|
|
TOOLS
Mar 5, 2014 12:49:27 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Mar 5, 2014 12:49:27 GMT -7
Lost a traction mag, week or two now past and found it. Got me thinking about tools. As they are and how they might be adapted for our needs. Thought different adaptations our members might be using could be helpfull to all. If even they just lead to an inspiration for a new tool.
The handy (no pun) magnet finder I discovered was by accident. Had lost small t/mag from LL-T. Really annoyed me at the time, was the last loose one I had. Lasr night I had just used super glue and then started to clean up loose debris that had been accumulating.
Piece of small plastic stuck to my thumb, flicked it of toward pile of debris. Only it spun in miid air, shot back and stuck to the end of my thumb. It was the magnet ! I had a piece of metal stuck in the callous at the end of my thumb. NOT saying stick metal in your fingers but if had dawned on me to pick up a magnet and wave it around. It would have saved time and headache. Will work for other magnets or metal.
Over time I've made all sorts of tools, problem is I forget them until needed again. Last night I was also drilling holes and used my HO deburing toll for clean-up. The tool was a broken jewlers file. I ground the end to a 45, the sharpend. Works for cleanig up flash on plastic or brass. Small size makes it possible to get at things a larger tool or blade won't.
I know others use pliers ground to hold various things. I'll come across some soon, when I need one again. But hopefully others will jump in with what works for them before then.
.................................... PC
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jun 10, 2014 8:28:38 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jun 10, 2014 8:28:38 GMT -7
One indespensible tool that is always close is the, toothpick. I use it for applying glue, for moving brushes in pancake chassis without lifting magnets or getting tool stuck to the mags, for testing brush tention, for applying paint, or just as a small finger at times. But the list could go on..........
Another item I've, recently started using more is a piece of glass....... about 5x6"'s............ chassis can be checked for flatness, but cutting tape for masking can be simple when you can look at what needs to be masked right under tape just layed on glass........ definitely speeds up process for me.........
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jun 10, 2014 16:15:06 GMT -7
Post by AJR on Jun 10, 2014 16:15:06 GMT -7
Good stuff Peter. I like this because I can relate to making your own tools. Robert and I call these "hillbilly" tools. I have a perfect example. As a low budget racer I have made several of my own tools. Wheel pullers can be kind of pricey sometimes so I made my own out of a Harbor Freight C clamp. I now have several other wheel pullers, but to be honest, I use this one more often. It took about 30 min to make and I used a bench grinder, drill press, and a file.
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jun 10, 2014 18:14:35 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jun 10, 2014 18:14:35 GMT -7
Nice job Jeff ! C - clamps can be used for presses also....... a few mandrels that fit where you drilled hole and press in born...... heck wheel and gear presses are just over-priced C-clamps.........
Tooling is a part of life....... most everything manufactured had tools made to do so.......... I prefer to think of it as miniature tool making..... and tools that do the work needed do make things easier........
Next tool will be an adaptation of a razor saw ground to the shape of an X-acto blade so it fits X-acto handle........ just got new saw..... old ones teeth at front and back of blade are good....... rounded, worn in middle over time....... often use them on brass for fine cuts.......so I'll use both ends of blade to make miniature pole saw blades....... one push and one pull by reversing the direction of teeth in reguards to the shape of new blade................ almost been waiting for this...... no more over cuts or slips with knife blade.
........... Peter
|
|
|
|
Post by AJR on Jun 11, 2014 3:27:18 GMT -7
I also use this as a press as well. This is the other plunger that I use for pressing. I ground the swivel end off and what is left is the ball end. I drilled a small indention to grab the end of an axle to push on or just use the ball end against a wheel. It works very well. I have some more tools that I will post later. Might be helpful to some racers. I have found lots of stuff like this in various places on the forum that helped me.
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jun 11, 2014 7:27:32 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jun 11, 2014 7:27:32 GMT -7
Thanks for the pics, Jeff. Maybe they will get this thread going....... thought it could be helpfull to both old and new to the asylum......
Nice thing about clamps is they can be hung together with backside labled for ID.
............................ Peter
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jun 26, 2014 15:11:36 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jun 26, 2014 15:11:36 GMT -7
Hey Dave , just noticed second part of post..........aside from the metal filings/glass for magnrtic fields (just wanted to get that in this thread)...........
Always liked pin vise best for rewinding..........easy to see everything your doing........
For balancing magnets bonded to the face of jaws in small metal vise will work.........
Of late I've been using an aluminum heat sink..........four fins wide , fin between 1st & 3rd removed for inline balancing...... 1st & 3rd fins used for inlines .............. 3rd & 4th for pacakes......... two balancers in one.
............... Peter
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jul 1, 2014 20:53:29 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jul 1, 2014 20:53:29 GMT -7
Just needed to solder strap for , Doug's 3.2/poly - modified gear train - 4g ........ plugged in iron , went to wet sponge....... was thinking , after looking back at , Sam's thread........ the 4g build one forget name........that we're a pretty smart bunch...... engineers at HO mayhem.......... the mind is a powerfull tool...... but also as dangerous as anything else........ reason for this post.
The cars we play with are in essence toys........ but the tools we use are not BE CAREFULL WITH WHAT YOU DO...........the cord on the soldering iron began to unroll... the iron rolled...... 2 wiz sili-foams , 1 resin body , 1 plastic lighter that must have pushed plastic flux botle when gas escaped , lucky liquid flux level was.below now missing portion of bottle........ and one more roll of iron would have landed it on carpeted floor.
