Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

I’m not sure about next steps. I would like to...push the idea further and make it actually swivel 90° out of the way, so it would clear an obstruction....[ ]....Anyway, I could not leave a 14” Bonney S-adjustable unpurchased, regardless of condition.

I would not have left it behind either, and my idea would be to complete the PO's idea, but do it with the proper end of an adjustable "S" wrench salvaged from a second unit perhaps one with a screw and jaws that are beyond repair. That way it would innovatively swivel around corners, etc, but it would look more like an original Bonney adjustable "S" wrench.

 

[Farmer J.]

Can't delete post..

 

[LesserSon]

I got the tube handle off, derusted and BLOed the steel. Putting the mechanism back together, I realized the spring can only have come from the side with the two raised edges (which create a space for the spring) - the other side is flat across. There is no blind stepped bore in the adjusting nut for the spring to recess into, either. Effectively, the spring compresses against the nut, presumably to reduce some of the backlash. HOWEVER, it bears against the WRONG side of the nut to accomplish its purpose, and really, since it is always fully compressed, it doesn’t do much of anything.
I had expected the wrench to agree more with very similar, smaller Bonney S-adjustables I have, all of which have a hollow in the nut for the spring, and are stamped with the 1915 Joseph G Baker patent notice. This one is not so stamped, and now I think see why. It must be an earlier attempt at solving the “lost motion take-up” problem, that didn’t work out, at least not as well as the patented one. I wish the two raised edges were on the correct side, at least.
So…I can reassemble it as is (in fact, I did)…or I can drill a wide step into the other end of the nut, bringing it up to the 1915 specs, probably placing a washer between the raised edges to protect the otherwise partially-exposed threaded shaft and provide a more even bearing surface.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this crowfoot today. It started out life as a 1930's Bonney Chrome (CV) Vanadium 1/2-drive extension and a late 1930's or early prewar 1940's Williams line wrench.

 

[dubdoc]

The green handled one is 2 Chinese ratcheting box ends cut and welded so the ends turn in opposite directions. It needs to be this length to change the glow plugs in my VW Rabbit Pickup.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I modified a socket to work as an impulse spring winder for my old engine rebuilds

 

[Debcrow]

Just a couple of more that have GONE AROUND THE BEND...

 

[Debcrow]

I'm sure some will see this as sacrilege!

It obviously was for SOME special purpose and probably needed RIGHT NOW!. A light duty tool bent at a couple of strange angles. Looks like it was possibly only used once. The 9/16 end has some light rust on one face side like it was in some place very tight.
I am not complaining, bought it for a couple of bucks at a flea market.

 

[Mintgrun]

I recently bought a box-o-wrenches and there were a few abuser modified examples. Here's a DBE (Double Bent End) =CRAFTSMAN=V= wrench that might come in handy for adjusting the timing on my old Cheby Suburban.





I have not thought up a use for this little -BARCALO- wrench.

The custom DOE appears to be the marriage of Snap-on and Billings wrenches.



I've been storing wrenches like this based on brand name, but am thinking it might be fun to have a separate box for modified tools.

Tom

 

[d42jeep]

I just spotted this slightly modified Plomb NAF wrench on a current eBay listing. I don’t think I’m interested.
It should look like this.

 

[mikeinri]

I posted this in a couple of other threads, but this thread looks like a good home for it. Best spark plug rat I ever used. Good for a few other jobs as well.

Just found this thread, and only got through page 1, but this looks extremely handy!

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

Somebody needs a deeeeeep 3/4" socket!

Haven't we all?

Mike

 

[Debcrow]

I got this one in the 1970s from the inventory of a garage that had been in business since the early 1930s. Obviously for a certain vehicle that did not have symmetrical bolt placement from one side to the other since both ends of the wrench are 7/8 inch.

 

[mikeinri]

Just found this thread, and only got through page 1, but this looks extremely handy!

Just got to Page 3, and found a post by me. Apparently, my memory is slipping...

But, it's still a great thread!

Mike

 

[2mJps]

I went out to the storage trailer and got some to show. I have been lucky and saved or bought some junk wrenches so anything i need to build or cut wasnt some thing good.The tee handle wrench is for removing a egr valve from a 350. The big one on the right was made out of a blade edge. I used it to put on over 300 hyd hoses. I made the square hole in the box end crows foot with a drill press and file to remove a hyd hose by removing one end and sliding it down the hose. I have more like this i built so many over the years i was dreaming up ways to build wrenches to cut up.

 

[mikeinri]

I'm looking at some of these ideas and thinking back to random nightmare jobs I've suffered (tackled) over the years with standard tools. Never once occurred to me to modify tools!

I'll blame my Dad. He taught me to respect tools, almost to the point of worshipping them. He did work as a machinist (and later a toolmaker!), so I'm sure he doctored plenty of tools (at work) over the years.

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

Saw this DIY adjustable pin wrench made from an adjustable wrench on Google while looking for something else, looks pretty straightforward to make. (Website has a ton of DIY tools):
https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-adjustable-pin-wrench

I don't need that here, but that does look very handy for its intended use!

3/8" U-Tee

THIS is cool! What did you use for the "knobs" at the ends of the Tee-handle?


Mike

 

[mikeinri]

That vice-grip slide hammer would have saved me countless hours of frustration over the years...

