Little gadgets that you've done without for too long!

I had to wrestle with a little scissors jack today to remove a tire from the CX-9 because I didn't want to crush any of the plastic (and there's a lot of plastic under there!).  Today is the day I buy a pinchweld adapter for my floor jacks!

Figured I'd amazon it, but all I see there is made of stinkin' plastic.  Anyone have a recommendation for a nice sturdy steel one, preferably made in the USA?

I've considered buying one for years, but most of what I work on is trucks or antiques, so I manage okay.

Cut an appropriate sized slot in a hockey puck.

Appleseed said:

Cut an appropriate sized slot in a hockey puck.

LOL.  I'm fresh out of hockey pucks.  Dadoing a slot in a piece of 2x4 seems janky.

I bought mine from Flyin' Miata. It wasn't expensive, has held up very well, and supports a good cause.

Duke said:

I bought mine from Flyin' Miata. It wasn't expensive, has held up very well, and supports a good cause.

 

Hmm.  Checking......

Edit:  Got a link?

Edit:  Edit:  Hmmm.  It's a hockey puck!  Good for little rollerskate like a Miata.  What about a real vehicle like a CX-9?

I have both versions of the FM pad, the old metal one and the newer plastic one. I think the plastic one is actually holding up better than the metal one did, and it's been used exclusively on non-miatas. It also seems to be more universal than the metal one. I bet it'll work fine for what you need.

An inexpensive co-axial indicator quickly changed how I do most things on the mill. I can't imagine being without one anymore.

These trim tools from the hammer store have paid for themselves 10 times over.

Dear God the piles of mangled clips and pins I produced using a screwdriver for all those years.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Mine is steel. I've lifted my Town&Country on it.

Toast tongs

You really want plastic anyhow, as it is less likely to damage your vehicle. Not soft squishy plastic, although I do have a urethane one put together by a customer that still works well. But a plastic that is softer than the paint on your car.

And yes, we did learn from the original metal one and make the new plastic one more universal for people who own "real" cars like CX-9s.

Professional-type paint sprayer like this:

I have an elderly volunteer who just painted this platform thing in 23 minutes flat.  He had never used one before.  This would have been two days with a roller and brush.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Don't know that that counts as a "gadget", but 100% on the usefulness! 

Active Noise cancelling headphones when flying. Cheap amazon ones work in a pinch.  

A stick blender. This exact model in fact  

Great for making soups or when you have a Jones for a milk shake.    

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

I have used my FM plastic one to lift our Merc R350.

Headlamp. Look like a dork, feel like a dork, but oh man is it ever nice always having light shining right where you're looking. 

Pocket knives.

Sure, you're now the "Knife Guy" on the floor and people are expecting you to talk about how cool it is all the time, but having one handy at all times makes common aggravations disappear. I have a little 2-inch long folding gerber on my floor and it makes opening anything easy.

Also an idea for us- a Belt with clip-on or attachable magnets on the side. Allow you to stick metal objects on your hips like a sword hit. That'd be useful for me and my clipboards.

In reply to GIRTHQUAKE :

I don't talk about 'em that much...

but I have had one or another close to hand since I was 12. Don't all men?

Co-ax indictors are GREAT!!  I always cut corn off the cob with a knife, later a round saw blade thing with handles.  NOW!  Baby where you been all my life?