While reworking my garage in recent weeks, I began looking at the stationary power tools I might add and one of the wonders now available to the average guy, because of falling prices, is the CNC router, primarily intended for use with wood, but also useful on plastics and soft metals, like aluminum. As I did my research and became mesmerized by "Router Bob" who does demo … [Read more...]
Distributor Test Machines Make a Comeback
Working on that American muscle car back in the 60s, you didn't have a computer diagnostic port where the car told you what was wrong, if you thought the ignition might be an issue, you checked the plugs, the points, the distributor cap and all of the associated wiring. Maybe you changed the springs on the centrifugal advance to change the curve, hoping to get the best from … [Read more...]
Paint Your Car With a Roller for Under $100
It used to be a joke. Someone would see a really bad paint job on a car and comment, "He must have used a roller!" Well, maybe it's not a joke anymore. In their July issue, Hot Rod magazine painted a '62 Ford Falcon with Rust-Oleum and foam rollers. The result, while not show car quality, was as good or better than some bargain paint work costing considerably more. No, you … [Read more...]
Scale Model Ferrari 312PB
Model building has come a very long way over the years, what some of us remember from our childhood doesn't begin to resemble what model builders accomplish these days. But even among today's highly skilled craftsmen, a few build scale creations that simply leave you speechless. Pierre Scerri of Italy has built what must be some of the finest scale models ever. He recently … [Read more...]
Build Your Own 225 mpg Diesel Plug in Hybrid
If the names Trimuter, Tri-Magnum or Urba Electric ring a bell, you probably read a lot of Mechanix Illustrated or Popular Mechanics back in the sixties and seventies. Robert Q. Riley was a prolific designer of these build it yourself vehicles along with many, many more that were available as plans enabling you to construct your own fiberglass bodied car, trike or even … [Read more...]