the shop tips thread

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

On another forum (a couple others here hang there as well) we've been having a discussion on fluorescent fixture ballast replacement. The problem has become that the old magnetic style has just about disappeared. Late last year one of my ballasts (8' fixture) died. I go to the big box hardware as well as local hardware stores and all they have are "electronic" ballasts. I call the tech lines of, I think it was GE, and check to see if those are a suitable replacement. In a word.....no! Seems you can't mix electronic and magnetic ballasts on the same circuit.........which means I'd have to replace all 9 fixtures/ballasts. A little online searching and I was able to buy some NOS magnetic ballasts on ebay so bought a few for "just in case". Looked at LED replacement lamps, but the prices were astronomical. Well, as often happens with emerging technologies, the prices have come down for the LEDs, and probably will some more over time. At the same time, folks have been doing what I did, and the availability of older magnetic ballasts is shrinking quickly.

So, if you get into a similar pickle, consider the LED replacements. They give off good light, run cooler, don't have the characteristic hum of a fluorescent, and use less energy. They do require a small wiring change to bypass the ballast, but only takes minutes. Here's a pretty cost effective supplier for now; http://www.amazon.com/WYZM-4-Pack-Do...46QX5E8WC5EBM8 As with many things the more you buy the lower the unit cost. It wouldn't surprise me if in, say 6 months, they'll be even lower. I may have outsmarted myself buying an extra supply of those magnetic ballasts!

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Bob My 4 foot fluorescent lights went recently in the garage, right around the time Costco was selling a 2 pk. of 4 foot led replacements for 39.99 complete with bulbs and fixtures( https://www.costco.com/4%E2%80%99-Li...100284402.html). The light output is awesome compared to the old fluorescents and no toxic bulbs to deal with! Also low power consumption. I imagine much more expensive for 8 footers.

I've been finding it is hard to find 8 footers locally without special ordering them. I'm working on replacing the ones in my garage currently.

I'm still awaiting an explanation for why the old ballasts can't be on the same circuit with new balasts.

But then I'm currently taking physics II and it's a bit beyond me: point charge vs: test charge and everything equals everything. E = everything.

In the next chapters, the schtick gets easier. E is v and it = IR.

So: what happens that the old ballasts need to be isolated from the new?

I installed the overhead console and speakers in the 37 Dodge a while back so that all the wiring would be done. Now that I'm installing the new ABS interior panels, I needed a way to be able to locate the screw holes which are now under the panels.


I've used this trick a time or two. I cut a couple of screws/bolts off and sharpened the ends, then screwed them into the holes I needed to mark.

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psxyqykvj8.jpg

Then it was a simple matter to lay the panel where it belonged and tap the outside of the panel with a small hammer . When the panel is removed the punch mark where holes need to be drilled are visible on the underside of the panel.

For cutting the speaker hole I ran 2 screws into the holes from the front side and set the speaker down on the back side so I could mark the location and size of the speaker hole (the speaker hole I cut was actually 3/4" smaller than the outside diameter of the speaker).

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps1cwwxmzu.jpg

And the final installation.


http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa5p5v4y2.jpg

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psqzl33yfc.jpg

aka transfer screws, nice tip to share! Like all your work, the interior is looking good.

What a simple and clever idea!
Simply clever!
Thanks Mr Mike!

Nice trick! Thanks for sharing it.

I did this once but it was so long ago now I forget what motor it was.
Back 30 some years ago before Ambulance went diesel motor's The would run 440's, 454's, and 460's.
I torn to whole grill rad, A/C condenser and all two alt's and all kinds of crap in a paramedic unit to get to the water pump.
After about 4 hour's of tearing it all down and another 4 putting it back together, I started to fill the rad with water.
Water started splashing on the floor, so I looked to see water flowing from behind the water pump.
We started to use a new supplier who was removing the back plates when they were rebuilt and didn't replace them.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
That's how I learned to always not matter what give everything a good once over before installing anything new.
I was late getting home that night.
Another thing I used to do on my cars to take a old Pennie like the one with a wreath that had a high lead content and glue that down to the tops of my car Batteries, in between the post. and the lead draws all the acid away from the post and helps to keep them clean from corrosion.

that is a good tip, I could have used it Sat when I was putting my headliner in, which went poorly :mad:

As I work alone most of the time I sometimes run into situations where I need to be at 2 places at once so I can observe what’s going on……..say trying to figure out exactly where the new proportioning valve I just installed was leaking at :mad: . Kind of hard to push the bake pedal and watch the fitting at the same time.

This is where the video camera on the cell phone comes in handy. The problem a lot of times is finding a place to set the phone so it can capture what I need to look at. I ran into this a few years ago and set this outfit up.

A while back I bought a few high intensity shop lights on these bases to set around the cars I was painting to eliminate shadows. I eventually permanently mounted the lights on the shop walls so the bases became excess. I also had a small drill press vice that I no longer used so that was added to the top (with one bolt loosely installed so that it can be swiveled). Being able to set the height can be a big help.

And no I don’t clamp the phone in the vice, just set the jaws wide enough that it sits in between them.


http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psli8cr2g7.jpg


I don’t use it all that often but it sure is nice to have when I need it.



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Mike I use mind to see in places I can't like under the tub spout up towards the hidden screw that keeps the shower handle on. Figured out it was an allen screw this way! :)

I was on facebook awile back and saw an ad fore an android and pc endoscope camera it's a basicly a electronic borascope It's a wire that plugs into your cell ph. it's about 48 in long and has a camera on the end that is about a 1/4 in in diamiter and has 6 tiny l.e.d. lights so I thought it's only 15 bucks plus shipping Ill take a chance but this thing is amasing the picture is brite and clear it's about the best thing I have ever bought on line it even comes with tiny mirriors that so you look strait or 45° or 90° and has usb jumper so you can record it and doun load it to you'r pc. el mirage season starts next mo. I want to check it out when we read the plugs and we can actually look in the cylinders and see whats happening for 15 bucks you'l be amazed

Here's a couple tricks I've learned over the years;
Attachment 67375

And here's a variation on the phone trick;
Use FACETIME to link your phone and laptop (iPad exc), use a selfie stick with your phone while viewing on your laptop.

Now that I'm back working on the 37 again I keep finding more things I've picked up over the years, so here's another one.


I have a couple of big round speaker magnets and a couple of these old magnetic tow light bases sitting around the shop (if I can keep my grandsons from playing with them LOL). They come in handy if you need to hold a bolt or screw in place on one side of a panel or firewall while you start a nut on the other side. If you have paint you care about a rag or piece of felt between the magnet and the metalwill prevent scratches.


http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslfyqrdkn.jpg



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That's a sweet tip Mike!