The tools you may not know existed thread

[TJ Hopland]

This is the thread to mention a tool that you just learned about that you didn't know even existed.  Most cases at least for me its something that if I had known about this tool it could have saved me at least a bunch of time but likely also a lot of money. 

It would probably be useful to note if you have used the tool yourself or if its just something you saw.   I will start out with something I saw while just browsing marketplace.

SAV-A-STUD.  Its basically a standard thread making die except for one added feature, it splits in half.  This is great for those studs where its the end that is destroyed likely from you having to go a little extreme to remove the nut and its now too damaged to get a standard die started on it. With this you can expand it and get it down to where there are good threads and work your way out thus preserving what is left at the end. 

Without a tool like this all you can try is the file type of restorer or just grinding more material off till you can get a regular die started.   I'm assuming there is other manufacturers of such tools.  I have never used any such tool but gonna keep it in mind because seems like it could really be worth having around. 

https://esco.net/product/esco-save-a-stud-plus/

 

[Gene Beaird]

That's cool!!  I have, however, never needed one.  I've lived a sheltered life, I guess.  At ~$200 for the set, I might have to invest anyway.   When you need one, you need one!

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Definitely worth the cost if it saves special threads.

The only downside is that the small sizes are not covered.   7/16" is the smallest.

Bruce.

[TJ Hopland]

I'm picturing it on things like exhaust manifold to downpipe studs.   Those are often corroded at the nuts and into the manifolds.  Access usually isn't great if you had to try and drill them out and you usually don't want to press your luck removing the manifolds from the heads since those are also corroded and even worse access to drill out so pretty soon you are removing and rebuilding a whole engine.   $200 tool set would be way cheaper than that. 

I'm hoping this thread will be full of tools like this that really could save some time and frustration. 

[tcom2027]

The only downside is that the small sizes are not covered.   7/16" is the smallest.

Bruce.
[/quote]

Hi Bruce,

I have used a number of Murray spring rethreading dies. 1/2-13,  the smallest, 1-14 the largest but they come in smaller sizes down to 1/4-20. I believe thy only make nominal sized SAE, USS and metric  dies.  I bought them as I needed them. They got used very little, but when I needed one, I really needed  one. It took me years to collect six. I like the Murray dies as the springs  holding the halves together are tough and strong for their size. h. Less fumbling getting a socket or vice grip plier on them. Very high quality steel. THey have lived a long time for me. Hell of a trip down memory lane.


tony.   

[Classic]

In addition to the ESCO kit TJ mentioned, Amazon has a large selection "thread restorer" kits, both tapes and dies, in various price ranges.  I was always taught never to use regular tapes and dies to "chase" threads, as they will remove a tiny amount of parent metal, resulting in a looser fit between nuts and bolts, etc.  A handy tool kit to have.
Gene

[TJ Hopland]

Yes there is a big difference between thread cutting and thread repair.  Thread repair dies have more rounded 'teeth' to try and push damaged threads back into place rather than a standard cutting die that is gonna just cut what ever is in its way aligned or not so you will likely end up doing more damage and weakening the assembly. 

I don't remember how I learned about that, it was for sure before the internet.  I remember buying the set I still have in a store.  I just can't remember if it was something I just saw while wandering the tool aisle or if I read about them or saw someone using them. 

Speaking of the internet I can't remember the last time or if maybe I have ever seen anyone using them to repair threads everyone seems to do it with regular dies.  Guess the people that make and sell them need to get the word out.  I do remember seeing one person use the file style of repair tool which are often part of the sets.

[TJ Hopland]

So since no one else has any other tool suggestions yet maybe we can talk about an issue related to rarely used tools....  So who else has had these issues?

-There is the obvious and most common one, you know you bought the tool but can't find it when you need it.

-How about you do the job thinking you should buy that tool then while putting other tools away you see the tool sitting there.

-Along the same lines who has bought the tool just in case then when finding a place to put it you find you already bought that tool and never used it,  now you have 2.



 

[Clewisiii]

So since no one else has any other tool suggestions yet maybe we can talk about an issue related to rarely used tools....  So who else has had these issues?

-There is the obvious and most common one, you know you bought the tool but can't find it when you need it.

-How about you do the job thinking you should buy that tool then while putting other tools away you see the tool sitting there.

-Along the same lines who has bought the tool just in case then when finding a place to put it you find you already bought that tool and never used it,  now you have 2.



 

I bought multiple styles of coil spring compressors and did not use any of them.  I bought a weight balancing assembly for my engine hoist and did not need it. Bought an engine start trigger but it was easier just to use the ignition.

[TJ Hopland]

I have all those tools but only one style of spring compressor. I do remember buying the spring compressor part way through a specific job.  Don't recall if it helped with that one or not. I think maybe used it one other time over maybe 20 years.  I suppose it depends on the type of car you own and the type of work you have to do to it.  I think with most of my stuff you can get the springs in and out just by removing the shock.

Weight balance thing I have 2 of those, slightly different sizes and styles and I have used those.  They can be needed both with and without the trans.  WIth the trans you usually have to really get an angle to swing it all in.  Without you usually need to get things exactly in the right spot to get them to mate up while also hitting the mounts.  Again if needed would depend a lot on the car and somewhat the work area too.

