"Aaron Vick Starnes" (aaronstarnes)
09/10/2014 at 17:44 • Filed to: tool, toolbox, essentials
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"Aaron Vick Starnes" (aaronstarnes)
09/10/2014 at 17:44 • Filed to: tool, toolbox, essentials | 11
| 40 |
In my last !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I compiled a list of essentials for your toolbox. Jalops let me know in short order how incomprehensive my list was. I humbly submit this addendum based on what I missed the first time and some of the favorites ya'll offered.
Honorable mention goes to cell phones because of their incredible versatility. A number of you mentioned using them as a sort of high tech !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I heard a story from a friend who couldn't figure out why his car battery kept dying. In a moment of pure genius he switched his cell camera to video mode, tossed it in the trunk, and shut the deck lid. The footage revealed that his trunk light was staying on and thus causing his battery to run down. Just like that the problem was identified without an expensive trip to a mechanic.
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5. Razor Blades
I have a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that I love, but a fresh !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is often my go-to cutter. They're light weight, cheap, manageable in tight spaces, and dang sharp.
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I find a use for these on practically every project whether I'm cutting some hose to length, or precisely masking something, for paint these things are irreplaceable.
A word to he wise though, if you're using lots of these you're also throwing lots of them away. Be careful when you go rooting around in shop trash can looking for the socket you unintentionally threw away. Better yet round the corners and dull the edge of your used blades on a grinder.
4. Flashlight
Some guys like to think they do their best work in the dark, for everyone else there are about a billion options for illuminating dark spaces.
Rechargeable, cheap, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , positionable or wearable, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! are a staple in the home, shop, and garage. I don't care how well lit your shop is, it's still dark up under the dashboard of your project. I look for value for money and don't have any specific brand preference. I kind of look at flashlights like I look at sunglasses; I'm probably going to lose or break them in pretty short order. I go for loads of cheap, functional ones over an expensive one.
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3. Retrieval Tool
A good retrieval/pick-up tool like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! can be a lifesaver when you drop that breather assembly nut down the throat of your carburetor.
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This type of tool has saved my bacon a number of times. I usually go for the Dr. Octopus style grabber because not everything I drop is attracted by the magnetic style retrievers. Not to mention how frustrating it is when I'm trying to get to my washer and the tool keeps sticking to the inner fender instead. The one featured above seems to be the best of all worlds and it comes with a little light to see what you're doing.
2. Masking Tape
Not all tape is created equal. I use !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! daily for masking jobs, labeling, or just holding something where I want it.
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While you don't have to drop 10 bucks a roll for tape, you do need to make sure that the tape you buy is suited to the job you're going to tackle.
Cheap tape can bleed through. This is not good if you're trying to keep paint from reaching a surface. In fact it defeats the purpose of masking in the first place.
If it's not sticky enough the edges will come up and if it's too sticky it will take forever to get it off and could leave residue behind.
Whatever you get make sure it's reasonably fresh. Time can be the enemy of tape. The adhesive can go all gooey and the material can get brittle. I'm sure when people see me in the store squeezing rolls of tape they probably think I'm some sort of odd pervert. But really that's how I was taught to check for freshness.
Give the roll a squeeze between your thumb and forefinger. If it's supple and yields a little it's generally good stuff. If it's hard, it's likely dried out and you should pass.
Personally I don't use the blue tape. 3M makes more amazing products than you can shake a stick at but there are cheaper rolls of tape which also don't stick to anything.
1. Zip Ties
These
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were hands down the most suggested items by Jalopnik readers.
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I prescribe to a relatively old-school mentality on these things. I don't see them as a permanent fix, especially in situations where they are exposed to the elements, over time they will get weathered and break. That said, when the lines from the transmission to the radiator on my car began to rattle because the OEM mounts rotted away (thanks GMC) I fixed the horrible racket with a half-dozen strategically placed zip ties.
Their uses are almost !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and are indispensable for wiring projects. If you're into recycling some are even !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
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Zip Tie Tip: After the excess has been clipped off the plastic is left sharp. I like to use a cigarette lighter and melt the ragged ends slightly to avoid cutting myself on them later.
