Tips and Tricks….

[Damn True]

Got a complicated surface to template? Don't sit and whittle away at a sheet of posterboard for an hour. Get a length of #6 solid copper ground wire (Lowes elect dept) and bend it to the appropriate shape. Then transfer it to your poster board by tracing. Bends really easily, but holds it's shape well (unless you drop it) and you can straighten it out and use it again.

[Solid LT1]

Tried to remove that stuck bolt? Broken off the super hardened EZ out in that sucker? Thinking now I'm really screwed? I have had success using my plasma cutter as a poor mans EDM is some of these situations....blast the center first carefully open it up to get rid of EZ out metal and then attack again with a reverse drill bit. The heat from plasma will usually shock the material enough to remove any galvanic bonds between it and the threads.

[Revved]

Saw this one recently in a metal shaping book...

As a cheat to gas back your TIG welds lay some fiberglass tape on the back side of the weld and then cover it with metal AC ducting tape. The fiberglass allows the shielding gas to pocket on the back side of the weld and the metal tape holds the gas in the fiberglass.

I'm going to try it on my next TIG project just to see how it works!

[Black93GT]

For a cheap, locally available replacement T-56 shift cup bushing / isolator, usually your local Ace hardware sells bronze flanged bushings with 3/4" OD, 5/8" ID and 3/4" length. Give a light sanding to the OD to smooth the surface a little and it will easily press fit.

[Blake Foster]

Originally Posted by Solid LT1

Tried to remove that stuck bolt? Broken off the super hardened EZ out in that sucker? Thinking now I'm really screwed? I have had success using my plasma cutter as a poor mans EDM is some of these situations....blast the center first carefully open it up to get rid of EZ out metal and then attack again with a reverse drill bit. The heat from plasma will usually shock the material enough to remove any galvanic bonds between it and the threads.

of better yet just START with the reverse drill bit normally the heat of drilling and the Reverse twist will take out the broken bolt.

[Blake Foster]

Originally Posted by TheCoatingStore

This is a great tip. People get hurt every year welding on tanks. If you don't have Argon or CO2 readily available dry ice is at most walmarts now.

I can see how the exhaust gas would work as well but you are trading an explosion hazard for a carbon monoxide hazard.

Here is how we do it.................... WE DON'T sorry sir you will need a new tank so we can weld it

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

Here is how we do it.................... WE DON'T sorry sir you will need a new tank so we can weld it

yep, plus the replacment stuff is so damn cheap now.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

Here is how we do it.................... WE DON'T sorry sir you will need a new tank so we can weld it

It's so easy the fat chicks can do it.



It's a matter of knowledge over listening to you buddies "theory" of what he heard about his grandpa used to do.

[Wissing72]

This one is simple and easy. I started doing this years back. I noticed construction guys would hammer in blades into scrap wood. We have all noticed the container at the DR's office. I now have my little ones in the garage with me and do not need the accidents. I am sure the garbage man would appreciate it as well.

Just use an old coolant jug and cut a flap in it, MARK what it is and you have a safe containment for blades or other small sharp materials.

[Sieg]

Thanks to GW's idea I went and scored an old Carrillo SBC rod to use as a TIG torch holder (actually came out of a friends drag car) from a local engine builders junk pile out back, I used to hang out at this shop in the 70's when I was in high school which adds to the cool factor for me.

The rod wasn't exactly pretty when I picked it up, though it was a very uniform coating of heavy rust...........



After soaking in white distilled vinegar over night and brushing with a stiff bristled brush this is the results........



The rust literally fell off of it.