Homemade Tools

[Ryan]

I was cruising the H.A.M.B. this morning and stumbled on to an old post covering hand made tools. I thought you fellas might enjoy it as much as I did. Check...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[arkangel06]

Very cool While working in the welding fab trade I had to make a few homemade ''tools''

 

[tonydanzah]

that link brings be back to the GJ main page, where is the origional thread

 

[lametec]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=235784

 

[snapmom]

 

[kruegdr]

What weight of rail is that rail-anvil?

Nowadays if you can get your hands on some 132, 136, or 141 lb/yd that was used in a curve, it's almost always head-hardened.

 

[snapmom]

Its small, maybe 20 pounds. Someone did a lot of work. I use it as a carry around tool.

 

[feltciera]

Do custom cut, bent or otherwise manipulated wrenches/tools count as homemade? I got tons of those.

 

[Tman]

I have a similar drill press in my shop. Ran it but it is mainly display until I get my belt powered lathe hooked up.

 

[Tim Cowan]

Neat anvil and lots of grinding to shape. Better not wear a neck tie around that drill press. Where is the OHSA protection tag?

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Nice............

 

[ratdoggy]

I've got the same kind of anvil at least I know where it came from.

 

[d110pickup]

Here's a few photos of a press brake I built. No paint yet but if I have a chance it'll get painted.
So far I've bent 1/4" thick cold rolled steel about 15" long and 3/8"x2" wide. Both bent very easily with a 30 ton bottle jack.
Mike
This is the front.

The back.

Some detail.




The bent 1/4"

 

[Burgerkong]

That looks pretty sick Mike!

 

[mcdtommy23]

Here's my homebuilt lathe/horizontal mill/ sander/ large polishing tumbler. It's set up for the 5 gal tumbler in the pics

 

[lilredex]

Here's a few photos of a press brake I built. No paint yet but if I have a chance it'll get painted.
So far I've bent 1/4" thick cold rolled steel about 15" long and 3/8"x2" wide. Both bent very easily with a 30 ton bottle jack.
Mike

Now that is a bender, thanks for sharing that one! Have saved your pics for future use.

 

[PCO6]

Here are a few of mine ...
- shop press
- sandblast cabinet
- parts washer

 

[Dmar836]

I restore and ride vintage lightweight bicycles. I had a few parts I couldn't remove with my available tools so I made them. The notched piece is all hand done with files and was brazed onto an old socket.

 

[speed bump]

I seem to be acquiring a bunch but they are all 800 miles away right now so i'll have to post pictures when I get home.

 

[terabyte]

I restore and ride vintage lightweight bicycles. I had a few parts I couldn't remove with my available tools so I made them. The notched piece is all hand done with files and was brazed onto an old socket.

dude that is a work of art
thanks for sharing

 

[reptilezs]

I restore and ride vintage lightweight bicycles. I had a few parts I couldn't remove with my available tools so I made them. The notched piece is all hand done with files and was brazed onto an old socket.

nice job on the crank puller and bb tool

 

[scott37300]

Here is an air spring compressor I made for changing struts. Works great and can do a strut in a couple of minutes.

 

[kruegdr]

Its small, maybe 20 pounds. Someone did a lot of work. I use it as a carry around tool.

Snapmom - I was referring to the weight of the rail in lbs/yd. How tall is the rail? That is an indicator of what type of rail it is (in lbs/yd).

I'm going to be on the hunt for a chunk of head hardened 136 or 141 lb/yd rail and fashion one of these.

 

[d110pickup]

I'm glad now I didn't paint the press brake, I was using it today and decided to make an addition. I added a support for the retraction valve. I cut the pump handle and made it into a T shape and switched to piece of conduit for the pump handle. Here's a few photos.
Thanks for looking,
Mike



I also added a couple of pieces of angle to help me feed the stock in straight. This project has a helluva lot of bends.

