Cheap Tricks

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

renokee

keep us updated my dad called bs on it lol

Not sure which part of this thread your dad is calling BS on but I'm glad he is reading it.

If its the magnets taking metals out of the water here is a link to an article about contaminates in our drinking water. http://www.water.siemens.com/en/appl...s/default.aspx

If its about Coke pull one out of the fridge and try it.

If its about my headlight/droplight here is a pic (actually I think this is a aftermarket droplight from the late 40's or early 50's)

Hope this clears things up for him.

[oldblue1968chevy]

We have sulfer well and cant drink it, I showed him the magnet thing and he said impossible ???

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

We have sulfer well and cant drink it, I showed him the magnet thing and he said impossible ???

The magnet trick would only pull out the metals, if you google up "Homemade water filter" you'll find some pretty cool charcoal filters that might work for you. I am thinking about building one for myself.

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Heres one I used over the weekend.

When trying to bend hard brake or fuel lines, use a coat hanger as a a template first. If you mess up, its easy to bend it back straight and try again until you get a good fit. Then you can use it as a pattern to make the bends on the actual line.

[Dub_X]

Here's an easy way to set up trailer wiring.

Feed your wiring through a PVC pipe, and mount the pipe under the trailer frame.

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by Dub_X

Here's an easy way to set up trailer wiring.

Feed your wiring through a PVC pipe, and mount the pipe under the trailer frame.

Yep...thats pretty slick.

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by Chris4x4Gill2

Heres one I used over the weekend.

When trying to bend hard brake or fuel lines, use a coat hanger as a a template first. If you mess up, its easy to bend it back straight and try again until you get a good fit. Then you can use it as a pattern to make the bends on the actual line.

Thanks Chris!

[Zebb]

I keep a bottle of leftover STP around with an acid brush in it. I use to assemble stuff like universal joints and ball joints, pretty much anything that is pressed together. It is real slippery stuff.

[chevy_man5]

Here is another thread that has some cheap tricks on it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=450644

[PanelDeland]

I find the winders and lights from under the hood of a late model truck mount easily under any hood and are usually long enough to reach the back of the truck.I'm thinking of using one for a dome light in the back of the panel.

I save cardboard/aluminum tins(like Pringles/nuts etc. come in) for larger bolts and items that don't fit in the smaller containers.I gather a batch and paint them white with a rattle can,then I can label with a sharpie or Magic Marker.

I haven't noticed the tip about waiting until the wife is gone to use the dishwasher for a parts cleaner.Use this one at your own risk.

I hand wash and dry parts before painting.Small stuff in the sink with dish soap and hot water(unless the wife is gone and I can use the dishwasher).They dry quicker with the hot water and the part is slightly warmer for painting.
I also set the rattle can in a pan of warm water to help it spray better.Don't forget to turn the can upside down and clear the nozzle or it won't spray well if at all the next time.

I haven't used this one but it intrigued me.Guy used silverware trays in his toolbox.He had same sized wrenches stacked in each slot.(the ones to keep forks,knives and spoons seperate).

Wrap foam pipe insulation around the upright supports(pipe ones) in the shop to prevent door dings and paint chips.Also helps when you're not looking and run into one.They will also work on some square ones.

I use an old Craftsman bottom chest for a tool cart.It has 2 drawers and a ledge on the top to hold a plywood tabletop.It was already on casters.It was basically free since I had it when I upgraded toolboxes.

Hope these help someone.

[chipper]

Originally Posted by JORGIE95961

Used dryer sheets for fiberglas work

forget special curvy wrenches use a cheapo and a torch

old vacuum cord and small white extension cords maye great multi socket extention cords.

Dim lights in your garage.. Clear cristmas lights seem to help a little

nail heads as filler to weld up trim holes

soak your small rusty parts in vinegar , take s a couple days

use a belt to remove oil filters

Good stuff I've used that belt trick before
Posted via Mobile Device

[maskale]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

I find the winders and lights from under the hood of a late model truck mount easily under any hood and are usually long enough to reach the back of the truck.I'm thinking of using one for a dome light in the back of the panel.

