Let’s shift gears a bit this week and introduce a subject that should be near and dear to all of us - Safety. Specifically- Personal Safety in the shop
Safety is one of the basic building blocks in any shop. In fact, safety is something that we all need to be aware of in every aspect of our everyday life. Without a constant mind-set of being concerned with your own safety, you might tend to drive without using your seat belt. Without this constant awareness, you might cross the street without looking both ways. Safe thinking is something that we all need to keep on our mind.
This is especially true in the woodshop. If you ask an experienced woodworker what their most prized possession is, many of them will proudly hold up a full set of 8 fingers and two thumbs. These are the woodworkers who have been safety conscious for a long time, yet many of them will also tell you stories of how they have been very fortunate in certain situations to have escaped serious injury due to their own lapse in judgment. Many of the stories one hears of “being lucky” start out with, “Well, I was in a hurry and thought I could just do this one thing quickly…and I almost didn’t get away with it. It was really stupid on my part.”
Remember, the best safety device that you have access to is your own good sense. If something you are doing creates hackles on the back of your neck, it just might be your intuition telling you to stop before you get hurt. Don’t get in a hurry. Think through your actions first and be prepared to work safely.
You should never work on, or operate, woodshop machines if you are taking medication that makes you drowsy, if you are very tired or if you are under the influence of alcohol. These substances may cause you to ignore potential safety hazards. You should always use proper safety equipment. Eye protection is first and foremost on any safety equipment list. It should comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1 standard. Hearing protection is also important and it should comply with the ANSI S3.19 standard. Even if you install the best dust collection system that money can buy, it is always wise to use a proper dust mask. Many people use the white disposable paper masks; however, those type masks typically allow too many smaller particles to pass thru them. I recommend using a good respirator mask that has replaceable cartridges. In extreme dust environments, there are other respirators that supply fresh air to an attached hood.
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Column #8- Taylor-Tot pt.3
Let’s finish up the Taylor-Tot story and next week we may talk Tips & Techniques again. I completely disassembled the entire stroller, blasted everything on it and primed it. I had the original color matched at ColorMatch, shot it with color, and then went back and sprayed it with a hardening clear coat. It turned out real nice…but it has to be just RIGHT. That leaves the decals, buggy bumpers and wooden roller beads to get the same attention.
During the time I was restoring the body parts and the mechanical parts, I was also looking at the various decals that came on them. As I said earlier, the professor sent me a copy of his front decal - it was paper. I suppose I could have glued it on and no one would have been the wiser…but I would know. Ya understand?... and if I’m going to go ‘all out’, the seat decal needed reviving too. So I took the paper front decal down to my local sign shop and had them make one in vinyl. The seat decal was a bit tougher. The wording was not completely readable, but as my good fortune lasted, I kept watching the eBay ads and someone posted the wording from their stroller seat decal and WALLA (that’s a Southern term for “Hot DOG”!) mine made perfect sense. So I took what I had back to the sign shop and after 2 tries, they got the thing just right.
The wooden roller beads (1956 and up used plastic roller beads) sit on a rail around the package tray that sits right in front of the rider. They are something for the rider to play with. As it turned out, Hobby Lobby has fresh wooden beads. All I had to do was drill holes thru them and paint them with a child-safe paint.
The buggy bumpers had rubber tubing over them and the tubing is readily available by using…well…I think I’ll keep that to myself. You never know when I might make up some kits and sell them on eBay for a little walking around money.
So, now you know. I’m the resident expert on Taylor Tot strollers. You can see my handiwork at www.3r1enterprises.com. I have reproduced more decals than I needed and have sold a few sets to other restorers. By the way, in my searching, I found that someone had restored one of these Taylor-Tots, gold plated the bumpers…and they wanted $3000.00 for it. YIKES!
