Built-it-myself tools/machines - show us what you've done

[mustangmccance]

Does this count? Power angle for my quad plow using a linear actuator. Works like a charm..

what size linear actuator is that and where did you get it. that would be nice.

 

[Mr_fixit]

what size linear actuator is that and where did you get it. that would be nice.

Size? I don't know how they measure those things...? Length? width? I got it off one of those wheel chair ramp lift things from probably a full size van.

 

[Tool.Nerd]

Probably a bit cliche, but my first garage project was welding up a "heavy duty" workbench in the corner out of some used pallet racking and reinforced 12-ga steel top (6 c-beams under each 36x48" segment). At first I thought it was too deep for practicality, but I've used it more than anything I have out there.

 

[Brad Beam]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3548086962_ac7ba718a7_b.jpg[/img]

Jaysin

Would you care to share the .dxf or .pcm file for the roller stand? It would make my life so much easier
Thanks

 

[JOHNMAN]

I thought that I would add a few of the tools and things I have built.


Hydraulic press I built to operate my Northern Tools press brake and press bearings and whatnot.

Jaysin

I like the press brake. Any close ups of that? I should build one of those for the press I have.

 

[shmo]

Here is my latest project, an outdoor movie theater.

I fabbed up an aluminum framework that I bolted to a flat deck car trailer. The framework folds so I can transport it. When erected the screen is 15 feet high and 20 feet wide. I covered it with a used vinyl billboard material. I knew when I started the project that it was going to be fun, once completed. However, I had NO IDEA how much fun. I can't wait until I get the WIFI setup going for Live fights and sports games. Good times!

I set up all my electronics equipment, Hi def projector, amps, mixer, Blu Ray and DVD players, etc. into a rack mounted carrying case. Speakers, stands, wiring and what not go into canvas bags. I can be set up and watching movies in about 30-45 minutes with one person helping me.

All that is left is to dress up the trailer with some movie screen inspired "faux velour" skirting.

SHMO

 

[OccupantRJ]

I bet you are the most popular guy in the neighborhood!

 

[mgermca]

Hey schmo, that may be a little OT but it's so verrrrry cool! Watching an F1 or Indycar race on it must be fun!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[dlwilson]

Here's a hydraulic puller I made a few years ago to get an impeller out of a jet boat pump. It uses a Harbor Freight porta-puller set.

It was one of the stubbornest jobs I've done, but it finally came off.

More photos and full writeup here:
http://www.davewilson.cc/Boat/JetBoat10/

 

[mixxmstrmike]

Here's a roller stand that I made for supporting material while being cut in my horizontal bandsaw.

This thing is a work of art.

-Mike

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Here's something quick I whipped up a couple weeks ago. I had to push a dent out of a piece of square tubing belonging to a big goose neck camper trialer stabilizer set up. New part was hundreds of dollars, so I told them I'd attempt to straighten it first. I had no expectations of this being a good or bad tool, but found out that it worked well enough that I put it in the tool box afterward, rather than the scrap barrel!

Here's a bog conveyor chain tool - bolt heads lock into links with the short tube across the axle shaft. Draw it up tight on the all-thread and then you can cut out a link and shorten up a worn chain.

The assortment of special wrenches for hydrualic fittings / water tank fittings

 

[airbassador]

Neat idea. Do you happen to have any shots of the tubing you fixed?

 

[lilredex]

Not my work........but might be of interest to some, if they were thinking about building something similar. Pictures are from local Kijiji ads.

They are a 14 1/2" disc sander and a 12" chop saw.




http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-Large-Disc-Sander-W0QQAdIdZ183172155

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Neat idea. Do you happen to have any shots of the tubing you fixed?

Unfortunately I was in too much of hurry to take pic's at the time.....the part was about 1 1/2" thin wall (1/16") square tube with a bunch of holes for a pin to go though near one end. It was chrome plated and I feared it would look bad if put any heat to to it. So I used a press to straighten the overall bend out of it, then pushed the out the low spot in the middle of where the bend had been with the homemade tool until the second piece, which telescoped through this one for storage, would fit easily (drop right through). Good enough for a quick no-cost repair!

 

[Wayne64SS]

Here is my electric / hydraulic powered c-clamp i made out of some spare parts i had laying around. works great for bending plate steel around curves and odd shapes.

In action:

Actually have to be careful with it, it has the power to crush the frame rails.


Next up I need to build a cart for my plasma cutter.

 

[akdiesel]

That is clever.

 

[kbs2244]

Man, I do like the idea.
My son just got a powered hydro unit.
This would be a great tool for it.

