Doing Your Own 2-Cycle Carburetor Tune-up

 If you've ever owned a piece of lawn equipment with a 2-cycle gasoline engine – a blower, weed-whacker, or chain saw, for instance – you probably already know that the things are finicky about their fuel. Sometimes getting them started can turn even the mildest-mannered suburban dad into a raving maniac. Trust me; I know: I've been known to say on more than one occasion that I will never buy a gasoline-powered weed-whacker again. That was, however, before I bought my own Carburetor Adjustment Tool Kit.

In my experience, the two most common fuel problems with 2-cycle carbs are varnish in the fuel and a carb that is out of adjustment. If you're lucky, you can clean out the varnish with additives, but the adjustment? That almost always requires a special tool, and the tool differs from carburetor brand to brand (Zama, Walbro, etc.). You almost always have two little pegs sticking up from the carburetor housing (see image, above left), but the shape of the tool can be one of nine or ten different configurations. This kit contains nine of them, fitting (almost) all carbs – apparently some Walbro carbs have a 22-tooth spline instead of 21-tooth. Go figure.

You can find instructions on YouTube for tuning a carburetor; in short you adjust the mixture (ratio of fuel to air) and then adjust the idle speed to keep the engine from dying at idle. Without these little tools, however, you're at the mercy of your local small-engine repair guy.

If you, like me; have cleaned the carb and air filter, added fresh fuel, and changed the spark plug but the cussed thing still won't start and keep running, a ten-dollar investment may be just the thing you need. All these kits are pretty much the same (nine different configurations), so don't get hung up on the brand. I actually bought mine at the local BigBox store (Menard's), and it's precisely the same.

copyright © 2021 scmrak

Get Old Pipe Out in a Hurry with a PVC Cable Saw

King Innovation PVC Cable Saw

I picked up one of these years ago when rebuilding the piping around a swimming pool valve and filter system, and I've since used it while replacing and repairing irrigation pipe out in the yard. There's not much that's more annoying than being forced to dig a giant, oversized hole in your yard so there's enough room to wield a hacksaw; so why not simplify cutting out that section of leaky PVC by using a King Innovation PVC Cable Saw instead? The same thing holds true if you're unlucky enough to have PVC pipe in the walls of your house instead of good ol' copper.

I get High With a Little Help from Werner

Werner Fiberglass Extension Ladder D6224-2

If you have a set of stairs (or two [or three]) in your house, one day you'll realize that trusty six-foot stepladder just doesn't hack it for outside work. Even standing on the top step – which, by the way, is a definite safety no-no – your hands wave several feet short of second-story gutters. Nope, the only way to go is with an extension ladder, and the longest one you can fit in the garage is probably a good start. I already had a sixteen-foot aluminum ladder when I got my first two-story house, but a mere sixteen feet wouldn't cut it there: so I schlepped on down to the local orange hell (they call it "Home Depot," but that's their story) and went ladder shopping. They carry a pretty full line of Werner Ladders: wow: what a wealth of choices!

Now Why Didn't I think of This?

Craftsman Magnetic Steel Bowl

A symptom of my being a geologist is that I tend to look down more than up. As a side effect of that habit, I tend to find an awful lot of things that people have lost: two birth control pill holders, an orthodontic retainer, a Lexmark printer, bunches of flash drives, and a Starbucks card are some of my recent treasures.

It's pretty rare that I go more than a few days without finding a tool of some kind lying in the street, and the most common tool is a socket. As an occasional shadetree mechanic myself, I have a pretty good idea where a lot of them came from. They're the ones mechanics dropped while working on their cars and just couldn't find to get them out. Trust me: I've lost some myself, not to mention the occasional bolt, lots of washers, several gross of screws, and more nuts than I'd care to think about. I don't lose 'em anywhere near as often these days, however; I now have the cure for common "dropsy": a Craftsman Magnetic Steel Bowl.

Simplify Door Replacement with a Lock Installation Kit

Irwin Tools Wooden Door Lock Installation Kit

As the owner of a large, somewhat nervous Lab (see note†), from time to time I find it necessary to replace doors she’s damaged. In truth, finding a replacement door is not usually very difficult because the sizes of door slabs are fairly standard. What is difficult is moving the hardware from one door to the other. I’ve picked up a couple of simple tools along the way to make it possible. One is a butt template, the other is my Door Lock Installation Kit, made by Irwin Tools (their catalog number 3111001). When it comes time to install the lockset, this tool makes life a lot easier.

Now This is a Hot One!

BernzOmatic 2 Piece Brass Utility Torch Kit UL100

There’s something seductive about using a propane torch for soldering: the scent of hot metal, the sizzle of solder flux beneath the flame, the nearly invisible blue flame, and that faint tang of incompletely burnt light hydrocarbons tickling the cilia at the back of your nose. Yeah, sweating pipe – it’s my latest addiction: no namby-pamby soldering irons and little globs of solder on wires for me, gimme that graceful cone of blue fire any time.

