another), has tried to drill a hole through carpet. I have tried to take scissors and make a clean hole but I found nothing works.... Until about a year ago. I found a set of hollow hole punches at Harbor Freight. They are fairly sharp on the leading edge. I marked the place I want to drill a hole in the carpet after I cover it with tape and insert the hole punch in a drill. I then back the carpet with a thick piece of cardboard or a thin piece of wood and drill the hole. The hole comes out perfect every time! The hole punches are under $10 and well worth the money. Here is a link to them. https://www.harborfreight.com/catalo...q=hole+punches

How do you do the “Thank You”
Never mind I found it. Just didn't see it on my phone..

This is a great thread.

Fender Covers
 

Fender covers made from some $6 yoga mats. They stay in place by hooking over the antenna or w/wiper at the back, and over the hood stop at the front.