Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread

[Lassen Forge]

Can't think of all the wrenches I've otherwise adjusted with a heatwrench, a hackwrench, or a bench grindewrench... Couple stick out, one started out as a long reach box wrench, after applying enough bends and displacements to it I could something or the other from an 8V92 without having to pull the heads off... Another was the need for a really strong 1/2" drive super-stubby, took a hacksaw and belt grinder to a commercial grade 1/2" rachet, using the handle of my 1/4" stubby as a template and took another 1/2" from it. I can slip a length of pipe to use with a cheater, or palm the thing to get my hand and the ratchet into tight places and still have a good 1/2" drive.

 

[Provincial]

This is an Asian socket I modified into a wrench to tighten a nut on a brake line for a 1955 Austin Western road grader. It was practically inaccessible!

 

[steaks&anvils]

I cut down the tips on these round nose pliers.

No before picture.

I bought them for $0.25 at the habitat restore. They were rusted shut and the tips were mangled.

I de-rusted them and cut back the tips to a "clean" length, trying to lose the least amount of the jaws. I also sanded the jaws smooth again.

Crescent Tool Co. Crestoloy model 21 5in. Alloy Artifacts lists them as being introduced in 1941.

Brought back to useful condition, they are a little bigger than I prefer for my jewelry making (2nd pic), but handy for bending thicker wire or ring stock.

-jeff

 

[Dumber than lumber]

The subject of user modified hand tools came up on the DBE thread earlier and at the encouragement of Lugz (and using his awesome suggestion for a thread title)

I have to say this first posting is one I found at a flea market, so I don't know the application to modify the Plomb 1141 DBE into an obstruction wrench. Makes a good wall hanger though!

Mount that on a slight angle and it could be a drawer handle. Or a towel holder among other things.
Would be a cool vibe.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Here's part of an antique Ford wrench I lopped off and made a stubby milling vise handle with.

 

[81turbota]

Great vice handle!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's part of an antique Ford wrench I lopped off and made a stubby milling vise handle with.

That looks so good it looks factory. What is the ball made out of? A composite? And what was it salvaged from?

 

[slowtwitch73]

The ball is some plastic like substance with metal thread insert. Yeah I grabbed it from the bone pile.. possibly off an old Atlas dp.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Good idea.

 

[lis2323]

Speed handles using a cheap stamped spark plug wrench



and a not so cheap MAC 8 point socket





A place to hang your hat...

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a homemade spud wrench I left behind today. It really didn’t qualify as a superrench!
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

Speed handles using a cheap stamped spark plug wrench
A place to hang your hat...

Nice. Love the welding helmet holder. What hangs on the other DOE?

 

[RubiconJK]

Here's part of an antique Ford wrench I lopped off and made a stubby milling vise handle with.

I agree with Lugz, that does look factory made. Might be the nicest piece posted here so far!

 

[lis2323]

Nice. Love the welding helmet holder. What hangs on the other DOE?

Usually another helmet or face shield.

 

[davewo]

I couldn't think of anything, then I remembered this Craftsman adjustable wrench I cut and welded at an angle. I used it to hold nuts down inside a long tube on my tractor's rock rake. This was before I had a set of crow wrenches.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I modified this socket to wind the impulse spring in an IHC magneto for old IHC, LB engines.

 

[RubiconJK]

I couldn't think of anything, then I remembered this Craftsman adjustable wrench I cut and welded at an angle. I used it to hold nuts down inside a long tube on my tractor's rock rake. This was before I had a set of crow wrenches.

Talk about looking factory! Very cool!

 

[Tireman]

I couldn't think of anything, then I remembered this Craftsman adjustable wrench I cut and welded at an angle. I used it to hold nuts down inside a long tube on my tractor's rock rake. This was before I had a set of crow wrenches.

Nice job [emoji1360]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Muttly]

My grandfather grew up in the depression, was a SeBee during WWII and a heavy equipment mechanic after the war.

Here's a few of his mods:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I remembered this Craftsman adjustable wrench I cut and welded at an angle.

