Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread

[Stubby1743]

I picked up this modified Proto 3/3" drive ratchet last September at a motorbike jumble together with some other useful tools for just £3.

The knurling has been turned off the ratchet handle to fit inside the aluminium tube and the two parts then riveted together. Unfortunately, the ratchet anvil is pin fix which makes it less useful for me.

 

[ChefRex]

Drill the rivets out if it suits you better?

 

[Stubby1743]

I have removed the aluminium handle but it is the pin-fix anvil that makes it of little practical use as ordinary sockets just fall off.

 

[ChefRex]

I didn’t understand Pin-fix, I have a ratchet that the retention ball fell out, I attached an extension with a roll pin and I use it as a dedicated tool for my motorcycle scissor lift.

 

[Outlawmws]

Contact Proto for a rebuil kit or get a steel ball the right size and a tiny spring and stake a new one in. I've done that before.

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[isb cornbinder]

It seems like professional welder Bubba might have decided to teach his floppy Thorsen u-joint a lesson.
-Don

Do not leave tools under a bird nest.

 

[Plombob]

I have no idea why someone would do this to a nice Plomb deep socket.
-Don

A nice Plomb. May the tool gods cast the miscreant that did this into the depths of hades!

 

[PSCo1867]

Didn't know if this belonged here, the J H Williams thread, or the "Oddfellows" thread, because it would certainly fit those too. This 12" Williams Superjustable AB-12X has bee modded to be an adjustable pin-spanner. At first I was all excited about the "X" in the AB-12X, thinking that designated a rare Williams special wrench, but no, it's just a garden variety adjustable that's been cleverly "millwrighted".

 

[Old Man Roger]

Are you sure it wasn’t factory made? There was a similar thread on a similar wrench that ended up being factory made.

 

[PSCo1867]

Are you sure it wasn’t factory made? There was a similar thread on a similar wrench that ended up being factory made.

Thanks for the info. Now I’m not so sure!

 

[mikeinri]

Didn't know if this belonged here, the J H Williams thread, or the "Oddfellows" thread, because it would certainly fit those too. This 12" Williams Superjustable AB-12X has bee modded to be an adjustable pin-spanner. At first I was all excited about the "X" in the AB-12X, thinking that designated a rare Williams special wrench, but no, it's just a garden variety adjustable that's been cleverly "millwrighted".

That's a brilliant idea.

Mike

 

[whateg01]

Cut off 3/4" box end wrench turned into a speed handle for the milling machine vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

12" Williams Superjustable AB-12X has bee modded to be an adjustable pin-spanner.

That's a brilliant idea.

thats going into the "Steal this Idea" file!

 

[mikeinri]

I need to remember this...

Mike

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't think I've posted this here before, but one of my favorites I aquired - Its a SO 3/8 extension made into a two fisted spinner/driver. I don't use it often, but its a joy to use - It's also a very fine build as I'm certsin its shop made not mass produced:




How do I know it's SO based? that "n" is the last n of Snap-On:

 

[zmotorsports]

One of my latest modified tools.

Nothing too elaborate, just a simple groove milled into a socket for a Duramax turbo vane position sensor.






These sensors are mounted down in a void which makes using a wrench difficult without damaging the flats on the sensor. With this modified socket it can easily remove and install the sensor without any damage to the flats.

 

[whateg01]

One of my latest modified tools.

Nothing too elaborate, just a simple groove milled into a socket for a Duramax turbo vane position sensor.






These sensors are mounted down in a void which makes using a wrench difficult without damaging the flats on the sensor. With this modified socket it can easily remove and install the sensor without any damage to the flats.

I take it, it's a different size than O2 sensors?

 

[zmotorsports]

I take it, it's a different size than O2 sensors?

Yes. O2 sockets are 7/8" and if memory serves this was either 1-1/16" or 1-1/8". I found a Carlyle at my local NAPA that was full depth broached and would work perfectly. Also, being an import the cost did't hurt so I was less concerned about machining a new socket.

 

[Zrxrunner]

I find more modified plomb wrenches than any others for some reason! Pawn shop find while I was out of town for training. Looks like 4 or 5 different bends for some obstruction.

 

[mikeinri]

Wow!

Mike

 

[Outlawmws]

I've posted these a bunch of times elsewhere, so I'm surpised I've never posted these here:



Old dead nippers I ground the destroyed jaws down, and welded sections of Angle in. (Tip - grip a piece of sheet metal in them while welding so they will grip flat and not deep inside the jaws when used)

2 and 4 inches wide. You can bend a piece of metal and them tap on it to get it flat and 90 degrees, but mostly I use them to straighten damaged sheet metal, - you have all seen tool box and metal drawer edges dinged and bent - give those whoopees a hard squeeze with these and it's nice and flat again!

Why do they work so well? the pivt pint is close to the jaws. Standard Sheet metal tongs don't have the leverage (maybe if they are compound)

I start with ones like this (recently purchased for set #3):




a demo from a tool box thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2368853&postcount=859



And a quick how I use them:


Before getting squeezed by the home made tongs:

And afterward:

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like 4 or 5 different bends for some obstruction.

That's some impressive bending!

 

[Mintgrun]

Someone scarred this tool with pliers so I turned the handle down and reshaped it.



