Shop and Tools: Tips and Tricks

WiscoF100 said:
Saw this trick on horsepower TV or whatever it’s branded as this week.

I wanted to add a NPT fitting to my air filter as a clean air source for the PCV.

I started with a 3/16” pilot hole, followed by a tapered punch. Opened to nominal size of 21/64” and run a tap through it.
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The poor man’s method of putting a turbo oil drain in a sump pan too.
 
Tip from a Canadian from Canadia.

Engine pan heaters work great as table heaters or put them on a mass of metal and they keep your batteries from freezing in the toolbox. Top of the box is normally 60* when the shop is below freezing.

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bad zuki said:
Engine pan heaters work great as table heaters or put them on a mass of metal and they keep your batteries from freezing in the toolbox. Top of the box is normally 60* when the shop is below freezing.
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so you're saying my battery charging box should not be in an unheated space and bolted to an uninsulted exterior door when it's 0deg out? :laughing:
 
arse_sidewards said:
so you're saying my battery charging box should not be in an unheated space and bolted to an uninsulted exterior door when it's 0deg out? :laughing:
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That space is semi conditioned, or just tempered. Above freezing is fine. Lithium batteries last longer and give out more power if they aren't frozen.
Especially the cheap ones.
 
People say to use incandescent light bulbs to keep a cabinet warm, but there is a risk if the bulb breaks for some reason. A better alternative is a heat rock for reptiles. Of course, the size of the cabinet and how insulated it is will factor into how warm it keeps it.
 
TTMotorsports said:
Would a small aquarium heat lamp work to keep temps correct in the cabinet?
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I built a small battery cabinet a couple years ago. It tends to get a little chilly around here during the winter months, and I don't keep my tool batteries in the house. The cabinet I built is about 18x24x12...ish. I used foamboard insulation to help keep heat in.

I tried the aquarium heat pad, and it wouldn't keep the temps high enough. As stated above, the incandescent bulb is sufficient and works well, but there is the hazard of it breaking. The LED bulbs don't put out enough heat to be of use.

maveric

Thread 'Cordless tool battery cabinet'

Sirched, but didn’t see anything on this topic….

Been looking at ideas to store the batteries for my cordless tools. My garage is not heated all the time, and can get below freezing. I usually work in it on the weekends, and occasionally weeknights after work.
I killed a couple batteries a few winters ago building my toyhauler, (assuming due to the cold) so trying to make these last longer.
I had an old metal locking cabinet that I have been tripping over in the garage for the last couple years. Plan is to insulate it, run power inside, add a heat source, and store/charge the batteries...
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maveric said:
I built a small battery cabinet a couple years ago. It tends to get a little chilly around here during the winter months, and I don't keep my tool batteries in the house. The cabinet I built is about 18x24x12...ish. I used foamboard insulation to help keep heat in.
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I picked up a free non-working fridge off the getting place. Bored a couple 4" air holes between the fridge and freezer compartments. Added a cheapie fan on one hole to push air around. Incandesent bulb in the bottom and an inkbird to control it all. I think I have an hour or so in the whole thing. Tool batteries and chargers in the top compartment. Glues and stuff that doesnt handle being frozen in the bottom. Keep it about 40 or 45 degrees. Maybe $40 or so in the whole thing.
 
Thought I needed a tripod for a job. Ended up not using it, but I came up with this and I think it worked out really well.

Note that I put the bolts through the holes in the strut, not just on the open side of the channel. I wanted to prevent the thing falling apart while getting spread into position.

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