2013 POTD Thread Archive

Had to have a ( special tool) you know!!! The special tool that the shop owner has to buy that drives the cost up to fix your car. This car was a 2008 Ford fusion. The tool is for removing the lower ball joint. The tool can be bought for about $220.00. & would be a couple of days to ship. I made this one in a couple hours. I bought the .750x16 grade 8 threaded bolt at fastenal.
Phil

That tool looks nice indeed! But what prompted me to reply was your tale as it reminded me how many times my family and friends have pointed out how ironic it is that I would spend say $10,000 on machinery to make something that perhaps is worth $50. What most people fail to see, however, is that making that special part makes us feel $9,950 better, so with the $50 part made with my own hands, my $10,000 investment has been paid in for.

In your case, however, you did save almost $220 and days worth of wait. Extra icing on the cake! Good job!
 
Nothing fancy just didn't want to spend $45 for a new one.
A bad spring caused the hole to wallow out so I chucked it in the lathe and cleaned up the damage.
Cut down a washer to fit and backed it with a larger washer, chucked it back up in the lathe and made hole the proper size.
Cost in materials about $2 with welding supplies.
Anything with JD Green is not cheap.......
I painted it but no pics.

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POTD - Project of Day - Sometimes it's the little things.

My daughter came to me with her broken mini armour. In this case I did have enough clamps.

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Along with fixing my daughters toy armour, I did get started on a drill press depth stop.

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- - - Updated - - -

Along with fixing my daughters toy armour, I did get started on a drill press depth stop.

btw, this is what it should look like in the end.

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Well I said I would post some pic so here they are. I made this because I could not find any of the ones that came with the socket sets I bought over the years . I had a ton of 3/8 U bolts to tighten at work. I knew I could make one but it would take more time than I had to kurl mill the square hole and do all the lath work. I was giving up when I spotted the damper gear assembly( like the one in the photo.)and it hit me all I had to do to it was face a pocket on the front and part it off. Not real pretty be cause I was in a hurry and it is a cheap cast pot metal.But it works like a charm

Mark 001.JPG002.JPG
OTE=markknx;146467]Made a spinner for a 3/8 drive ratchet out of a old gear. I will put some pics up soon.[/QUOTE]

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I've been having problems with the tailstock on my Big Dog Metal Works (Real Bull) mini lathe slipping when I try to drill with it. So, today I took the tailstock off and machined the clamping plate so that it's more even and hopefully applies more pressure to the underside of the ways. Didn't get a chance to test it yet.

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I also made this little non-marring mallet. The head is made from 3" x 3/4" acetal rod.

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I made a couple of machinist jacks sized to support stuff hanging over the edge of my mill vise. They adjust from 2.25 to 4.125 inches...
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I made a couple of machinist jacks sized to support stuff hanging over the edge of my mill vise. They adjust from 2.25 to 4.125 inches...
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Nice!
But me I am simple and have plenty of things to make so when I need a jack I use an old 1-2-3 block and thread a flat topped bolt into it.
I like having the wider base.
 
Nice!
But me I am simple and have plenty of things to make so when I need a jack I use an old 1-2-3 block and thread a flat topped bolt into it.
I like having the wider base.

Thanks. I'm still at the stage of looking for simple things to make and being fascinated that I can make a bolt ;)
 
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