I goofed and moved the cutter towards the tail stock without backing it out enough,



so it wound up smaller than expected but I like it better than when it looked damaged.



I'd recently found a nicer example, so I indulged in modifying this one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hey Tom, look for a large flat rate priority box on your stoop on Monday. Tracking number is A11MYF&%#3DUPDR1V3RS

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Custom wire brush for a die grinder

 

[ChefRex]

I think you need more practice with the welder but if it works it works.

 

[Beerhippie]

Welcome to the Hippie House of Hacked Tools!

When I need a special tool, I reach for my box of <$1 yard-sale tools--or the boneyard.

I needed a chuck for my impact driver:



Chineseium chuck and spindle from a trashed DP out of the boneyard, rounded-out 5/16" nutdriver bit. I only needed this for one job, so just slapped it together with some MIG goober-welds. Since then it's actually proven to be very handy--like a left-hand bit for removing a rusted, busted stud with some impact, so I think I'll grind that down and try to do a better weld with the TIG.

Some specialized wrenches for working on old (pre-WWII) Coleman lanterns:



I wanted to replace the donut spare of my Toyota CrownVictrolla with a full-size one and get it out of the trunk. I needed to fabricate a spare tire holder to fit my (hacked) roof-rack, so:



A 5/8" stud (all-thread), a nut to fit, welded into a 3/4 box-end, cut off for convenience, some paint and heat-shrink tubing. The collet that fits the wheel opening is a 2" cap for Tri-Clover brewery fittings, with a 3/4" hole drilled in it and a 3/4" nut tack-welded on.

It works:




Hell, the roof-rack itself is a hacked "tool": A shelf unit for warehouse racks with some railing from a kitchen Euro Rack welded to the sides.
Those are just the ones that are close to hand. I have dozens more around here.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think you need more practice with the welder but if it works it works.

Let's just say time was of the essence

 

[Beerhippie]

Missed one!



IIRC, I made that back in the '70s for something to do with the distributor of a Datsun 510. 8 X 9mm

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Custom made this for some rear axle nuts on a Ford

 

[ChefRex]

Welcome to the Hippie House of Hacked Tools!

When I need a special tool, I reach for my box of <$1 yard-sale tools--or the boneyard.

I needed a chuck for my impact driver:



Chineseium chuck and spindle from a trashed DP out of the boneyard, rounded-out 5/16" nutdriver bit. I only needed this for one job, so just slapped it together with some MIG goober-welds. Since then it's actually proven to be very handy--like a left-hand bit for removing a rusted, busted stud with some impact, so I think I'll grind that down and try to do a better weld with the TIG.

Some specialized wrenches for working on old (pre-WWII) Coleman lanterns:



I wanted to replace the donut spare of my Toyota CrownVictrolla with a full-size one and get it out of the trunk. I needed to fabricate a spare tire holder to fit my (hacked) roof-rack, so:



A 5/8" stud (all-thread), a nut to fit, welded into a 3/4 box-end, cut off for convenience, some paint and heat-shrink tubing. The collet that fits the wheel opening is a 2" cap for Tri-Clover brewery fittings, with a 3/4" hole drilled in it and a 3/4" nut tack-welded on.

It works:




Hell, the roof-rack itself is a hacked "tool": A shelf unit for warehouse racks with some railing from a kitchen Euro Rack welded to the sides.
Those are just the ones that are close to hand. I have dozens more around here.

What brewery do you work for if it’s not a secret?

 

[Beerhippie]

What brewery do you work for if it’s not a secret?

Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, OR. We're a regional brewery, marketing to Oregon and parts of Cali, Washington and Idaho--maybe other places I don't know about. I keep the bearings oiled and the pumps turning, as well as the hot water system and everything else. I also build whatever needs building when it needs it. I used to do our sanitary welding, but aging eyes and arthritic hands have pretty much put an end to that.

We also have a pub out front--stop by sometime and I'll shout you a beer!

 

[ChefRex]

Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, OR. We're a regional brewery, marketing to Oregon and parts of Cali, Washington and Idaho--maybe other places I don't know about. I keep the bearings oiled and the pumps turning, as well as the hot water system and everything else. I also build whatever needs building when it needs it. I used to do our sanitary welding, but aging eyes and arthritic hands have pretty much put an end to that.

We also have a pub out front--stop by sometime and I'll shout you a beer!

Retirement gig?

 

[Beerhippie]

Retirement gig?

I've been working here for about 25 years. I helped build the brewery.

I don't retire, I just tire easily.

 

[ChefRex]

I've been working here for about 25 years. I helped build the brewery.

I don't retire, I just tire easily.

Cool, I homed brewed for years, I see your on the sane side of Oregon.

 

[Old Radar]

Just how desperate for a 3" extension do you have to be to tack weld a 1948 3/4" drive Snap-on L82 Loxocket Universal Joint??



I've broken all four welds. The joints all move. I'll try to grind the welds to bring the uni back to life.

 

[22george]

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

 

[Beerhippie]

Is it just the picture, or has the tool been plated over the tack welds?

 

[Old Radar]

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

Undoubtedly. Just seems wasteful since you can use it as an extension without welding it--but not the other way around.

Is it just the picture, or has the tool been plated over the tack welds?

Just the picture.