OK, buy me that graceful cone of blue fire… my tool of choice is an everyday ordinary brass torch from the people who brought propane torches to the masses: BernzOmatic. My Dad had one of these puppies at least forty years ago (hmmm, wonder where that one disappeared to?), so it's made by a venerable company. I picked up one of their UL100 kits when I started sweating pipe myself this past spring, and here’s what I got:

How to Make Putting Up Fence a G-Rated Task

Cooper Tools Heavy-Duty Fence Pliers BMC-3276

My dad was a quiet man, a man not much given to “blue” language;neither of which traits I confess I didn’t fully inherit. However, there were a couple of incidents that could usually make my dad loose his cool and mutter an oath or two (and not always under his breath, either). One of those things – for both of us, in fact – is a good shot on the thumb with your hammer.

How to Save Cash When Die-ing

Irwin Tools Hexagon Die HNS6520, 1/4" #20

Years ago I was headed north through California’s central valley in a fog that would give London a run for its money. I reached for the the truck’s sideview mirror to make an adjustment and, to my horror, it came off in my hand. The next day, I asked my father-in-law if he knew of a junkyard (now promoted to “auto salvage dealer”) to buy a replacement mirror, but he had a better idea. A small threaded rod in the guts had broken, so he just rummaged around in his workshop for a matching piece of rod stock, dug out a die and a big wrench, and in a few minutes he’d fashioned a replacement. Almost two decades later, it’s still in there. “I gotta get me some of those!” I thought at the time, and soon after, I did.

Center Yourself with a Best Way Dowel Center Set

Best Way Tools 25860 Dowel Center Set

Every woodworker learns pithy adages from whoever teaches him (or her) the basics. “Measure twice, cut once” is probably the best-known, but another one my dad taught me is, “It’s all about the joints.” There are many ways to join two pieces of wood, and the most elegant ones don’t involve nails or screws. Doweled joints are an excellent method for making a strong joint without visible fasteners: you simply drill a hole in each piece, stick in a short piece of dowel, and glue the two halves of the joint together.

He said “Simply”: Ha!

A Tasty Solution to a Woodworking Dilemma

Bench Dog Plastic Bench Cookies (4-Pack) 10-035

As a member of the fraternity of woodworkers I share a couple of their most infamous traits: a) a propensity for buying a new tool for just about every project I start, and b) a gigantic collection of bits of scrap wood to be used in making jigs and as clamp blocks or props. The significant problem with using wood scraps to raise a piece off the workbench is that the smooth wood is slippery, allowing the workpiece to move as I sand or rout along an edge.

The Added-Torque Option: Craftsman 10-Inch Flex Handle

Craftsman ³⁄₈-inch Drive 10-inch Flex Handle

A homeowner’s tool kit is not complete unless it includes an assortment – make that a set (or two) – of socket wrenches and the necessary drivers. These tools come in a range of drive sizes, where “drive” refers to the dimensions of the square bit that plugs into every socket and allows you to turn it. Drive sizes range from ¼ up to ¾ inch , though the biggest drives are only needed for work on large machinery. Most homeowners get by quite well with either ³⁄₈- or ½-inch drive set, which as a rule comprises seven or eight sockets and a ratchet.

Our Go-to Storage When We Run Out of Drawers

Sterilite 3-Drawer Cart #2830

Murphy’s first law of storage space states that, “A homeowner will always need one more drawer than is available.” [It doesn’t: I made that up, but it sounds pretty plausible, doesn’t it?] The good folks at Sterilite are, apparently, great fans of Murphy and the Ms is (in her turn) a great fan of Sterilite. That’s why there are boxes, tubs, and other assorted clear plastic storage items scattered around our house. There are several rollaround drawer units, including at least one wide-track setup, but this one – a Sterilite 3-drawer unit – is mine.

Makes Cutting Carpet Pad a Breeze

Rockwell RW8943 Sonicrafter Sonishear Scissor Attachment

A couple of years ago my wife gave me a Rockwell Sonicrafter as a Christmas present. The model 5140 came with a handful of attachments, some of which I’ve already used in projects. In particular, the little cutoff saws have proven very useful for working in tight places.

Not long ago, I had an occasion to use another attachment, the Sonishear Scissor Attachment (model RW8943). All the rugs and runners in the house were slipping hazards on our hardwood and tile floors, so that same wife picked up a big sheet of Mohawk’s rug pad. The problem, of course was that the pad was about 8 x 10 feet, but the rugs were… well, let’s just say “smaller.” The upshot? We needed to make four cuts in the thick mat, a total of about 26 feet of slicing. The rubber-backed fiber padding was far too thick (about ¼ inch) to cut with regular scissors and while my attempt to cut it with tin snips was successful, I figured it would take a couple of hours (and some very sore hands) to finish all that cutting.

