What simple fixes/tools have you found for cheap?

[Ascender]

What products can you guys think of that you can buy elsewhere for far cheaper than the hobby-store, or hobby-sites? Obviously, screws, nuts, bolts and other hardware is cheaper at the hardware store...
Also, what cheap little tools (not necessarily intended for hobby work) have you found that have turned out to be indispensable?

If you need hard foam in 1/4" thickness, such as for battery foams: Most auto-parts stores carry a sticky-backed foam tape meant to weather-seal caps to pickup truck beds. It comes in 6 foot lengths, is about 1/4" thick, and about 3/4" wide. It's pretty tough stuff, too.

Storage: JoAnn craft stores carry plastic storage stuff of all kinds for a lot cheaper than most hardware and department stores. I picked up a giant 7-day pillbox masquerading as a craft organizer for $0.79, and a 20-compartment organizer tray for $1.49.

Better than any pair of small needle-nose pliers, I buy long surgical hemostats from, of all places, a local Army-surplus store...they can reach anywhere, and give you more sensitivity than pliers.

I meant to put this in Tools And Gadgets, could a helpful mod move it there?Thank you, helpful mod!

 

[frddyj]

I meant to put this in Tools And Gadgets, could a helpful mod move it there?

moved as requested. great idea for a thread btw. surgical clamp is a great idea.

 

[wildchild27]

i use a small ice pick to put on my clutch shoes and to take them off. at the end of the pick i put a slight bend in it to make it easier to pop the springs on and off.

 

[tinker2141]

I use sculpting picks for cleaning, and I just built a sprayer attachment for my air compressor that allows me to spray cleaner ( simple green and de natured alchohol ) at more preesure than a can of nitro cleaner, and the whole assembly cot about the same as 2 cans of cleaner.

 

[MikeK1981]

Hey tinker2124, could you show us some pics of your spray attachment? I am really interested in making something like that. I got a pick set also with different shaped picks on the end they are handy for all different sorts of jobs like cleaning, dealing with small springs, or anything where fingers or tools can't reach.

 

[tinker2141]

I'll get a shot or 2 of it assembled and disassembled as soon as I can and put them up, with the variable pressure of an air compressor it works great, you can power spray the tough spots or just lightly spray and let it sit or put some wd40 in it and get some protection on wet days.

 

[savageman46]

We can't forget Harbor Freight!!
I've had good luck at a screw store as well like fastenall.

 

[Cwheeling]

We can't forget Harbor Freight!!
I've had good luck at a screw store as well like fastenall.

:$broke:

Harbor Freight has all the cheap doodad tools that can't be found anywhere else! fastenal is where I got my last batch of hex heads for my losi
400 screws for 9 bucks, what ever size or length I needed!
Great choice!

 

[Cwheeling]

Here is my latest find, for you older type we all know who we are!!
Also if you have kids you have probably stayed up way too late working on the rc trucks. This has helped me see that I must do the ofna linkage update to my wifey's truck. Hope this helps someone else!?

 

[texasavage]

I use sculpting picks for cleaning, and I just built a sprayer attachment for my air compressor that allows me to spray cleaner ( simple green and de natured alchohol ) at more preesure than a can of nitro cleaner, and the whole assembly cot about the same as 2 cans of cleaner.

Hey tinker2124, could you show us some pics of your spray attachment? I am really interested in making something like that. I got a pick set also with different shaped picks on the end they are handy for all different sorts of jobs like cleaning, dealing with small springs, or anything where fingers or tools can't reach.

A few years back I bought a mini pressure washer for my air comp from home depot. It was made by husky model # hdt132. I would have linked it but for some reason it is not pulling up on the website.

here is a similar one on ebay-->Mini Pressure washer
Mine is alittle differant, but serves the same purpose.

 

[tinker2141]

Thats funny tex, I must have looked at 15 stores trying t find that and finaly gave up and made my own.

 

[texasavage]

lol... I wasn't accually looking for one. Just ran across it at home depot and thought that it was pretty neat, plus it was only $12 so I bought it. But your right it comes in really handy!

 

[MikeK1981]

So what kind of bottle does that hose thread onto? Does it use a specific container for the cleaners?

 

[texasavage]

The hose doesn't accually thread into a bottle, you just stick into whatever solvent you want to use (it's a pickup with a screen)

 

[MikeK1981]

Oh ok, sweet!