Tag: Tips

1. Use sharp blades and bits. A dull cutting edge not only leaves an inferior surface, it takes more power, strains the tool and takes longer to do the job. 2. Clean wood pitch. Soak your cutting tools in mineral spirits or turpentine. Then wipe the residue away and let the blades air-dry. Soak paper… Continue reading 5 Ways to Keep Your Power Tools Happy: This Weekend

Every Saturday mechanic needs more tools. Oh yeah, you’ve got the basics in that Craftsman toolbox of yours—the wrenches, pliers, drivers, saws and of course those 17 rolls of duct tape that help you take care of the niggling tasks around the home. But fixing your car, truck, motorcycle or minivan requires some specialized stuff.… Continue reading Top 10 Automotive Tools Every Weekend Wrencher Should Own…

It is either a major “oh crap” or a big “cool!” when encountered on a trail, and while mud can be one of the most challenging terrains to traverse, it can also be one of the most fun to go driving in. However, careless driving can also cause a lot of damage to the trail… Continue reading Mudding – Don’t Want To Get Stuck – Here’s How!

My grandfather was a top-notch auto mechanic. He could determine what was wrong with your car simply by listening to your engine and asking you a few questions. This was way before fancy diagnostic systems. Before computers. If you were a mechanic back then, you really had to know your stuff. YOU were the diagnostic… Continue reading 8 Questions to Diagnose Your Business Like a Great Mechanic

Don’t use kitty litter to get grease and gasoline stains off of cement–you will never get it all. Instead, use powdered dishwasher detergent. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then scrub back and forth with a stiff broom before sweeping it away. It will break down the grease and soak it up at the… Continue reading Getting Rid of Grease

Just take paste wax, like for floors, and wax all around the surfaces where the door meets the frame. Don’t use liquid wax, use the old-fashioned paste wax, sometimes sold as “bowling alley wax” in some of the bigger grocery stores. You have to wipe it on and then rub it a lot (like polishing… Continue reading How to Keep Your Door From Freezing Shut in the Winter

Over the last few months, I’ve been documenting in depth the various mechanical problems that my truck has been facing and how it’s affecting our decisions with future car purchases. In short, my truck has had four significant breakdowns in the past three months, adding up to a bill totaling about $3,000. When you’re spending… Continue reading Finding an Auto Mechanic That You Trust

Rubbing a non-magnetized screwdriver against a magnet will magnetize the screwdriver. Magnetized screwdrivers are perfect for getting screws into hard-to-reach areas. Got chrome with a small amount of surface rust on it? Wadding up some aluminum foil and rubbing it over the rust will make short work of the problem. Polishing your expensive billet and… Continue reading A Few More Bright Ideas…..

At a show and you forgot the bug and tar remover, but a greasy flying beast’s carcass is smeared across the chrome? Use your girl’s nail polish remover to instantly remove the mess. Be sure not to get any on the paint, though, as acetone is a great paint remover as well.