Tips from my shop

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Tips from my shop

I am a fan of Nitrile Gloves which are tougher then latex and yes get the powdered ones.

The other thing I always tend to keep around is a first aid kit. You never get cut when you have one around but, when one is missing.....you always seem to get cut or pick up a respectable splinter!

The blue Nitrile gloves are good for mechs..not glass guys ( they are too combersome and hard to get on and off quickly IMO .

Duct tape, it will help remove fiberglass from your skin, not all of it but it makes a huge difference. As a heating and ac guy I used to spend a lot of time with the stuff. simply roll a wrap or two around your hand backwards so the sticky side is facing out and pat down the effected area.

Put baby powder in your suit and your good to go..wrap good and your not needing Duct tape to peel glass off you.

OK... A couple of my tricks/requirements:

A somewhat stripped screw head or screw that is really tight can be backed out by spitting on the end of the screwdriver or bit and dipping it in Comet bathtub scrubbing powder.

A good rag can is a must. It should be a flammable rag can used in commercial shops.

Before using a chemical check the NIOSH website for which gloves, filters, etc. are compatible. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/

Get a DOT approved metal gas can for spare gas. And a nice big fire extinguisher.

There is no adapter needed that cannot be fabricated for 10 bucks in plumbing fittings at the hardware store.

Before working on wiring check your crimpers to make sure they crimp correctly: Take a piece of wire and crimp a ring on it, screw to your workbench, wrap wire around a screwdriver and pull... hard. If it holds you are good to go.

Welding sparks fly farther than you think, and stay hot longer than you think.

Use foam inserts in a tool box with cutouts that fit each tool. When done working, check that all tools are back in their spots so you don't destroy your engine when you start it.

First aid kits and fire extinguishers are a must. If working alone, so is a cell phone.

I would be carefull about putting solvent rags in any can ( they can self ignight ( Fire ! ) .. I dont know of Department of Tranportaion ( DOT ) regs. Docrodgr has a point about Rags..

You should never open a can of anything toxic without 2nd or third party looking after you...

YD.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: Tips from my shop

If you are going to take anything apart. Take a ton of pic even before you start of every side! Not just the side you are working one. Also even more as you take things off. Then you will not be left with "Where does this go?" In that predictament right now on my outboard rebuild.

Don't assume anything! If you don't know ask! It's only a stupid question after you are done something. Not before.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Tips from my shop

No kidding jk thats how my trim pump got mounted upside down

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Tips from my shop

If you are going to take anything apart. Take a ton of pic even before you start of every side! Not just the side you are working one. Also even more as you take things off. Then you will not be left with "Where does this go?" In that predictament right now on my outboard rebuild.

Don't assume anything! If you don't know ask! It's only a stupid question after you are done something. Not before.

So true....and with an engine a good manual to go along with that....just because it came apart that way doesn't mean someone before you put in on right. Been there before.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Tips from my shop

2 more for ya..

Keep a fire extinguisher near your chemicals.

Keep a clean working area..sanding/grinding dust can get Very slippery ( Especially when wet .. it can turn to slime ).

YD.

Not too close to the chemicals. My MIL used to keep her fire extinguisher above the stove. Wasn't much good when she had a small stovetop fire. Just a bit inaccessible.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Tips from my shop

TAKE YOUR TIME, work safe , neat and efficiently. You'll accomplish more in the end.
Enjoy the experience by knowing its being done right.

 

[dbk227]

Re: Tips from my shop

Duct tape, it will help remove fiberglass from your skin, not all of it but it makes a huge difference. As a heating and ac guy I used to spend a lot of time with the stuff. simply roll a wrap or two around your hand backwards so the sticky side is facing out and pat down the effected area.

