Tips And Tricks Thread

[agent_zed]

just did this one today...

 

When you have loads of packing washers you will often find that getting them all to stay in the same place when trying to push the bolt through is one of those jobs that requires a bleep machine.

 

So to save most of the swearing super glue the washer together. you just need a small drop or two to hold them together. If you use a same size bolt you can slide them on as you glue them so the hole stays inline. Once set in a minute or two you have a much easier job of pushing the block of washers into the space.

 

oh also might be a little over the top but if i am putting a washer against paintwork i always turn the washer so the rounded edge is against the paintwork to minimise the sharper edge cutting into the paint

[sj-bradley]

A similar trick is to put the washers together on a spare bolt and then either masking tape or PVC tape around the outside.

 

Simon.

[Guest mower man]

OK im being clever or an ar--but I just spin up a correct length spacer on the lathe mick

[agent_zed]

OK im being clever or an ar--but I just spin up a correct length spacer on the lathe mick

 

certainly the better option if you have it my hobby lathe is currently tripping the electric though

[sj-bradley]

Yes a lathe would be better, but at the time it was either 0.1p masking tape or £500 for a lathe ...

 

Which is better ? Fiigght

 

Simon.

[theduck]

£500 on a lathe is far better. New tools always win

[Guest Tim Norman]

I always seem to buy the tools after I need them! So by my recking I will have a lathe and decent pillar drill by the time I finish the Kitten!

[Guest mower man]

Yes a lathe would be better, but at the time it was either 0.1p masking tape or £500 for a lathe ...

 

Which is better ? Fiigght

 

Simon.

If you save money on the tape it goes toward buying a lathe [hows the £25 one doing ?] mick

[Longboarder]

Just bought some 'Peel Head' pop rivets to fix the Tenax bases to the fibreglass rear wings for the hood fittings. It occurred to me some members might not know about them. Handy for pop riveting into softish material where a standard rivet might pull through. They 'blossom' into flower shape that will hold in quite soft material without pulling out. Get them on ebay.

 

Nigel

[Guest scrabster]

When using your garden vac,make sure the zip on the collection bag is done up or you will never fill it, just leaves a confetti trail behind you!

[fry61]

IF you suspect your newly machined piece has a burr/swarf still attached -- DONT test with a pinky ---- guess how I was reminded of that one.

[Guest bigeein]

Not generally so relevant with hoods but when masking for painting use poly bin-bags rather than paper. You can wash them down to get rid of dust in between coats and sanding and they don't go all soggy and fall off if you get them wet whilst you are wet-sanding.

 

Plus they are cheap.

 

Never use washing up liquid to lubricate seals for fitting - it's not good for the rubber or metalwork as it's full of salt. Lanolin is the thing to use (or cheap hand cream which is lanolin plus perfumes).

 

Iain

 

 

Green hand swarfega (smooth type) is very good for fitting rubber seals, windscreens , gromits , caliper dust covers , tyres etc etc . It won't corrode the rubber .

[Andi]

Tight fitting rubber pipes benefit from a soaking in a pan of near boiling hot water to make them more pliable

 

Andi

[Guest Ian Maycock]

Also when fitting rubber pipes a spray of WD40 inside pipe and on the pipe connection reduces the friction between the parts.

[Guest mower man]

Well anything being pushed in requires a little lube don't it