Peter's Toolbox

A series of hints and tips from tips from Peter Oram's series in the Club's Newsletter. The newest Tips are listed first.

(12) Ready Made Ladders

Ladders are found on full-size working boats and large staples are found in hardware stores and Post Offices! Just pick the size that you need, pierce holes as required, insert the rungs and secure them with tiny drops of super glue. By using a small polyethylene jig piece you can insure that each rung is set at the proper height. The drawing illustrates how to do it.

(11) Disposable Brush (2)

Polyurethane foam that's held in a paper gripper makes an excellent disposable dope brush.

(10) Sponge Dremel Tool Caddy

Stick all Dremel cutters into the holes of a car-wash sponge. They'll be firmly held but easy to select.

(9) Disposable Brush (1)

To make an inexpensive disposable brush, "rubber-band" a piece of sponge foam to a scrap stick, and you'll have an excellent tool for varnishing a deck or swadding on below-deck epoxy.

(8) Wreck Marker

If your boat sinks, this automatic wreck-marker buoy could save your day. Glue a block of expanded foam under a loose-fitting dummy hatch or skylight. The hatch must be secured to the model with about 20 feet of heavy fishing line (strong enough to lift your boat). The hatch will float to the surface, mark the position of the wreck, and enable you to retrieve it.

(7) Antenna Shortener

(6) Thinner Transfer

Transfer thinner the clean way. Place a tube in the thinner, and "seal" its top with your finger. Transfer the loaded tube to the dope jar, remove your finger and the thinner will run out.

(5) Beam Compass

Use an old scale or ruler with a number of holes drilled through it as an effective beam compass. Place a pencil in an appropriate hole, then swing the scale around a large pin or map tack.

(4) Positioning hard-to-reach nuts

Wrap a strip of masking tape around your index finger with the sticky side facing out. A nut or washer that's stuck to the tape is easy to position.

(3) Crystal Protection

Radio crystals are delicate and they crack if badly handled. For maximum protection store each pair in a seven-day pill container, with a little foam or tissue between them. Find these useful plastic containers at your local chemist.

(2) Refurbish Pliers

Worn teeth on pliers can be refurbished with the Dremel cut off wheel in a Moto Tool.

(1) Colour coded drills

Very small drill bits are difficult to keep sorted, since they are too small to carry engraved settings. After measuring each bit, colour code them with dabs of different paint, then code the drill bit stands to match...