Make Your Own Tools Thread.

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Just thinking a lot of the tools i have are home made or adapted so thought it would be useful to share ideas. So anything tools/jigs etc you have made simple or complicated post up descriptions, pics etc.

 

Made this the other night in a couple of hours, simple but effective. A wheel barrow wheel with a sander belt mounted on a lathe for rapid sanding of metal. Deflate the wheel fit the belt and re-inflate to hold belt in place. I just made up the belt from a massive long industrial linishing belt, a box of which i got off ebay. Use a carborundum stone and rub 50mm of grit off one end and the resin off the back on the other end then lap and glue the ends together. I use "Lumberjack" adhesive you get in mastic tubes, not much it won't stick, it is awesome stuff. A bit of polythene over and under the belt so it doesn't stick to the bench and clamp or weight overnight.

 

Thinking about it i made the lathe too 20 yrs ago, before i could weld so it is all bolted/ riveted together, made with basic tools, step pulleys turned from wood.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2015 by GruffaloGriff

[Wullz 408]

Looking at your stuff makes me think back to the days I was an apprentice in Cummins, there were guys in there who could make anything out of anything, nothing got chucked, it got re-used. If you needed something for your motor or hobby, whatever, there was a guy in the factory who could make it.....glad to see craftsmen still exist!!

You could get anything done in there, I had an anchor made from scrap bar and I have seen a line stop so that a microphone holder could get machined out of a solid brass lump....quality stuff......unfortunately all gone now...whole factory lying empty.

 

Keep it up Griff, brilliant!

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Thanks wullz, think that is kind of my motto..... "make anything out of anything, nothing got chucked, it got re-used"

 

Joiner to trade, every thing else is self taught, i just like making things...and if i am not making them i am taking them apart! Seem to get an idea in my head and am compelled to give it a try, mostly works....sometimes not but that's how you learn, that and learning from others ideas & experience.

 

Take welding for example...i always loved the idea but never had the chanse to try it out...seemed something almost mystical that specialists did. Thought about it over the years then just took the plunge and bought a mig welder and a book, didn't much read the book but never looked back with the welding.

 

Now take the jump in at the deep end approach with most things.

Edited March 18, 2015 by GruffaloGriff

[the big chief 3,099]

Never made my own tools but probably will give it a bash one day I am always doing stuff so maybe this is on the cards lol good stuff griff

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Never made my own tools but probably will give it a bash one day I am always doing stuff so maybe this is on the cards lol good stuff griff

You just finished a knife gaff, one of the most versatile tools man has ever made(and the first tool i ever owned) so don't belittle your skills. You make templates etc for your catties etc. You got a good eye for design and making shapes flow as can be seen with your sticks. Not a big gap between that and making other jigs and tools, you have the basic skills an more importantly ideas and an interest in making things.

 

Keep up the good work and trying new ideas that push your boundaries.

Edited March 18, 2015 by GruffaloGriff

[the big chief 3,099]

 

Never made my own tools but probably will give it a bash one day I am always doing stuff so maybe this is on the cards lol good stuff griff

You just finished a knife gaff, one of the most versatile tools man has ever made(and the first tool i ever owned) so don't belittle your skills. You make templates etc for your catties etc. You got a good eye for design and making shapes flow as can be seen with your sticks. Not a big gap between that and making other jigs and tools, you have the basic skills an more importantly ideas and an interest in making things.

 

Keep up the good work and trying new ideas that push your boundaries.

 

yes mate knife done i have done a thread about it

[midnight 657]

I make stuff all the time ,other than knives , but I have never documented it ...

 

I don't like the man but my dad is a war baby and very inventive , I think that helped me to "have a go" I don't really have anything in progress to post here unfortunately .

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Here's my forge, pretty basic, an old oil drum with platform welded inside part way up to take fire bricks, old brake disc sits down in in the fire bricks, bit of 2" pipe up through the middle of the disc, elbow on the bottom to take the blower. Blower - an old hoover, has a good variable speed dial but rely even on slowest speed it is too much air so also have a flap to open on the outlet to allow more or less air flow.

 

Just took an afternoon to make.

 

Go through phases of using it so it just sits outside the shed and i drag the anvil to the door.

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2015 by GruffaloGriff

[leethedog 3,071]

Here's my forge, pretty basic, an old oil drum with platform welded inside part way up to take fire bricks, old brake disc sits down in in the fire bricks, bit of 2" pipe up through the middle of the disc, elbow on the bottom to take the blower. Blower - an old hoover, has a good variable speed dial but rely even on slowest speed it is too much air so also have a flap to open on the outlet to allow more or less air flow.

 

Just took an afternoon to make.

 

Go through phases of using it so it just sits outside the shed and i drag the anvil to the door.

 

 

 

your a very inventive man gruff hats off to ya what fuel you burn in that

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Cheers Lee. Just burn whatever coal is in the coal bunker, sneak it out when my mrs isn't looking The more expensive better quality coal seems to work best rather than the cheapest bag you can find. Just put a handful of shavings and a couple of sticks, light it, tip a 1/4 bucket of coal on top. Start up the blower let it burn for 10miniutes or so to burn off all the smokey stuff (top picture is at the burning off stage). At this stage switch off the blower and give the coals a good battering with the tongs or something hard to brake up the coals into small chunks, blower back on for a couple of minutes and you are good to go. You can easily forge a blade on 1/4 bucket of coal so a fairly cheap way to do it. Better to have a few things on the go at once, you can get a fair bit done with 1/2 a bucket. I am no expert, just trial and error so may be a better way to do it but it works for me.

 

An old bit of steel pipe cut in half laid on top works well to contain/concentrate the heat for long stuff (big blades etc)

 

Edited March 23, 2015 by GruffaloGriff

[air gun ant 1,666]

been thinking of making one of those myself mate exactly the same design, wonderfull thing is the internet lol i just need to pinch our lasses hoover now (she never uses the bloody thing anyway lol )

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

been thinking of making one of those myself mate exactly the same design, wonderfull thing is the internet lol i just need to pinch our lasses hoover now (she never uses the bloody thing anyway lol )

:laugh:

 

Plenty of old hoover on the recycling skip, most still work, filters just bunged up and they get chucked. Blow the filters out with an air line and they are good to go. Could pick up half a dozen any day i wanted.

[mule123 112]

thats the trouble with people tday nobody repairs or makes owt anymore . the throw away society .like the sander

[Blackbriar 8,569]

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but how does a hoover blow air ?

 

I'm sure the explanation's really simple, but I don't follow.......

[BIGLURKS 874]

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but how does a hoover blow air ?

 

I'm sure the explanation's really simple, but I don't follow.......

if a Hoover sucks air then pushes the same air and dust and what ever crap it picks up it blows into the bag or container you basically think of it being in reverse is the simplest I can think too explain that hope that helps you Edited March 29, 2015 by BIGLURKS