Homemade Tools

[rmalkow2]

This is a tool I made years ago but haven't used in a while. I used it a few days ago to test the ignition wire on my son's ATV. Just plug the ignition wire on to the end of the spark plug an clamp the tool to the engine to ground it. Crank the engine and if the plug "sparks" the wire is good. His did so it was on to checking all of the kill switches.

This is a common homemade tool that I'm sure many of you have made. I have a spare spark plug for various cars so there is usually no need to remove one from the engine I am testing.

View media item 44352

I can't even count how many times I've tried to test for spark by holding the plug by hand to some part of the engine head. This is so common sense I'm kicking myself. And I have all the parts in the garage to make this. A new tool is about to enter my tool box. Thanks for posting.

 

[bonneyman]

I can't even count how many times I've tried to test for spark by holding the plug by hand to some part of the engine head. This is so common sense I'm kicking myself. And I have all the parts in the garage to make this. A new tool is about to enter my tool box. Thanks for posting.

Yes, this is a DIY tool that I need to make!

Update: Done, 1-15-15!

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I can't even count how many times I've tried to test for spark by holding the plug by hand to some part of the engine head. This is so common sense I'm kicking myself. And I have all the parts in the garage to make this. A new tool is about to enter my tool box. Thanks for posting.

No kidding! I have all the parts sitting in my box and somehow never thought of this!

 

[TedF13]

Ive made a few things over the years...


also not really a tool but it makes installing and removing axles really easy

Looks like a good use for old Bed Rails too. A thread for that here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160044

 

[Gasgt1]

An awl I made for my shop.
Grip is apple wood from my yard.

 

[Outlander]

Can-Am clutch tool for changing belts. Does it get any simpler than threaded rod, a box of nuts and some locktite?

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow Gas, that came out beautiful!

 

[raddksn]

Ive made a few things over the years...

289/302/351w oil pump primer. I also have one I made for 351m/c/370/429/460


Not really a tool but it holds my stinger and ground for my mig.


also not really a tool but it makes installing and removing axles really easy


20t air/hydraulic press


using a tool to make a part - 98 Polaris Scrambler linkage













Spanner wrench for rebuilding 9" axles

Thanks for the Polaris shifter fix idea. I have the same problem with my '2000' sportsman

 

[supra90turbo]

An awl I made for my shop.
Grip is apple wood from my yard.

Oh that is so awesome!

 

[TonyCH]

Not exactly home made but I made this little vise from start to finish in junior high when I was 15 (30+ years ago). Followed the instructions from my teacher but made all the steps myself.

Used old file blade for the jaws, annealed (term?), cut to size and then rehardened them. Turned the screw axle and its threads in a lathe and also the spring and the handle. Hammered the cap (like a rivethead) to other end of the handle to lock it in there permanently. Used round and square tubing for the frame and cut the base from sheet. My first time stick welding too.

It was my first metalwork other than some basic candlesticks and door handles we made at primary school. Wasn't aiming for making it pretty but making it work. Still not pretty but it still works.

 

[uart]

I made this little vise from start to finish in junior high when I was 15

Looks like a useful little vise Tony.

It makes the BBQ spatula that I made in high school metalwork class look pretty lame.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Not exactly home made but I made this little vise from start to finish in junior high when I was 15 (30+ years ago).

Looks great! Nice project for a junior high class.

 

[Outlawmws]

Tony, I think it's a cut little hobby vise! Well done, esp for a 15 YO! Heck many adults couldn't do one that nice! Get that puppy posted in the vise thread! (With more, better pics) It deserves its 15 min of fame!

 

[CoopVA]

Tony, I think it's a cut little hobby vise! Well done, esp for a 15 YO! Heck many adults couldn't do one that nice! Get that puppy posted in the vise thread! (With more, better pics) It deserves its 15 min of fame!

Agreed! Much nicer than the ninja stars and hot dog cooker I made...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[greenbikemike]

spark plug and a clamp....... damn good idea,I'm make'n one TODAY! wish I would have seen this 30 years ago! THANKS and there are so many good idea's here,keep'm coming.....
Greenbikemike

 

[bonneyman]

Some of the stuff you guys are doing is just awesome!

 

[TonyCH]

Thanks guys, will take better photos with better light.

LOL, I made the ninja stars too at our garage.

BTW. my very first metal work at primary school (age 9) was a copper ashtray hammered into shape. I doubt they don't maket those at school anymore

 

[Outlander]

spark plug and a clamp....... damn good idea,I'm make'n one TODAY! wish I would have seen this 30 years ago! THANKS and there are so many good idea's here,keep'm coming.....
Greenbikemike

So simple you wonder why you didn't think if it

 

[lilredex]

Here is a start..


hosting images

That is a pretty ambitious school project for any 15 year old. Can't help wondering if the plan came from Southbend's shop project book that most instructors had available.

