Which Homemade Tools Interest You?

The thread title says it all: Which Homemade Tools Interest You?

As a growing community both by and for our membership, your feedback is essential to ensuring that HomemadeTools continues to provide and expand on the type of content you want to see. To begin, we'd love to hear your answers to these three questions:

1. When you're browsing HomemadeTools.net, which categories most interest you?
2. When you're building your own homemade tools, what sorts of tools are you most likely to create?
3. What feature(s) would you like to see added to HomemadeTools.net?

We've got lots of plans for the future and, with the participation of our members, the site will only continue to grow and improve. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Ken

1. As an R&D machinist and designer, I'm mostly interested in machinist tools.

2. I have a use for machinist tools, so that's what I generally make. I also have a cabinet shop, so I'll make woodworking tools if they are something I need.

3. More participation would be nice, but I don't know how one would achieve that.

Edit; perhaps a section where we can post useful tips for machining and fabricating.

Hi Harvey,

Thanks - we really appreciate the feedback!!

Ken

I like anything automotive and welding. Terry

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the input - much appreciated!

Ken

Auto trans tools. Some of these tranny's need like 10,000 different pullers.

Sorry, maybe 10,001 pullers:rolleyes:

You should see the collection of pullers and other specialized tools I've amassed for my '69 Triumph. At least 11,000.

OK, more like a few dozen - if you count the various Whitworth wrenches & sockets individually. :D

Ken

I am most interested to see projects that create useful tools or machines from recycled (a.k.a junk) and off the shelf components. A typical example being a disc sander, built from a surplus motor, a few bits and bobs from the hardware store, ending with a useful machine at 20% of the cost of a commercial one :)

mainly auto tools as most of spare time is spent re-building old cars/specials.
and as berri said tools made from recyled/repurposed stuff as a lot of my stuff is made that way.
also any designs for scratch building workshop tools such sanders grinders drill presses etc.

Started as an automotive tech then moved to transit buses then to heavy equipment. As I moved my tool truck bill grew bigger than my mortgage. Most of the tools that I used on automotive were all but useless on buses. I, like Beri, like to see items "re-purposed" ie: couple of old auto idler pulleys, a motor a wheel and a belt and you've got a grinding belt. When I was working I had an occasion to use a metal lathe and vert mill. I've been on the hunt for one, reasonable priced, for a couple of years. BTW had my share of British motorcycles so I've got a few Whitworth tools as well. Now I just keep them on the shelf.:cool:

I couldn't agree more about the joys of repurposing old 'stuff'. Beside the satisfaction of not being wasteful, I like to think of old things as having had interesting lives and I enjoy doing whatever I can to extend those lives.

Now, take that poor Triumph down off the shelf and ride it - it's getting dusty up there!! :D

Ken

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kbalch

I couldn't agree more about the joys of repurposing old 'stuff'. Beside the satisfaction of not being wasteful, I like to think of old things as having had interesting lives and I enjoy doing whatever I can to extend those lives.

Now, take that poor Triumph down off the shelf and ride it - it's getting dusty up there!! :D

Ken

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Naaa:D I rebuilt the Triumph, started it up and shut it down and lifted it up on the shelf. It'll stay them till I'm gone now. I have plans, somewhere behind all the other projects currently going, to get my 51 AJS out and put it back together. Tore it down 8 years ago, had to frame powder coated and it's in 5 boxes on the top of the shop. Just never enough time:cool:

That'll be a neat project and a great bike to get running again.

I'm nearly there with a concours restoration of a '69 T120R. If I could find a '38 Speed Twin project with its original tin, I'd jump on it.

I keep telling my wife that it's cheaper than airplanes!! Another old hobby of mine... :D

Ken

I just love the British bikes. When I was younger, hehe some time ago, all my friends were jumping on the new HONDA'S, not me. When a buddy of mine wanted to buy a new 75 Honda CB 750, I bought his Triumph X75. I loved that bike but eventually had to sell it to finance a house purchase. Had BSA, AJS, Ariel, Matchless. I don't ride anymore, lost too many friends on the 2 wheelers. Still own a 85 Honda Goldwing. 4 of us rode our new Goldwings from Bowie, Maryland to Anchorage, AK. Sounded like a good plan at the time but I would NEVER attempt it again! When we got home I parked my bike and didn't even look at it for a month.:(

Sorry to hear about you not riding anymore, but I completely understand. I stopped flying (on an extended 'temporary' hiatus, anyway) for the same reason. Having spent so much time in the higher-risk world of sport aviation (homebuilts, warbirds, and acro), the body count, in conjunction with my evolving risk/reward calculation as I got older, just got to be too much.

