Not quite tools, but very useful for using tools - DIY LED lights
I make all my own LED lights, not so much to save money (which they do, a bit) but to use exactly the LEDs and optics I like. I've been meaning to build these ones since last winter as the remaining CFL bulbs in my garage crap out when it gets cold. Like last night, when it dropped to -15C (5F?) in the garage and ice started forming on the inside of the windows :)
Anyway, basic plan is the base of an old non-working CFL, piece of alu tube and then heatsink disk, with the alu tube and disk JB welded together.
Grooving the disks for the tubing to fit
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/...psm6tf9ifp.jpg
disks grooved and tubing cut and faced. They were then glued together with JB Weld.
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7h6qprnv.jpg
Drilling holes in the heatsink for cable pass through and screws to hold the LED in. I used the same set up to drill holes in the outer part for extra surface area and to remove some weight
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/...psbyjeeypf.jpg
one of the drivers wired in. I think this one was a 120/240AC to 12VDC/300mA to use a 12V LED from an old desk light. The other ones were 120/240VAC to 3VDC/600mA.
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/...psadbl2qak.jpg
finished!
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/...psux1oneom.jpg
They work really nicely. There's one with a Nichia 219A for my lathe worklight (NW with nice CRI), one with a Cree XT-E 2700K for my bedside light and the big one has the 12V LED for a 2nd work/ storage room. The 2 small ones are just right in brightness, the 12V one could do with a more powerful driver, but it's good enough for a room that I don't use much. Cost for the single LED lights was $3-4 for the driver and LED, the 12V light was just a couple of bucks for the driver.
Now I can see what I'm doing with my hydraulic press, although I have to finish a pair of snowshoes first!