Darned Near Perfect Miter Saw Stand

DeWalt DWX723 Heavy-Duty Miter Saw Stand

For years, I had my beat-up old Delta chop saw bolted to a piece of plywood, which I would then clamp to a couple of 2-by-4s set on a pair of sawhorses. Besides tying up my sawhorses when I was using it, this arrangement provided crappy support for anything more than a couple of feet long. That’s probably why some of my cuts are just a little beveled…

That was before I received a DeWalt DWX723 Heavy-Duty Miter Saw Stand, though. Once I’d set up the saw, this stand proved to be pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread! Here’s what I mean:

A Geological Creed: "My Rock Hammer is My Friend"

Estwing E30 Pointed-Tip Rock Pick

We tend to associate certain tools with familiar professions.  For medical professionals, it's a stethoscope; for lawyers it's a briefcase. Ever seen a coach without a stopwatch and clipboard, or an engineer without a pocket protector? Well, I'm a geologist: I carry a rock hammer.

The hammer that lives at my house is a favorite of my fellow geologists. It’s the 22-ounce Estwing pointed-tip rock pick, clad in t classic leather handle (they call it the E30). This is my second with this design. My first, I bought before Estwing sold a hammer with a rubber handle. It’s probably still at the base of a limestone cliff in southeastern Arizona. If it weren’t I'd probably still have that first hammer almost fifty years after I paid about $12 for it. They're that dependable...

You, too, can be a Happy Clamper with 3/4-Inch Pony Pipe Clamps

Pony Tools ¾-Inch Pipe Clamps #50

Any good woodshop has what may appear to be excessive wall space lined with clamps of all sizes and shapes. Many look at first glance to be common black pipe with bulky orange fittings on the end, and that’s exactly what they are: black pipes with orange cranks and tabs on the ends. They’re a woodworking standard, gas pipe fitted with ¾-inch Pony Pipe Clamps, and most woodworkers have several pairs.

It’s Always the 4th of July When You Own a Palm Nailer

Porter-Cable Palm Nailer PN650

Everyone has his or her weakness, be it shoes, books, music, or whatever. One of mine – I have several, unfortunately – is power tools. Fortunately, using tools for projects gives me the best excuse to buy new ones. Can people say that about their shoe habits? Happily, my wife buys them for me as gifts – perhaps because of the carpenter genes she got from her Dad. One such gift was a device that lands somewhere in the middle between "why didn't I think of that?" and "why would anyone want that?" It's a Porter-Cable PN650 Palm Nailer. Not familiar? Think on this:

Accentuate the Natural Beauty of the Wood

Formby's Low Gloss Tung Oil Finish

The project I'd (finally) completed was small, and I'd made an unusual choice of woods: half clean, yellow-blond poplar and the other half handsome, chocolaty walnut. The choice of woods – in particular the colors --  was the point of the piece, so when it came time for finishing I wanted something that would accentuate the wood's texture without overpowering its natural colors. My Dad liked tung oil for subtle finishes, so I followed his lead by choosing some Formby's Traditional Tung Oil Finish. Although Formby's is now a member of the MinWax family, Homer's bespectacled face still decorates the label and, according to MinWax, the formula is unchanged.

The low-gloss formula I used is 70% aliphatic hydrocarbons (i.e., mineral spirits), and the rest is a proprietary mixture of oils and resins of tung oil, pressed from the nuts of a tree native to east Asia. Formby's Tung Oil is intended for use as a hand-rubbed finish, applied with lint-free cloth in a circular motion, much like waxing a car. After the finish dries -- some twelve hours, unless the humidity is high -- you apply another coat. I prefer to soften the grain with a light application of steel wool between coats. Repeat until the finish is satisfactory.

Skil's entry-level wet tile saw gets the job done for DIYers

Skil 3540-2 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw

I once laid ceramic tile in a bathroom using only the “score and snap” technique to cut my tiles… never again! It’s something you only have to experience once, if you ask me. So when I took on a project remodeling the powder room, a project that entailed ripping up the existing sheet vinyl (thank you, Rockwell Sonicrafter!) and laying 8” x 8” tiles, I sprung for a wet tile saw. Amazon had bunches, most of which were out of reach – so I went for the least expensive model they had with a name I recognized.  That mean I chose a SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw. Being a recognizable name, though, doesn’t mean the saw didn’t come from China…

Handi-Clamps: Irwin's Gift to Woodworkers Who Never Learned to Juggle

Irwin Quickgrips 4-Inch Handi-Clamps

The walls in the shop look like they've sprouted bar clamps in all sizes and shapes: these are the "big guns" in my woodworking arsenal. Smaller clamps, in multiple shapes and sizes themselves, dwell in a drawer in my tool cabinet. There you’ll find C-Clamps, band clamps, spring clamps and corner clamps; along with some light-duty clamps combine the C-Clamp’s reach with a spring clamp’s convenience. By that, I mean some Irwin Quick-Grip Handi-Clamps, the 4-inch size (stock number 59400CD).