Amateur mechanics

[Ken Talbot]

perhaps obfuscation?

[Special Ed]

Damn! Thats the trouble with fancy words. Yer right. To good for spell check!

[LoHo]

Okay! Okay! The damned seal was obfuscated because of the keeper! Let's move on...what oil gives you the most miles per gallon?

[prometheus578]

"Well..."

Let's move on...what oil gives you the most miles per gallon?

Castor Oil keeps me movin' quickly.

(meant that humorously, but as I have nothing better to do... I research)

"Currently, about 1 % of global castor oil production goes into medical or health store products. It is used to ease constipation"
(But more interesting...)
"In internal combustion engines, castor oil is renowned for its ability to lubricate under extreme conditions and temperatures, such as in air-cooled engines. The lubricants company Castrol takes its name from castor oil. However, castor oil tends to form gums in a short time, and its use is therefore restricted to engines that are regularly rebuilt, such as motorcycle race engines."
(and furthermore....)
"In Fascist Italy under the regime of Benito Mussolini, castor oil was one of the tools of the blackshirts. Political dissidents were force-fed large quantities of castor oil by Fascist paramilitary groups. Victims of this treatment would experience severe diarrhea and dehydration."
(Same symptoms as a trip to Tijuana)

[Geezer]

Originally posted by LoHo
what oil gives you the most miles per gallon?

The slippery kind.

In all reality any SE or SF rated motor oil changed regularly will give you about the same mileage. Personally I'm more interested in engine life when I choose a brand and type of oil.

Geezer

[tommystinson]

Geezer, I was struck dumb by your eloquence regarding the definition of a professional mechanic. (money earned versus cost of tools...) As I am prone to ruminating, however (obsessive compulsive disorder, LOL) I must ask: If I purchased all my tools at Harbor Freight, wouldn't I have become a professional in an accelerated fashion? hahahaha!

[Geezer]

No it would take longer because all the first set of tools woild be broken and have to be replaced before paid for...

When it comes to tools, always buy American...

Geezer

[HobbyMan]

Sorry about this beign off topic a bit. I use craftsman all around. Lifetime warrany. So far, I have found these to be the most precise cut and strongest tools I have ever used. They are worth the extra $$$. If you take care of them, they will take all the abuse that you can do to them. My dad has had his tool set for at least 30yrs old and they still look new. Trust me, he has put them through the works. I just got a 200pc tool kit, and it is nice that it has 6and 12pt sockets and all the goodies. Its sad so far that I have only used the metric side. HMM do I have to get a Harley to use the other side? Thats another issue. On a side note, I love the fact that all XS parts are one measuring system. Unlike American car manufactures that recieve pressure to mix metric and english sizes, Yamahas are all metric. MY 86Suburban gets more english as you get closer to the center of the engine. Thats good, because I prefer english.

[prometheus578]

No it would take longer because all the first set of tools woild be broken and have to be replaced before paid for...

Ahh, Geezer, you beat me to that one.
Hobbyman, all my stuff is Craftsman, 'cept for the #2 Phillips screwdrivers. Pick up one from MAC TOOLS. Trust me, it'll fit the screw better. Sure, costs $14, but well worth it. (Hhmmm $14 or $7, can't 'member)

[LoHo]

Please avoid any of the electrical tools from Harbor Freight, such as drills and sanders. Cheapo junk that will fall apart in no time. Oh, and avoid buying used cheap electric tools from me on eBay...trust me on this one...

[tommystinson]

Wow, apparently I crashed and burned on that joke! Regarding tools:
I use Craftsman Professional for most. I like the wrenches and the fully polished ratchets. For screwdrivers and hex keys/drivers I use P.B. Baumann. If they make a tool, it is likely better than anything else available, regardless of cost. My last DMM was exposed to carb cleaner. It still worked, but you couldn't read the display. I bought one made by Sino, a Chinese OEM that seems to make meters for everybody. It's pretty cool, if any meter can be called "cool"! CAT III so it won't blow up when I exceed voltage or current capability. I run a Quincy compressor and Makita power tools. I get them for 5% over cost through my employer. No complaints there! I'm starting to babble now. Must be due to my absence from the forum for a little while. Sorry.

[Geezer]

I burnt up 3 harbor freight heat guns in 4 months and all I was using them for was heat shrink tube.

I lost the receipt on the first one and had to buy another one. The third one was a warranty replacement but then I lost the paper work and couldn’t get that one replaced.

When it comes to hand tools I like the following in about this order:
S-K professional
Craftsman Professional
Mac
Matco
Snap On

Snap On tools are expensive but very good but now that both S-K and Craftsman have come out with a professional series, there’s not much reason to spend the extra bucks for Snap On.

Geezer

[Wildkat]

Wow am I ever glad I read this...

I burnt up 3 harbor freight heat guns in 4 months and all I was using them for was heat shrink tube.

I was going to get one next week (or so)... got their ad and thought it might be worth the drive... guess not. Any recomendations on a decent not too expensive model? I need one for a seat I'm recovering...

[CWilliamson]

The only time I buy harbor freight is for consumables (tarps, zip ties, etc) or if I need to customize a tool (ie, grind down a screw driver to a perfect fit get jets out, grind down a wrench to fit in a tight space, etc...) otherwise my tools are craftsmen. Of course there is a tools shop around the corner from my place that sends out a truck to the dealerships that I need to check out...

[wingnut]

its not the size its the quality of the tool

When I was working out of a tool box for a living I found that the Snap-on truck was my best friend not my wallets best friend but for getting the job done they worked best. Granted I was working on corporate and general aviation aircraft and space was at a premium That was before the craftsman premium series and no other tools I could find would allow me to get into some of those tight places and still hold up to the wear and torques involved. Bottom line is I have a box full of snap-on and they are still effective after 20+ years. Ya get what you pay for I guess. Just wish all the cash had been for metrics. Those are coming from Craftsman.