I would like to see kind of protection for those batt terminals.
That is a lot of amperage to have exposed when you are working around metal.
A piece of plywood or even an upside down plastic dish pan would work.

 

[Wayne64SS]

lol i hear ya! I always throw a peice of cardboard over it when I'm welding just cause I don't want an explosion. I really need to put a quick disconnect on it like I used for the cars, but I've been lazy since I built it. Not to mention she only runs on 12v, the other battery is there for the added reserve capacity, so the likely hood of a hung noid is almost 0 (I realize this doesn't matter if my stupid *** drops a wrench on the 2 terminals).

 

[hoopty388]

great ideas guys,
I've been toying with a blasting cab made out of an oil tank for a while any more pics for helping build mine?

 

[737mechanic]

Flashlights are made from 6061 aluminum with a P7 emitter and 3 mode driver.

Hammer is 360 brass and 6061 and wieghts 5lbs 4 oz.

 

[Indy_500]

i've built a lot of stupid tools in the past to do things. I used to duct tape things together like a pencil and a screwdriver if i needed an extra long screwdriver. Nothing i did is picture worthy though

 

[biker]

Here's a roller stand that I made for supporting material while being cut in my horizontal bandsaw.

JaysinSpaceman,

I would like some details as to how you raise and lower roll height. I sure do like that stand. How does the threaded rod move up and down.

 

[Ditchdigger]

Some of my smaller pieces

Wheel dent remover made with the arm from a 3 jaw puller

A fender roller to clearance fenders for larger wheels and tires

And a valve spring compressor for watercooled VW's

 

[Krokodil]

Those are some nice tyre tools!

 

[hoopty388]

I've wanted one of those fender tools for a while. may be out of my skill level but i might try it.

 

[willymakeit]

Lots of good ideas here. Have it as one of my favorites.

 

[webbs2jzgte]

where did you get the wheel for teh fender roller?

 

[TRANS4M]

heres a pinch bolt removal tool I made for my passat.

And its used for removing this.

I wish I had that when I worked on my Audi S4. Great job!

 

[Burgerkong]

Here's a roller stand that I made for supporting material while being cut in my horizontal bandsaw.

JaysinSpaceman,

I would like some details as to how you raise and lower roll height. I sure do like that stand. How does the threaded rod move up and down.

The handle you see underneath the roller operates like a bug nut, spin it to force the threaded rod portion to go up or down. The nut sits on a sleeve that is big enough to let the rod slide up and down.

 

[trainer]

Pretty low-tech, but a scrap of oak and two minutes with a spokeshave and sandpaper and I have a new hammer handle.

 

[Rockford514]

Nothing fancy,I needed to change the lug pattern on some tractor wheels.
My bud had built one similar,I somewhat copied

 

[Rockford514]

Made a simple puller for a rockwell pinion yoke yesterday

 

[A_Pmech]

Here's a special 2-1/4" wrench I made over the weekend for tightening TG-100 collet chucks. They're available commercially, but making this from scrap only took me a couple hours. Tightening collet chucks doesn't require a lot of torque, thus it doesn't have to be as heavy or nearly as long as a "normal" 2-1/4" wrench:

 

[Krokodil]

Nice work there A Pmech!

 

[Fatbrosracing]

Made this out of scrap steel and an old truck rim.

 

[rickycobra]

You guys are all so awesome for making your own tools. I usually tape stuff together thats about it.

 

[iamironman]

Here's one of my latest contraptions.
A 5' sheet metal brake, now with hydraulic power.
All the steel was drops from previous jobs. The hydraulics are from my Hossfeld bender. Took about 15 hours to build it.


The brake. It bolts to my layout table.


The hydraulics. Simply un-pin the cyl from my bender and pin it to the brake.


The results. It'll bend 16 ga up to 5' wide, up to 95 degrees.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Here's one of my latest contraptions.
A 5' sheet metal brake, now with hydraulic power.
All the steel was drops from previous jobs. The hydraulics are from my Hossfeld bender. Took about 15 hours to build it.


The brake. It bolts to my layout table.


The hydraulics. Simply un-pin the cyl from my bender and pin it to the brake.


The results. It'll bend 16 ga up to 5' wide, up to 95 degrees.

That's a nice piece of work, especially in 15 hours. There are probably people here (myself included) who might like to duplicate. Could you provide some detail photos and explanation of the design / construction

 

[dladcock]

I was thinking I didn't have anything to contribute, but after looking around the shop I've built more things than I remember. Here's a Hot Stand to run engines that I built maybe 20 years ago.

This engine belongs to a good friend in Ill. He picked it up this past June.

 

[dladcock]

A body lift........

Top Dead Center finder.....