That cross-country trip sounds like a blast. The last time I did it on the ground (as opposed to flying) was in an '87 Hyundai Excel. At journey's end, I remember not wanting to ever drive that car again.

Ken

I've never been a fan of flying. BUT! I always thought that if I could actually fly the plane, I would probably love it!. My father in law had a pilots cert. He hadn't flown in years before he passed, but still talked about it everyday. I friend of mine rebuilt a 1941 Stearman. When he got done he tried to persuade me to fly to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for some kind of airplane show. Told him he must have bumped his head! No way am I getting into an airplane that YOU rebuilt and fly a couple of thousand miles.

Turns out he had engine problems and had to land the plane and leave it for a few days in some farmers field in Indiana. By the time he got back with assistance, some cows had eaten most of the bottom wings off of the plane! Guess I made the right decision.

After 20+ years as a private and commercial pilot, flight instructor, homebuilder, warbird instructor pilot, and airline guy, if I haven't seen it all, I've seen enough. I've personally declared an emergency six times and had them 'roll the trucks' on four of those occasions. Nobody hurt and no tin bent ever.

Oshkosh is fun, but not the grassroots show that it used to be. I used to go to Sun'nFun in Lakeland, FL every year, but even that event isn't what it was. Guess I'm getting crotchety and demanding in my 'old' age. :D

A couple of pics for you:

The RV-8 I built:
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/.../RV8JK0014.jpg

A T-6 (actually a Navy SNJ-4) in which I used to instruct:
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/...KenwithT-6.jpg

Ken

WOW! I have to say, as much as I'm not a fan of flaying, I am ALWAYS intrigued by the planes themselves. The feeling of sheer power and freedom must be exhilarating. I build hot rods but can imagine putting an airplane together and then actually taking it up in the air! I have to say though, seeing that yellow plane, i am jealous.

Hi Ken. I would like to say that I am glad I found this site as there are quite a few interesting home brewed projects shown. Some very talented folks here. What I am most interested in is anything woodworking related. Some metal working also interests me, especially if it applies in any way to woodworking tools. Again thanks for setting up this site, I know it's really going to "take off"!

1. Our business is Industrial Automation & Industrial Electronic Repairs. I do R&D in a number of industries and often need to make prototypes, so any tools that would make life easyer.

2. Mostly for special purpose and cannot be purchased or for one of my hobby intersts or just maybe because I think I can.

3. I could live for ten life times and not get to all the things I would like to do but I would like to see and maybe even attempt one of the projects you have up your sleve.

Hi romac,

Welcome!

I completely understand about not having the time for all the things you'd like to do. I've always felt the same way, though I'm definitely making progress through the list.

We'd love to see your homemade tools. Please post any you'd like to share directly to our Homemade Tools subforum. We'll add them to the database, as well as to your builder page on the site.

Ken

I'm always looking news in tools, first because I'm curious and with sleeping problems, then my days are longer than normal.

After that, when a problem or a new work occurs, it's always a good thing when it's possible to compare my ideas with other people in a community.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Okapi

I'm always looking news in tools, first because I'm curious and with sleeping problems, then my days are longer than normal.

After that, when a problem or a new work occurs, it's always a good thing when it's possible to compare my ideas with other people in a community.

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Because I have a very technical mind I am interested in most things, this just makes time even shorter. I unfortunately suffer with Chronic Fatigue so half the time I just have to lay in a corner somewhere, very frustrating.
I am a positive person and the rest of my health is good so I consider myself lucky to at least be able to do the things that Interest me.

At this point in time I am trying to turn my Seig X3 into a CNC machine, time and money are always in short supply. I would also like to build a small Spark eroder for small splines, 5mm internal spline for radio controlled car drive shaft. I came up with an idea of a radically different suspension system that I am keen to make.

