Modifing Tools

[Atlascycle]

I know there are lots of people that have had to modify a tool to get a job done.

Just yesterday I was working on a 30hp air compressor at work and had to modify a brand new Armstrong 1 1/4" crowsfoot wrench, the compressor had a coolant leak around the fill elbow, but the crowsfoot would not fit between the elbow and the locking nut...so to the Mill and surface grinder I went.

The Problem:

Nice Brand New Wrench, never touched a nut or fitting:

No Mill Pictures, Hands were busy holding the chip shield and running the mill, heres the wrench on the grinder:

Before and After:

 

[Jokeman]

I try to keep my cheap tools around for that kinda stuff.

 

[goodfellow]

Man, that's sad to see. I would have bought a cheapo for that job. But, when you're on the clock, that may not be an option.

 

[Atlascycle]

Man, that's sad to see. I would have bought a cheapo for that job. But, when you're on the clock, that may not be an option.

luckily it was the company dime for the Crowsfoot.

Jason

 

[dxdexter]

I feel your pain. I had to do a very similar modification while working on a forklift back in the mid 80's. I had no other choice at the time, but I regret hacking the tool. At that time the only crows foot wrenches available were high quality. There was no Princess Auto or HF in my area to get any cheap tools other than the typical Japanese socket sets of the day from department stores.

 

[mkdive]

Dex thats a pretty handy rail for holding your crowsfoot collection any more pics of the entire rail? I have been looking for something like that.

 

[dxdexter]

Dex thats a pretty handy rail for holding your crowsfoot collection any more pics of the entire rail? I have been looking for something like that.

Bought it from Snap-on. Link

 

[ron in sc]

I had to do the exact same thing with a crowsfoot wrench a number of years ago to remove an air check valve on the rear of a Porsche 993 motor with the motor installed in the car. The job is done just about completely by feel.

Used a 1" crowsfoot wrench and grinded it to be 17mm and only 6mm thick.


Edited
Photos of my transmission jack. Just a floor jack with a 1/2" aluminum plate cut to fit size of transmission and a piece of plywood so the bolt holding the plate can be recessed.

 

[peteco]

I have some cheap combination wrenches that I will cut when I need a specific length. One time I needed a "crowfoot" 10mm that needed to be about 2" long. I cut the combination wrench to length, drilled a 1/4" hole in the handle, then filed the hole to a 1/4" square shape for a long extension to fit in.

 

[rsanter]

personally I have no issues modifying a tool unless its someold, vintage, classic, or a heirloom handed down from my dad or something like that.
if you can go down and get another one today then there is just no problem to it.
yes I would prefer to modify a cheapie, but sometimes the cheapie is not up to the job even before the mod and its really not up to it after the mod.
if the modification to the tool makes it a tool you will use regularly then its even better because of how many times it will save you time

bob

 

[caper]

This drawer has a few cut up and modified wrenches including one 2" one that I made into a crowsfoot in the woods one day to get a hydraulic pump off a timberjack.Cut and make a wrench or drive 2 hrs each way to buy one?Make it!