Short cuts when others would run to the hardware store.

[Copymutt]

My normal day in the garage making do w/ what’s here now!
For fabricators this is child’s play, but not all minds think alike.

Needed a 1/2” NC coupling & a couple rough protective sleeves or bushings.
4 nuts & a mig = a coupling. EMT & an angle grinder = a sleeved pass thru.

Vise gets no luv, freshly painted two days ago. Leave the nuts a little loose for easy threading.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

The other day I needed a hold down clamp for the spare tire and I did something similar. An M8x1.25 bolt, sawed off top of a one-inch eye hook welded on top of the bolt and some spray paint. Did the trick.

 

[cruzer75]

Nice! I know some folks would say its a waste of time, but sometimes its fun to make instead of buy. I do this for tools sometimes as well.

 

[danielbuck]

that's the fun part of being setup and capable of making or modifying things

 

[2oolhound]

Plus it's often faster than going out and trying to find one. Then you deal with:
- finding parking
- risking a fender bender or road rage incident
- finally finding something but turns out to be poorly made and falls apart
- wasting time and not getting back to work for 4 hours
- etc.

 

[Meursault74]

During Covid, I made my own dustpan on a stick for the garage. The one I had fell apart during that time. Didn't want to go to a store just for that or order one.

I took a sturdy plastic tray I had (think cafeteria tray strength but higher sides). Cut in half. Took a piece of wood drilled some holes and attached the tray to it with screws Then I took a broom stick I had and stuck it in the hole on the top. I've been using it for the last couple years now. I had everything lying around the garage I needed.

 

[Copymutt]

For many of us our parents endured the great depression. Talk about making do. My dad related the story of using a hickory limb to replace a broken spring on the family vehicle!

 

[APEowner]

A machinist friend of mine says that he'll often make fittings when doing weekend plumbing projects. In addition to allowing him to complete the project on his schedule he enjoys the idea of someone in the distant future going to the hardware store to try and match his custom work.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I haven't done that exact thing before, but on at least a few occasions I've had to weld two different nuts together to adapt one thread to another.

For some of us, the store with the correct part is too far away. Or it's Saturday night. Or you only have one vehicle and to go to the store means putting everything back together to make the drive and then take it all back apart.

 

[danielbuck]

or maybe have had a few drinks and really shouldn't drive to the hardware store anyway

 

[i4ni]

"Grew up having to turn **** into apple butter" as the old saying goes.lol
Lots of trial and error. Beer can tailpipe patches don't last long