Homemade Tools

[APEowner]

I stuffed one of my race cars into a tire barrier and rather than pay someone to pull the nose back where it belongs I built my own puller and did it myself. The long tube runs back another tube that runs across the car and clamps to the pinch welds.


I don't have any before pics but I must have done something right because all the body parts bolted back on like they're supposed to.

 

[Jgaz]

I stuffed one of my race cars into a tire barrier and rather than pay someone to pull the nose back where it belongs I built my own puller and did it myself. The long tube runs back another tube that runs across the car and clamps to the pinch welds.


I don't have any before pics but I must have done something right because all the body parts bolted back on like they're supposed to.

Very nicely done!
I love the turntables on the top of your tire stands.
Are they leveled to a particular spot on the floor so you can align the car?

 

[APEowner]

Very nicely done!
I love the turntables on the top of your tire stands.
Are they leveled to a particular spot on the floor so you can align the car?

Thanks. I use a laser level and shim the stands so that the tops are level for alignments and scaling the cars. I did build the stands so that they're level in specific spots on the floor but that only works for one car which I no longer own.

 

[rust in the eye]

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!

Brilliant!

 

[Jgaz]

Thanks. I use a laser level and shim the stands so that the tops are level for alignments and scaling the cars. I did build the stands so that they're level in specific spots on the floor but that only works for one car which I no longer own.

@APEowner A long time ago, I was wrenching on a friends Formula Ford. It was the mid 90’s so no laser level.
We rented a builders level to set our stands level on a very imperfect garage floor.

No turntables. We used Masonite that was tempered on both sides, then layered that with heavy duty wax paper to make back alley slip plates.
This set up made a really accurate way for setting ride heights and camber.
It also was pretty decent for caster using a borrowed and adapted caster gage with the turn angles marked on the front slip plates.
Fun times.

 

[APEowner]

@APEowner A long time ago, I was wrenching on a friends Formula Ford. It was the mid 90’s so no laser level.
We rented a builders level to set our stands level on a very imperfect garage floor.

No turntables. We used Masonite that was tempered on both sides, then layered that with heavy duty wax paper to make back alley slip plates.
This set up made a really accurate way for setting ride heights and camber.
It also was pretty decent for caster using a borrowed and adapted caster gage with the turn angles marked on the front slip plates.
Fun times.

I'll have to remember the Masonite and wax paper trick.

One of my other race cars is a Formula Ford. It's a Crossle 32F.

 

[jimbothecricket]

I work with electonics and frequently unscrew a particular set of #2 Phillips screws holding a heatsink to a PCB. Unfortunately they are not accessible with a standard #2 driver due to the width of the shaft and the fins of the heatsink interfering. I normally resort to using a #1 and trying not to strip anything.

Today I took matters into my own hands with a cheap screwdriver with a terrible handle that was in the pile of "trash tools" at work and a dremel. I ground the shaft around the head until it fit in the narrow holes on the heatsink. I also cut off the handle and made a new one with some paracord, glue, and heat shrink. It may not be pretty but it is perfectly suited for my task. I'm happy with it

 

[rslaback]

It still counts as homemade if you just modify an existing tool that no one seems to make right?

 

[Jgaz]

My box (finger) joint jig that was built from WoodSmith magazine plans in the mid 90’s

The front, facing the blade.
These keys are adjustable for both width and relation to the blade.
Width is set to match saw blade kerf or router bit diameter.
The two keys move together to adjust finger spacing and therefore joint tightness.


Test piece shown to maybe explain keys better


Rear view of the jig showing it mounted on the the miter gauge.
You can also see the red safety guard that I added later after beginning to use the jig.


Close up of the adjustment and locking knobs on the moveable key assembly


Cutting finger joints on a 7x19” panel for my future machinist chest riser.

 

[ChefRex]

I used a tool I made years ago today to press bearings out of a Softail swing arm, been a long time since I used it as a company came up with a simpler solution but new shop does not have it and I have not needed to do this since I've been in this shop.
Also works for FL springer fenders.
No pic but if I think of it when I reassemble I'll post it up.

 

[threewood]

Not as fancy as most of them posted here but I welded up a few to help rebuild transmissions.
Servo compressor out of rebar.
Clutch pack spring compressor.


A set of keys to tighten and loosen instrument trim rings for early Mopars.


And a gauge ohm fuel gauge tester built to show low, half and full.

 

[mv213]

And a gauge ohm fuel gauge tester built to show low, half and full.


Love that gas gauge tester, brilliant idea!

 

[Terra Nova]

Needed to shape a couple handles for some campfire pokers I'm making for the white elephant game at Christmas. Lacking a wood lathe or knowing anyone with one I whipped this up. A 60 grit flap disk in the ol' angle grinder made short work of shaping the 1 1/4" oak dowel rod. After a little trial and error, it was still pretty sketchy, but got the job done.

