New member:Gadj

Hi all. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. I'm now on Disability benefits due to multiple disabilities but I'm just a bit bent... not broken. My major issues are mental/behavioral - ASD & Clinical Depression. I have my issues under control through medication & lifestyle, the latter being the reason I am getting into new things. I have always had an interest in tools - lately it's all about metal fabrication/metal forming/automotive restoration & modification. I'm one of those people who take "that can't be done" as a challenge & I will find a way in most cases.
My training has been in Horticulture, Automotive Spares & Traffic Control with some time in timber mills/yards, a trailer factory as Metal Trades Assistant and a few others. I found through necessity that I have abilities with most constructive activities & have made the odd simple tool or aid.
New ground upcoming with purchase of an English Wheel, Shrinker Stretcher, Ring Roller, Small Tube Bender & 30 Tonne Shop press just to get the ball rolling on my larger equipment collection... I have a Suzuki MightyBoy to restore with a 993cc Swift engine & 5 speed transaxle to go in & a more challenging project about to begin that will take a Suzuki Sierra (Gypsy/Samurai/Jimny) body & turn it into a mini Prime mover cab with 'sleeper' to be mounted on a Holden/Isuzu Rodeo 2.8 turbo diesel chassis. This will end up road legal with an Engineer's assistance... going to need more tools :drool:

Hi Gadj - welcome to HomemadeTools.net :welcome:

Sounds like you have a very wide skill set. :) What kind of homemade tools are you interested in building first?

Jon, I have a few tools that I'm considering but the first is likely to be a panbrake. I have built a press brake attachment for my workshop press but it is only 580mm wide. I will need at least 1200mm capacity to build the sleeper cab for the mini prime mover project. I may also end up making slip rolls or some other means of radius bending sheet metal... could be done with a pipe section top jaw on the pan brake.

Hi Gadj,

Welcome! :welcome:

Wow, lots of useful skills and experience! I'm definitely intrigued by your mini-prime mover project. Let's see some photos as it gets underway.

Ken

Welcome to the forums, Gadj! :welcome: With such a diverse and interesting skill set, I've not doubt you'll get those projects done.