Beerhippie
Well-known member
^Dual purpose hammer/chuck key!
The repurposing thread
- Thread starter BMB
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slowtwitch73
Well-known member
My lathe tray pretty much looks like something from Star Wars, so the larger size will be appreciated.
atch
Well-known member
I don't know for sure how you would handle it with a lathe but on both my drill presses I have the key hanging on a chain. It NEVER gets lost 'cause it's always right there. Here's one of them:Got tired of my Jacobs chuck key.. dropping it into the lathe tray of doom, misplacing it between lathe and mill.. seemed the sob was always flying around.
Don't know why it took so long, but today was the day. Found an old pipe cutter handle in the stash box and voila. Nice reach, no weird handle, big enough to keep track of, hefty enough to hammer on stuff.
pcrov
Well-known member
Simple one - repurposed this funky old pipe clamp:
into a paper towel holder:
(Bonus repurpose: paper towel roll into funnel holder!)
into a paper towel holder:
(Bonus repurpose: paper towel roll into funnel holder!)
A chain, how fancy! Mine's came on a piec of rubber weatherstripping:I don't know for sure how you would handle it with a lathe but on both my drill presses I have the key hanging on a chain. It NEVER gets lost 'cause it's always right there. Here's one of them:
Works fine, never saw a reason to change it.
I don't know for sure how you would handle it with a lathe but on both my drill presses I have the key hanging on a chain. It NEVER gets lost 'cause it's always right there. Here's one of them:
I've used a magnetic version of this for many years on my drill press. Works great!
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
For my chuck key I use a chunk of curly old school telephone handset cord.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I pop riveted a 3/4" EMT clamp to the front of the pulley guard to corral my drill press chuck key. It's right at eye level, easy to see before hitting the go button.
FullRaceMerc
Well-known member
I remember reading an article where the guy set up a kill switch that was released when the key was slid into its parking place. So if the key wasn't put away the motor wouldn't run. Always seemed like a good idea, but not one I've ever implemented.
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I like my retractable better since it stays well out of the way but that's a really good one as well.
atch
Well-known member
Your paper towel holder reminds me of a couple I made for my shop. First is some threaded pipe screwed together. Second is some 1/2 x 1/2 inch square tube welded together. I guess you could call these "repurposed" as they both are made out of scraps.Simple one - repurposed this funky old pipe clamp:
into a paper towel holder:
(Bonus repurpose: paper towel roll into funnel holder!)
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BMW Rider
Well-known member
So now I can neither tighten the chuck or start the drill press cause I misplaced the key.
atch
Well-known member
Sounds like (if you were to actually do this) time to hit up garage sales, estate sales, and swap meets to obtain some extra keys. Which isn't a bad idea anyway. I've kept the keys for all the drills that I've ever scrapped and keep them in a drawer. They sometimes come in handy.So now I can neither tighten the chuck or start the drill press cause I misplaced the key.
atch
Well-known member
On another note; on some forum (perhaps this one but I just don't remember) I was roundly criticized for this. The poster claimed it was dangerous in that you could start the motor while the key was still in the chuck and cause catastrophe. I really can't see how this could happen. One of these drill presses has had the key hanging on a chain for over 35 years and the other one over 25 years. I've never failed to remove the key before I started drilling. While tightening the chuck the chain is always touching my hand and it's just natural to remove the key before doing anything else.I don't know for sure how you would handle it with a lathe but on both my drill presses I have the key hanging on a chain. It NEVER gets lost 'cause it's always right there. Here's one of them:
atch
Well-known member
And while we're on the subject of drill presses and repurposing, note the holes in the DP table. Those are all tapped and I have cut the heads off of bolts (the repurposing part) that screw into these holes. I rounded off the non-threaded end of them. They stick up an inch or two above the table when installed. When drilling I usually install a bolt in the appropriate hole and let the subject piece rest against that bolt before starting the motor. That way you NEVER have a piece of steel spinning at a dizzying rate (and slicing your hand at the same time) when the bit catches in the subject. One of the holes has one of these bolts installed, near the edge of the table away from the camera. Of course, I conveniently had the clamp handle partially obscuring it when I snapped the pic. These tapped holes were already in the table when I bought it. They are different sizes and I have no idea what the previous owner used them for.
When I don't use one of the bolts I use the HF clamps on the subject. These come with a nut which I replaced with those nuts that have a large loop cast into them. I don't know what they are called but every hardware store has them. That way it's really easy/quick to move the clamps around on the table without having to resort to using a wrench. A large wing nut would do the same thing.
When I don't use one of the bolts I use the HF clamps on the subject. These come with a nut which I replaced with those nuts that have a large loop cast into them. I don't know what they are called but every hardware store has them. That way it's really easy/quick to move the clamps around on the table without having to resort to using a wrench. A large wing nut would do the same thing.
atch
Well-known member
Hey dsheidt, how 'bout filling us in on what that gizmo is that you attached to the DP post?A chain, how fancy! Mine's came on a piece of rubber weatherstripping:
Works fine, never saw a reason to change it.
gleman
Well-known member
Simple one - repurposed this funky old pipe clamp:
into a paper towel holder:
(Bonus repurpose: paper towel roll into funnel holder!
I got an old masker from a barn clean out.Simple one - repurposed this funky old pipe clamp:
into a paper towel holder:
(Bonus repurpose: paper towel roll into funnel holder!)
