Tips & Tricks

Contact!

How many times have you wished that you had an extra hand when working on your latest project? Cut off a square piece of self-adhesive contact paper, and stick it to a flat area on your workbench. Now, you can easily mix and scoop up epoxy with one hand. The contact paper will not slide around like some of the other items we use to mix epoxy. When you've finished, just ball up the contact paper and dispose of it.

Michael Kohler, Arlington, TX

Newman's own

After you or your loved one finishes the holiday baking, save the transparent, 3-pound-size jars that the nuts, cherries, etc., came in. The jars are about 4x4 inches and can be cut down to fit the tool you want to store. I use a tall one to corral my hex wrenches. Drill some suitably sized holes in the Nd to accommodate the tools, and stuff about 2 inches of foam into the bottom of the container. The foam traps the ends of the tools with no piercing involved.

Jim Newman [email]

Home heliport

Most micro helicopters like a smooth, flat surface for takeoff and landing. Carpets tend to snag the heli skids and cause a tip-over. If you are flying from a carpeted floor, why not make your heli flying more fun, interesting and challenging? Instead of using just a plain piece of cardboard, make your own heliport. I cut a 12-inch circle out of wood and painted a large "H" on it. Landing on my heliport provides me with a real challenge and keeps things interesting!

Jennifer Ronge, Trumbull, CT

Homemade hex-driver

When I couldn't find a 0.035 hex-driver for no. 0-80 button-head, screws and 2-56 setscrews, I made one myself. You will need a piece of ¼-InCh dowel that's approximately 3 inches long and a standard 0.035 hex wrench. First, drill a 0.038-inch-diameter hole about 1 inch deep centered in one end of the dowel. Drill a perpendicular hole to intersect the bottom of the first hole. Now, slit the dowel with a fine-blade scroll saw to the second hole. Slide the hex-wrench into the slot until it engages the second hole. Last, wrap the end of the dowel with electrical tape. Both ends of the hex-wrench are usable.

Donald Lambeth, Stilwell, KS

Editors' note: longtime readers remember Jim Newman as the illustrator of our previous "tips" column, "Hints & Kinks."

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Copyright Air Age Publishing May 2006
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