OK, so today I decided I was going to work towards the goal of getting
an electric fuel pump mounted in my '55 Stude... first step, I had a
right angle drill with no chuck key. I imagine that this will be
required to drill the holes in the floor to mount the fuel pump's
bracket (going to use riv-nuts to mount it.) So I drag it out, notice
that not only do I not have a chuck key, but the cord is badly dry
rotted as well. Go to local hardware store, buy chuck and key together
for about $8, pick up little rubber strap to hold key on cord, buy $5
extension cord to cut up for new power cord. Am thinking while I'm
there that since the extension cords are on sale for so cheap I ought to
pick up another one, because I'm sure that I have another old tool that
needs a new cord.

Get home, fix right angle drill. Run out to garage to get soldering
iron to tin ends of new cord. While I'm there notice ancient B&D 1/4"
hand drill that literally came in a toolbox that I picked out of the bed
of someone's truck as he was headed to the dump. Appeared absolutely
hopeless. Just hadn't thrown it out simply because I figured I'd try it
someday and *then* throw it out. Cord looked frightening. Plugged it
in, picked it up with a shop rag (yes, bare aluminum case) and wouldn't
you know the darn thing hums like a champ.

Several hours later...

Now I've got the thing stripped down to its component parts and all the
AL bits have been thorougly degreased and racked in the dishwasher. I
have identified that it was probably headed to the dump because the jaws
of the chuck were a little munged up, and also the chuck end bushing is
badly egged. Other than that, it's PERFECT once you steel wool all the
surface corrosion off of it. Plus, it took me longer to get all the
grease out of the gearbox and off the associated parts than it did for
me to strip it down - only tool required was a flat blade screwdriver,
and two pliers to get the chuck off. It looks like it was *designed* to
be stripped down every 30 years or so, lubed, and put back together.

I really like this little drill, and here's the kicker - I NEED ANOTHER
DRILL LIKE A HOLE IN THE HEAD! I already have a 1/2" Milwaukee, a cheap
3/8" DeWalt, and the aforementioned right angle drill that prompted this
whole exercise. That should cover 99% of the typical homeowner/car
guy's drilling needs, yes? The issue here is, if I see a good tool
that's fixable, I feel a moral obligation to bring it back to its former
glory, even if I will NEVER USE THE DAMNED THING. The thing is, though,
it's USEFUL and if I hadn't saved it it would have been turned into
Pepsi cans, and I just couldn't let that happen.

Please tell me there's a program for this. The girlie is hiding
upstairs wondering who the madman in her kitchen is making the sink
smell like Brakleen and giving a running commentary on how wonderful
1950s era tools are.

On the upside, I now have three working drills, with a fourth on the
way. (just need to wait for the dishwasher to finish, then I can whip
out the mics and get on McMaster-Carr's web site to order a new bushing...)

nate

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