Comments on: The Walt Kowalski Toolbox

By: mike

mike — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:55:29 +0000

Primary, Leather man wave, wd 40, duct tape, vice grip, zip ties
Secondary, marine epoxy, sand paper, file, crowbar, tape measure or square
Recommend aluminum putty, can repair a carburetor with this stuff.

I use the wd on wasp nests, works great.

By: Diocletian

Diocletian — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:34:32 +0000

The best tool you have is the one between your ears.

Without it, WD-40, vise grips, duct tape, and any other external tool is worthless.

My favorite part of Gran Torino was the barber shop scene, wherein Walt teaches “Toad” how to talk like a man.

By: Chase Christy

Chase Christy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:17:43 +0000

I wrote a blog article in response to this one a couple of weeks ago, but forgot to put a link here. My bad.

http://leadyofam.blogspot.com/2012/03/another-tool-in-walt-kowalski-toolbox.html

By: Dra

Dra — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:16:13 +0000

I love WD-40. It provides me with endless income tearing apart sticking deadbolts and the like because people use it to make the thing work smoothly, and it gets worse, and worse, and worse, and worse over time until it has to be torn apart and cleaned out properly.

These items are stop gap measures at best used when something has to work right now, and can be cleaned up and properly repaired later.

WD-40 is great for what it was intended for, not the BEST rest remover, but a viable option.

duct tape is good for short term repair of things in a emergency. You need to stick something to something else, and you don’t care that it won’t last more than a week or so…or a few minutes if heat is involved? Sure. use it.

By: Johnny Charles

Johnny Charles — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:04:41 +0000

Beware! WD-40 on a bike chain should be immediately followed by a thorough wipe-down with a shop rag and then a splattering of a proper chain lubricant. I’d recommend Pedro’s or (my personal favorite) Pro-Link, which works as a cleaner and lubes your chain simultaneously. While WD-40 will get the job done, for a more specialized cleaner be on the lookout for Speed Degreaser. The stuff works like a charm and smells great to boot.

By: steve schwertfeger

steve schwertfeger — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:45:19 +0000

Hi !
just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed your site the past couple of years. One of my most favorite posts of yours have to do with the Greatest Generation, and how they lived their lives (several thumbs up)!
After reading them, I began to wonder how I could actually help these veterans. Well, here in Chicago there is an organiztion called Honor Flight Chicago, but there are branches all over the country.
I have attached a link showing one of my trips to Washington DC with these veterans. It is really an awesome experience to share the day with them.
I was thinking that maybe a post in the future would be appreciated by un-informed guys all over the country who want to know the greatest Generation from a whole new level. Thanks for all your work !
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150226546344882.364918.503309881&type=3&l=28e32a9393

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:27:50 +0000

Awesome movie! When watching it, remember taking a special mental note about the vise grips, WD40, and duct tape remark. Glad to see this made it onto AoM!

By: Dick

Dick — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:22:21 +0000

Good article. I wonder if you are related to Bobbett Kowalski, I was an old boy friend in school and lost track when my parents moved. from Calif, Dessert.

By: Weston

Weston — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:34:43 +0000

Good work Jimmy, I had to make sure someone said something about about lifehackers WD-40 post after reading this. It is great stuff, but it’s not as universal as people tend to think.
http://lifehacker.com/5891936/when-should-i-not-use-wd+40

By: Moeregaard

Moeregaard — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:56:06 +0000

Real Man, out here in the People’s Republik of Kalifornia, Liquid Wrench is sold in a formula that doesn’t work all that well. The old stuff was great and smelled nice, but what we have now sucks. They call it the “unscented” formula, but it stinks on ice. I now use PB blaster.