2 years ago Aaron Vick Starnes quit his well paying bank job to pursue inevitable poverty as an automotive writer. He has
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in automotive restoration, and works at a shop restoring and customizing cars. He also is a grad student in journalism. Follow him on Twitter
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and check out his
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.
Will with a W8 races an E30
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 18:06 |
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If you're really weird, like me, you get your zip ties from McMaster and choose based on tensile strength, chemical resistance, minimum radius of curvature.....
http://www.mcmaster.com/#zip-ties/=to0…
GK3K
> Will with a W8 races an E30
09/10/2014 at 18:27 |
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"Low-Profile Cable Ties" - awesome! Thank you for sharing the link.
toecutter (so grey, I gotta wear shades)
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 18:29 |
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A couple of wire coat hangers.
You'll understand if you ever have an exhaust hang strap let go.
ttyymmnn
> toecutter (so grey, I gotta wear shades)
09/10/2014 at 18:42 |
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NeonBlaqk
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 18:56 |
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Matter of personal preference here, but electrical tape>masking tape. Sure it takes more time to cover things since it's skinnier and it is slightly more expensive, but it's stretchy and when you're doing detail work with the aforementioned razor blade, it cuts better than masking tape. And you don't have to worry about the cheap tape bleed through. Plus y'know, it can be used for electrical applications and it makes an excellent band-aid for the inevitable blood spurts brought on by your use of the aforementioned razor blade.
EvilSuperMonkey
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 18:58 |
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I usually duct tape razor blades before tossing them out.
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EvilSuperMonkey
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 18:58 |
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I usually duct tape razor blades before tossing them out.
Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:02 |
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Vaseline.....Seriously is a must....especially if you're building engines and need to prime the oil pump or need to hold a bolt in a socket or something. Also great on oil filters when putting them in
atat
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:03 |
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Huge zip tie!
BZiel
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:10 |
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You know, I gave this some thought after your last post, and after working on the 1978 Monte Carlo factory 4spd when I was back in the US, I realized this: One of the most useful things I had in my toolbox, wasn't in my toolbox at all...it was in my pocket.
My Case 3-blade Stockman pocket knife.
Cody Spradlin
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:10 |
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For lights, I actually have a bunch of cheap (and some not so cheap) headlamps from camping and backpacking that when they get replaced in my kit, get tossed in the shop. That plus a stand light, a mini LED light with a magnet, a fluorescent tube light (with no hanger anymore), handles all me needs.
NaturallyAspirated
> toecutter (so grey, I gotta wear shades)
09/10/2014 at 19:19 |
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I prefer .032" stainless safety wire personally. Easier to bend and twist if you only have a tiny multi-tool rather than full-size pliers.
WINGZERO
> Will with a W8 races an E30
09/10/2014 at 19:19 |
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forgot about that site long ago. every fastener and fitting you could ever want.
MotorcycleRider
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:21 |
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A tip on razor blades: when you throw them away, wrap them in a strip of the duct tape you should also have in your toolkit.
CompWizrd
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:23 |
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http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=1… is the greatest zip tie cutter.. The cutting blade gets close enough that almost nothing at all is left... careful to not get your fingers in it as you cut though, as it'll easily slice them open.
TechWeasel
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:25 |
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Some guys like to think they do they're best work I the dark, for everyone else there are about a billion options for illuminating dark spaces.
Was this written in the dark, by any chance?
Agrajag
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 19:32 |
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For illumination I have this headlamp which I appropiated from my brother.
And on of those cheap magnetic LED ones you find in a checkout line.
lonestranger
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 20:19 |
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My preferred method of trimming zip ties leaves them silky-smooth and flush with zero sharp edges, and no additional steps to perform.
When trimming the excess with side cutters (diagonal pliers), place the pliers so that one of its cutting edges is against the thick end of the zip tie (the end with the hole that you place the excess through). The other cutting edge will slice through the relatively smaller and weaker excess, and the thick end will be left intact.
This must not be a very well known trick, because I couldn't find any pics online. I had to resort to my potato, sorry.
