Topic: Cool Tools.

[BenelliSEI]

Sam was a very clever guy. He was also generous with his time and explained a lot of electrical mysteries to me!

The “ratchet” on the cable allows it to be click-locked at any point. The plastic ball above the lamp fixture is used when the lamp is too high to reach. You just slide it up and stop the cord at any length. I did manage to snap the hook off the wire lamp cage, through endless abuse. Other than that, just as he built it and works perfectly. He passed away many years ago, but I still remember him every time I click it on.

[Stev-o]

I have never seen one anywhere else, I don’t think it ever made it into production. NOMA Lights became a huge international corporation.

Retractable reel lights are fairly common, the newest ones are LED...

https://www.lighttoolsupply.com/coleman-retractable-reel-lights-ec05570/

https://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-864-Work-Light-Metal/dp/B005G2SEC8/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=retractable+led+work+light&qid=1704568257&sr=8-5

[Nightshift]

I don't have a trouble light on a retractable reel but have 2 retractable extension cords on the ceilings of both work areas. I use them mostly when wiring a car or bike. Saves having an extension cord running across the floor to power the soldering gun or heat gun. Bill

[70CB750]

In europe we used to have pull down lights above the kitchen table - with pulley and a switch. 

[BenelliSEI]

In europe we used to have pull down lights above the kitchen table - with pulley and a switch.

Our first home in Canada was a “modern” bungalow in Don Mills, Ontario. It had one of those in the kitchen! That house also had a built in laundry hamper in the bathroom that was open bottomed and led directly to the washing machine below!

[RAFster122s]

I don't have a trouble light on a retractable reel but have 2 retractable extension cords on the ceilings of both work areas. I use them mostly when wiring a car or bike. Saves having an extension cord running across the floor to power the soldering gun or heat gun. Bill

Curious what the T shaped braced item is hanging in the wall beside the creeper?  Looks like a hitch related device with its tongue...

Very organized orderly space.

The high shelf boxed in holding the jugs on the perpendicular wall from where photo was taken, how is it supported or braced to handle the weight?

Others shops are interesting I think, looking about you can see other do things and get ideas.

Thanks!
David

[Nightshift]

Curious what the T shaped braced item is hanging in the wall beside the creeper?  Looks like a hitch related device with its tongue...

Very organized orderly space.

The high shelf boxed in holding the jugs on the perpendicular wall from where photo was taken, how is it supported or braced to handle the weight?

Others shops are interesting I think, looking about you can see other do things and get ideas. Thanks! David

David, thanks for the comments. That "T" is the backbone of my engine stand.
I have overhead shelves around 3 sides of my garage made with 2x3 frames and plywood tops. The frames are lagged to the wall studs and the outboard is supported with 1/2" rod threaded on each end. Each rod pokes thru the ceiling, insulation and thru a hole in a piece of 2/6 across at least 2 rafters. Its hard to see these vertical support rods in this picture cause they are painted black. I can pile hundreds of pounds of seldom-used stuff on these shelves to get it out of the way, yet easy to find and retrieve with a step ladder. Bill

[willbird]

Made a tool last weekend to unscrew the front hub bearing retainer, had some 12L14 handy so used it. The 1/8" endmill rubbed a bit but it still worked. Roughed it with a 3/16": endmill then finished with 1/8"

[70CB750]

Good show!

I made wrench like that for the clutch.

[willbird]

Good show!

I made wrench like that for the clutch.

We can always buy stuff....but I was draining the E10 out of my K2 in order to refill it with REC90 ethyl free and I whipped this up while the E10 drained out. I will make one for the other bearing retainers in the rear hub too. Way back in the day I think I used a punch and hammer on the wheels that are on the K2 now. These wheels came off a K3 I have....will rebuild these then rebuild the K2 set to put onto the K3.

Bill

[70CB750]

Good show!

I made wrench like that for the clutch.

We can always buy stuff....but I was draining the E10 out of my K2 in order to refill it with REC90 ethyl free and I whipped this up while the E10 drained out. I will make one for the other bearing retainers in the rear hub too. Way back in the day I think I used a punch and hammer on the wheels that are on the K2 now. These wheels came off a K3 I have....will rebuild these then rebuild the K2 set to put onto the K3.

Bill

The real challenge was a tool to disassemble Ikon shocks.  I used piece of an old axle and heat treated it, too because it was fine thread steel in aluminum and it took a lot of effort to get it out. 