The start trigger I made one many many years ago and remember using it quite a bit on the project and car I first built it for but it has been pretty thin use since.  I think one hit against us primarily GM V8 people is the location of the starter solenoid being on the starter.  On a V engine its almost never that easy to access from above.  An inline engine its usually pretty accessible and then there were the makes that used an external solenoid so on those cases its super easy to connect the trigger.       

[Clewisiii]

I have tools or equipment that I put a lot of money into that shortly after I thought I had wasted my money. But I have been proven wrong.

Overhead power beam hoist. The most difficult part was mounting the beam into the rafters securely. The 12 ft beam in the room is supported to a 20 ft metal pipe spreading the weight across 10 trusses.
This has been so convenient since I work alone.

Zinc plating station. Initially spent a little over a thousand on it. then it sat for 3 or 4 years never being touched. Then my restoration took off and this has helped me do things I never would have been able to do.  It has been worth it.


Bench top Spray booth. I thought I was wasting money and a lot of wall space installing this booth. But I use it almost every time I am in the shop. It has been wonderful.

[TJ Hopland]

That is a super satisfying feeling when you are working on something and run into something where you do need that special tool and you have it and can find it and it does the job.   

[Cadman-iac]

This is the thread to mention a tool that you just learned about that you didn't know even existed.  Most cases at least for me its something that if I had known about this tool it could have saved me at least a bunch of time but likely also a lot of money. 

It would probably be useful to note if you have used the tool yourself or if its just something you saw.   I will start out with something I saw while just browsing marketplace.

SAV-A-STUD.  Its basically a standard thread making die except for one added feature, it splits in half.  This is great for those studs where its the end that is destroyed likely from you having to go a little extreme to remove the nut and its now too damaged to get a standard die started on it. With this you can expand it and get it down to where there are good threads and work your way out thus preserving what is left at the end. 

Without a tool like this all you can try is the file type of restorer or just grinding more material off till you can get a regular die started.   I'm assuming there is other manufacturers of such tools.  I have never used any such tool but gonna keep it in mind because seems like it could really be worth having around. 

https://esco.net/product/esco-save-a-stud-plus/

 

 These look like something for the head studs on a diesel engine maybe?
 Great idea, I could have used something like this a number of times. Trying to fix threads from the damaged end is iffy at best.

[Cadman-iac]

  Here's one for you, see if you know what its purpose is.






It may be obvious to some, but I'll tell you what it is after a few guesses.

Rick

Edit: I guess it would help to know how big this is. The total length is 21 inches.

[Big Fins]

Cadillac Q-Jet adjustment tool.

We would also use Craftsman 1/4" drive, 1/4" sockets on them.

[Cadman-iac]

Cadillac Q-Jet adjustment tool.

We would also use Craftsman 1/4" drive, " sockets on them.

  Not sure it's specific to the Quadrajet, but you're right, it's a carburetor adjustment tool.
The top of the knob says "Aircraft Spec. Inc." on it, so it's probably a bit more versatile than just a Quadrajet, but in your defense, that's exactly what I bought it for.



Great guess, or should I say knowledge, you know your tools!!

Rick

[Cadman-iac]

  Now here's a tool that I don't know how I got along without. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the investment.





 For years I messed with the old manual flaring tools, and I got pretty good at it, but this tool is just fantastic.
 Before, if I had a line that used the O-ring to seal instead of the flare, I would have to buy a new one, but with this, I can just make it myself. It will do fuel lines, power steering lines, the bubble flared lines, and it's supposed to do the transmission lines that look like the fuel line but with a longer end on it.
 Before I bought it I had borrowed one from a friend and tried to do a transmission-style end out of curiosity, but the tube got stuck in the die and I ruined the line getting it out of the die. I was still so impressed with it that I bought my own.
 I've done everything it will do except for the transmission line end, I haven't actually needed one of those yet, but I've just done a bunch of the fuel line ends with the O-ring and the inverted flare style for my carburetor conversion on the Suburban and it worked flawlessly.
 If you do a lot of hydraulic lines for brakes, fuel, steering, even A/C, whatever, fabricating or repairing, you need one of these.

 Rick

[Big Fins]

You can use the offset tool on many other things. But it seemed it was great for getting under the heavy PCV hose and around the dizzy on the other side when peaking the air/fuel ratio. That and it kept you out of the heat and noise of the fan so you could hear and feel the change in the way the engine ran.

I have 2 of them. I found one under the hood laying on the fender, slid down toward the battery box on a customers car. In the meantime, I had bought another to replace the one I left under the hood. Kick me in the head.   

[Clewisiii]

My new expensive one purpose tools.

I need to slide my body over the frame of my car after I paint the firewall. I cannot use a body cart due to the cross bars that go side to side. So I need to use something that can support and roll from just the sides.

These only hold the car up 12 inches. With wheels off I need to clear 24 inches of the frame. So I am going find a stable pipe to use as an extension betwwen the rollers and the clamp blocks. So the body may be on these for 2 months. Then rolled a total of 30 ft. And no longer be needed. Unless I do another car.

Pricing out trying to build my own roller base it was cheaper to buy these.

[Cadman-iac]

  I was just looking at those at Horrible Fright. They had a special that for something like $300 bucks you got a set of 4 of them.
 Then I started looking at the individual pieces and realized that I could buy 4 separately for right at $200 bucks, unless their signage was wrong.
 But either way it seems like a good deal.

 Rick