Shop Made Tools

[Frank Ford]

A good exercise in manual machining and a handy tool for delicate work - a fancy swivel grip screwdriver with magnetic holder for hex bits:





Cross drilling fixture with replaceable drill bushings to handle rods feom 1/4" to 2-1/2" diameter:




Here's a personal favorite I keep handy at the bench - a cordless countersink:

[bborr01]

Hi Frank,

I'm starting to think I'm not the only tooloholic on this board. Wonder if there is a support group for people like us? Lets hope not, as I have no interest in recovery.

You have given me a lot of great ideas. I never thought about making my own radius dresser till I saw yours.

Keep up the good work and keep posting.

Brian

[gary hart]

For holding small stuff in horizontal bandsaw.

Bend some metal with one leg to equal height of a small vise and the other leg to reach toward farside of bandsaw vise and fasten to small vise.



Shows small vise and work in bandsaw without moveable bandsaw vise tightened.



Clamped Ready for cut.



Short piece of channel iron welded to outboard side of bandsaw table allows clamps to hold work for unusal type cuts.

[gary hart]

On a horizontal bandsaw if a small light is mounted above bandsaw blade where it makes the cut it will cast a shadow where the cut line will be on the work.



Confusing picture showing from above the light shining done on bandsaw blade and material being cut.


Another confusing picture. Taken from below showing up towards light.

[gary hart]

Vertical bandsaw for both metal and wood cutting. Done this years ago and have been happy with it. Have had no problems with it.

The standard speed motor for wood cutting drives the bandsaw so turning this motor on gives high speed for wood, plastic, aluminum and sometimes brass cutting.

There is a second motor. It is a treadmill motor that has a 28 to one gear reducer grafted onto it. The output of this is grafted onto a bicycle freewheel. So the treadmill motor drives the larger wood cutting motor but the larger wood cutting motor can't drive the geared down motor because of the one way action of the bicycle freewheel.



The teadmill motor has a variable speed control and the wood cutting has step pulleys for speed change if needed.




The back of the bandsaw showes two pulleys that are used for a digital tac. With a little math the sizes of the pulleys and number of sensors of the tac pickup is figured so the tac will show direct readings of feet per minute of blade speed.



Also shown on the panel is a switch for a small aquarium type air compressor that blows air on the cut line to clear chips.

[kz1000]

I made this fly cutter in trade school. It's hard to see but note the porosity in the in the shank. Heat treated 4140.

[kz1000]

Machinist Clamp. Turned and knurled screws on lathe, milled and surface grind the rest.

[DaHui]

I made this hammer/wrench but I've always been afraid to use it. Er, I mean I've been waiting to anodize it so then I can use it.



I also made a little holder for my digital camera. It's in the water proof case so I can shoot videos from inside the CNC cabinet.

[kz1000]

I made this die grinder a few years ago. all made on manual machines except the tapered part. It has 4 bearings inside, two shafts. The air motor has six floating vanes. IIRC it turns about 20,000 rpm.

[Black_Moons]

Woah awsome bandsaw, I *love* the bicycle freewheel graft, lots of people would think such a part would'nt hold up or just would'nt think of trying to stick it on there. your setup makes for a great no belt change 2 speed drive with lots of torque! totaly awsome.