Workshop tips and tricks

[Maker]

Any nifty tips and tricks you know of, I'd love to hear them.

I'll start, The right way to open a pack of tie wraps.

Cut it down the middle, don't cut the corner off; that way, when you drop it, you don't throw tie wraps everywhere.

Got any more?

 

[DanielW]

Any nifty tips and tricks you know of, I'd love to hear them.

I'll start, The right way to open a pack of tie wraps.View attachment 57891
Cut it down the middle, don't cut the corner off; that way, when you drop it, you don't throw tie wraps everywhere.

Got any more?

Yeah,find a tube with a lid for your cable wraps.

 

[3MPS]

I like spilling my tie wraps on the floor.

At least I know where I can find one in an emergency.

 

[CRB]

Any nifty tips and tricks you know of, I'd love to hear them.

I'll start, The right way to open a pack of tie wraps.View attachment 57891
Cut it down the middle, don't cut the corner off; that way, when you drop it, you don't throw tie wraps everywhere.

Got any more?

Never cut towards yourself with a knife.


......always away from yourself and towards a mate.

I have loads of second-hand ones. I push the locking tag down with a knife blade or similar pointy object, and undo the wrap.
If not possible, always cut at the entrance to the lock to leave as much as possible to reuse.

It is like herding cats getting them into the bag again though.

 

[rtbcomp]

...........
I have loads of second-hand ones. I push the locking tag down with a knife blade or similar pointy object, and undo the wrap.
If not possible, always cut at the entrance to the lock to leave as much as possible to reuse.
.........

+1

 

[Cobbler]

Never cut towards yourself with a knife.


......always away from yourself and towards a mate.

I was always told "cut towards your chum, not your thumb" when I was on the tools.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Because you are a young un I will give you the best tip ever for a workshop.

No task that raises dust, smoke or fumes should be ignored, ventilation and respiratory protection is more important than any other bit of equipment you have in the workshop.

I am an old un with annoying chest problems partially caused by ignoring that advice over the years, it will catch up with you.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Measure twice, cut once.

 

[Keith 66]

Never cut towards yourself with a knife, Righto, i had a proper silly accident once! I was splitting some old garden hose to put on the sharp edge of a boat hull before covering it up. About 50ft of it to do. I had one of those old curved carpet knives, just the job! Sharpened the thing up & was cutting away slowly towards me. Decided it would be safer to cut away from me & it went far better cos i was able to tread on the pipe & use both hands on the knife, Anyway it started getting a bit blunt & right on the last knockings the bloody thing slipped out of the cut & with both hands gripping the knife my arms came up & i stabbed myself straight in the middle of my forehead. I let go the knife & the poxy thing stayed stuck in my head.
I managed to pull it out & there was a bit of blood & a huge bump. Twas a bit sore for a few days! Look on the bright side i suppose i could have put one of my eyes out!

 

[Gavin_d]

When lifting sheet metal move all power cables to one side. Don't drop it on them!

 

[julianthegypsy]

When lifting sheet metal move all power cables to one side. Don't drop it on them!

And wear welding gauntlets. Sheet metal edges can be incredibly sharp and it always slides, shredding your fingers!

 

[Shox Dr]

Look after; Hands, Eyes & Ears.


You only get one pair of each.

Treat them with respect and they will last you a lifetime.

 

[roofman]

Dont iff possible work on the lathe under flouesent lighting...theres certain times when my chuck phases into the hertz speed of my lights and i sware it seems to stand still.Not good iff like my lathe it has a clutch and the motor still runs so can kid you into thinking the clutch is dis-engaged. I now use a couple of pearl light bulbs (yea you can still buy them) over the machine.

 

[Keith 66]

Top tip, if you find a pair of old tin snips where the handles come together at the handle end be extra careful when cutting sheet metal up. A large black mans pinch on your bell end is guarranteed to make your eyes water.

 

[daleyd]

A large black mans pinch on your bell end is guarranteed to make your eyes water.

Keith, whatever you get up to in your private life should stay just that

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Any nifty tips and tricks you know of, I'd love to hear them.

I'll start, The right way to open a pack of tie wraps.View attachment 57891
Cut it down the middle, don't cut the corner off; that way, when you drop it, you don't throw tie wraps everywhere.

Got any more?

I get through 5 or 6 packs of cable ties a week and the first thing I do is take them all out of the packets and then secure them in a bundle with a cable tie, as the bundle gets smaller just tighten the tie.

Another is if you want a temporary tie, flip the cable tie end through 180° so that the smooth side is against the ratchet so it does not lock, I quite often use this method when making up cable looms and you need to keep adding cables to it.

 

[Mid Wales welder]

Look after; Hands, Eyes & Ears.


You only get one pair of each.

Treat them with respect and they will last you a lifetime.

And lungs!

 

[Gavin_d]

And wear welding gauntlets. Sheet metal edges can be incredibly sharp and it always slides, shredding your fingers!

I was hoping that part would be common sense but lifting over cables is often overlooked.

 

[steveo3002]

unplug power tools before changing blades

 

[optima21]

when welding under cars,wear ear plugs, I was told this by someone who got some spatter in his ear, after 6 operations he still couldnt hear properly.