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Author Topic: Tools / Shop Stuff  (Read 152 times)

WillieBeard

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Tools / Shop Stuff
« on: September 03, 2020, 07:19:08 am »
Is there a particular place in the Forums to discuss or ask questions about what tools and equipment different members have and use? While right now, I am an apartment dweller, I still have my eye on the future and I'm interested in what sort of stuff you have in your workshop. Thanks!
I don't feel like an old man, I feel like a young man with something wrong.

St Paul Steam

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Re: Tools / Shop Stuff
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2020, 07:41:58 am »
Generally under "technical tip, builds & help, Jim actually had a specific thread going for exactly what you referring to ,hopefully someone will resurrect it for you. 😊👍
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Nick

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Nick

Adirondack Jack

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Re: Tools / Shop Stuff
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2020, 12:51:28 am »
In all my many years of assembling small hardware, with my fat fingers and lousy eyes, it took until today to devise a neat trick.

m3 hardware in confined spaces, getting washers and nuts on a screw can be interesting at best, maddening at worst.

Enter the ball driver.  Choose the proper size ball driver as if the hardware is Allen head, whether it is or not.  Slip a nut, then a washer onto the end of the ball driver, slide them up out of the way, and hold them with a finger. Touch the ball end of the ball driver to the little dimple on the end of the screw, and let go of the washer and nut.  The washer and nut will drop into place. Continue holding the ball driver against the end of the screw while you start the nut onto the threads with your free hand or by flicking the flats of the nut with any other tool handy. I used a small Allen wrench. 

Putting a washer and nut on the end of a screw inside a pocket the size of a postage stamp took literally three seconds. Then I simply snugged it with a wrench.

I’ve fought with this kind of stuff, M2 or 3 or smaller for years. Tonight, five bolts in about two minutes with zero issues.