Technical Little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists.

My friend has one with a glove on it. I don't know what it is for.

 

Filed under “Now why didnt I think of this”

 

No lie, I just had a spark or red hot BB go into my ear canal while welding exhaust on my NON-HAMB friendly truck. I was laying on my right side with my left ear pointing up. It left a red burn streak in my left ear. I'm freaked out that one day a wax covered welding BB will be washed out of my ear.

 

You can buy these ready made.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Spyder-Reciprocating-Saw-Wire-Brush-Attachment/1000060927

 

Brilliant.....

 

Thanks great idea!

 

I'm sure I posted a picture of this arm before but I can't find it. I made an extra arm for my cherry picker in order to be able to easily lift bodies off my trailer. This picture shows just how high it can lift and the arm isn't touching the cab. Overall length is 81 inches and the upright is 15 inches. In order to be sure the tube of the picker itself wouldn't split I wrapped some 2" X 1/4" steel strap around the end. The 4 X 4 cross piece has sliding eye bolts in order to accommodate different widths and I can adjust the length of the chain also. With the extra length I can also set a body on the ground or a dolly without the legs of the picker interfering. I also added some angle iron to the bottom rear of the picker in order to add weight to counter balance if needed

 

Counter weights required I see...good tip...I mean it doesn't tip good tip...lol

 

Neat. I might suggest making the upright piece on an angle to give a little more space to whatever is being lifted.

 

This replaced one I made with a Z in it. It's back more than far enough. Realize that it's at max height and still has room. If it were angled the angle piece would be touching the cab roof unless the arm was even longer. The factory arm is 36" overall, this one is 81"

 

Why bother attaching a brush to a Sawzall? Just get a wire wheel for your angle grinder. Don't overthink this stuff.

 

Speaking of angle grinders; here's a "little tip and trick for garage hobbyists":

Have multiple angle grinders. I have eleven with various disks/brushes/wheels/etc. That way I almost never have to change wheels; just grab the one with the wheel you want to use. Most of them hang on a wall rack over my welding table.

 

I used to do that all the time with pipe wrenches on my firetrucks! Those 4 inch pipe threads , under water, could really get stuck. I used my little 500 lbs air hoist, had a little more “ distance “!




Bones

 

It sort of reminds of when Dad would tie a string around a loose tooth and the door knob. Then he would slam the door. I had the fastest 10 yard sprint in town till I lost all my baby teeth.

 

[ View attachment 6064163 [/QUOTE]
An extension for these lifts is very handy, and a standard size of square tube fits down the middle of the jib. Just drill holes for the hook and locking bolt. Picked up an A coupe body using my straight extension, but went in through the window and secured the lifting chains to the floor. A suitable human counterweight is required as well!

 

Notice that he used a 4x4 thru the doors to lift. If you use a strap it will cinch tight as it raises and bend the door tops.

 

Here is a related tip. Don't put a wire wheel on the $15 Harbor Freight grinder. It will burn out in just a few minutes. They do work fine for grinding and cutting if you are only working a few minutes at a time.

The $25 HF grinders hold up much better to wire wheel use. They are often on sale (or you may get a 20-30% off coupon) . I have 4, using a flap disc, cut-off disc, grinding disc, and a wire wheel.

 

Right. Some of my grinders are HF but none are the bottom of the line. My oldest one is a Makita that's probably 25-30 years old but still runs like a new one.

 

You get what you pay for. At least you used to.

 

I like this! One big advantage is these won't throw wires that end up in your leg....

 

Or in your face!

 

Speaking of throwing wires I bought this (Amazon.com: FHTEX Leather Work Shop Apron,Flame Resistant Heavy Duty Welding Apron : Tools & Home Improvement) a few years ago and always use it when using wire wheels; be it on angle grinder or bench grinder. Sure beats picking wires out of my clothes and out of me.

 

Looking pretty buff there, Atch!

 

Painting headers

 

Maybe someone can photoshop my head onto that young fella's body. I didn't even look that good when I was his age.

 

Nice way to support the headers during paint. Most of us would have hung them off of a tree limb with coat hangers. You did good my friend.

 

Just be careful to NOT have your lifting point very far ahead of the hoists front wheels otherwise it could topple over ..... understanding that the body weight is relevant too.

 

Makes it easy to paint.roll them around. Lol

 

Beautiful paint job, then scratch them all to crap installing them in the chassis.

 

No...fenderwell headers...super easy to install.