Shop tips?

[Ian]

So you're you running for POTUS?

 

[smokeywolf]

I had intentions of being more active here, but between the farm, my political position, kids, homeschooling, SWMBO, renovations on the house, a local sort of FB newspaper I run, church, 4H, etc, there just isn't much time.

So what do you do with all your spare time?

 

[KHornet]

Old yankee saying: If you want to get something done, give it to a busy man, because he will always find time (some how).

 

[Todd M]

Quick tip on the propane adapter for filling small torch bottles from the 20lb tank. Set the 20lber outside in the sun on a warm day or inside the house/garage/heated shop till it has warned as much as it will. Put the small bottles to be filled in the deep freezer for 5 minutes. When these two things are done first, the little bottles fill darn near all the way.

 

[Ian]

Quick tip on the propane adapter for filling small torch bottles from the 20lb tank. Set the 20lber outside in the sun on a warm day or inside the house/garage/heated shop till it has warned as much as it will. Put the small bottles to be filled in the deep freezer for 5 minutes. When these two things are done first, the little bottles fill darn near all the way.

Good tip. Also, vent the air occasionally during filling by blipping the Schrader valve in the small container. When it spews liquid, it's full. (*use gloves, obviously, if you don't want frozen hide). I had to cobble a filler together by hooking a hose to an old torch and splicing to an old grill regulator because our gubbermint doesn't trust us with the ready-made ones any more. (hint, take the guts out of the regulator and turn the 20# bottle upside down so it delivers liquid, and never fill above 80% volume).

 

[Todd M]

Good tip. Also, vent the air occasionally during filling by blipping the Schrader valve in the small container. When it spews liquid, it's full. (*use gloves, obviously, if you don't want frozen hide). I had to cobble a filler together by hooking a hose to an old torch and splicing to an old grill regulator because our gubbermint doesn't trust us with the ready-made ones any more. (hint, take the guts out of the regulator and turn the 20# bottle upside down so it delivers liquid, and never fill above 80% volume).

Speaking of, what's the trick to gutting a regulator? I spent the better part of an afternoon attempting to use one as an adapter for a weed burner but failed. I did succeed in jamming the spring loaded SS ball so it won't flow anything now.

 

[Ian]

If the regulator diaphragm cover is roll-crimped to the housing, I don't know. Some of them have six or eight cover screws you take off, pull out out the diaphragm spring, and reassemble.

 

[JWFilips]

If it is cold outside I run in to trouble with the regulator on my smelter ( Turkey frier!) Yesterdays smelt was flawless...today it was much colder and had problems all day . Yes mine is the crimp style. Not sure I know what I did but I fixed it after a lot of aggravation ....Found out if I closed the valve on the outlet side of the regulator and opened the tank full on the inlet side Then quickly opened the outlet side I had full flame ( I used to use the tank valve to regulate the flow since it was more precise) Well know I know I must use the outlet valve to control the flame! It isn't very precise but it is working well now

 

[Ian]

I think the regulator only works correctly under flow if the supply tank valve is all the way open. Also, I think the modern regulators have a full-flow emergency shut-of like a "floodsafe"

 

[Todd M]

Mine is the crimped style. Oh well!

 

[Bret4207]

Bump.

 

[Charles Graff]

Thanks for all the good tips, here are a couple of notes on screws stuck and non-stuck.

For a screw that is truly and honestly stuck and resists more normal methods of removal and you don't want to drill it out, place the part with the stuck screw in a drill press vise on the table of your drill press. Fit a screw driver bit to the screw slot and put the bit in the drill church. Using the drill chuck key as a turning aid, remove the screw. The screw will either come out or twist off. If it twists off, change bits and drill the screw out and chase the threads with a tap. Either way, all is good.

Some years back, I saw a video of some guys assembling SMLE rifles during WWII. They used a brace with a screw driver bit to spin in the action screws. I have a couple of braces and a mess of screw driver bits that fit them. They are just the ticked for action screws and present plenty of leverage to get them tight without breaking your hands or wrists.

 

[Bret4207]

On the brace and bit, I'm pretty sure they offer a Jacobs type chuck with a 2 jaw brace type shank. Not sure where I saw it. but it's out there someplace. I have a couple of good baces and a complete set of both softwood and hardwood bits I acquired at yard sales over the decades. Very handy for certain jobs! I also have a few metal twist bits for the brace. That's not a fun job.