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

[e-tek]

Rotisserie (after espousing the virtues of the "Incredible Tip-Over Wooden Jig" which I also love!)

Went from this:

To this:

To this:

Brake caliper reversing tool (for the newer screw-back calipers)made on a Sunday when I couldn't buy one:

Stand for my Brake:

Two items in this shot (neither are overly technical!) Under-lift Oil Collector and OA trolley made from a hand truck and bungee cords. (I can't believe they put chains on these things!):

Dual-light tool tray - gets the light where you need it!

Small parts paint booth - filters overspray & fumes though HEPA filter duct fan on top:

Air capture tube to activate lift locks without compressor (joint venture...):

Engine Test Stand:

Not a tool, but a process....shed moving apparatus. I had started a thread asking how to move this heavy wooden shed I bult across my yard (ithour tearing it up) and this was what ended up working best. as even able to make a 3-point turn:

AND, le piece de resistance.....automated spray-can paint shaker (I've since added quality connectors):

 

[kardude67]

Just finished this and fired up the guinea-pig motor.

 

[ZipSnipe]

Here's a milling machine I built awhile back. Works great on hard woods and aluminum , steel I get a lot of chatter so the table needs to be rebuilt with anti backlash nuts a major under taking, I will get around to to it one of these days.

Greg that stone splitter you built is very impressive!!!

And that fold up viewing screen is the bomb!!!!

 

[RonRock]

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!

[/IMG]

Nice tool for removing dents in tubing. I will need to build one, I have a dent in my drywall lift. Causes the sliding extensions to be difficult to move.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

that is clever and I like the welded on extension so it would be smooth as possible repair.

 

[dadsEH]

Likely done before, but here is my brake bleeder made from a cheap-o garden sprayer, pressure gauge and spare brake reservoir cap.

instead of the garden sprayer you could use a spare tire pumped up to 40 psi as your compressed air source.

 

[camarotoolman]

The MG build is killer! I'd love to do my 69 Camaro like that, no skill or money!

 

[PCO6]

Parts washer (large)

Parts washer (small)

Sand blast cabinet

Punch / chisel holder

 

[brianh]

I have made quite a few over the years but this one is my favorite.
Made in 2002 took me around a week from design to up and running.

It dadoes back slats for Adirondack chairs three routers are mounted in it, put ten slats in the hopper and it self feeds and stacks them.

The video is not the greatest quality but it shows how it works

 

[truckin23]

ZipSnipe

Here's a milling machine I built awhile back. Works great on hard woods and aluminum , steel I get a lot of chatter so the table needs to be rebuilt with anti backlash nuts a major under taking, I will get around to to it one of these days.

Greg that stone splitter you built is very impressive!!!

And that fold up viewing screen is the bomb!!!!

<a href="http://s723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/truckin4fishin/H%20F%20151%20Mig%20Cap%20Mod/?action=view&current=6a3d4a93.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/truckin4fishin/H%20F%20151%20Mig%20Cap%20Mod/6a3d4a93.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

that is an awesome mill perfect for the aluminum that I do on my boat would you mind sharing the parts required and how you did it thanks

is that a Craftsman Compound Milling Table that you used Table surface is 18-5/8W x 6L in. with 2-9/16 in. T-slots center to center is 2-9/16 inches.

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

I have made quite a few over the years but this one is my favorite.
Made in 2002 took me around a week from design to up and running.

It dadoes back slats for Adirondack chairs three routers are mounted in it, put ten slats in the hopper and it self feeds and stacks them.

The video is not the greatest quality but it shows how it works

Brian, do you run this off a PLC, or a pneumatic controller?

 

[brianh]

Brian, do you run this off a PLC, or a pneumatic controller?

AlchemyMetalworks, I used a Pneumatic controller like this one.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/NNSRI...re=ItemDetail-_-ResultListing-_-SearchResults

It was basicaly very simple once I figured out the details.

I loved that job, I designed the furniture and then built jigs and machinery for production.

 

[truckin23]

ZipSnipe

I just missed out on this one posted on craigslist 2 days ago by a 1/2 hour this afternoon right after I saw your post and only 5 miles from me snooze and loose I do believe it's just like your table


Craftsman Compound Milling Table - $100 (san jose south)

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Date: 2011-12-08, 10:37PM PST
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
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Craftsman Compound Milling Table - Only used a few times!


it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

<a href="http://s723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/truckin4fishin/H%20F%20151%20Mig%20Cap%20Mod/?action=view&current=a9ca68ff.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/truckin4fishin/H%20F%20151%20Mig%20Cap%20Mod/a9ca68ff.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[w107]

This is a really great thread guys...

My latest tool:

making of...

painted...

in use (actually alternative use...)

Plan for the future: I have to buy wheels and hydraulics for rotisserie...

p.s.:Sorry for the watermark on my pics...

 

[Flathead Johnny]

i did this yesterday

www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=652731

 

[slickgt1]

You guys are great. Awesome tool builds. I really need to get the city to come out and upgrade my 100A service.

 

[truckin23]

i did this yesterday

www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=652731

Hey Johnny
you might want to check that fan motor again I checked Broans specs on the 688 heres a link http://broan.com/ImageLibrary/broan/pdf/Specifications/99041072.pdf and could not find anything on non sparking motors so then I called Broan technical support and they do not recomend any of there fans for flamable or hazerdous fumes be very careful. Also flamable or hazerdous fans are very costly

 

[kbs2244]

An over the stove exhaust hood will have a built in light and the fan motor out of the airstream.
They keep the motor out of the airstream because they are afraid of grease fires.
There will be a way for filter mounting also.

