Tools you have made for projects

[cobraguy]

Mine aren't quite as elegant as some, but they function well for me. This first is a tool chest/cart I built many years ago. The drawers were purchased for the project, but the wood and casters came from scraps and other stuff just lying around. You can tell from the back shot.





The next is pretty recent. I'm doing a lot of butt joints for utilitarian shelving units and other basic box type builds around the house. I really like the Bussey corner clamps to hold things together during assembly, but with long stock I need something the same height as the clamp base to keep things square. I just cut some 2x4 scraps the right height and they work great. I painted them red (to match the clamps) so I would not throw them out accidentally. Even the paint was left over from a previous project. The pic shows how I use them.

[danmart77]

Clay I love carts for my tools and moving them around easily in the shop is a must for me at this point. The only thing I have that is virtually welded in place is my big old BS. It is heavy and I don't move it.

I see the Hitachi Sliding saw in the background. Its a great saw if you don't have to lug it around. At 80 or more pounds its just too heavy for anything other than a fixed cart like you have. My son let me use it for a few months and I really liked the saw.

[Mike Davis]

[Hmerkle]

Mike,
You didn't include a picture of the cutting gauge you made and IIRC you had a workshop where everyone built one! (couldn't find a picture of it)

[Mike Davis]

added, thanks for the reminder.

[danmart77]

Mike the tool in the first photo of the holding device for the spindle gauge is a great tool. I have a friend who lets me grind my tools with his commercial version and it is a winner at the wheel.
Nice tool.

I too like those carvers mallets that aren't too big.

Dan

[danmart77]

shop made lazy susan for finishing. I'd be lost without mine




easy to move horses make great undercarriage supports for glue jobs

[Mike Davis]

Mike the tool in the first photo of the holding device for the spindle gauge is a great tool. I have a friend who lets me grind my tools with his commercial version and it is a winner at the wheel.
Nice tool.

I too like those carvers mallets that aren't too big.

Dan

I finally went ahead and bought one from OneWay in Canada When I bought another jaw set. I think I gave the one I made to someone here. I give away so much I can't remember who...

[scsmith42]

I had a fun little project with the metal lathe yesterday.

My big trailer had a problem with one of the hubs running extremely warm. I sourced new bearings and seals for it and we took it apart earlier in the week. Unfortunately the bearing races are almost 5" in diameter (12K axle capacity), and none of my seal / bearing race tools was large enough. Although I have used punches and wood blocks in the past, considering the significant weights that I haul on this trailer I felt it prudent to ensure that the bearings and seals were not damaged during installation.

First step - Off to Metal Mart in Garner for a short length of 5" diameter 6061 aluminum, and some lathe time.

Initial setup and cleanup pass




Profile for bearing race



Knurling the handle



Finished tool



Voila! Race successfully installed!



All in all a fun project with the metal lathe.

[danmart77]

OK Scott that ain't fair ball.

[scsmith42]

OK Scott that ain't fair ball.

Aww, why not? Just cuz it's metal??? It's wood related in a way.... the bearing were from a trailer that I use to haul logs!

[nn4jw]

Here are a few I've made over the last 5 years in no particular order.

First, a cabinet stand for my DW-735. The drawers are full of hand planes, so this is plane central in my shop. Cabinet is rebuilt / repurposed from a kitchen cabinet found on the curb nearby.

A stand to set my one of my routers on to protect the cutter.







Mortising machine stand. Drawers are full of chisels and bits. This cabinet was built from scratch and no plans.




A bandsaw circle cutting jig.





Kreg clamping and assembly table The 4 holes on the left side are threaded to mount a Porter-Cable dovetail jig. The wood clamping table just sits on rubber biscuits on that old metal table.




A Dremel router table mounted on my full size router table. Yeah, it's just a piece of plywood, t-bolts and the Dremel table. Sometimes it's better not to over think things.




Easy type turning tool.




Manual mortising tool. Lathe turned handle + mortising machine chisel. Good for squaring mortises started on the drill press.




My Moxon vise. Leather lined jaws. Medalion added after attending one of Matt Furjanic's classes. Wood screws hand made using a thread box and tap.





Bandsaw blade tension gauge.













Table saw blade run out gauge.



Most of these projects were done several years ago before wife's health problems took over all shop time.

[bob vaughan]

Aww, why not? Just cuz it's metal??? It's wood related in a way.... the bearing were from a trailer that I use to haul logs!

LOL

Those of us that have metal working stuff do have somewhat of an 'unfair' advantage in some respects but from another perspective, having a wood shop only sure does reduce the potential for accessory expenses.

I'm enjoying this thread. Lots of good stuff.

[pop-pop]

Needed a way to safely and accurately crosscut a 5" long piece of wood at 50 degrees off the vertical. I decided to make another table saw sled that I wouldn't mind screwing into for this and future odd cuts. All from stuff in my shop.

[Gotcha6]

"The toggle clamp is a great idea.", said the guy with the stitches in his fingers......