i buy it in spray cans from the motor factors i deal with . reminds me i need a new can of it .. think its 97 percent and marked switch cleaner and/or circuit board cleaner .Great topic for a thread @birchoak, I was thinking about starting one also.
Some members may find this tip handy.
I use Isopropyl Alcohol a lot and do not like a large open bottle on the bench since it's so easy to knock over by accident and a pain in the rear to use it. My solution is to put the alcohol in an empty Lighter Fluid bottle. Just flip the tip up and squirt some on a q-tip or a rag and do your business. No worries about knocking it over or contamination. Thanks to all for their input!
That is great! Have you ever ended up with screws in your ice?I use a plastic ice cube tray to hold screws, etc. I can label each 'cube'.
Tom
Great topic for a thread @birchoak, I was thinking about starting one also.
Some members may find this tip handy.
I use Isopropyl Alcohol a lot and do not like a large open bottle on the bench since it's so easy to knock over by accident and a pain in the rear to use it. My solution is to put the alcohol in an empty Lighter Fluid bottle. Just flip the tip up and squirt some on a q-tip or a rag and do your business. No worries about knocking it over or contamination. Thanks to all for their input!
Here is a tip that sounds bizarre but actually works:
I took apart a push switch today and the tiny spring launched itself (notice I did not say "I dropped the spring" --always blame the object!) out onto the filthy shop floor. I could not find it. I got a bright flashlight, turned off the shop lights, then got down on my knees so I could shine the light "sideways" (more or less parallel to the floor) at the floor. I adjusted the angle of the beam until I got prominent shadows (think of what your own shadow looks like in late afternoon, vs. at noon, and you'll get my drift) from the stuff on the floor, and there it was, that naughty spring. Of course, I dropped it--I mean, it got away from me-- several more times after that.
I use a plastic ice cube tray to hold screws, etc. I can label each 'cube'.
Polishing your Knob(s).
You are the man! I love it--again, why the hell didn't I think of that?Polishing your Knob(s). An old splined extension for splined knobs, the other end for set screw knobs. Brasso and a soft terrycloth rag, drill on high speed.
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Again, so simple and yet I never thought of that. Thank you, good sir!When you're taking things apart that might have springy bits that can launch into the abyss, take it apart in a clear plastic bag.
That was you can still see what you are doing but if something flys it will stay in the bag.
Wow, I am learning a lot of $h!t--each time I view this thread it's like opening up a new Xmas present. See, these are things you can't always pick up on your lonesome--thank you very much--all of you--for sharing your hard-won tricks and techniques. I am bowled over by the ingenuity of people who work with their hands. Edit: all those parts in the Plano box = organization-porn shotSeems kind of redundant, labeling each one "cube" ... <G>
I imagine there's a lot of that going on around here. ;-}
Couple items - I use Plano fishing accessory boxes for organizing small parts for a project. Tape a piece of scrap paper in the lid and label that as needed. Only complaint was not having enough separators, but a quick email to the company and they sent me a bunch.
Ever try to figure out how a tuner is supposed to be strung? Several ways to do it, and only one right way. I've gotten into the habit of taping the string in place where possible ... the rest of this one is looped back to the chassis plate and taped down to keep tension on it. Restringing was easy.
Oh. Never toss those plastic straws. You can heat them, bend them, any way you want them, and join them with heat shrink for those hard to reach places.
And small pieces of tin are handy for protecting wires when soldering in tight places ...
I use something like this for wetting q-tips and brushes with alcohol...