STICKY SITUATION Most of us know that magnetism on parts such as connecting rods is a very bad thing. Heat and friction can cause used rods to become magnetized. Today we can download Gauss/Magnetometer apps for our phones. They use the phone’s internal compass to...

KEEPING CHIPS FLOWING When using a grinding discs, sanding disks or carbide die grinder tips on aluminum, use “cutting saw wax” as a lubricant. This will keep the aluminum from gumming them up. Just apply to the surface and grind away, reapplying as needed. Brad...

SHOP MATH Ever wonder how to find the center of 2 pulley groves? Use 2 long straight bolts, 3/8” in this case. Lay one in each pulley groove and measure the distance across both. Now subtract the width of one bolt to find the centers. (1.078”-.375” = .703” [.700”] in...

REPEATABILITY KEY TO PROFITABILITY When machining multiple parts, put your first part up against a stop like this small parallel. Machine your first one then set and zero the indicator. Now just chuck up the next part the same way. Now you do not have to measure each...

TAPPING IRREGULAR SURFACES When manually tapping on an irregular surface or where you just want it to go in dead straight to the hole you drilled, simply install an old countersink tool in the chuck after removing the drill bit. Then, drive the tap with a box end...

TRUCK BOX TRUNK I needed a secure space at the back of my shop under the back shed and a small workbench. I decide to mount an old aluminum truck bed storage box on the wall.  Quick, easy, and durable. John Farmer LS Conversions Lenoir City, TN October, 2020