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
During the time I was restoring the body parts and the mechanical parts, I was also looking at the various decals that came on them. As I said earlier, the professor sent me a copy of his front decal - it was paper. I suppose I could have glued it on and no one would have been the wiser…but I would know. Ya understand?... and if I’m going to go ‘all out’, the seat decal needed reviving too. So I took the paper front decal down to my local sign shop and had them make one in vinyl. The seat decal was a bit tougher. The wording was not completely readable, but as my good fortune lasted, I kept watching the eBay ads and someone posted the wording from their stroller seat decal and WALLA (that’s a Southern term for “Hot DOG”!) mine made perfect sense. So I took what I had back to the sign shop and after 2 tries, they got the thing just right.
The wooden roller beads (1956 and up used plastic roller beads) sit on a rail around the package tray that sits right in front of the rider. They are something for the rider to play with. As it turned out, Hobby Lobby has fresh wooden beads. All I had to do was drill holes thru them and paint them with a child-safe paint.
The buggy bumpers had rubber tubing over them and the tubing is readily available by using…well…I think I’ll keep that to myself. You never know when I might make up some kits and sell them on eBay for a little walking around money.
So, now you know. I’m the resident expert on Taylor Tot strollers. You can see my handiwork at www.3r1enterprises.com. I have reproduced more decals than I needed and have sold a few sets to other restorers. By the way, in my searching, I found that someone had restored one of these Taylor-Tots, gold plated the bumpers…and they wanted $3000.00 for it. YIKES!
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Toolsmartz -Column #7- Taylor-Tot pt. 2
I think Mark knows a bit more about how to keep his cordless tools running longer. I sure appreciate you folks writing in and asking those questions. That’s what this whole deal is about. I’m only using my stories as filler while wondering what sorts of questions you will ask.
I guess, let’s go with part 2 of the Taylor-Tot story. We’ll pick up where I left off, right after I got the little beast home.
Now I go trolling for the name “Taylor-Tot”…and lo and behold, I find a guy who was a college professor who was restoring the actual Taylor-Tot stroller from his childhood. Man, he had his lookin sweeet! So I emailed him and we started talking.
Well, during this time of reworking and learning all I can about them, I found another one on ebay and it had the ‘high-class options’ of “wheel pants” and a foot tray. These are groovy little fenders that cover the wheels and don’t let the rider’s feet scrub on the tires and a tray that is put under the rider’s feet when the stroller is used as a ‘pusher’. Lucky me, I won the auction- so now I had 2. (it really does end, but who knows where?). So I get the second one and right off, I discover that it still has the date code that was stamped underneath the seat AND it has most of an original seat decal still in place – oh, my…a prize catch indeed! This thing was made in 1949. Ok, change of priorities… the one from ebay became the project.
We’ll stop here for this week, just so that I can squeeze in my ‘elevator speech’. That’s the speech that one gives during a ride up the elevator when you’re making connections looking for that next career opportunity. So here you are: “You know how there are teams of highly-skilled mechanical and electrical technicians that seem to know all things technical, but just don’t have the skills necessary to effectively communicate to the other departments or write service manuals or the inclination to manage themselves properly? That’s where I come in. I manage groups like that and keep them focused on the straight and narrow in order to provide outstanding service to our internal and external customers.” Since I’m looking for that new career opportunity, if you know of one, or have a connection that might be beneficial, please let me know.
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
I guess, let’s go with part 2 of the Taylor-Tot story. We’ll pick up where I left off, right after I got the little beast home.
Now I go trolling for the name “Taylor-Tot”…and lo and behold, I find a guy who was a college professor who was restoring the actual Taylor-Tot stroller from his childhood. Man, he had his lookin sweeet! So I emailed him and we started talking.
Well, during this time of reworking and learning all I can about them, I found another one on ebay and it had the ‘high-class options’ of “wheel pants” and a foot tray. These are groovy little fenders that cover the wheels and don’t let the rider’s feet scrub on the tires and a tray that is put under the rider’s feet when the stroller is used as a ‘pusher’. Lucky me, I won the auction- so now I had 2. (it really does end, but who knows where?). So I get the second one and right off, I discover that it still has the date code that was stamped underneath the seat AND it has most of an original seat decal still in place – oh, my…a prize catch indeed! This thing was made in 1949. Ok, change of priorities… the one from ebay became the project.