A tip Ive used for over 20 years now (given to me by an old insullation installer) for cleaning fiberglass off of the skin....

turn on the shower & set the water to a luke warm setting (around 90 degrees)
rinse off, then coat yourself with baby oil (keep it clean....lol)
then soap up & wash/rinse the oil off. Repeat the procedure a 2nd time, but make the water as hot as you can stand it. (opens up the pores, & gets rid of the trapped fibers).

Has always worked well for me (& leaves me smellin baby-fresh......)

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Tips from my shop

Here a shop tip for ya...


Bad...

:

hey Jas how did you get a pic of my shop!!!???

I have that exact same wagoner sprayer and shop vac laying in almost the exact same place in my shop.

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Tips from my shop

ok i know that wasn't a tip. so here is mine.

when working around fiberglass and you get the tickles in your throat (after you take you mask off) suck on pepermint candy. I know sounds stupid but it makes the tickle or caugh go away. Try if before you knock it.

Trouble with athlete's feet? same thing!! well almost--its is kind of hard to suck on pepermint with your feet. Go to the drug store and buy pepermint spray. Spray it on for about a week and guess what bye bye athletes foot.

These come from personal experience. The first one I learned on a construction job site about 15 years ago.
The second one I kind of figured out "accidentally" I was making pepermint candy barefooted and I dropped the extract bottle. It busted and splashed pepermint on my feet. The next day the itching and most of the redness was gone. Come to find out AVON actually makes a pepermint spray specifically labled Foot spray. I no longer have issues with athlete's foot.


as for actual shop tips I will have to think on that one for a bit.

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Tips from my shop

check this youtube channel out. This guy builds boats but he gives you a bunch if info on how to glass while he is doing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZldO9CAPZQo&playnext=1&list=PL97EB07CB8972FA6D

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Tips from my shop

hey Jas how did you get a pic of my shop!!!???

I have that exact same wagoner sprayer and shop vac laying in almost the exact same place in my shop.

Ya have all that other carp blocking up your workshop too?

Wanna hear something funny?

Since I posted that photo and...

Put stuff back where it's supposed to go!

It rings in my ears when I just throw stuff on the bench or on the shop floor!

Almost like you guys are watching over my shoulder, so, I put my gear away

Oh well, it's working. The shop is actually pretty clean at the moment

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Tips from my shop

YEAH! my problem is that I dont want to throw anything away cuz i might can use it later on another project. Finally broke down and loaded all my junk that might be used some day on the trailer and took it to the dump. Seems like I demoed the old shop and buit a bigger one.

 

[Ben.Skelton]

Re: Tips from my shop

I had a problem with a stuck prop on a boat that was given to me. (gift... best birthday present ever!!!) I did not want to spend big money on a prop puller and did not want to pay $100+ to have a mech do it. So I made my own. You need:

1: A harmonic ballancer puller $9.99 harbor freight or free if you already have one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/46-piece-bolt-puller-set-37824.html
2: 3 eye bolts (about $1.50 at your local hardware store)
3: 6-8 ft of 5/16" chain (about $1/ft again at your local hardware store)


You will need to get the largest eye bold you can fit in your puller. I got 5/16" eyes and they yielded under pressure. 3/8" or to 1/2" would be better. With a hack saw (dremel, die grinder, sawzall ... you get it) cut into the eye just enough that you can slip a chain link into it. Then assemble your puller on the prop similar to the picture below.



Apply steady pressure, until it budges. If it is still stuck, while holding pressure with the puller apply heat to the hub with a torch.

Next time, clean your shaft better and apply a good coat of marine grease... oh yeah and service your prop annually

Clear skies and smooth water.

Ben

PS: If someone can tell me how to make those pictures bigger that would be awesome.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tips from my shop

PS: If someone can tell me how to make those pictures bigger that would be awesome

Just click on the photos.

Great tips fellas, keep them coming.

My only contribution is this...when you think that old tube of 3M 5200 is bad, think again.

Take a nail and poke the tube anywhere, and the 5200 that has not been exposed to air yet is still good. You can get tons of use out of one tube, and they will last a few months that way.