[BenelliSEI]

This is not a “tool” but really good stuff. GOOP. My wife picked it up at our local hardware store. I used it again today and it is just what the label says: AMAZING.

The cap looks like any other clear silicone tube, so it must be what’s inside. No matter how many times we use it (and how poorly she usually puts the cap back on) the stuff is always clear, and clean when I go to use it. It never dries out in the tube, and never plugs up the end.

And, it’s very sticky. Today the large gasket that sits up above the “bucket” on our central vac unit dropped off. A few dabs of this and it went right back up in the well. Dried quickly and the gasket never dropped. Great product. If you can find some locally, try it. You won’t be disappointed!

[newday777]

Looking at fb market place today I saw this wheel truing stand listed as Triumph parts as it came with an engine stand attachment for Triumph cases. The guy had it listed for $10. So I sent him an message asking $10? And he replied back it was. I left him $20 and thanked him very much. I had almost ordered a new stand for $106.....I'm glad I waited!

[BenelliSEI]

Stu….. what a deal! Nice find!

[Nightshift]

Ya that's a nice snag indeed.

I'm in the middle of lacing a front wheel (still) and my "axle stand truing setup" is not cutting it. It would be fine for just balancing a wheel & tire, but for truing after spoking, the vertical inserts are a bit too floppy side to side which makes it damn near impossible to true a wheel. So I built a new one just for the job. I'll post some pics when I get around to taking them. In the meantime, here's my axle stand setup that has since gone back to being axle stands. Bill

[BenelliSEI]

I’m trolling the tools on KIJIJI all the time. Most recently I picked up a small compressor for the house garage for $25. It looks new and works perfectly. Same unit in store is +$200…..

[newday777]

That's a good price too John

[Nightshift]

Here's a couple quick pics of my newly made wheel truing stand since my axle stand version wasn't cutting it. Re-used the axle roller bearing blocks I had on the axle stands so that saved some time. Milled a slot in the left vertical to accept a rigid arm, adjustable for different diameters. Slotted a small cross-bar to adjust the indicators to accommodate different widths. Also mounted the little block on the arm to use the rod pointers initially to get things trued up close, then switch to the indicators for fine tuning. The point ends on the indicators are little buttons I made from delron which rubs on the wheel pretty well. I wanted roller ends for my indicators but everything I see on Amazon has metric 2.5 thread which is too small to fit any of my indicators, including some from china which are all 4-48 UNF. WTF? I may have to round up a couple tiny bearings and make my own. Maybe this stand might help others considering making one. Easy to build. Cheers, Bill

[BenelliSEI]

Very clever Bill!

[Nightshift]

Looking at fb market place today I saw this wheel truing stand listed as Triumph parts as it came with an engine stand attachment for Triumph cases. The guy had it listed for $10. So I sent him an message asking $10? And he replied back it was. I left him $20 and thanked him very much. I had almost ordered a new stand for $106.....I'm glad I waited!

Stu, your find looks alot like a homemade version of this one. Bill

[grcamna2]

Looking at fb market place today I saw this wheel truing stand listed as Triumph parts as it came with an engine stand attachment for Triumph cases. The guy had it listed for $10. So I sent him an message asking $10? And he replied back it was. I left him $20 and thanked him very much. I had almost ordered a new stand for $106.....I'm glad I waited!

Stu, your find looks alot like a homemade version of this one. Bill

This one you posted is a very nice 'old school' wheel truing stand 

[BenelliSEI]

I like Bill’s style, with the axle turning on four bearings. The wheel turns so freely that it also doubles as a wheel/tire balancing stand too.

[grcamna2]

I like Bill’s style, with the axle turning on four bearings. The wheel turns so freely that it also doubles as a wheel/tire balancing stand too.

He put good labor into building it,and it came out great.

[BenelliSEI]

Yesterday I used a very inexpensive chain tool I bought on Amazon (about $25). The one I’ve had for years is tiny and needs to be held in an adjustable wrench when in use. Very awkward. This one is a big improvement and works really well!

[chesterburnet111]

Somebody else mentioned JIS screw driver in this thread. I'm a 67 year old backyard mechanic and never heard of this until 2 years ago. As soon as I heard about it, a light bulb went off in my head. I always noticed how difficult it was to screw and unscrew Phillips head screws on Japanese motorcycles, never realizing that they weren't Phillips head. No pictures but I immediately bought a set (2 sizes) off Amazon. They work great. who knew.