Tools you have made

[solarman216]

As title was thinking of starting a new thread on that very topic, what have you made to do a particular job, what do you all think? Rick

[solarman216]

OK so many looking but no comments so I will start the ball rolling, here are two drills I made in the mid 70's one a steel drilling twist bit extension, and the other a masonry drill extra long, made from solid stock with brazed tungsten carbide inserts fitted to some barrel with a turned down solid drill chuck adaptor, now this was in a time when such drills were so so expensive, when I said I made my own TC masonry drill people laughed, but here it is, over 40 years old, I also made a disk cutter from a washing machine motor around the same time, if there is interest I will get it out and take some pics, Rick

[jims-terrano]

Sorry Rick, think I must be a bit dull cos I can’t think of any tools that I’ve made.

[solarman216]

Jim I bet you have, it can be just a simple purpose designed hook for instance, have a think about it, Rick

[jims-terrano]

At the moment best thing I can suggest is that I used to build a lot of computers. In the back of the cases are some metal covers that were blanking panels for such as graphics or sound cards. As used to build up a handful of these plates probably around 3inch by half inch.

They turned out to be great to slide down the side of radio head units to release the clips so the radio could be pulled out. Kept one in the glove box so I could always nip the radio out easily.

[Davey Boy]

At the moment best thing I can suggest is that I used to build a lot of computers. In the back of the cases are some metal covers that were blanking panels for such as graphics or sound cards. As used to build up a handful of these plates probably around 3inch by half inch.

They turned out to be great to slide down the side of radio head units to release the clips so the radio could be pulled out. Kept one in the glove box so I could always nip the radio out easily.

Jim, that's a tool and a good tip in one post!:thumb2

Rick, I made a jig once that allowed me to create a radiused end to a standard bullnosed kitchen worktop, using an industrial router.
Sounds a bit dull, but nobody else was doing that at the time and made a unique feature.
That was nearly thirty years ago.
D

[Banshee]

I've cut a hole on the side of a socket with an angle grinder once to get an injector out :nenau :nenau

Nowhere near the level of making your own carbide drill bits though :eek:

[solarman216]

Jim, that's a tool and a good tip in one post!:thumb2

Rick, I made a jig once that allowed me to create a radiused end to a standard bullnosed kitchen worktop, using an industrial router.
Sounds a bit dull, but nobody else was doing that at the time and made a unique feature.
That was nearly thirty years ago.
D

There you go and I bet there are loads more "special" tools that you guy's have made and thought nothing of them so get your heads scratching, here is another that I made in the 60's from what was available in and around the workshop, anyone guess what it is for? I know at least one who will identify it and probably many more, it was beefy but had to be, Rick

[solarman216]

I've cut a hole on the side of a socket with an angle grinder once to get an injector out :nenau :nenau

Nowhere near the level of making your own carbide drill bits though :eek:

It worked though Zac so all that matters, Rick

[jims-terrano]

I was talking to my nephew last week about his grandad from his fathers side. He passed away some years ago but he was a real motor engineer. He used to repair the family cars and made a lot of tools himself. One thing I was telling my nephew is that his teolley jack amd large axle stands are used virtually every time I need to jack the truck up and I often think about his grandad. He actually made some jigs to lift each model of car the family owned. Basically a long metal box section made to fit into the trolley jack in the centre with brackets and pads welded along to take the weight of the cars jacking points. Unfortunately there was no longer any use when he had passed away so they all went to scrap, seemed such a waste. I was not related to the gentleman but I had still have a hell of a lot of respect for him.

[Lazy-Ferret]

There you go and I bet there are loads more "special" tools that you guy's have made and thought nothing of them so get your heads scratching, here is another that I made in the 60's from what was available in and around the workshop, anyone guess what it is for? I know at least one who will identify it and probably many more, it was beefy but had to be, RickLooks like some kind of puller.

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[Lazy-Ferret]

No photo.

I have never needed a brake rewind tool in the past, but when a friend asked me to do his BMW brakes, and at the crucial point I discovered the need for one. I used an old Angle Grinder tool and one of those clamps that work like a cartridge caulking gun, but I reversed it so the clamping action opened, rather than closed.