 

[Flathead Johnny]

thanks again, i responded to you post on the other forum

Hey Johnny
you might want to check that fan motor again I checked Broans specs on the 688 heres a link http://broan.com/ImageLibrary/broan/pdf/Specifications/99041072.pdf and could not find anything on non sparking motors so then I called Broan technical support and they do not recomend any of there fans for flamable or hazerdous fumes be very careful. Also flamable or hazerdous fans are very costly

 

[Flathead Johnny]

oh thats a good idea, i will look into that to see if it would work

An over the stove exhaust hood will have a built in light and the fan motor out of the airstream.
They keep the motor out of the airstream because they are afraid of grease fires.
There will be a way for filter mounting also.

 

[truckin23]

just didn't want to see you burn your house down good luck with your project

 

[Ruiner]

Maybe I'm crazy for asking but what would a 3rd one do that these wouldn't?

The 3rd belt sander would be for running scotch brite belts, duh ...

 

[mikegt4]

Here is my auto rotisserie/engine stand/small boat rotisserie/general holder upper. I designed it with vertical and horizonal adjustability using bearings and acme thread so that changes in the center of gravity (such as when adding heads or flywheel to an engine) can be accounted for.

I decided to make this after a Ford 390 bent my cheapo HF type engine stand and then my diesel tractor engine finished it off.

 

[J Persons]

Needed a torque wrench with a 250lb capacity but didn't want to spend the money for a wrench I would only use a couple of times. These used to be available commercially, but I couldn't find one so I made this. I compared it to a regular 250 lb torque wrench and it gave the same reading.

Here are the instructions for making the adapter.

 

[Cars&Classic]

Made these two tools for installing and degreeing in a camshaft.

I bought the dial indicator, it fits in the top of the tool and then secures with a set screw.
The tool slides into the lifter bore, and the botom of the tool rides on the lobe of the cam.
the base lobe indicator slides inside to activate the dial indicator when the cam lobe comes up. the o-rings hold it inplace in the lifter bore.

Handy little tool, made it on my south bend lathe.

the other is a cam installer tool, screws into the front of the cam, to give you a place to hold onto the cam as it dissapears inside the motor.

 

[Cars&Classic]

Cam tool

 

[ptschram]

Made these two tools for installing and degreeing in a camshaft.

I bought the dial indicator, it fits in the top of the tool and then secures with a set screw.
The tool slides into the lifter bore, and the botom of the tool rides on the lobe of the cam.
the base lobe indicator slides inside to activate the dial indicator when the cam lobe comes up. the o-rings hold it inplace in the lifter bore.

Handy little tool, made it on my south bend lathe.

LOL-I was just thinking I should post up a tool I made to measure cam wear in the vehicle.

It's much nicer with a cheapie digital indicator that you can zero anywhere in its travel.

 

[Lkdelta]

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

Post #155.... the bench grinder....Nice job...
that's a lot nicer than mine....
Those bases don't move or vibrate at all
And no "spark worries" or "space losses" on the work bench
move the whole unit outside if there is going to be lots of grinding

 

[henrysgarage]

Here are a few tools I have made over the years,
pinion depth tool

hyd press

3 jaw lathe chuck on a plate to machine flats/ slots on shafts

body rotisserie

 

[blackice]

This is the welding cart I built a while ago. I wanted something more ridgid then those cheap ones you can buy, and I wanted larger wheels for when I have to go out in the gravel driveway or over an extention cord or air line. works great so far.

 

[blackice]

Heres the bender I built. I started with plans from Gottrikes, then made a few changes along the way. Not including the bending dies, I have about $300 invested (about $800 including 2 sets of Pro Tool dies). Its already paid for itself. I was Luckey enough to have a friend who could lazer cut all the tabs and brackets. It saved me alot of time.

 

[alan camby]

Here is the hydraulic press i built. I used a bottle jack upside down with a reservoir to flood it

 

[alan camby]

Made a brake for the press above. In the last picture i bent a piece of 3/8 x 2" over 90 degrees.

 

[c/o say]

Alan camby thanks for the tip on the resevoir on the hy jack that will help me out on my press and like the use of the casters.

 

[JimVonBaden]

this is a stupid little tool, nothing as cool as the ones you guys have made but it is so handy and I have used it so much this week I thought I would share it. I have seen similar tools in body shops for holding masking paper but they are costly and take up space, and since I use this I use this so sporadically I wanted it to be out of the way. so I mounted it over the door to the kennel section of my shop. it is out of the way but easily accessible.

Very slick! I'm going to do that!

Jim

 

[bad_idea]

Here is the hydraulic press i built. I used a bottle jack upside down with a reservoir to flood it

I don't understand what the reservoir is for. Could you explain this? I have used a press before but the cylinder was right side up. What is the benefit to it being upside down? What does the reservoir do? Thanks. Awesome looking work by the way.

 

[morehead]

Never ceases to amaze me...... the talent on this site!!! ! Awesome thread

 

[Amitygravel]

That press is definitely nice Alan !
Not sure I get the reservoir either. Is that something you have to do
to get a bottle jack to function upside down ?
Can't quite zoom in enough to see details.

 

[Regnar]

I built my own CNC router. Its already payed for itself a few times over.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UulnIFliZ7o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



Yes there is an APP to control it too.....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WVj8JvKpqW0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you guys are interested my build thread is over on Mechmate.com My build number is #69

 

[brianh]

I built my own CNC router. Its already payed for itself a few times over.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UulnIFliZ7o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



Yes there is an APP to control it too.....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WVj8JvKpqW0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you guys are interested my build thread is over on Mechmate.com My build number is #69

Cool what are you using as a spindle and is it a gear rack drive?

I have a 2003 shopbot I am using with a 3 1/2 hp router upgraded the drivers for more speed and resolution since then.

Been using rams 3d since I have had it for most of the cam applications and a mix of solidworks and other programs for the design end.

Very nice build what do you primarily make?