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Homemade Tools

Posted by 141drew Posted onJun 29, 2010 at 12:29 PM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on May 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM


I was cruising the H.A.M.B. this morning and stumbled on to an old post covering hand made tools. I thought you fellas might enjoy it as much as I did. Check it out here.

And… while we are at it, why don’t we make our own post? Post your hand made tools as a reply. My favorite will get a little prize…


See Comments on the forum.

View thread (798 replies)
K

kruegdr

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
176
Location
Kansas
What weight of rail is that rail-anvil?

Nowadays if you can get your hands on some 132, 136, or 141 lb/yd that was used in a curve, it's almost always head-hardened.
 
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d110pickup

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
265
Location
Canton, Ga.
Here's a few photos of a press brake I built. No paint yet but if I have a chance it'll get painted.
So far I've bent 1/4" thick cold rolled steel about 15" long and 3/8"x2" wide. Both bent very easily with a 30 ton bottle jack.
Mike
This is the front.
IMG_1153P.jpg
The back.
IMG_1157P.jpg
Some detail.
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IMG_1165P.jpg
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The bent 1/4"
IMG_1163P.jpg
 
L

lilredex

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Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
5,943
Location
Toronto
d110pickup said:
Here's a few photos of a press brake I built. No paint yet but if I have a chance it'll get painted.
So far I've bent 1/4" thick cold rolled steel about 15" long and 3/8"x2" wide. Both bent very easily with a 30 ton bottle jack.
Mike

Now that is a bender, thanks for sharing that one! Have saved your pics for future use.
Click to expand...
 
P

PCO6

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2008
Messages
4,573
Location
Newmarket, Ontario
Here are a few of mine ...
- shop press
- sandblast cabinet
- parts washer
 

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Dmar836

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
53
Location
Kansas City
I restore and ride vintage lightweight bicycles. I had a few parts I couldn't remove with my available tools so I made them. The notched piece is all hand done with files and was brazed onto an old socket.

IMG_1503.jpg
 
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speed bump

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
6,317
Location
Butte Montana
I seem to be acquiring a bunch but they are all 800 miles away right now so i'll have to post pictures when I get home.
 
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R

reptilezs

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Mar 23, 2010
Messages
1,015
Dmar836 said:
I restore and ride vintage lightweight bicycles. I had a few parts I couldn't remove with my available tools so I made them. The notched piece is all hand done with files and was brazed onto an old socket.

IMG_1503.jpg
Click to expand...

nice job on the crank puller and bb tool
 
S

scott37300

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2010
Messages
3,450
Location
Wisconsin
Here is an air spring compressor I made for changing struts. Works great and can do a strut in a couple of minutes.

100_2684.jpg
 
K

kruegdr

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
176
Location
Kansas
snapmom said:
Its small, maybe 20 pounds. Someone did a lot of work. I use it as a carry around tool.
Click to expand...

Snapmom - I was referring to the weight of the rail in lbs/yd. How tall is the rail? That is an indicator of what type of rail it is (in lbs/yd).

I'm going to be on the hunt for a chunk of head hardened 136 or 141 lb/yd rail and fashion one of these.
 
D

d110pickup

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
265
Location
Canton, Ga.
I'm glad now I didn't paint the press brake, I was using it today and decided to make an addition. I added a support for the retraction valve. I cut the pump handle and made it into a T shape and switched to piece of conduit for the pump handle. Here's a few photos.
Thanks for looking,
Mike
IMG_1169P.jpg
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I also added a couple of pieces of angle to help me feed the stock in straight. This project has a helluva lot of bends.
IMG_1173P.jpg
 
D

d110pickup

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
265
Location
Canton, Ga.
Here's a couple of shots of the table I'm building now. It's 3/8x2 flat stock and I'm using the press brake to form the 13 3/4 radius bends and the 60 degree bend at each end. The bends are effortless but there's bunch. I'm spacing them 1/2" apart.
Mike
IMG_1177P.jpg

IMG_1175P.jpg
 
C

convx4

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
10
Location
St louis MO
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!
 

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metal1313

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Apr 28, 2009
Messages
3,416
Location
clinton NJ
d110pickup said:
Here's a couple of shots of the table I'm building now. It's 3/8x2 flat stock and I'm using the press brake to form the 13 3/4 radius bends and the 60 degree bend at each end. The bends are effortless but there's bunch. I'm spacing them 1/2" apart.
Mike
IMG_1177P.jpg

IMG_1175P.jpg
Click to expand...

i love this thing, and really want to build one, but just an idea; why not switch to an air/hydro pump instead of just pumping away everytime on your project with tons of repeated passes? one like this from hf maybe? http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-low-profile-air-hydraulic-bottle-jack-97453.html but its only 20ton
 
S

Swag Off Road

Member
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
18
I thought I would show off my home made press brake. It worked out so well that I made a DIY kit.

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Take a look at the video below.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks Troy
 
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T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
I am thinking of making an engine support bar.

Is a treated 4x4 strong enough to use? Or, should I use a 6x6? I am thinking about drilling a hole in the board directly over the engine hook, using a large, long bolt to go through chain on the engine hook, and then through the hole in the board, place a large washer on it, and a nut. As you turn the nut, it will lift or lower the engine, allowing for the engine and transmission to be lowered for easier transmission removal. Sorta like this: http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/eagle483/M3/oil%20pan%20job/IMG_0312.jpg

But for a front wheel drive car. 2.3l 4 cyl.

What are your thoughts?
 
K

KCMongo

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
15
Location
Kansas City
Here's my Truck Cab lifter, has come in handy many times moving, removing, and installing truck cabs. I added the the piece to the end of my shop crane so I can set it on whenever I need it. Action Shots Closeup Shots Adding the Air over Hydraulic cylinder to my lift has taken a job that usually required several friends and a 12 pack to one that can be done with one hand.
Mongo
 
T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
Well, This is my homemade engine support bar. Made it because I needed it right away. I've had the wood for years. Only had to buy the bolt... $1.98.
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So far so good... seems to be very strong...
 
W

wafrederick

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Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
6,044
Location
Holton,Mi
I make them with cheap throw away tools and never use my good tools.I have a couple cheap wrenches I have ground the box ends down to get in a tight spot.I have one big screwdriver with a notch ground on the side of the tip,use this one on some snap rings in automatic transmissions.All I do is get this screwdriver in the goove going around the groove and twist,snap ring comes out easy.
 
I

Interex

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Joined
Apr 20, 2010
Messages
960
Location
Dallas, TX
convx4 said:
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!
Click to expand...
Awesome idea! I've got the exact same ****** jack adapter and was just getting ready to toss it. I tried using it on jack only to find that it was completely unstable. Thanks for sharing! :thumbup:
 
M

mrholeshot

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
8,043
Before anyone was building valve spring compressors for Modular Ford engines while the head was off the car I needed one on one I was porting the heads on. I built this in about 15 minutes. It was built using a Blue point VS compressor and a 11/16 Craftsman Deep well 12 point socket. Ive since refined it into one that won't allow the socket to slide off the retainer. I've built about ten versions but this was the first.

IMG_0351-1.jpg


IMG_0353-2.jpg
 
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