Don't take things for granted when using tools........ AND DON'T EVER SHUT OFF THE MIND !
.......... Peter
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jul 18, 2014 9:24:22 GMT -7
Post by dave632 on Jul 18, 2014 9:24:22 GMT -7
Some nice ideas here for homemade tools. I have many tools but few are adaptable to HO slot cars.
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jul 18, 2014 10:19:34 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Jul 18, 2014 10:19:34 GMT -7
Some nice ideas here for homemade tools. I have many tools but few are adaptable to HO slot cars. Be surprised at times........... just used a rt. angle drill adapter thats been around for years......... 0 tolerance chuck - only thing I could find to power-up a #73 bit and be hand held so to keep out of the hot garage where drill presses are. ....... Peter |
|
|
|
TOOLS
Jul 18, 2014 11:40:11 GMT -7
Post by dave632 on Jul 18, 2014 11:40:11 GMT -7
Fortunately my current garage is located under the house, it stays pretty cool in there but I have so much stuff in there + a car and truck my work space is limited. Still managed to fit a work bench, compressor, drill press, welder, engine lift, table saws, and various other gadgets in there.
My house in Fla. had a huge 4 car 1200+ sq. ft. garage but it was an oven in the summer months. Summer months in Fla. are between March and November.
|
|
|
|
Post by AJR on Nov 30, 2014 10:56:18 GMT -7
I thought this might be of interest to some of you low budget builders and customizers. This is my low budget paint booth that I made. As I started doing more and more customizing and painting I got to looking in some of the hobby catalogs, etc. at some of the booths that are available. Well they were pretty much out of my price range so being the fabricator that I am, I thought I would try and build one of my own. Now this is the prototype utilizing a cardboard box, a fan that was left over from a job, and some foam board. It looks kind of hokey, but it works very well and is the test version. First thing I did is cut a piece of foam board to fit into the window space in my hobby room. I bought a dryer duct kit and some HVAC foil tape, and duct sealer from Home Depot. Cut a hole in foam board for the fan and used a small cardboard box for the duct attachment. I attached the box to the board with the foil tape and sealed it up with the sealer (that helps to strengthen it too). I attached the motor (already had a cord on it) with screws to the board. I used an old Grainger box that was about the size of a roll around cabinet that I use for my hobby parts and taped it to the top. I cut a hole in the back of the box for the duct. Everything sits out of the way until I am ready to paint. I just open the window and put the fan/duct assy. in the window and close it onto the top. I roll out my cabinet with the "booth" on top and put the end of the duct through the hole I cut for it. I plug in the fan and whalla.....a hillbilly paint booth. This setup allows me to paint in the comfort of my hobby room in my house without any fumes. They are all exhausted outside. It has worked extremely well for the last year. I will be working on another simple version that is a little more pleasing to the eye. I will be using foam board for it. A shop vac with a hose on the suction and one on the exhaust could be utilized instead of the fan motor and dryer duct as well.
 
Everything rolls back in the corner out of the way when I'm not using. Not sure if this is useful to anyone or not. Just thought I would post. The formal paint booths that I have seen are $200 and up and those typically don't have the exhaust fan. They have a filter. The exhaust is extra. Now this setup cost me about $20 and a little of my time. I did already have the fan though, but like I said a shop vac would work equally as well and everybody has a shop vac.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
TOOLS
Nov 30, 2014 11:06:28 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2014 11:06:28 GMT -7
Looks good JJ. One bit of advise from a bit of experience. On your future design. Better make sure that vacuum cleaner as a BRUSHLESS motor in it. Vapors passing through the unit can build up and all it takes is a spark from the motor brushes and you have a problem on your hands!
Years back I did that and the top of the vacuum blew off and put a hole in the ceiling. Momma was pissed!
ALan
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Nov 30, 2014 11:32:52 GMT -7
Post by AJR on Nov 30, 2014 11:32:52 GMT -7
Well Al I'm not planning on using a shop vac. That was just a suggestion. And although I guess it is possible, with the low volume of paint from an HO car, I don't know how much of a problem it would be. Based on MY experience with ignition of natural and propane gases, it takes quite a bit more concentration than a person might think for ignition. I know of other individuals that have been using shop vacs with hepa type filtration for years that have not experienced any problems. It should be noted as a precaution I guess, but I don't think it should be much of a concern. I actually believe that the motor in a shop vac is separate/sealed from the container. Otherwise how would they be able to be used to vacuum up water???
|
|
|
|
TOOLS
Nov 30, 2014 13:05:56 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by pceng on Nov 30, 2014 13:05:56 GMT -7
I use a cardboard box also....... no vent , in garage. Been thinking about it........ weather last week has kept painting out of picture. Lol paint in box is looking like stalagmites (no clue to spelling). But intresting colorfull formations.
Be careful with any sealed vacuum......... I have several shop vacs , water a liquid is picked.up inside container. Gasses are another story. Seals that stop solids and liquids may not stop a gas. Probably best to err on the side of caution. Never know whats going to happen with a gas.
30 yrs ago I lived near a Northville gas depot.... one day the top was blown off a 50,000 gal tank (looked like a cup & saucer in aerial pic). Tank was empty needed to be vented..... fan sparked BOOM ! And these people.worked with these hazards dailey. Saw a generator turn into a ball of flame because of fumes. You never seen six people get out of a hole in the ground so fast (new foundation). Gas fumes and no venting is not good. But half the time I'm spraying anything I've got a cigarette in my mouth....... so much for caution. Its when fumes start getting collected or made denser that causes problems.
........ Peter
|
|
