There are moments in the do-it-yourself automotive world where one truly wishes something didn't just happen. One of the more famous of such moments is stripping out or rounding off a fuel or brake line fitting. Finding out that these fittings are often made of a softer metal the hard way is not fun. Since these fittings are captured by the flare on the steel line or tube … [Read more...]
Baling Wire Bonanza
Tools that have specific or singular purpose are useful tools indeed. The one that does just about everything is a requirement. Sitting on the bottom shelf of the rolling tool cart for over five years now is an well-used spool of baling wire. From a roadside repair made to hold up a teetering muffler and tailpipe, to more driveway-based uses such as suspending brake calipers … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week
From the not once but twice department comes a double-feature edition Tool of the Week. First, the answer to an inevitable query ahead of time. What is up with the blue gloves? The answer is of course is two-fold. The latex-nitrile gloves are good safety against automotive chemicals, as well as the never-dry undercoat that Mitsubishi sprayed all over the underside of the … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week
The best kind of technology is helpful and easy to use. That being said, we present the funnel in its many forms. While the true origins of this simple device are unclear, its utility knows no bounds. The word we use comes from the latin infundibulum, and may or may not have something to do with wine pouring Frenchmen. Though a great jet-age breakthrough in plastics technology … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week
After many years of busted knuckles and voluminous quantities of swearing, there is no single tool that delivered more of a eureka moment than this cordless impact wrench. If there is one tool to bring to the junkyard make it this one. While the trusty air compressor powers the pneumatic impact wrench and other air tools in the garagelet, the electrical version simply cannot be … [Read more...]