Kiltedpadre
> MotorcycleRider
09/10/2014 at 20:24 |
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I was just making my way through the list to see if anyone else did this. Even a few wraps from the masking tape he mentioned would beat the hell out of nothing.
MINI STIG
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 21:42 |
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Doesn't quite go in the toolbox but is in the garage full time...An old computer/laptop with WiFi. I have kept a computer out in the garage for several years now. It is way too handy for looking something up or even just checking if the local parts store has what you need in stock. Plus it is great source of music while working.
mooserov
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 21:54 |
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I work in the ROV industry (underwater robots). Everything is tied down with zip-ties. I bought stock in a manufacturer after my first hitch offshore.
tjc9909
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 21:57 |
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If I'm at the track I tape the blade before tossing. At home I have an old ground coffee container with a slot in the top that I drop razor, utility or x-acto blades into. When full duct tape the top closed and toss into the metal recycle bin.
burpbeepburp
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 22:23 |
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Fasten Zip Ties like a pro, use a gun.
You can go cheap for $16:
Or do like the proffesionals do and have adjustable force $924:
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MotorcycleRider
> Kiltedpadre
09/10/2014 at 22:54 |
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Exactly. My dad taught me this when I was a little kid
DanZman
> lonestranger
09/10/2014 at 22:58 |
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flush cutters work great too!
Lourdes J. Oliver
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 23:10 |
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Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail
———————————> http://www.jobs700.com
Buick Mackane
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 23:26 |
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I work in telephone company central offices, installing fiber optic equipment and cabling. We normally use waxed lacing cord to secure all power and switchboard cables, never zip ties or tyraps. We do sometimes use zip-ties to temporarily secure cables to the rack but we alway use flush cutters to cut the ends off so there is no sharp edge to cut you.
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KHM907
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 23:38 |
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Use the tape to cover the edge of the razor blade before you throw it in the trash.
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KHM907
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 23:38 |
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Use the tape to cover the edge of the razor blade before you throw it in the trash.
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KHM907
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/10/2014 at 23:38 |
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Use the tape to cover the edge of the razor blade before you throw it in the trash.
Because-Racecar
> lonestranger
09/10/2014 at 23:43 |
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OooooOOOOOooooohh, clever! Thanks for the tip
BigDub
> lonestranger
09/11/2014 at 07:23 |
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they can fail if cut that flush and are subjected to any sort of high temperature, just an FYI.
Derp Herpington
> lonestranger
09/11/2014 at 07:35 |
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You can also twist off the tail to achieve the same thing. It's often faster that way.
Hattrick
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/11/2014 at 09:30 |
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I wouldn't be alive today if I didn't have double sided tape. A long story with a 1980 Ford Fiesta and a wall of tumble weeds on a desolate Mojave desert road. All hail 3M.
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Ducky
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/11/2014 at 11:31 |
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RE: Razor disposal- mine comes with a small cardboard sleeve on each one (pack of 500 off Amazon for just a few bucks), so I slip those back on when I chuck em. If I haven't kept one, I just use some tape.
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Keith
> Aaron Vick Starnes
09/11/2014 at 11:53 |
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A tip on the razor blades in the garbage thing... don't throw them in your regular garbage can. Take a coffee can or similar metal container, cut a small slot in the plastic top and label it "sharps." Throw your used razor blades or anything else sharp in there, then throw the whole thing out when it's full.
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Chrissm
> lonestranger
09/11/2014 at 11:55 |
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Good tip. I have a 5 inch permanent scar on my arm from not doing this.
GirchyGirchy
> lonestranger
09/11/2014 at 13:29 |
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That trick still doesn't beat dedicated zip tie trimmers.
Finegreensilk1
> MotorcycleRider
09/14/2014 at 03:30 |
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I collect them in a glass jelly jar. No wasted tape, and the jar gets a useful second life before being recycled.
StoneCold
> Aaron Vick Starnes
07/18/2015 at 00:08 |
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“...when you drop that breather assembly nut down the throat of your carburetor.”
Ohgodno make the flashbacks stop
