Thread: What are you working on?

Oh buddy. You want to know about stuck on an island. Well let’s see. Small ball peen hammer, pin vice with split point bits, files, sidecutters, bench anvil, magnetic blade holder, sand paper, sanding blocks (corks, dowels, curlers erasers ), sand paper, polish, steel wool.
Then ther is the scale makin kit, double sided tape. Fine rasps, files,coping saw.

Originally Posted by MikeT

Going through the blades for maintenance and preservation and realized that I don't need a shop or even a work-station to finish some blades. Two words:
Mobile Workstation
Ohhhhhh yeah!
A hard case with rubber seal maybe 24"x18". Lockable.
For example when working on a blade I often prefer to simply use a small rounded block and sand papers of various grits.. hours of work that doesn't need a workshop..
Since my basement shop was cold and damp I often found myself sanding scales on my back porch.
I used to use a towel with canvas sewn on one side be able sand an item in my lap on the couch.
So I've got some tools to purchase, but should be able to get started soon I hope.

Any ideas on small tools that are handy, even perhaps indispensable .. and will fit inside the Mobile Workstation?
Your stuck on an island and you have this box of work tools.. What are they???

Coping saw
Chasing hammer (or cheap small ball peen from HF)
Pin Vice
Double sided tape for scales


If you don't have an anvil let me know. I've got a rough cut piece of RR track you can have. I'll get a picture tomorrow if you're interested.

A box cutter knife and a whole bunch of blades for it.
Best quality Xacto knife set you can afford, even the cheap ones do good work. Blades from online sources...way cheaper! These things are also used as scrapers.

A set of cheap wood chisels. HF in my mind.
A set of the cheap diamond plates from HF to keep the above stuff sharp.

A dremel type tool and a set of accessories for it. some HF polishing compounds or equivalent. Auto polish is fine till you want to do more with finishing.

3M Metal Restoration polish if you are flush>not cheap.

A face shield, just safety glasses won't do it all.

The guys above nailed a lot of the stufff to get or have available.

Good idea to have each grouping of things in a separate box. Stuff gets lost because of getting covered over with other stuff.

A bunch of rags/ micro fiber cheap cloths.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

re also a bunch of magnetic tape erasers, from sound tape recording days, around yet. And there at flea markets and junk shops.
Attachment 291685

bulk+tape+demagnetizers

They are a 110VAC strong electromagnet that you wave over the part from very near and keep swinging as you back off to a foot at least. They make the residual field in the blade less and less with every pass over it.
Have fun!
~Richard

I have one of those around somewhere Geezer. Thanks for the idea!

Auhah! Excellent suggestions, I'll be compiling the list and gathering supplies.
Anymore suggestions are welcome.

I've never used the magnetic blade holder, I don't know how I missed it before.. great idea!
I like the mounting holes for table, perhaps I could make a curved attachment for underneath to somewhat spoon into the hand for sitting on couch work..

About the double sided tape, be careful it's not on there longer than the "clean removal time"... otherwise it can be a PITA to remove completely. Unfortunately many tapes don't have this info and or accurate. Using a solvent to remove the tape adhesive can leach the glue and or solvent into the wood.. anyway just a thought.
I usually go with wood glue and paper.

When considering this concept of making use of materials and tools available and the concept of working in a "limited space" , I am finding myself thinking what you guys would do. Geezer has some really good ideas on some older threads, might remind you of a MacGyver-like character that could make a shaver with 3 toothpicks, a paper clip, superglue, a pop sickle stick, a hammer, string, and a beer!

Thank you gentleman!

It's good to have a list. Thank you gentleman!

That is great as I was writing that, Richard was writing his post with the great ideas.
Thanks for the reminder about the full face protection, I've had my eye damaged while wearing safety glasses.
Also the note on organization... tools on top of tools on top of tools has been an issue for me.. my wife calls my organizational skills a beautiful display of "order in chaos".

So an organized main storage/staging point, and then an organized Mobile Work Station!

For removing tape that has been on too long. Ronsinal lighter fluid/ Naphtha. 'Goo Gone' is a library's way of doing it. A little goes a long way. Nothing much works for aged protective paper on Plexiglas/ acrylic plastic sheets but Goo Gone seems to leave less crud on the surface. Always remove the paper liner before cutting. Removing it later may break a scale...don't ask!
Adding masking tape as a protective covering is a good idea before cutting. That can save a bunch of time later in the cleanup and polishing. It does come off easily.
JMO, YMMV
~Richard

PS, Do a google search for Plano tool boxes. Make sure that the drawers are at least 6 inches deep.
Harbor Freight has some too and so online sources.
I used to have all my stuff in covered trays and all in a cheap "Good will" roll on luggage case.

A revision of the double sided tape..
I picked some cheap stuff and left it on too long. Getting the goo off was a pain and I think it mixed with the solvent affected the finish. A higher quality double sided tape taken off before too long is actually my preference.
I used ziploc storage bins with latches and a foam weather seal before.
Will be looking for a cheap place to get proper storage along with shelves to organize them.

If you don't have an anvil let me know. I've got a rough cut piece of RR track you can have. I'll get a picture tomorrow if you're interested.[/QUOTE]


He's got one, looks just like this one.



Made a bunch for the guys a few years ago

Maybe he wants to trade. That looks way too shiny.