Reminds me a little of an antique alternative adjustable patented by Carll (1,060,891) in 1913.

 

[Strouty]

Some cool mods, I never seem to remember why I modified tools later on, I have several in a drawer, plus I keep lots of older retired tools around just in case I have to modify something.

 

[Strouty]

My contribution for today.

 

[jeffmoss26]

We have a couple custom made locksmithing tools at work...will get some pictures.

 

[RubiconJK]

My contribution for today.

Great idea. Do you use the unmodified end? If not, I'd be tempted to cut it off and weld the female end of an old socket extension on there.

 

[Strouty]

I figured at some point I would make a complete set and do what you suggested, I had to use an adjustable on the flat part of the wrench to get leverage to loosen things.

 

[LesserSon]

Jeez, this thread took off!
Here’s the “chopped” PLVMB I mentioned on the DBE thread. I returned to the scene of the crime yesterday to buy two (unmodified) pliers, and left this behind a second time.
I should have taken a picture of the welded-up thing I saw today...something like a vise grips with an acetylene torch wrench stuck on one jaw...I have no idea....

 

[MattT]

Some cool mods, I never seem to remember why I modified tools later on,

I'll sometimes engrave the application on the tool if it's likely to be needed again.

 

[MattT]

I should have taken a picture of the welded-up thing I saw today...something like a vise grips with an acetylene torch wrench stuck on one jaw...I have no idea....

Maybe a torch hose crimp tool??

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YDUP9Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You've all seen DOE type "S" wrenches before...

And you've all seen adjustable type "S" wrenches before...

But have you ever seen an "S" extension?!

It used to be a typical - and straight - SK 40161 1/2-inch drive 6" extension. I'm guessing the snot welds were to patch up some splits when it was bent.

 

[jsaw]

I needed a socket to remove and install injector lines. The specified tool was $60 and 3 days away. I had some sockets , so made what I needed. Even if I had to buy sockets to cut up, it would have been less expensive than buying the tool

 

[Outlawmws]

I couldn't think of anything, then I remembered this Craftsman adjustable wrench I cut and welded at an angle. I used it to hold nuts down inside a long tube on my tractor's rock rake. This was before I had a set of crow wrenches.

Talk about looking factory! Very cool!

I agree, VERY clean job!

 

[RubiconJK]

But have you ever seen an "S" extension?!
It used to be a typical - and straight - SK 40161 1/2-inch drive 6" extension. I'm guessing the snot welds were to patch up some splits when it was bent.

Haven't quite seen that mod before. Looks like the detent ball didn't survive the torturous transformation.

I needed a socket to remove and install injector lines. The specified tool was $60 and 3 days away. I had some sockets , so made what I needed. Even if I had to buy sockets to cut up, it would have been less expensive than buying the tool

Looks like that works great in that application.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's a real doozie I just brought home from the flea market today. A 13mm combo wrench welded at the former open end to a DELSTEEL pneumatic chisel bit welded to a CORNWELL 5/8" socket. This thing may not even qualify as vintage (pre-1968).

 

[Outlawmws]

So someone needed a high torque screwdriver!

 

[RubiconJK]

Here's a real doozie I just brought home from the flea market today. A 13mm combo wrench welded at the former open end to a DELSTEEL pneumatic chisel bit welded to a CORNWELL 5/8" socket. This thing may not even qualify as vintage (pre-1968).

The most awkward looking multi tool award so far!! Lol

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a nice long C homemade flare nut wrench I found in the Craftsman box today. I had forgotten all about it.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Somebody needs a deeeeeep 3/4" socket!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Mr. Twister

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Provincial]

A sad pebble Plomb 15/16 combo modified into a tubing wrench. Interestingly enough, I put it to use in changing a throttle cable on an excavator a few months after I bought it.

 

[RubiconJK]

Somebody needs a deeeeeep 3/4" socket!

That looks like my welding!

Mr. Twister

AKA roller coaster wrench. Twist, turns, ups and downs.