A Collection of Tips for the Shop
Toothpaste!
by James Burgess
Is there one among us that has NOT been embarrassed or frustrated by some stinky gunk on our hands? Hypoid lube, brake fluid, ugh, burned ATF fluid! Here’s a tip: Keep a tube of most any brand of common toothpaste in the tool chest. When it’s time to scrub up, rub your hands thoroughly with the toothpaste and THEN wash with soap and water!
Painting with Nail Polish
by Mark Jachniewicz
Do you have machinery with etched markings that are hardly visible? PhotoMy snow blower’s speed numbers were impossible to see in the black plastic, so I bought a bottle of yellow finger nail polish and carefully painted the numbers. The markings that were black now stand out so I can see them – and it seems to be permanent.
Protecting the Little Things
by Gerald Betteridge
I wonder how many fellow machinists have the same corrosion problem I do. I live in the driest state of a very dry country (South Australia), but I still have trouble with corrosion on my tools. I know what you’re thinking – “Cover them in oil,” you say. Well, I have tried that, and have also stored them with special coated material, but when I come to use the tool it’s already started to corrode. Even clock gauges start to slow up.
So I decided to try something new. I purloined some small plastic bags from the kitchen when the Lady of the house was not looking. You know the kind: The transparent zipping bags that come in various sizes and thicknesses and are sold in supermarkets for various uses, such as storage of leftovers, sandwiches, etc..
With a little help from the vacuum, you can remove most of the air from the bag before zipping it and it will help prevent corrosion. Another bonus is that tools with sharp edges are protected (of course, use a little common sense here – sharp edges will cut the plastic without careful handling). Good luck!
