angle brackets

[darryl]

Just thought I'd share this idea with y'all. I needed a few tens of angle brackets for an assembly job in the wood shop. These needed to be about two inches or more in length to properly span across the two pieces they're aligning and holding together from the rear. Think angle iron, 1 x 1, and about 2-3 inches long, drilled on both flanges for mounting. As I was wandering through a hardware store hoping for inspiration, I went over to the framing hardware section. There I found something called a nailing plate, a section of galvanized sheet metal full of holes. Bingo, light goes on, I goes home with several of these. Sheared them such that two rows of holes remained in each piece, then bent them to 90 in the bender. Instant longish angle bracket, already drilled for screws.

This isn't thick metal, but that's not needed in this application. Three bonuses- I get to place one row of holes to where they're needed by putting the bend in the right spot, I save time not having to drill all those holes (shearing and bending was quick), and I get three brackets for less than the price of one that's available but not really suitable.

I love it when I can use something for other than it's intended use. I guess that's bonus #4.

[Evan]

" I love it when I can use something for other than it's intended use. "

Yeah. Modifying a computer comes to mind

[steve-ma]

Kind of related: I wanted to build a lumber rack for my woodshop. I do not have a welder, so I was trying to come up with a bolt together solution that was cheap. I looked all over for angle brackets that would be heavy duty enough, but couldn't find any that would support the anticipated weight. Then, by accident, in the electrical dept. of my local Homer Depot I found 'Super Strut' components from a company called Thomas & Betts. The heavy U channel is about $1.50 a foot. They had some basic angle brackets. I was able to cut the channel and bolt together a rather sturdy rack. But I would not have looked for this in the electrical section of HD, and the hardware guys at the store didn't know about it.

[Paul Alciatore]

Hear, hear!

Yes, I have often used common hardware for other uses. I think we all do. I needed a bushing with a flange on one end and didn't have the proper stock. It would have taken a day or two to order it and shipping and then the cost of $20 plus shipping for one item. Went to the hardward and bought a 3/4" bolt. Not only faster and cheaper but already in the approximate shape needed so less machinning.

I have also made handwheels out of common hardware items. O Rings make a nice hand grip area. Many more.

You just have to be able to see what you want in what they have. Kind of like the sculptor who said that he simply removed everything that was not the desired figure and then it was done. Precision parts are inside rough shapes, we just let them out.

Paul A.