Favorite Tools Again:

[rattus]

I know that most of us old, frugal types have some ancient tools which we love. I love all of mine! We will spend hours reconditioning them rather than buying new ones.

With that in mind did you know you can disassemble a ratchet wrench and clean the crud out of it to make it work like new?

 

[pierre]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

I have taken plenty of tools apart in the past...it is putting them back together again that I have trouble with.

I had a very old Kennedy wooden tool box that was my prize, but it recently got destroyed when the roof to my shop leaked during a severe storm here.

[ December 19, 2005, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]

 

[jbwhite]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

What is the most effective way of tracking down that tiny little part that went flinging across the room (usually propelled by the tiny spring that is now laying on your thumb) when you were taking the gadget apart?

 

[rattus]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

Pierre,

I cam across one of those old well used Kennedys. Even had the owner's name branded into the lid. Spent hours cleaning it up, gluing things, and relining the drawers. Still have to make a front panel for it.

JB,

Magnets work sometime to retrieve those missing parts. And you could use panty hose material in a vacuum cleaner to strain the crud that you pick up. Usually though, we have no idea where to start looking.

I knew an old guy, Jim, who repaired watches at home, and they never swept the floor. His wife said that Jim was afraid she would sweep out some watch parts!

 

[electricman2]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

Originally posted by jbwhite:
What is the most effective way of tracking down that tiny little part that went flinging across the room (usually propelled by the tiny spring that is now laying on your thumb) when you were taking the gadget apart?

And if you are lucky enough to find it, how to figure out where it goes.

 

[peter]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

I think most rathets have a ring with two tiny holes holding it together. Sears and autp parts places sell the plier like tool to deal with these. Basically, the pliers have little points that go into the little holes and you squeeze the pliers and the ring shrings and comes out. Think of ot as an excuse for buying a new tool.
Might be called a retaining ring pliers.
~Peter

 

[rattus]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

Peter,

I had to use needle nose pliers on mine because there were no holes in the retaining rings.

It would have been easier to just soak the thing in naptha or a similar solvent, but some of us insist on doing it the hard way.

Craftsman tools are guaranteed forever against breakage, not sure about crud. I return a flexible extension that I had twisted into a knot. No questions, just gave me a new one.

 

[rattus]

Re: Favorite Tools Again:

jbwhite,

How is this for a cheap VOM? Cost me $15 in 1953!

Rattus