 

[JradM]

I don't have anything new to post, but I hate when this thread gets buried - then I don't get to see new homemade tools for awhile.

 

[rancherbill]

I don't have anything new to post, but I hate when this thread gets buried - then I don't get to see new homemade tools for awhile.

To the right of the first post on this page, there is a watch button and you will be notified when anything is posted.

 

[four.cycle]

@Terra Nova -
love the ad hoc lathe set-up.
I had kind of the same reaction as when I saw this image below for the first time:

 

[JradM]

To the right of the first post on this page, there is a watch button and you will be notified when anything is posted.

Yeah - but I need everyone to watch it so they post more of their homemade tools!

 

[aka Larry]

@Terra Nova -
love the ad hoc lathe set-up.
I had kind of the same reaction as when I saw this image below for the first time:

And to think I thought using the tool made actually for compressing springs was scary!

 

[jimbothecricket]

I don't have anything new to post, but I hate when this thread gets buried - then I don't get to see new homemade tools for awhile.

I'll bite

Here is my all-time favorite pair of flush cutters (formerly a pair of diagonal cutters):


About 11 months ago one of my coworkers attempted to use my cheap HF flush cutters to cut something much harder than zip ties and stranded wire (I think it was some headers on a PCB) leaving the blades mangled and useless. I went to HF, bought him a pair and told him not to do that again. For myself, I went to Home Depot and picked up a pair of the Klein flush cutters and boy were they awful. The spring didn't work, they would stick in the closed position, and they opened only slightly wider than the width of a zip tie, making them annoying to use in cramped spaces. After a day or two I returned them. Stuck without a pair of flush cutters I needed to do something (I make a lot of custom harnesses so flush cutters are an essential tool for my job). That's when I remembered this small pair of diagonal cutters I inherited when my grandfather passed away. They were too small and dull for me to use as diagonal cutters so I pulled out a dremel (it is the only grinding tool at work) and ground them into the current profile.

This pair of cutters is now one of my favorite tools of all time. Another coworker tried to convince me to buy the Icon Snap-On knockoff pair but they just feel too bulky. This pair is small, opens easily, is sharp, and best of all it makes me think of my grandfather when I use them.

 

[Terra Nova]

@Terra Nova -
love the ad hoc lathe set-up.
I had kind of the same reaction as when I saw this image below for the first time:

It wasn't quite THAT sketchy... That picture scares the snot out of me...


If these prove popular for gifts I'll invest in a small wood lathe, already been scouring FB marketplace.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I made a front main seal installer for a couple of John Deere engines I'm building. The tool should push the wear sleeve and seal at the same time. The JD tool looks very similar to the tool I made so it should work. I haven't tried it because I'm waiting on the machine shop.

 

[Jgaz]

I made this Angle Finder back in the early 90’s after I saw an article in Fine Homebuilding about running trim in older houses with outta square walls, corners, etc.

The author of the article made his angle finder out of wood. I made mine from aluminum.
It‘s been handy for setting an angle on the miter saw.

I laid out the angles by gluing a paper print to the aluminum. A neighbor drew up the angles on the paper using a CAD program.

I very carefully ***** punched the ends of the lines. Then used a razor knife blade followed by a sharp engraving tool to connect the dots. Lastly I sheared the two edges to remove the punch marks for a cleaner look.
A machinist friend of mine randomly checked about 12 or 15 lines on this board in our inspection dept.
He didn’t find any that were more than 0.3 of a degree plus or minus off the intended angle.

This was a lot of work. I didn’t find one commercially available back then.
There is one sold here now that I would buy in a heartbeat rather than make this plate again.

Crucible Bevel Monkey

The Crucible Bevel Monkey is a bevel setting gauge for woodworkers, chairmakers, carpenters and joiners, in fact anyone who needs to quickly and accurately set a sliding bevel. The tool is marked in 0.5° steps from 0° to 50°. All angle markings are set out from the same origin, meaning the tool...

lostartpress.com

However, this was a good exercise in precision and patience.

 

[rslaback]

My fifteen year old has decided lately that he shouldn't have to help with anything that doesn't directly benefit him. I had 9 crated tillers to move from the garage to storage. This moved a fork attachment for my garden tractor loader from the someday list to the now list.

 

[PugetDude]

My fifteen year old has decided lately that he shouldn't have to help with anything that doesn't directly benefit him. I had 9 crated tillers to move from the garage to storage. This moved a fork attachment for my garden tractor loader from the someday list to the now list.

Ryan, you should post this in the "Show us your Welding Projects" thread

 

[rslaback]

Ryan, you should post cross-post this in the "Show us your Welding Projects" thread

Maybe I epoxied it...

