Show What Tool You Made*

[graydog111]

This thread has kinda died, so here is an air tank for blowing the tire out to seal up on the wheel rim. It has a 2 inch ball valve and a flat nozzle to quickly dump the air from the tank between the tire and the rim. Northern Tool sells these for $300.00 +. This one cost nothing.

 

[DT86]

This thread has kinda died, so here is an air tank for blowing the tire out to seal up on the wheel rim. It has a 2 inch ball valve and a flat nozzle to quickly dump the air from the tank between the tire and the rim. Northern Tool sells these for $300.00 +. This one cost nothing.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=310295"/>

I have needed one of those for years! I missed a good auction at a closed tire shop with a couple of them.

Hum, I might start digging into the ol junk pile, I know I've got a extra tank somewhere....

 

[woodlandfarms]

Does a picture of my son count?

 

[OldMcDonald]

woodlands farm, I suppose if you showed a rude picture of him you could claim it was a tool you had made.

Sorry no photos, and it was a simple tool, nothing like some of you blokes have made, so does not really need a photo. After having a hay crop cut by a contractor, there were a few patches that were very thick and needed spread. Problem – no spreader. I knew I had a piece of 3/8ths inch sprung steel round bar, so bent it into the shape of a two pronged fork, cut a notch in the end of a short piece of pipe, welded the two together, stuck an old curtain rail into the pipe, and bolted through the pipe and rail. Time about 15minutes. Cost one welding rod and a tiny amount of electricity. The alternative was a drive into town and spend some money.

Spreading and then turning back the hay was good exercise for me over the next week. It was a simple tool, but by applying the same principle, and using an angle grinder/cutter as necessary, I realised it was possible to make several other hand tools, including a spanner to fit the 3” nuts on the irrigation taps and a shepherd’s crook. I also made a Hula Hoop from some old plastic water pipe when my wife decided she would like to reduce her waist measurement. Pity somebody else invented this 50 years earlier.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Wish I had a pic, but I used to have a tool I called a "hook tool". It was a hoe where the weld on the blade broke off. I ground down the end to make a "hook". I used it a lot for fishing wires, testing ice on the pond, and stoking fires (which is how it met its eventual demise, the handle burnt up).

 

[graydog111]

I have needed one of those for years! I missed a good auction at a closed tire shop with a couple of them.

Hum, I might start digging into the ol junk pile, I know I've got a extra tank somewhere....

It is risky welding on an old freon tank, but I tested it at 150psi and use it at 100psi. I have been welding with stick for 60 years and MIG for 30 years. I have used this tank for about 10 years with great results. A word of caution: Do not let anyone get if front of it when you open the valve.......it makes a heck of a noise and could damage their hearing.

 

[Rustyiron]

Cool thread, I don't know how I didn't see it until now. A while ago I posted a thread on a "tube splitter" to make the coiled type plastic protector that is used on hyd lines.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/269219-make-hyd-hose-shield-yourself.html

 

[graydog111]

Here is a Craftsman Pop Rivet tool I have been making wire hose clamps with for 15 years. I use stainless steel wire. You can use mild steel such as electric fence wire, but you have to be careful and not get it too tight or it will break. I have no idea if other brands of Pop Riveters will work or not. I just took these photos and I hope they are self explanatory. I learned this by trial and error, but now make most all of my hose clamps, especially on air lines and sprayer lines.

 

[Rustyiron]

Now that's clever!

 

[graydog111]

Cool thread, I don't know how I didn't see it until now. A while ago I posted a thread on a "tube splitter" to make the coiled type plastic protector that is used on hyd lines.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/269219-make-hyd-hose-shield-yourself.html

Great tool. I am going to have to make one of these.

 

[graydog111]

jwmorris, I was wondering about your rack to store paint spray cans on their sides. Is storing them upside down just as good to keep the thick paint from clogging the pickup tube and nozzle? I store mine upside down in a box so that if one explodes from our summer heat, it will be confined inside the box and not all over the shop, but I could store on the sides if it's better. Thanks.

 

[jwmorris]

I imagine that would work as well.

I just got tired of always hunting for what I needed. Stored in the racks like they are you can instantly grab the one you want and slide it out.

I have never had a can of paint explode from the heat in my garage.

For the best results it generally takes a rifle and a small fire on a paper towel.
Of course, once you know how to get a reaction out of them, clogged ones are a little more fun to get rid of.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...Of course, once you know how to get a reaction out of them, clogged ones are a little more fun to get rid of.

Those are some pretty sweet pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rustyiron]

How did you capture those pics? I wouldn't think that the flame lasted much more than a second, nice.

 

[chopped]

Looks like we have a TBN Mythbuster here.

 

[jwmorris]

How did you capture those pics? I wouldn't think that the flame lasted much more than a second, nice.

The pictures are actually quite old, taken with a 35mm SLR. Thats why they are kind of dark, scanned slides. My memory is not that good but something like a 200 mm for two of the photos and a x1.2 or 2 adapter for the up close shot.

You are not going to capture a shot like that with a cell phone camera, that takes two seconds to snap the shot after you press the button but a digital SLR would be better than what I used back then.

Now that I have a nice DSLR it would be fun to try again. The only problem is that my Grandfather retired from Desoto paint in 1978 and they were the ones that paid him to "dispose" of all of the Loganberry paint when they discontinued it. I did recently come across another 6 pack of the rattle cans though.

 

[jwmorris]

Here is another one with the paint can comming toward the camera.

This is the reason for the 200mm lense, you just want it to look like your close.

 

[graydog111]

This thread seems to have died, but maybe this can revive it. The first photos are a knife I made from a SS blade I bought on eBay and the handles are Bois D'Arc from my backyard that had cured for 5 years.

The last photo is a stainless steel dishwasher rack I made. Our old Maytag is still going strong, but the racks are turning to rust. New racks cost $360 + s/h, so I decided to build new ones. I have finished one and have one more to go. I made it out of 1/8" x 36" SS TIG sticks and 1/4" for the wheel's axles. It came out really nice, but took a LOT of work. Since I am 77, I could only put in about 4 hours per day, so buying new ones would have been a bargain.

 

[CNC Dan]

That rack looks great!

 

[Jeembawb]

Yep - worth keeping this thread alive - some good ideas here - had some hydraulic spiral wrap on my eBay watch list, I think I would rather make my own!

I had a clutch fork shaft from my little dozer resto that needed replaced for wear or built up with bronze and machined back to size - in hindsight it would have been easier to weld the old arm on a new bit of shaft but the easy way is not always the way I roll. Once brazed I then realised it wouldn't fit in my little toy lathe/mill so I had to make something to machine the shaft back to round - pics should suffice