A ford one was installed on mine already when I bought it. Its handy.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

I haven't noticed the tip about waiting until the wife is gone to use the dishwasher for a parts cleaner.Use this one at your own risk.

Yep - my wife could smell it from halfway down the road -

so -

I got my own dishwasher AND electric stove in the garage.

Somebody was pitching them and so I grabbed them from beside the road. They were gross, but shined up good as new (even the clock and the self cleaning features work).

That way I can do whatever I want and she won't complain (not about that, anyway).

K

[maskale]

What yall finding works best in the dish washer for cleaning solution?

[PanelDeland]

Dish soap is a good degreaser but companies like "Hotsy" "Safety Kleen" and others also have solutons for automatic parts washers which are just industrial strength dishwashers.I always clean as thoroughly as possible first so a mild solution works for me and leaves less grease to "Catch ya"!

[Zeke]

My brother showed me this one. Use panty hose, super glue and epoxy to fix broken plastic.
Attach panty hose with a dab of superglue wrap or lay across attach with another dab of superglue, trim excess then coat with epoxy. Works really good on those plastic bossed that always break when you try to take a screw out.

[68C15]

had a gasket fail and now there is oil in your coolant?

drain system. remove center of thermostat with wire cutters and reinstall. add 2 cups of Cascade dish machine soap and fill with water. run engine for an hour. flush with clean water (garden hose). remove block and radiator drain plugs. refill with correct coolant/water mix

GM actually suggested this on Saturn 4 cylinders since they had problems with porous castings. it works pretty damn good.

[rpmerf]

I never know oil in the coolant was a bad thing. I thought it helped lube up the water pump lol.

used this one the other day...
I needed to siphon the gas out of my truck so I could pull the tank. It seems I can never get the line all the way to the bottom of the tank, so I put a nut on the line to weigh it down. I put cable ties on each side of the nut so it can't move.

[zicc1835]

this is gonna keep me sane
thanks

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Ok...I added color to my posts so they might be easier to scroll thru.

If you are a youngster or first timer..or even if you just learn something here let us know...it will "take it to the top" so more people can read it.
Thanks

[redmonster]

for those cold mornings with frost on windshields
place a piece of cardboard on the windshield with the wiper holding
it down,,,, ta da no ice

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by redmonster

for those cold mornings with frost on windshields
place a piece of cardboard on the windshield with the wiper holding
it down,,,, ta da no ice

I try and get a large section that can wrap around and cover my mirrors.
Or if I'm pretty sure it wont rain I'll take an old shirt and close my door on it
while its wrapped around the mirrors.

[Daddy Brim]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

I save the spray heads off of rattle cans of parts cleaner, glass cleaner, etc. The stuff that doesn't clog up and re-use them on cans of paint that do. That way I'm not throwing half full paint cans away.
Posted via Mobile Device

If you hold the paint can upside down and spray until paint spray is clear your tip will stay clean.

[Daddy Brim]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Back in 75 me and a buddy of mine drove his 69 Torino from Tenn to Florida, along the way we ran over something that put a small round hole in the bottom of the gas tank. He carved a plug out of a bar of motel soap and screwed it in the hole. Not only did it get us back home but he drove it around for months like that...true story.

Same thing happened to me my friend while we were on a road trip, he hit a speed bump to fast in his 68 Dart cracked the gas tank. He rubbed Ivory soap on the crack and it worked great.

[RenoKeene]

Some folks think this is "just a story"

[El Campo]

Good thread! Everyone should own at least a few swivel sockets and the ball sockets. If you can't afford the Craftsman or Snap On just get the impact ones from harbor freight. Not quite as good but as long as you get the impact ones they work well. And are only like 2-3 bucks.