We made the "C" clamp from that book.... some machining, filing/fitting, but no welding.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Can't help wondering if the plan came from Southbend's shop project book that most instructors had available.

We made the "C" clamp from that book.... some machining, filing/fitting, but no welding.

Good call. See link below.

http://www.wewilliams.net/docs/1928 - South Bend Machine Shop .pdf

Page 3 shows project number 18 is a "C" clamp and number 39 is a "Small Bench Vise, 2 3/4 Inch Jaws"

 

[nomonkeybus]

All Great Tools

 

[TonyCH]

Good call. See link below.

http://www.wewilliams.net/docs/1928 - South Bend Machine Shop .pdf

Page 3 shows project number 18 is a "C" clamp and number 39 is a "Small Bench Vise, 2 3/4 Inch Jaws"

Page 8 shows a pic of the project 39 and it looks nothing like mine. Well, in any case I doubt they were reading any english language projectbooks at my school 30+ years ago. Most likely the foreign technical manuals used (if any) were in germany. Plenty of literature on the subject in finnish too. Most industrial powertools like lathes at the time were Finnish, Swedish or German.

 

[greenbikemike]

So simple you wonder why you didn't think if it

Yup,that and the Pet Rock!

There are so many good ideas here I don't care who thought it up,I'm just glad they did,and I'm gonna "steal" some of them....

BTW,I did make up a spark plug clamp yesterday,whipped it up in time time,can't wait to try it out....
thanks again for all the cleaver ideas


Greenbikemike

 

[Black03cummins]

A spring compressor tool for a Dodge 48RE overdrive unit.


<a href="http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/clintonroy/media/Overdrivetool1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q496/clintonroy/Overdrivetool1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Overdrivetool1.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/clintonroy/media/Overdrivetool2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q496/clintonroy/Overdrivetool2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Overdrivetool2.jpg"/></a>

I am needing to build one of these, could you tell me what the ID and OD of the upper plate and the OD of the bottom?

 

[rmalkow2]

Originally I came to this thread today to just read the latest entry but, there are so many great ideas in here I had to go back to page 1 again and read the whole thing through once more. Every time I do this I see another idea that sparks something I can use.
Great thread!!

 

[rmalkow2]

And it just happens that by re-reading this thread today I saw another member making a free standing garage light stand for good extra horizontal lighting. It sparked the idea to do the same thing with some pieces I had laying around the garage. Using a previously purchased vertical display rack, an old 4' light fixture, a couple metal screws and, some tie wraps this free standing light fixture was born in about 30 minutes time.
Thanks for the idea GJ!!!!



This will get use inside and outside the garage a lot.

 

[Coopduc]

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. Here's some wrenches modified for specific tasks.

 

[steed andersen]

LOVE this thread! Reminds me of the oldtimers who could build anything.

 

[Gasgt1]

Awl made from 3/16 stock.
Twisted, filed and blued.

Handle is apple wood.

 

[abk241]

I was able to convert my routers edge guide into a trammel.
I simply drilled and tapped a hole in the contour finger and use a shoulder bolt as the pivot point.
I can now cut holes up to about 20" diameter.

 

[kazlx]

 

[bmxdad]

My pin puller ... crude but worked flawlessly.

It could pull any pin that a regular pin puller couldn't.

 

[ADSR]

I call it the Coolantator 2012, my old one broke last week so I started over and made some improvements. It is a coolant drain and fill machine, it runs on vacuum and can do the job in under 15 minutes. The last pic is the coolantator 2000 which is the one that bit the dust.

Need more info! This is awesome!

 

[rick carpenter]

My pin puller ... crude but worked flawlessly.

It could pull any pin that a regular pin puller couldn't.

How many regular pins could a regular pin puller pull if a regular pin puller could pull regular pins?

 

[bmxdad]

How many regular pins could a regular pin puller pull if a regular pin puller could pull regular pins?

 

[ex-x-fire]

I made a simple 16" hook out of bar stock to pull on oil filter wrenches that are hard to reach. It hooks into the looped handle & allows you to pull very hard. The other end has a small bar making it into a tee handle. This works very well on mid 2000s up Ford F-150s with the 4.6 & 5.4L engines.

 

[Motronic]

This isn't nearly up to the level of creativity or effort of most of what's been posted here, but I was too cheap to rent a drywall lift and had a cherry picker in the garage so......

 

[angrystroker]

Not cheap resourceful is the word for that.

 

[justme-]

These are custom made assembly tools for a pneumatic device I used to work on and build. Seal installers, seal aligner/pressure test tool, custom spanner/pin wrench and calibration gage.

 

[ADSR]

This isn't nearly up to the level of creativity or effort of most of what's been posted here, but I was too cheap to rent a drywall lift and had a cherry picker in the garage so......

That's nuts. There is no way i would go under that thing to fasten the sheet