We’ll stop here for this week, just so that I can squeeze in my ‘elevator speech’. That’s the speech that one gives during a ride up the elevator when you’re making connections looking for that next career opportunity. So here you are: “You know how there are teams of highly-skilled mechanical and electrical technicians that seem to know all things technical, but just don’t have the skills necessary to effectively communicate to the other departments or write service manuals or the inclination to manage themselves properly? That’s where I come in. I manage groups like that and keep them focused on the straight and narrow in order to provide outstanding service to our internal and external customers.” Since I’m looking for that new career opportunity, if you know of one, or have a connection that might be beneficial, please let me know.
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Toolsmartz - Column #6 -Cordless battery life
Part 2 of the Taylor-Tot story will need to wait for a bit, we’ve got a question from Mark that needs answering…and it’s a goody. “Tom: Why do the batteries for cordless devices fail and what can be done to extend their life?” Mark, today’s cordless tool batteries are way beyond the technology of what they used to be, but they still get the most cordless tool complaints.
I’ll tell you what I know. Basically, batteries are devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. When the chemical reaction is depleted the battery is "dead". To my knowledge nothing can be done to "extend" the battery life. Eventually, batteries will just get ‘used up’. There are steps which help slow the chemical reaction, but nothing will take a battery that was designed for 1000 charge cycles to 1500 charge cycles.
The best method for slowing that chemical reaction is to avoid deep discharges. Use the battery in the tool until it will no longer do the job you’re attempting, and then charge it. Also, make sure your charger is a ‘smart charger’. Most chargers of the name brands have this feature. It reduces the charger output level as the battery’s charge comes back up. Some of the lower cost brands may not have that and when a charger keeps slamming a full charge into the battery – the heat it creates really shortens the battery life. Batteries hate heat.
Naturally, dropping a battery may crack the case or damage internal components, so you want to avoid that. I personally have an older 19.2v Porter-Cable drill and I have 3 batteries for it. Two of them work just fine and have for over 5 years. The third one just barely holds a charge for a really short time and probably should be recycled. My point being that if one takes good care of their batteries, it is possible to get some good life out of them, but when they are dead…there’s no way to revive them and it’s time to buy a fresh battery.
Keep them cool and they will help keep you from ‘losing your cool’.
I hope that info helps you, Mark. Thanks for writing!
Hopefully, we’ll have another answer for our readers next week, but if not, tune in for Part 2 of the Taylor-Tot story that we missed.
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
I’ll tell you what I know. Basically, batteries are devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. When the chemical reaction is depleted the battery is "dead". To my knowledge nothing can be done to "extend" the battery life. Eventually, batteries will just get ‘used up’. There are steps which help slow the chemical reaction, but nothing will take a battery that was designed for 1000 charge cycles to 1500 charge cycles.
The best method for slowing that chemical reaction is to avoid deep discharges. Use the battery in the tool until it will no longer do the job you’re attempting, and then charge it. Also, make sure your charger is a ‘smart charger’. Most chargers of the name brands have this feature. It reduces the charger output level as the battery’s charge comes back up. Some of the lower cost brands may not have that and when a charger keeps slamming a full charge into the battery – the heat it creates really shortens the battery life. Batteries hate heat.
Naturally, dropping a battery may crack the case or damage internal components, so you want to avoid that. I personally have an older 19.2v Porter-Cable drill and I have 3 batteries for it. Two of them work just fine and have for over 5 years. The third one just barely holds a charge for a really short time and probably should be recycled. My point being that if one takes good care of their batteries, it is possible to get some good life out of them, but when they are dead…there’s no way to revive them and it’s time to buy a fresh battery.
Keep them cool and they will help keep you from ‘losing your cool’.
I hope that info helps you, Mark. Thanks for writing!
Hopefully, we’ll have another answer for our readers next week, but if not, tune in for Part 2 of the Taylor-Tot story that we missed.
Send your questions or comments to:
Toolsmartz@bellsouth.net and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
_______________________________________________________________
Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper. Neither the author, nor this newspaper, accepts any liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
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