Cool tool ideas, things you dont need but actually do

This isn't really a tool, but makes using all other tools that much nicer in the summer time. Get an old squirrel fan from a throw away furnace. Many shops will give you them, or if you have to pay more than $20, you haven't looked hard enough. If you are ambitious, mount it through the wall furthest away from an opening window. You can also mount it in a window if you have to. You jury rig a plug in, plug it in and presto, poor man's air conditioning. Makes the garage a hell of a lot more bearable on those hot summer days.

The best investment I made in tools - a 1/2" ratchet attachment for a breaker bar, and a good 1/4" drive socket set.

 

I think one of my tools that I use all the time is the 3M deburing wheel. I have a one mounted to my grinder it is a grade 7S super fine. Its great for cleaning up old bolts, tools etc.way better than a wire wheel. but my main purpose is the first step for polishing alluminum or steel. they are kind of expensive, I think I paid 40+ dollars for mine but they last along time.

 

If you're from the humid north east, a de-humidifier mounted in the rafters works well. Run a hose off it out into the wife's garden.

 

I agree about the bench grinder, sawzall, and uni-bit to name a few. Up until recently I would have nominated a big ass floor jack for a "Cool Tool" award, but I have used lift and can't say enough about it. I don't miss crwling on the floor at all. Next I'm gonna get a tranny jack. I also can't say enough about snap-on's ratcheting t-handle screwdriver, so much more torque than your average screwdriver...

 

Not a tool but this works great for removing grease seals and inner bearings from front hubs:After you've taken off the spindle nut and pulled off the drum and removed the outer bearing,screw the nut back on the spindle,slide the drum assembly over it and catch the edge of the seal on the nut,and then pull vigorously outwards.The weight of the drum will usually dislodge the seal without damaging it.Easier than trying to pound it out with a long drift punch(which I can never find when I need it).
Another trick that works great(and similar to what I just described)on Pontiac rear ends anyway to pull the rear axle when you don't have an axle puller.Remove the rear drum,shoes,and bolts holding the axle in place and turn the drum around and fit it over the lug bolts.Install a couple of lugs loosely(a few threads is usually enough)so it will slide a bit.Grasping the drum firmly,pull vigorously outward like a slide hammer.It might take a couple of pulls,but the axle bearing will usually let go rather readily.Oh yeah I almost forgot:make sure you clean the drum out first before trying this or you'll have a faceful of asbestos dust!

 

I buy those CHEAP air power angle/die grinders from the tool guys at swap meets. Like $15 ea. max.

I have 5 of them. Each with a different attachment - One for Rolock wheels, One with a cutoff wheel, one with a carbide bit, one with a wire wheel, etc.

That way you don't have to keep chucking up different heads when swapping back and forth from cutoff to Rolock to whatever.

Just pop the next one on the hose and keep working.

Also, those mini air saws are cool.

 

I got one of those cheap 2 shelf rollers from Harbor Freight. Everything that comes off the car goes onto the shelf. It's got deep sides on the shelf so you don't lose little nuts, bolts, and parts while you're tearing that alternator, carb or starter apart. Handy as hell and I seldom have to chase springs or Jesus clips across the garage anymore. And if it's too cold in the garage, I wheel it into the living room. Handy for packing those heavy brakes and shit between the storage shed and garage too.

 

Dremel tool. With right angle attachment you can get it into most anywhere. Saved my ass many times

 

another great tool i couldn't live without is a plumbers tri-stand with a pipe vise....you can clamp most anything from rear ends to exhaust systems in them to work on..you can't tip them over,and they fold up to take up little space.

those folding work stands that body shops use are fantastic. great when working on big body pieces like fenders,hoods,etc

 

here is the first one that gets the most use in my garage. Its a milwaukee portoband with a stand that I made myself, I have no need for a full size vertical bandsaw as long as I have this. People come in my garage and are amazed by this little saw..... LUKESTER

 

here is the second one.... a dynabrade dynafile.. this one is a problem solver and a time saver. A score on ebay for 50 BUX..... LUKESTER

 

this one is my favorite, but most hated.... The digital protractor. We call it the liar..... cause it has to be.... ("man it looks level, I know the mutherf*ucker is level but the f*ckin liar says its off by two tenths of a degree"....) we used it in a friend of mine's garage to mount a shelf, we swore the shelf was like 30 degrees crooked, but it turned out his garage was leaning 29.2 degrees This is the tool I use the most... It also makes me crazy, but NOTHING gets welded until this thing sits on it........ LUKESTER

 

That protractor is DOPE, wherdya get it, and how much?

 

Hey Lukester,

Do you have better more detailed pics of your portoband stand..??
like without the portoband..??

That's an AWESOME idea..!!!!!



Lot's of great tips and ideas on here guys..!!! Cool shit...

safety type stuff...

Don't forget at least one good fire extinguisher..!!
I have one at each end of my shop, just in case...

a spray water bottle to have nearby while welding/grinding...

GOOD goggles, safety glasses, gloves, welding helmets, etc....
sometimes even earplugs...

a good vaccuum along with good accessories, like the mini tips/brushes...
also a good dust pan and dust brush...

Always buy good tools the first time and you most likely won't
have to replace them... as often at least..!!

 

Oh...

Those calipers that ard on a lil slider... do id, and od... those are nice to have around

 

Aluminum Moroso valve covers make great spray can holders....it's about the only use they have in this world. Just bend one of the flanges and screw it to the wall above the work bench.

 

thanks theodore, Iam going to fish those out of the trash right now!

 

that's the only other good place for them I think my other fave is my stubby combo wrenches, the ratcheting ones would be neat but $$$ for what you get

 

Portaband saw WILL be in my Christmas stocking this year..guaranteed! And I'm stealing your stand idea, Lukester but it'll be on a portable stand....

 

Rock.... I'll post pics tomorrow of the saw stand, Burned up.... I got the protractor from mark williams ... for $200...... they are available elsewhere for around the same price. you may find them a little cheaper... I think Art Morrison sells them too..... LUKESTER

 

I would nominate the PortaBand as my tool of the year!

 

Wait... Wait... Wait... 3lb sledge!

How can we forget this glorious tool? Capable of knocking what your working on clear across the room without a dent scratch or anything else! Crushing all surrounding items with the head of the hammer in the mean time.

 

I put this one in another post, but it should go here for all the put it in da dirt crowd.

I have a buddy who's into C-5 Vettes. They have the same problem most of us do in that a jack won't fit under the car very well. He came up with a simple idea. Take 4 2X6s about 2 feet long and nail some carpet on top of them so it hangs off the end a ways. Put them in front of your tires with the carpet facing the tires. When you drive foreward onto the boards, the carpet will keep the boards from poping up as the tire hits the edge of the board. Once on the boards, you'll have 2 more inches of clearance so you can get that floor jack under the car to a good lifting point.

 

My most used tool is a Vise I took from my pop. Big one too.

Everything has been clamped into that thing at one time or another.
TZ

 

I'll second the cheapy dial caliper (General Tools for under $20). Also found a slick way of holding patch panels in place while you tack them in: get a couple of old dead hard drives from a computer. Inside they have rare-earth magnets. Put the patch panel edge-to-edge with the cutout area and hold 'em together with the magnets. Them bastards hold like crazy! Usually have to slide them off to an edge because they're too strong to simply pull off the work.