Bit fiddly but did the job.

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[solarman216]

Looks like some kind of puller.

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It certainly is a puller, but for what? Rick

[Davey Boy]

It certainly is a puller, but for what? Rick

Hub?

[solarman216]

Hub?

Sorry no, Ted should know, Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

Sorry no, Ted should know, RickThe way Rick over engineers things, its probably for his solar battery terminals. Lol

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[macabethiel]

Back in the 1960's Minis would lose the drive in the gearbox due to the big nut coming undone on the mainshaft output gear.

They brought out a modified nut with a lock washer but the problem was getting sufficient Torque to stop it coming undone.

A mate locked it into two gears at once then gave it the 160 lb ft torque only to have a gear tooth break!

I got an old layshaft and had it welded to an old end gear so you could slip it on the shaft to hold everything tight from the other end. I binned it about 5 years ago after a big garage clear out. Not only did I use it a couple of times but it did the rounds with my mates who had the same drive failure.

Last time it was used on a Riley Elf in around 1974 - by that time it was no longer a problem as the modified production boxes were fine.

[solarman216]

Well I am surprised, it is a Mini flywheel puller, they were fitted on a taper and took a lot of pulling, Rick

[elty001]

I regularly design and fabricate jigs at work for the paint line.
Not everything we paint is as simple as a hook in a free hole.
I tend to have multi uses for tools.
Only thing that i have made that sticks in my mind is the bearing tool for the front wheel bearings.
A bit of tube with two dowels welded on and an M10 nut and bolt welded to the other end so i can fit a 17mm socket and ratchet to tighten/loosen the bearing lock ring.

[solarman216]

Yes I have been meaning for a long time to make a wheel nut tool, you have beaten me to it Elty, Rick

[briggie]

I remember making a logic probe once , does that count ? :nenau

[don simon]

Made a bevel and hammer at school.

[solarman216]

I remember making a logic probe once , does that count ? :nenau

Of course, Rick

[zippy656]

Here is one of mine

[solarman216]

Like the depth marker, did you weld or braze the extension rod, Rick

[Davey Boy]

It looks so clean Rick.....I think Zippy's used blu-tac!:lol

[macabethiel]

Well I am surprised, it is a Mini flywheel puller, they were fitted on a taper and took a lot of pulling, Rick

I loose again! lol

I did not recognise it as mine was a big round plate with multiple holes for various makes of vehicle.

When you tightened the centre bolt you had to be careful as if your hand was down there it would come off with a bang and give you a nice bruise on the back of your hand.

The best way was to give it a bit of lump hammer but if the engine was still in place there was very little room. On my dry suspension Minis it was easier to lift the body off the front subframe. If it was hydraulastic like all the original Cooper S models then you had to drain the suspension and get the flexi pipes clear when you lifted off - not easy plus you needed the suspension tool to refill with fluid etc. Not to mention having to remove the brake servo etc. Plus those hardy spicer drive shaft couplings were a pain to line up on re-fitting.
I think mine was a Quinten Hazel part not genuine BL.

[solarman216]

It would probably have helped if I had included the three bolts in the pic but they have gone astray as last time it was used was in the 70's, Rick

[zippy656]

It looks so clean Rick.....I think Zippy's used blu-tac!:lol

Silver solder , Sri used for lamps

[Davey Boy]

:thumb2

[Wallace]

Good post Rick, I will take a few photos later. :D I could drag some of my Fathers out too. :lol

[solarman216]

Good post Rick, I will take a few photos later. :D I could drag some of my Fathers out too. :lol

Cannot wait to see, Rick

[zippy656]

Like the depth marker, did you weld or braze the extension rod, Rick

silver solder, by a mate of mine who makes cider

[solarman216]

Just clearing out one of my sheds and came across the 9 inch disk cutter I made in the 70's, consisted of a washing machine motor, a flexy drive and a fabricated hand hold and disk guard, easy cut through 9 inch RSJ, pic tomorrow, Rick

[solarman216]

Here is the beast have not plugged it in as the cables near the motor are iffy and of course although this can be used with water at the time diamond disks were not around, Rick

[Wallace]

That brings back memory’s of similar contraptions my Father used to make! :D Come to think of it, quite a few of mine too!