 

[PugetDude]

No, not Epoxy! Everyone knows JB Weld is the only way to go.

 

[manwithtools]

Very nice work!

 

[larry4406]

My fifteen year old has decided lately that he shouldn't have to help with anything that doesn't directly benefit him. I had 9 crated tillers to move from the garage to storage. This moved a fork attachment for my garden tractor loader from the someday list to the now list.

Remind the 15 year old ungrateful that no help means no internet, no phone, no TV, dishwashing for the rest of the month, and maybe you will include food and shelter.

 

[Outlawmws]

soon he will be asking "Dad, can I borrow the car" - Response: - "How will that benefit me? "

 

[Jgaz]

I thought I’d share my homemade picture frame clamp I made in the early 90’s.
It’s copied it from a 1960’s vintage Jorgensen Clamp Co. brochure that my Dad had

The brochure showed using a twin screw hand clamp, (Jorgensen naturally) but I’ve found the threaded rod to be a lot less “fiddly”
I have no experience with hi dollar frame clamps but this one works better than any cheaper clamps I’ve tried

 

[Mgdoug3]

I needed an easier way to measure liner protrusion and this is what I came up with. I wish I had some wider material but it this works and can measure piston height too. It probably took me about 40 minutes to make on my mill since I was just winging it but it'll do. I started off as a solid 1x2x5 chunk of aluminum. Next time I'll try to found something that's 7" long.

 

[Jgaz]

Alright, now for a seriously crude homemade tool.

Was up in the UP of Michigan deer hunting in about 2009. The water pump went out on my 2001 Dakota pickup. 4.7L V8.

I was able to order a water pump but the part store had no tools to rent/loan.
I was unable to find a tool (pin spanner) to hold the pulley so I could remove the fan.

No garage was open, let alone nearby. We made a Hail Mary run to a combination, bait, feed, sorta hardware, and liquor store.

This is what we came up with. The aluminum was some sort of extrusion for an unknown purpose so it was nice and rigid.

Worked like a charm!
You can laugh now.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey, it worked! S'all that matters!

 

[zmotorsports]

Alright, now for a seriously crude homemade tool.

Was up in the UP of Michigan deer hunting in about 2009. The water pump went out on my 2001 Dakota pickup. 4.7L V8.

I was able to order a water pump but the part store had no tools to rent/loan.
I was unable to find a tool (pin spanner) to hold the pulley so I could remove the fan.

No garage was open, let alone nearby. We made a Hail Mary run to a combination, bait, feed, sorta hardware, and liquor store.

This is what we came up with. The aluminum was some sort of extrusion for an unknown purpose so it was nice and rigid.

Worked like a charm!
You can laugh now.

Nothing wrong with that. Necessity is the mother of invention and it worked so no shame there, crude or not.

 

[zmotorsports]

After running the overhead on our Cummins ISL diesel engine last fall and having to pull the starter motor to bar the engine over, I thought I'd make a tool that would allow me to grab the harmonic balancer and bar the engine over as a time saver. Made some time last week to knock out a tool that was adjustable so it would fit more than just my engine's harmonic balancer for future jobs that may or may not come into my shop.

















Grabs the outer lip of the balancer then accepts a 1/2" ratcher or breaker bar.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I fount this axle holder design with Google. I want/need to put two DANA 60 axles and 2 DANA 44 axles on something like this so I can get them inside the shop. The two 44s have been covered but out in the weather for the winter. I do not like this situation.
I hope I can take up less floor space with something like this.
Can anyone add some ideas for something like this.

 

[Outlawmws]

ISB - Are you looking for holding for work one at a time; or racking for storage?

For the later two posts, alternating hanger rods staggered front to back gives a balanced load (as long as you alternate as you load, unload) Front to back allows a bit denser loading.

 

[isb cornbinder]

ISB - Are you looking for holding for work one at a time; or racking for storage?

For the later two posts, alternating hanger rods staggered front to back gives a balanced load (as long as you alternate as you load, unload) Front to back allows a bit denser loading.

After having a good sleep, I recognize I have not been clear. Storage is my main reason, right now.
Thank for inquiring

 

[teknikfrog]

Here's a quick fabrication I did. I wanted to remove this rock from my yard. it was about 12" x 12" -- or so I thought. You can see the grey part on the photo, that's the only part not covered by grass. What I thought was a small piece ended up being 300-400lbs as I dug it out. I couldn't pry on it with a shovel so I went through my bin of scrap metal and found a strip of steel, bent it in my vice, and then machined a slot in it for my winch to (barely) grab onto. I used my winch remote in conjunction with my shovel to basically ratchet it up and out of the ground until I could flop it onto a gorilla cart, which I then ratchet-strapped down and towed out of the environment with my mower.

 

[teknikfrog]

Here's the stone on the gorilla cart. Absolute unit.