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...
SLEEVE LOCKS When boring and honing engines with sleeves that have only a light press fit, we have found that the torque from the honing operation may cause the sleeve to slip in the engine case. We use 4 old 4-sided carbide inserts and some clamp bolts and nuts from...
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...
OIL STREAM STROKE STOP When resizing connecting rods, I set the oil stream to where I want the stroke to end. That makes it easy and an easy visual reference. Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN October, 2020
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