The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Helpful tips

Hello, I have discovered some helpful tips, and thought I would share. Of course, I show you mine, you show me yours!

1.) Run nails over bar of soap to keep grease from getting under nails. Or, just wear laytex gloves...
2.) Nail pilosh remover. Works GREAT on over spray and such. I have sucessfully cleaned off 2 layers of spray paint off my VIN plate, and 4 layers of overspray AND paint off my lights.
3.) Save old SOS pads. They are great for removing brake dust off wheels. Not to much scratch left in them to leave marks, but enough scratch left for those stubborn burnt on dust flakes.
4.) Those Blue shop towels (like a blue roll of bounty) if you have a little grease (dont want to grease up the washer) gas/cleaner on them. You can wash them! I discovered this when my hubby left a handful of "semi still good" towels in his pocket and I threw the jacket in the wash. AND dryer. They came out like new again! Only saves like a dime or so...but never know when you'll run out! (usually with a fistfull of grease!)

Old microwavable plastic containers, old margerine containers etc... usefull in small parts cleaning, use them alot when cleaning the paint guns, also good for holding small parts during disassembly.

Mike

Hard plastic tackle boxes like this are great for sorting out crimp on wiring connectors and keeping them separated. Plus you don't have to dig for the right one and can tell when you're low on something.

And 5 gal. buckets make great seats.

Zip lock bags are great for holding small parts, and you can write the contents on the bag with a marker.

Small parts??? Them them things I rake up in the yard? Or them them things the dog scattered about 5 acres? HaHaHa. Speaking of DOG, my dog is my 3rd kid. And just another helpful hint. I carry water for her in the back of my truck. I use a old Kitty Litter bucket, Has a lid, and water dont slosh out, and I use a old bucket of dish washer detergent for her food on the go as well. Same thing, lid and dont fly out.... PS Patent pending...LOL

That nail polish remover is about the same as lacquer thinner, if you want a lager quantity. By the way, the right color of nail polish is handy for speedo dials and radio dials.

Ziploc bags are great but over several years, and when exposed to oil, they get brittle and disintegrate.

For little stuff like nuts and screws, etc. Nail the Mason jar lids to the bottom of shelf then screw the jar on. Doesn't lose shelf space and is visible to easily find things.

Nail polish remover is acetone. 5 gal buckets lined with a plastic bag make good toilets.

baby food now comes in plastic "bins" with snap on lids. even more handy than the old glass ones to organize nuts and bolts, wire connectors etc.

Actually, nail polish remover is acetone and laquer thinner is xylenes. Their both good organic solvents but laquer thinner works much beter on some paints and acetone is a good general cleaner. If painting metal such as the chrome on your truck, the laquer thinner works great for removing escess paint where you don't want it, on the chrome/metal that your painting that is. You really do still ought to remove the part before painting.

Totally agree on the zip lock bags; I recommend old plastic tubs and lids.

Here is my tip for you guys & gals.

Some folks have spent big bucks on paint jobs on their rigs and freak-out if the paint gets a scratch.

Take a look at the tailgate hook in this picture . It is electrical shrink tube slipped over the hook.

Peanut butter jars,better than Mason jars,thay don't break when you drop them.
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Floyd

Martha Stewart will be posting in here shortly. LOL!!