hybridmomentspass
hybridmomentspass Reader
11/21/21 11:44 a.m.

We all have our favorite tools/things in the garage. Of course we think about our ratchets and wrenches. Or,  if youre like Jeremy Clarkson, it's your assortment of hammers.

But there's an unsung hero, at least in mine, and that 'tool'...BLOCK OF WOOD

 

 

Surely I cant be alone. I have a 4x4 piece of wood, about 12" or so long, that makes it's way into my heart on so many projects.

Today, as I do my suspension, it helps keep pressure off of the brake lines by supporting the calipers.  As I did my intercooler, I would stand on it to get a little more height to clear the sloping 'roof' line. Sometimes it's used to go between the jack and the car. Ive used it/them to hammer on some metal to straighten it out. This block has been with me since I moved in over 5 years ago.

THANK YOU, block of wood.

Toyman01 + Sized and
Toyman01 + Sized and GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/21/21 12:47 p.m.

I keep a stack of them around the shop. From short sections 2x4 to blocks of 6x6. Always handy to have around. 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa PowerDork
11/21/21 1:39 p.m.

I was just about to start a thread on the unsung hero tools of the garage.  Impetus for it was a chunk of 1x4 that has been cut down to 6" or so.  I was using it to hold the EGR valve and tube away from the intake so I could clean the surfaces. 

It gets used as a drift, spacer, painting platform, drilling platform, and more.

I love wood block. Wood block is a good garage friend. 

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 MegaDork
11/21/21 1:47 p.m.

I agree.  Cheap.  Flexible.  If you can't find one, takes seconds to make a new one.

Buck Futter
Buck Futter SuperDork
11/21/21 2:28 p.m.

I used one yesterday. Held the tire at just the right angle and height. May god bless the wood. 

LopRacer
LopRacer Dork
11/21/21 2:40 p.m.

Good lord yes the block of wood is an integral piece of my shop. I use various sizes all the time as props, cribbing, and to spread out the load from a floor jack.

preach (fs)
preach (fs) GRM+ Memberand Dork
11/21/21 2:50 p.m.

Putting my Cayman in storage I have two 2x4s in case I get a high threshold storage unit and need to ramp up a little.

Currently a length of 1x3 is holding up my 914s window.

Additionally it's better to smack your b up with a piece of wood between whatever metal and your 3# hammer.

I could go on over the virtues of this strong, but fragile, renewable resource in the shop.

 

Buck Futter
Buck Futter SuperDork
11/21/21 2:57 p.m.
preach (fs) said:

Additionally it's better to smack your b up with a piece of wood 

I just... I can't even...

Woody (Forum Supportum)
Woody (Forum Supportum) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/21/21 4:06 p.m.

I have a bunch of them. 
 

But I also have a favorite. heart

Woody (Forum Supportum)
Woody (Forum Supportum) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/21/21 4:15 p.m.

And then there's this guy:

 

Purchased for the grand sum of $5 from an estate sale, simply because I was drawn to it, and it makes me happy. 
 

That motherberkeleyer is seriously heavy. 

paddygarcia
paddygarcia GRM+ Memberand Reader
11/21/21 4:23 p.m.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

That looks like a damfine instrument.

DrBoost
DrBoost MegaDork
11/21/21 4:58 p.m.

I just moved 3 weeks ago. Packed up the garage. I got rid of a lot of stuff, as one does. 
i think I tossed my 2x4 and 4x4 assortment.

Already regretting that decision. 

06HHR (Forum Supporter)
06HHR (Forum Supporter) Dork
11/21/21 5:16 p.m.
DrBoost said:

I just moved 3 weeks ago. Packed up the garage. I got rid of a lot of stuff, as one does. 
i think I tossed my 2x4 and 4x4 assortment.

Already regretting that decision. 

I keep my wood away from my SWMBO for that exact reason..  Wait.. well you know what I mean cheeky

dculberson
dculberson MegaDork
11/21/21 5:47 p.m.

I have a good assortment of them. Everything from pieces of wood shims up to 10' scraps of 4"x6" leftover from rebuilding a playground. The big ones came in super handy when moving a stopped car shell around. I have some leftover dunnage from when I built a garage two houses ago. It all gets used from time to time. My favorite is an off cut of the dunnage, it's probably 6x6x4 or so. So handy. 

Fueled by Caffeine
Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
11/21/21 7:43 p.m.
1988RedT2 said:

  Cheap.  Flexible.  If you can't find one, takes seconds to make a new one.

You talking about a Thai bar girl?

matthewmcl
matthewmcl HalfDork
11/21/21 7:57 p.m.

I use this one a lot. I can put an ATV lift or a large jack on it and still be super stable. It is about 32" of 6"x12" (5"x11" actual).

BFH_Garage
BFH_Garage Reader
11/22/21 7:09 a.m.

I always thought the unsung hero of the garage was the old wire coat hanger which I use to hold brake calipers out of the way and anything that I intend to spray paint...

dculberson
dculberson MegaDork
11/22/21 9:18 a.m.

I forgot to mention, I also have several scraps of 2x12 that come in super handy. Four single ones that I put under car tires if the car is too low for the lift, and four that I've screwed together into ramps to driver the front of the truck up onto. That both lowers and angles the rear end down, thus making it easier to load and unload wheeled stuff from the bed.

Wood is great.

Brett_Murphy (Agent of Chaos)
Brett_Murphy (Agent of Chaos) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/22/21 9:22 a.m.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

But I also have a favorite. heart


I found it amusing that Woody has a favorite piece of wood.

Whoever gets you for the New Year's game should send you a framed 8x10 of this photo.

APEowner
APEowner GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/22/21 11:02 a.m.

I keep a random stack of cutoffs from building projects under the parts washer.  They get used a lot.

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter)
Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
11/24/21 6:06 p.m.

Yes, the block of wood is an awesome tool you can't do without. I have many shapes and sizes in my garage.

I would also tip my hat to the 5 gallon bucket, bungee cord, and Lava soap.

ClemSparks
ClemSparks UltimaDork
11/24/21 6:31 p.m.

I love the inanimate wooden boards!

Very handy when you have as many junkers and projects as I do.

 

Inanimate Carbon Rod - Page 2 - MetroFanatic.com - Soccer Pubs

Indy "Nub" Guy
Indy "Nub" Guy PowerDork
11/28/21 8:43 a.m.

Use it 100% of the time to protect the car from metal to metal contact.

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
Id7yO8jrWiW8qHGARcuOa7ZCm2DEV3IYoeKERzG6Yye3JTGseD9xezBzVWezV4GD