The homemade tools that interest me are what I find useful to aid me in a current project or something that I see a use for down the road. Since I tinker with a lot of things I'm not interested in any one category in particular.

Sounds about right to me. I'm all for eclecticism, to say nothing of finding the perfect, elegant solution to a specific problem.

Let's see some of those homemade tools! :D

Ken

Hi All,

I am interested in table saw sleds. Specify Ripping sleds, there are not very many designs.

I have seen the "crooked" board" jigs, the taper jig and the thin rip jigs.

I am trying to design a ripping jig to make repetitive cuts on like boards like a 13/16 x 6" x 48"

It going to be like a large cross cut sled with some sort accuracy control. I Have seen a "Panel" sled
that very close to what I am looking for.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

-Fred

Hi Fred, as my english is not so good, I'm not certain that the solution I use is what you search, but for sawing what we call "filets" with ivory or wood about 1millimeter width, I use a table circular saw with metal blades which way originally made for printing use, sawing the linotype alloy, it's made with a movable table very precise mounted on ball bearings, the precision obtained in such material is about 1710 millimeter or less, is it what you're looking for as an idea ?

As a metalworker for 47 0f my 62 years,I have to say that homemade (shop) metal working fabrication tools for laying out ,marking,out,work holding and alignment tools are what grab my interest.

As a convert to lathework, working on all manner of tooling for the lathe also floats my boat.

Oz

Sounds like a long and interesting career, Oz. Let's see those homemade metalworking tools!

Ken

I'm new to machine tools, as outside of a floor model drill press and a bench grinder, I don't own any... But as I mentioned in my intro, I'm working towards building my first lathe. Nothing fancy, mind you, but [hopefully] will be suitable for simple turnings, etc.. Otherwise, I do have a couple of Lincoln welders (one AC225 stick, the other a PowerMig 255 wire feed), Milwaukee metal chop saw and misc angle grinders.

I'm also in the final stages of building an electric furnace capable of melting Aluminum and Bronze, primarily with the intent of casting parts for other projects. I'll do my best to post some picts...

-Vern

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EclecticNeophyte

I'm new to machine tools, as outside of a floor model drill press and a bench grinder, I don't own any... But as I mentioned in my intro, I'm working towards building my first lathe. Nothing fancy, mind you, but [hopefully] will be suitable for simple turnings, etc.. Otherwise, I do have a couple of Lincoln welders (one AC225 stick, the other a PowerMig 255 wire feed), Milwaukee metal chop saw and misc angle grinders.

I'm also in the final stages of building an electric furnace capable of melting Aluminum and Bronze, primarily with the intent of casting parts for other projects. I'll do my best to post some picts...

-Vern

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Oops! Forgot to mention wood working tools! :) Unfortunately due to limited space, I had to sell my tablesaw... :(

[*]When you're browsing HomemadeTools.net, which categories most interest you?

Woodworking tools
[*]When you're building your own homemade tools, what sorts of tools are you most likely to create?

Woodworking tools - bandsaw, tablesaw, then hand tools
[*]What feature(s) would you like to see added to HomemadeTools.net?

Not sure yet - am Newbie to the site

Bill

Since my primary interests are motorcycles, automotive and machining,those are the type of things I check out when I get the news letter or have time to browse the forum. As a previous poster mentioned, re-purposed stuff is always cool as are modifications or attachments to power tools that extend their usefulness or utility.

1 Measuring and marking tools
2 Addons e.g ball cutter or divider for lathe and mill
3 More drawings and explanations mainly the sequence of thoughts for the designs
Ariscats

My interests are carpentry & joinery, woodturning, blacksmithing and smelting, refurbishment and repurposing. My only experience in machining metal is drilling, but I appreciate instructive videos which show metal turning and milling. Can’t seem to get started on that, it’s well out of my comfort zone. It would be nice to be able to build steam and petrol engines, I wish I could, but there are so many other things to do. For example, I intend to make some leather sheaths for my axes & adzes. I am not likely to be doing any more brickwork, I hope. Casting metal and glass perhaps. Those videos of third world craftsmen are good. Particularly fascinating for me are posts about Metrology and geometry. I like the pictures of pretty young women!