TECH TIPS

Need to polish diamond plate? If so, use a cut piece of deep pile carpet. Deep pile carpet makes Magic Mix Metal Polish easy to apply without tearing up rags or knuckles. After the Magic Mix Metal Polish dries, use another piece of carpet to simply dust it off.

Detailing shortcut! Mix two parts Magic Mix Speed Wax and one part Magic Mix Body Wax in a spray bottle for a simple way to get a quick, long-lasting shine. This combination makes it easier to remove the wax without much rubbing. You can also use Speed Wax to aid in removing Body Wax after it hazes.

Valco’s Magic Mix Phase2™ detailer is great for cleaning any rubber or vinyl. In addition, it is good for removing tar and diesel fuel from fuel tanks. It will even remove oil blow-by (including synthetic) on racecars.

Are you a swap meet bargain hunter? When you buy aluminum intakes, heads, or old cast wheels do not bead blast them to make them look better. Bead blasting will make the surface look unnatural and cause it to attract dirt and grease. Use Magic Mix Aluminum Prep or Aluminum Brightener to clean and remove rust stains from anti-freeze, etc.

Use Magic Mix Phase2™ to clean your engine compartment! Open hood, wet down everything with Phase2, close hood, let vehicle idle 5 to 10 minutes. Open hood and hose with high-pressure water hose. After rinsing, mist lightly again with Phase2. Your engine will look like new.

Do you have black streaks on your semi-trailer, motorhome, etc.? This phenomenon is from the aluminum rivets and rain gutters oxidizing. Polluted rain facilitates the process. Use Magic Mix Polish and Magic Mix Body Wax to clean. Mix the two products together to make 16 ozs. Clean vehicle as if waxing. You'll be amazed by the results.

Do you have a vehicle, boat, or hot tub with oxidized (chalking) paint or fiberglass? Use Magic Mix Metal Polish and a soft cloth. With light to moderate pressure give these surfaces a finish that looks like new. Always reseal the surface with Magic Mix Body Wax to keep it looking nice.

To protect brand new chrome wheels or highly polished aluminum use Magic Mix Body Wax. Its high carnauba content and specialized polish leaves behind an incredible shine. Magic Mix Body Wax is also a delight to use on paints. It protects and keeps things in a great looking condition.

Try HV-350™ as a body seam sealer. When used with a Tube-Grip™ applicator, a 3.35 oz. Tube-Grip can work in tighter spaces than with a caulking gun. HV-350 is perfect for seam sealing due to its flexibility and strength. It can also be painted.

Try Up-Tite™ rail systems for alternative purposes besides securing cargo. They can be used as racks to hang bikes or display other items in garages or ladder storage. Secure items for theft prevention.

Silicone needs humidity to cure properly. That’s why Valco advises mechanics to apply silicone and allow it to set for 10 to 15 minutes before assembly. During this time, silicone absorbs moisture out of the air. This permits polymer “cross-linking”— the process that allows silicone to become rubber-like. If parts are put together while silicone is wet/fresh, it is likely the silicone will never set properly.

With Silicone tubes, once you remove the original screw-on cap, throw the cap away and put your nozzle on the tube. Between uses, cap off the current nozzle with a second nozzle from Valco’s Six Pack Replacement Nozzles™. For day-to-day use, this will prevent the silicone from curing. However, if your nozzle does plug up, take it off and replace it with a new nozzle. Set the plugged-up nozzle aside for a week or two and allow the silicone in the nozzle to fully cure. Once the silicone is cured, simply pull the silicone plug out with a pair of needle-nose pliers and the nozzle becomes re-usable.

Ever use a ThreadLocker™ to loosen a bolt? Consider this: low- to medium-strength ThreadLocker are great for applications where a ThreadLocker may not ordinarily be used. Lower-strength ThreadLockers protect, seal, prevent corrosion and lubricate during assembly, but still permit disassembly at a later date. With a reasonable amount of effort, the seal will come apart using these ThreadLockers. Always make sure parts are degreased before using ThreadLocker.

GelLube™ is an excellent engine assembly lube that comes in an easy-to-use aerosol spray can. It has many other uses as well. You can use it on chains, sprockets, hinges, or any other area where metal-to-metal contact occurs. Using a paint-can nozzle for a wider spray pattern is a good way to apply GelLube to large metal parts for rust protection.

Wet hands with water prior to mixing Epoxi•Putty™. Moisture keeps the putty from sticking to hands and enables easier application.

Mix HV-350™ with Solvent 184, or any other fast evaporating solvent. Make viscous liquid that can be brushed on. Use as a water proofer, sealant, or on porous materials as glue.

Do you have an old car or motorcycle with carb settings that always seem to change mysteriously? Use Hylomar, coat the screw threads, and allow the material to cure into a tar-like consistency. This will prevent the screws from turning due to vibration. It will also prevent fuel and air leaks.

Use GelLube™ in odd places like car door locks, padlocks, and all window and door automobile mechanisms. GelLube is a synthetic material and is not affected by cold or wet weather.

Do you have a vehicle where rubber hoses have to be removed occasionally? Use Hylomar (part # 71285) to coat the I.D. of the hose at the connections and it will take less clamp pressure to seal. As a result you won't have to break out the razor knife to get the hose off… a must for motorcycles with delicate radiators.

The Powered Peeler™ works well with a 9/16" box wrench to get into tight spaces, or with a right/left angled handle. You can also use the Powered Peeler between your fingers for light cleanup of gasket residue, so don't overlook using your Powered Peeler with an air ratchet.

The hand-held Peeler™ also works great at home. Use it to trim wallpaper near woodwork, remove tub and tile caulking, and clean bubble gum and tar off shoes or mud flaps. It also removes sticker glue from glass or metal surfaces.