Post your homemade tools!

[supermanotorious]

Hopefully you guys will rally on this one and the ever so knowledgeable moderators will sticky this one. Inspired by THIS thread lets dedicate a thread to homemade or shopmade tools that maybe got you through one job or proved reliable enough to use several times.

Here is my motorcycle oil filter wrench made from a busted ratchet strap, 2 screws, and scrap square tubing.

Also my large wire crimp tool made from 1/2" round stock, scrap pipe, and scrap square tube.

 

[machinist@large]

I've got some real esoteric stuff I've built over the last couple of decades, but all of my old photo's are 35mm film; I don't have a functioning scanner, and the few tools I wound up with because the former employer was just going to throw them away when he sold the business aren't much good without the whole back story.....

Cudo's on figuring out the strap wrench; if you had posted a question here first, you would have gotten suggestions in that line (practical minds tend to think in practical terms...)....

Pat

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well Pat- unfortunately you know the drill around here....."without pics it didn't happen...." So now your lack of evidence has sent you directly to the DIY gas chamber....Do not pass go... Do not collect $200 worth of DIY stickers.....We're firm but fair......

Yeppers- the young-uns got it made nowadays. .....

I guess it works both ways though....if they had YouTube and smartphones and so many cameras around in my youth- I would be spending my golden years ( and most of my youth) behind bars..........

 

[itsid]

Well Pat- unfortunately you know the drill around here....."without pics it didn't happen...." So now your lack of evidence has sent you directly to the DIY gas chamber....Do not pass go... Do not collect $200 worth of DIY stickers.....We're firm but fair......

*cough* Doug my friend...

take care about terminology please

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Hmm, where do I start...

Tyre Changer/Bead Breaker
Simple Clutch/Gear Puller
Bench (that's a tool isn't it?)

Then there's my tool chest, tool tray (this is the little one @ 12" long, the other is 20" long), slide hammer (the centre bar is 3/4"), MIG welder trolley...

I have other stands & benches around the place as well as an assortment of purpose made panel beating tools... just to name a few...

*cough* Doug my friend...

take care about terminology please

'sid

Although I realise it may sound offensive to you, remember that, up until the 1980s, the gas chamber was one form of criminal execution in the USA; I'm sure that's what Doug was referring to...

 

[Poboy kartman]

Hmm,


Although I realise it may sound offensive to you, remember that, up until the 1980s, the gas chamber was one form of criminal execution in the USA; I'm sure that's what Doug was referring to...

Yes- it was and I used it for for the fact it's not in use. ...therefore - hopefully wouldn't be taken with any seriousness. ....DIY lethal injection. .. (nope- sounds like a druggie...).....ummmn....DIY firing squad. .... ( too scary, sounds like someone might lose a job....)...........I give up....40 lashes with a 40 series belt.....oh- heck, let's just let him off with a warning this time. ....

 

[itsid]

Although I realise it may sound offensive to you, remember that, up until the 1980s, the gas chamber was one form of criminal execution in the USA; I'm sure that's what Doug was referring to...

I know (well I though it still is in some states...)
and actually what I meant.
That's a little harsh for just a missing pic IMHO.

that's maybe just me... nevermind

'sid

 

[mckutzy]

At one of my old jobs a few years ago, We had a really nice small puller. we used it for removing small bearings off of small motors and servos.
We called it the slapper. Had a kinda in house going challenge who could slap off the biggest bearing with the fewest hits.
I think one of use hit it off( a 1" bore) with 1.5 hits, but the magnet on the servo rotor was slowing down the bearing. It was a pretty big motor.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well just a quick "Poboy" tool I made for cleaning out my return air space I carpeted 20 years ago. ...Just a $1 backscratcher, some masking tape and my shop vac.....

BTW- Works really well on the edges next to baseboards.

 

[freakincage]

Home made starter clutch wrench

Landuse suggested I share this with you all. Made from scrap steel I had kicking around and a couple of 1 1/8" nuts.

 

[landuse]

Nice. Thanks

 

[2SlickNick]

Don't forget to edit and state what the tool is for....

 

[freakincage]

Don't forget to edit and state what the tool is for....

It's in the title.

 

[2SlickNick]

Dohh

 

[linuxman51]

thru-hole spring compressor

I've made a couple small odds and ends (mostly valve opening jigs for the flowbench, nothing really cool there), but this guy Ive used for a number of things since it's initial inception:

I made it first to help get the retainer clips off of automatic transmission drums so I can get in there and replace the piston seals. Some are easier than others (th400 comes to mind)

I re-purposed it to pull bushings into place on the car, and a couple other things (hence the modification along the back, it started deforming on me)

 

[fowler]

spanner extender

for the tight bolts u cant get with a rattle gun or big ratchet

forgot about posting it here
like machinist
without a detailed story and explanation the tools i make are just scrap metal welded in strange ways to most

the handle is made out of Australian standard handrail tube
so every mine site or heavy workshop has it in varying lengths which is why it isn't welded on
adjustable

its a loose fit because its usually used with the open end on the bolt
so room has to be allowed for the angle of the ring end

 

[linuxman51]

for the tight bolts u cant get with a rattle gun or big ratchet

forgot about posting it here
like machinist
without a detailed story and explanation the tools i make are just scrap metal welded in strange ways to most

the handle is made out of Australian standard handrail tube
so every mine site or heavy workshop has it in varying lengths which is why it isn't welded on
adjustable

its a loose fit because its usually used with the open end on the bolt
so room has to be allowed for the angle of the ring end

That's pretty slick right there, I like that a lot!

 

[andrewmacc]

Does a homemade paper towel holder count? Piece of scrap 1.5" HREW with a 90* in it, scrap angle and a scrap bit of 1"x1" square. I cut a ring out of sheet metal that I tacked to create a lip where the plastic bottom could sit steady, which prevents the paper towel from unraveling.

And the brake press to go in the shop press. Bends 1/4" steel pretty easy - I can get a 90* if I try to "coin" it, but I'm not sure where the limit of the press is when I do that. On less than 1/4" there's no problem getting a 90*.
The bottom is 5/8" plate, it might actually be AR plate, I got it from my old workplace in the scrap. Middle receiving die is 1.5"x3/16", and the "cradle" is 1.5"x1/4". Male die is 1.5"x3/16" with stock stitch welded along the inside to strengthen it, and the cap is 1/2" flat bar, as is the backbrace.
Guide posts are just 3/4" cold roll and 7/8"x.120" DOM with springs from the auto parts store.
All welded in short alternating sections to limit warping. The male die was actually tacked to another solid chunk of steel so it wouldn't bow after welding.

 

[firemanjim]

30 series driven spring, and a throttle return spring...... With out these 2 items.... My stereo will NOT pick up reception......
Does that count?

 

[supermanotorious]

failed grommet press attempt

well I thought this was a good idea anyway: grab some cheapie pliers at a pawn shop, modify and weld the Harbor Freight grommet kit punch set to the jaws, and start pressing grommets with ease

didn't work out so good, if you look at pictures of grommet presses, the die moves straight up and down, the pliers cause the two halves to meet on an arc and there's no way to get a clean press

I am going to make a screw driven press now and will post pictures when its done