Post: #1

This is an idea I've had for a while.

Ever have to tackle a job or project, and as you go along, it seems like there's got to be an easier way to do it ?

Or end up finishing a project and, based on the experience, realize that the next time you need to do it, you'll do X instead of Y and save yourself time and hassle ?

It can be a tip or pointer for anything. Home repair, auto work, appliance repair, etc. Whatever your experience was, and you found an easier way to do it, post it here.

My intention for this thread isn't as much to give a complete walkthrough for every repair or project possible, this is more geared towards an easier way to do a project.

One of my contributions..

Quote:Finding An Exhaust Leak

Tools needed:
- Shop-Vac
- Spray bottle with soapy water

Wait for the exhaust to cool down.

Using a Shop-Vac, attach one end of the hose to the discharge side of the Shop-Vac. Attach the other end of the hose to the car's cold exhaust. Turn the Shop-Vac on.

Follow the sound of air blowing out of the exhaust pipe. To pinpoint smaller leaks, spray soapy water in the area of the noise. The leak will cause the soapy water to bubble up, showing exactly where the hole is.

I think most of us realize that we'd need the appropriate clamps, connectors, flanges, straps, putty, etc., once the leak is isolated. The above tip makes it a lot easier to find the leak versus only a visual inspection.

The only other suggestion I have is to use keywords to make the post easier to find.

Post: #2

Fixing an electronic device, turn it off wait 10 seconds then turn it on again.

Post: #3

Heh, usually ^^.
If your house's furnace controls are battery powered, replace the batteries before tearing apart the furnace.

Easy way to remove paint and rust from metal without using caustic strippers:
'Cleaned' work piece, get all the oil and dirt off
dc power supply (battery charger works great)
water
electrolyte, draino (yikes) or easier and safer, arm & hammer laundry booster
waste metal (I use rabbit cage fencing)
negative to rusty painted thing, make a clear contact point
positive to waste metal
Not sure about the mixing ratio, I use about a cup of laundry boost for ten gallons of water.
Make sure the waste metal and work material don't touch, you should see small bubbles.
Give it about a day, work material will come out black (anodized) everything will wipe right off, waste metal will be coated in rust and shit. Dry completely and repaint, looks like new.
The closer the positive waste metal is to the work material, the better it works, but not necessary. I use a kiddie pool for big things, an old metal wheelbarrow for smaller things (I just pos charge the wheelbarrow instead of bothering with waste metal)

Post: #4

Folding shirts:

This blew my mind when I first saw it. Have been doing it this way ever since.

Post: #5

Ok I'll be a bit more serious. I would reckon most people are aware, but in the off chance dudes don't know about this
http://lifehacker.com/

Sounds a lot like the kind of stuff op would like. Or simply typing in what you're doing and hack/lifehack could yield positive results.