Hello to all. I am repairing an old and quite unusual radio ( submarine unit from 1937))and want to keep it as close to original as possible. A wavelength switch ( the old rotary type , ceramic body, brass switch sectors and clips ) was very corroded. Removed, disassembled and cleaned. Want to hard silver plate the brass switch elements. Very low current ( a few milliamps ) and no voltage higher than 50. Has anybody a good way to silver plate the brass parts. At home. I know of a way... Read more ..read more

Got a call from a buddy saying he had a line on a table with a vise, I asked what condition it was in and he said good. I've been in need of a small outside table, so I said grab it. Went and picked it up, 3/8"thick x 38"wide x 49"long x 30" tall with 3" pipe legs and a 6" fixed base Morgan vise bolted to it. Of course the slide was frozen and after freeing it up, I could see there was no jaw screws in it at all, 4 of them sheared off and 2 missing. It had also been ground on a gob, but... Read more ..read more

My Subaru Tribeca has some gasket material where the doughnut gasket goes and connects the cat converter to the catback. I clean things up like I normally do but where the leftover gasket material begins and ends is impossible for me to tell until I put the gasket in and it leaks. Any pointers on the best method to remove gasket material that is pretty much embedded into the metal and impossible to see? Thanks ..read more

My new shop has two door frames that I built for sliding barn doors, both interior to contain HVAC and provide flexibility. One is 8x8, one is 15x15. Regular barn door hardware from Menards will work great, and I have lots of good ideas for weather stripping, but I'm wondering about the actual door construction. Weight doesn't seem to be too much of an issue, but I would like something smooth on the facing surface for simplicity of sealing, and relatively efficient with insulation. I'm... Read more ..read more

Helping a buddy with a neglected plate compactor .ordered a new carb and fuel tank as the originals are beyond resurecting . That's what happens when you loan tools I guess , and don't get them back for 2 plus years . the exciter in His other one crapped out and it's on the list to repair too, but... The Honda engine is located in such a way the the oil drain plug is behind the edge of the motor mount. I would like to surprise him with an extension. the thread is 10X1.25 with a crush... Read more ..read more

need to polish some wheels these are a little more complicated. Ive repaired the curb rash but clear coat is breached so It all needs to come off. Once its off repolish then recoat clear. Ive seen the vibratory polishers and wonder if anyone has used them Heres a pic of wheel ..read more

I have one of those smaller 40 CF tanks I use on my welder - 75/25 with my hobart 140 and .030 wire. I set it at about 20 CFH. My last tank lasted me atleast 3 months. This one lasted me about 4 days. Granted Ive been doing a lot of welding but damn! I feel like my last tank when new reached 2000 psi when I opened it. This recent one only reached about 1800. I use the smaller rolls of wire. Does it sound normal for a 40CF tank to last 1 small roll of wire? I feel like I got ripped... Read more ..read more

This is the back side of my shop final 2' before the neighbors Fence Dirt? at roughly 2' we changed lawn to crushed concrete for parking my trinkets then shop, its packet and slanted downhill as needed. Have totally stayed away from the fence. Have a 5" to 10" drop from my dirt to theirs at the fence. I need Ideas how to fix my side about Now, He is getting estimates for our fence ..read more

Last summer I found a deal on a Wilton 3C that I couldn't pass up. It was pretty beat when I found it, but I ended up getting it for free after I sold the Anvil and Welding table that I bought it with. Paid $500 for the whole set and made that all back and then sum when I sold the other items. Along with restoring that vise I made a set of custom interchangeable dove tail jaws for it as I do a lot of work using shaft clamps while custom tuning mountian bike suspension... Read more ..read more

So I picked up one of those old top box snap-on boxes for $50. Previous owner said he was in the military and all the dents and stuff were from shipping it back from overseas and the military really banged it up. The bottom of the box frame is bent in in two places, top has a dent in it. And it has a riveted DIY hasp that needs to be drilled out and removed. Missing badges, front handle dented. Aluminum trip probably needs to come off be be sanded and polished… Do you guys have any... Read more ..read more