A bit of cleanup and its a paper towel holder now.
It's a little table to hold stuff, like a drill index, and some other often used bits. It was inspired by the one Lee Valley sells -- I got one as a gift a few years ago, and the column of my press is too big for it. Mine is rather larger and has an articulated middle section that moves the table far enough over to not interfere with the drill handle, but lets the actual table be closer to the front.
Clamp is round on one side, and a V on the other, so it has three point clamping. It also rests on the collar that holds the top of the table adjustment rack. The clamping bolts use the sort of barrel nut lots of flat pack furniture uses. I forget if I bought them, or if they're salvaged from some piece of scrapped furniture. Everything else is made from scraps. It really does tilt that much, from a combination of slop in the pivot holes, and flex in the clamping pieces, which are only 1/2" ply. But it works, was basically free, and it hasn't annoyed me enough to rebuild it.
alwaysFlOoReD
Well-known member
My paint roller handle towel holder;
Hmmm. I do have some extras…My paint roller handle towel holder;
FullRaceMerc
Well-known member
Part of the self training process. Do that a couple of times & you'll remember to put it away.So now I can neither tighten the chuck or start the drill press cause I misplaced the key.
Or stuff a screwdriver in there to override the safety. Which might help you find the key hiding in the backside of the chuck.The other solution is the one I use. That is to think it's interesting, but never put it into practice.
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BMW Rider
Well-known member
I do actually have a few spare chuck keys from an old chucks and drills that wore out and got replaced. The main key is kept stuck to the drill press with a magnet, so not truly a problem most of the time. But I do sometimes play games of hide and seek with myself.
It's a little table to hold stuff, like a drill index, and some other often used bits. It was inspired by the one Lee Valley sells -- I got one as a gift a few years ago, and the column of my press is too big for it. Mine is rather larger and has an articulated middle section that moves the table far enough over to not interfere with the drill handle, but lets the actual table be closer to the front.
Clamp is round on one side, and a V on the other, so it has three point clamping. It also rests on the collar that holds the top of the table adjustment rack. The clamping bolts use the sort of barrel nut lots of flat pack furniture uses. I forget if I bought them, or if they're salvaged from some piece of scrapped furniture. Everything else is made from scraps. It really does tilt that much, from a combination of slop in the pivot holes, and flex in the clamping pieces, which are only 1/2" ply. But it works, was basically free, and it hasn't annoyed me enough to rebuild it.
VERY nice!
Mike
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I have magnetic trays on the drill press and the lathe. The key and a few small tools live there.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Your idea makes me think of those motorcyle/atv jacks. It would be nice if everything in the garage that wasn't already on wheels was able to be easily moved. Like a pallet jack but smaller.Just repurposed this old corner cabinet into a portable sanding/grinding cutting cart. Note i can move my messy work outside with a floor jack
Beerhippie
Well-known member
TURN THAT RAKE AROUND!
I'd be bleeding the first time I walked by.
WoodsTruck
Well-known member
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- Jan 12, 2013
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I have one. I use it under the quad, motorbike to change tires, sleds and also put a platform on it to install a 4-speed/transfer case in my Bronco. Mini pallet jack with decent lift.
I hastily chucked a bunch of tools into the new rack - we’ll need to make another, a little shorter, for all of the axes, sledgehammers, picks, etc with shorter handles, and another the same height as the first
TURN THAT RAKE AROUND!
I'd be bleeding the first time I walked by.
Honestly, the shop is such a disaster at the moment that, trust me on this, it is A LOT safer with all these tools contained. When we get the shop organized to the point you can actually walk through, all of these tools will be accessible, but out of the way
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I'm a little rake-obsessive. A coworker here loves to leave them lying around tines-up. Having actually stepped on one like that, it isn't as funny as it was in the cartoons.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I just had a ****** nose that lasted for hours and a nice shiner. I told my friends that they should see the other guy.
An acquaintance was plowing snow with a small tractor with no cab: had a shovel across his lap. A tire chain link broke, and the flinging chain wrapped the shovel handle sending the shovel end into the side of his head, broke his jaw and got knocked out. One of the neighbors found him, still on the tractor, driving in circles out in the adjoining field, out cold.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I drove a pumper for the USFS many years ago. It was a mil surp deuce-and-a-half with 500 gallons of water and a big gas powered pump on the bed.
Anywhoo, we were practicing off-roading one day (we actually got paid for this) and my partner had his arm resting on the window frame with his elbow sticking out. A large stick got kicked up by the front wheel and he then got a ride to the hospital (an hour-and-a-half away) to get a busted elbow patched up. He spent the rest of the season with his right arm in a wrist-to-shoulder cast--which were hot, heavy plaster back then.
I'd warned him, but he knew better....
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Cleaned up a dozen old hand tools with an old plastic carrier for wine bottles, some scrap lumber, and a few screws. Our daughter and SIL just moved into an old refurbished farmhouse in N Italy this summer - there is A lot to do….
I LOVE that idea!
I've never seen a plastic carrier for wine bottles. Everything here is cheap cardboard.
Mike
No shortage of ways to be killed or injured in a deuce-and-a-half. Dad's told me few from his two years driving them in convoys during the Vietnam War.
Mike
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Well, at least no one was shooting guns or RPGs or throwing grenades at us!
A friend of mine drove a gun truck on Hwy 1 in 'Nam in the late '60s. He has stories.
Which truck absolutely fits this thread.