Mike

 

[Ton ton]

tool
/to͞ol/
noun

1.
a device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function:

Tools were not originally made for the collector market. They were made to be......TOOLS. See definition.

I collect tools. I like collecting tools. Lots of folks collect tools
But more people USE tools. They pay the rent with tools.
Having worked in the shop for 50 1/2 years, the best way to look at modified tools is:
"you had to be there".

It's 4:15. "where the heck is that (insert tool of choice)?" Or, "why the heck don't we have that (insert tool of choice)." The customer, or the delivery truck, will be here at 8:00 AM sharp.
The tool truck will be here next Tuesday, or the mill supply can have it (supposedly) sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Whatcha gonna do?

Tool collectors might simply be on the hunt for examples that didn't get ridden too hard and survived. Take it easy on the guys that had to actually get the job done.

I couldn't agree more with you.

 

[2mJps]

That vice-grip slide hammer would have saved me countless hours of frustration over the years...

Mike

I had a job pulling alot of 1/4 glass hard steel dowel pins. Every thing i tryed broke them off flush. I made one of these and didnt have any problems pulling the rest.

 

[2mJps]

A tool i use alot that i built it works but it needs some more mods. Its for prying the tabs up on car rads to remove the plastic tanks to junk them. The teeth need to be cut off and moved 2 inches forward. Every time i need it i think i can make better but dont want to stop and make time to rebuild it.

 

[Mintgrun]

That vice-grip slide hammer would have saved me countless hours of frustration over the years...

Do it! I made one and reach for it quite often. Try to find vise grips where the mouth angle is somewhat parallel to the adjustment screw.

THIS is cool! What did you use for the "knobs" at the ends of the Tee-handle?

Thanks, Mike. The rubber ends are little pieces of VW tubing from the windshield washer line. I stuck them on a bamboo skewer and chucked that in a drill, so I could spin them to chamfer the edges on the grinder.

Tom

 

[mikeinri]

Wow, that's an unexpected answer (the VW tubing)!

Mike

 

[RubiconJK]

This really falls more into the category of tools repurposed as art, but I'll post here all the same. We are spending some time over in Florida's forgotten coast area and saw this beauty hanging from the ceiling in the Eastpoint Brewery. BTW, I recommend the Blonde and the Red ales there.

 

[d42jeep]

Some people really shouldn’t be allowed to have a grinder. This is carrying owners marks to an extreme. It came with a partial wartime S-K 1/4” drive set. He didn’t do the 7/16” Plomb socket much good either.
-Don

 

[mikeinri]

Maybe he was going for "comfort grip?"

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this SK 3/8" Speed Wrench at the flea this morning.

(Not sure what the cross-drilled hole was for.)

 

[Outlawmws]

Lugz, I'm betting it was roll pined into something as a semi permanent crank.

The other option is a roll pin as a driver for a slotted shaft, but I'd bet on the first option.

 

[Firebrick43]

That vice-grip slide hammer would have saved me countless hours of frustration over the years...

Mike

You dont have to make one mike. OTC has you covered. OTC part number 205378. Its also part of the 1179 OTC slide hammer set, aka, "the silver *******"

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm betting it was roll pined into something as a semi permanent crank

Makes sense.

 

[mikeinri]

You dont have to make one mike. OTC has you covered. OTC part number 205378. Its also part of the 1179 OTC slide hammer set, aka, "the silver *******"

Ooooh, thank you!

Mike

 

[ChefRex]

Ooooh, thank you!

Mike

It's too darn soft, I have one and the end deforms, better off making one.

 

[mikeinri]

Bummer

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Some people really shouldn’t be allowed to have a grinder. This is carrying owners marks to an extreme. It came with a partial wartime S-K 1/4” drive set. He didn’t do the 7/16” Plomb socket much good either.
-Don

Maybe he was super pissed because this was the fourth time someone stole his ratchet and all of the suspects had three grind marks on theirs….

 

[Old Radar]

Better to take the grinder to the dicks who stole his tools...

 

[RTM]

Here is a lovely hack job I discovered today, while derusting some 3/4” drive sockets from a hoarder’s estate sale. The other three I was able to locate a makers name, but this one was eluding me. Once I got all the rust off, I could see why. Someone had welded two halves of different sized sockets together.

look for the voids in the weld



Looking down the barrel was terrifying






Not sure what the goal was, it looks like they drilled out the base of the top half to get the square drive larger.

BTW, it’s a 1-1/2” 6 pt socket.

 

[Outlawmws]

Probably needed a little deeper.

 

[zmotorsports]

I modified a 1" deep socket several months back to remove/install a turbo pressure sensor in a Duramax turbo housing.


Milled a .250" slot down one of the flats for the wiring much like an O2 sensor socket.

 

[leg17]

Here is a lovely hack job I discovered today, while derusting some 3/4” drive sockets from a hoarder’s estate sale. The other three I was able to locate a makers name, but this one was eluding me. Once I got all the rust off, I could see why. Someone had welded two halves of different sized sockets together.

look for the voids in the weld



Looking down the barrel was terrifying






Not sure what the goal was, it looks like they drilled out the base of the top half to get the square drive larger.

BTW, it’s a 1-1/2” 6 pt socket.

If it has been modified to 1/2" drive, it may a plumbers wrench to change water heater elements.