 

[d110pickup]

Here's a couple of shots of the table I'm building now. It's 3/8x2 flat stock and I'm using the press brake to form the 13 3/4 radius bends and the 60 degree bend at each end. The bends are effortless but there's bunch. I'm spacing them 1/2" apart.
Mike

 

[Bolster]

Here's my homebuilt lathe/horizontal mill/ sander/ large polishing tumbler...

Awesome. Mind blowing. Love it.

 

[convx4]

This HF transmission adapter for a floor jack is mounted to the end the end of my cherry picker. All it took was a hole saw and a drilled and taped hole. This is a cheep tool that works great with my two post lift. Simple, sturdy and cheep!

 

[metal1313]

Here's a couple of shots of the table I'm building now. It's 3/8x2 flat stock and I'm using the press brake to form the 13 3/4 radius bends and the 60 degree bend at each end. The bends are effortless but there's bunch. I'm spacing them 1/2" apart.
Mike

i love this thing, and really want to build one, but just an idea; why not switch to an air/hydro pump instead of just pumping away everytime on your project with tons of repeated passes? one like this from hf maybe? http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-low-profile-air-hydraulic-bottle-jack-97453.html but its only 20ton

 

[Swag Off Road]

I thought I would show off my home made press brake. It worked out so well that I made a DIY kit.

Take a look at the video below.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks Troy

 

[tressler]

I am thinking of making an engine support bar.

Is a treated 4x4 strong enough to use? Or, should I use a 6x6? I am thinking about drilling a hole in the board directly over the engine hook, using a large, long bolt to go through chain on the engine hook, and then through the hole in the board, place a large washer on it, and a nut. As you turn the nut, it will lift or lower the engine, allowing for the engine and transmission to be lowered for easier transmission removal. Sorta like this: http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/eagle483/M3/oil%20pan%20job/IMG_0312.jpg

But for a front wheel drive car. 2.3l 4 cyl.

What are your thoughts?

 

[KCMongo]

Here's my Truck Cab lifter, has come in handy many times moving, removing, and installing truck cabs. I added the the piece to the end of my shop crane so I can set it on whenever I need it. Action Shots Closeup Shots Adding the Air over Hydraulic cylinder to my lift has taken a job that usually required several friends and a 12 pack to one that can be done with one hand.
Mongo

 

[tressler]

Well, This is my homemade engine support bar. Made it because I needed it right away. I've had the wood for years. Only had to buy the bolt... $1.98.

So far so good... seems to be very strong...

 

[wafrederick]

I make them with cheap throw away tools and never use my good tools.I have a couple cheap wrenches I have ground the box ends down to get in a tight spot.I have one big screwdriver with a notch ground on the side of the tip,use this one on some snap rings in automatic transmissions.All I do is get this screwdriver in the goove going around the groove and twist,snap ring comes out easy.

 

[Stephenw]

Paint gun cleaning tray...

 

[NASTYZEN]

Here's my DIY English wheel.(before cnc)

 

[NASTYZEN]

DIY bead roller.

 

[Burgerkong]

Those are works of art

 

[Interex]

This HF transmission adapter for a floor jack is mounted to the end the end of my cherry picker. All it took was a hole saw and a drilled and taped hole. This is a cheep tool that works great with my two post lift. Simple, sturdy and cheep!

Awesome idea! I've got the exact same ****** jack adapter and was just getting ready to toss it. I tried using it on jack only to find that it was completely unstable. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jim Stabe]

Here's my DIY English wheel.(before cnc)

I like your quick release. How do you keep the post from rotating?

Jim

 

[mrholeshot]

Before anyone was building valve spring compressors for Modular Ford engines while the head was off the car I needed one on one I was porting the heads on. I built this in about 15 minutes. It was built using a Blue point VS compressor and a 11/16 Craftsman Deep well 12 point socket. Ive since refined it into one that won't allow the socket to slide off the retainer. I've built about ten versions but this was the first.