[zippy656]

I remember making a logic probe once , does that count ? :nenau

I made one as well. Still got it

[solarman216]

Of course zips you made it, Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

Here is the beast have not plugged it in as the cables near the motor are iffy and of course although this can be used with water at the time diamond disks were not around, Rick

Great for cutting when there is a bit of room round where you are working, not so handy getting at the inner sill on a T2... :D

I have to say, I am surprised you actually made a guard for it.. :lol

[solarman216]

Tried it without but could not control it so guard provided a means of holding it steady, and no it does not meet modern criteria of a mini bat powered disc cutter but do not forget this was when such stuff was mega expensive, Rick

[zippy656]

Of course zips you made it, Rick

Found it when clearing out my dad's place a little while back

[Wallace]

I just sat staring at the photos of this and I have no recollection of fabricating it apart from I know the slots were filed by hand as I did not have the Milling machine and rotary table then. The basic ring was turned on the lathe.

[Wallace]

Top half, 3/8” drive socket tacked on.

[Wallace]

The tool was made to remove the fuel tank sensor securing ring fitted to a 1966 Jensen CV8 (and other vehicles that use the same type) without resorting to a hammer screwdriver.

[Wallace]

This contraption was for breaking the hub to half shaft taper on Salisbury axles. A 10 ton hydraulic cylinder loaded up and a tap on the end has worked for me on several but they can require more grunt. I lent the tool out only to get it back bent and bowed with burn marks from oxy-acetylene where the hub had been heated and sledge hammer marks on the end plate. (Some of the marks might have been spur marks!) It turned out the tool was passed on to a well known race preparation company to break the taper and they had done the damage.

[Wallace]

Adjustable car dolly, fits onto Autovip 1700 car roller mountings enabling the car to be moved without refitting the wheels or axle.

[Wallace]

Adjustable to fit any car that will fit on the car roller.

[Banshee]

Adjustable car dolly, fits onto Autovip 1700 car roller mountings enabling the car to be moved without refitting the wheels or axle.

I'll have one of those for a SWB Terrano please :thumbs :cool:

[solarman216]

Brilliant stuff Wallace I like, Rick

[Wallace]

I'll have one of those for a SWB Terrano please :thumbs :cool:

Do you want some closeup pictures of how it goes together? Simple construction for the main frame with flat plates welded on in a couple of places. I designed it round the wheels which I think are off a scaffold tower and rated to 450kg each with brakes. The brakes are useful as I found locking one off allowed me to spin the car round on my own.


Brilliant stuff Wallace I like, Rick

:thumb2 Cheers Rick.

[Lobo]

That is a dynamite piece of kit Wallace, fairplay to you. You could retire on just the orders from here.

[Jay666d]

Yes, I'll take one too! But I like a gadget, so if mine could have motors on the wheels to I could move it around using a controller like I do with the caravan, that would be great! :thumbs

[Wallace]

I made that to solve a problem I had with the Autovip 1700 car roller. The space I had to work in was just big enough to roll the car on its side one way so I had to turn the car round in order to work on the opposite side floor and chassis for repairs. To turn the car round meant refitting the wheels and steering column then pushing the car out into the road and back in the garage which I could not do on my own. The dolly allowed me to leave all the Autovip car roller hub brackets attached them remove the rolling frame and fit the dolly in its place. I could then roll the car outside on my own and turn it 360 within the drive and just for sheer bloody mindedness I did manage to turn it in the back garden which is narrower.

I did consider selling them at one point but thought they would be of limited use!

[Wallace]

I think from memory the box was 50x50mm and the plates were 10x75mm cut to 200mm. They were bolted together using M10 studding with nuts welded on as it was cheaper than bolts. Uprights were round tube to suit the wheels. The clamping effect from the plates on the box section worked better than I thought and the bolts did not need to be murdered up tight to hold firmly.

The car on the dolly in that photo is currently up for sale on Ebay if you search Jensen CV8........:eek: