This is it....

C-Bag said:
What still amazes me and puts a smile on my face every time is to just go in and make something like for that latch. For 50yrs I had tons of tools but never any machine tools. I never knew about the hobby class of benchtop lathe and mill so not until I truly had to get into machining did I investigate. If I would have known how useful and relatively inexpensive they were I would have invested decades ago.

But then again this last 15yrs has been the longest by 10yrs I’ve lived in one place since I left home. And more than 3/4 of those places didn’t have a garage and the very thought of moving the Tetris Garage makes me cringe.
Click to expand...

I get that 100%.

I just love the fact I can get a job done without having to shell out money for someone else to do the job, that I know I can do. Gives me a huge grin every time I save money doing a job myself.
 
I often feel like I’m somehow off grid repurposing and repairing stuff that was meant to go obsolete so I’d have to buy a new one. Sometimes it’s just a small mod sometimes it’s an extensive project. All too often I need something either nobody makes it or is just crazy expensive sometimes for no good reason. The truly disheartening thing is the product is not available anymore, nor parts and the replacement is inferior. I have become that old codger saying “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”.

Case in point is the Workmate WM400 I’ve had for over 20yrs. It’s been replaced by the WM425 and I just want a new top for mine as the fiberboard top is dying. I can find tops for the 200 series all over the place but not the 400 :( Guess I’ll have bodge something together as the 200’s won’t fit.
 
C-Bag said:
old codger saying “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”.
Click to expand...

I have been saying that for the last 25 years and I have not even reeached 45 yet!! Either old before my time, or just more observant. Maybe a sprinkling of both perhaps?

As for the tops for the workmate, could you not make some from hardwood and create an ally edged "V" to the inside edges so you could grip round items?
 
GrifterGuru said:
I get that 100%.

I just love the fact I can get a job done without having to shell out money for someone else to do the job, that I know I can do. Gives me a huge grin every time I save money doing a job myself.
Click to expand...

I made some parts years back for a project I was going to work on during vacation. Only problem was one of my slip fits wouldn’t, so I had to find a shop to turn the shaft down.

That was the hardest $40 I ever spent.




C-Bag said:
I often feel like I’m somehow off grid repurposing and repairing stuff that was meant to go obsolete so I’d have to buy a new one. Sometimes it’s just a small mod sometimes it’s an extensive project. All too often I need something either nobody makes it or is just crazy expensive sometimes for no good reason. The truly disheartening thing is the product is not available anymore, nor parts and the replacement is inferior. I have become that old codger saying “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”.

Case in point is the Workmate WM400 I’ve had for over 20yrs. It’s been replaced by the WM425 and I just want a new top for mine as the fiberboard top is dying. I can find tops for the 200 series all over the place but not the 400 :( Guess I’ll have bodge something together as the 200’s won’t fit.
Click to expand...


If you’re the enterprising type you can turn this into a good profit.

I’m always either buying or finding broken stuff and fixing it either for myself or to sell at the flea market.

It’s a hobby that can pay for itself, a real rarity.
 
A just for fun job dropped into my lap. My steps son damaged the sparkplug threads on a bicycle two stroke motor. I chased the threads for him and noticed how ugly the face was where the sparkplug seals. This took about 10 minutes to set up and one 0.005" deep pass to complete.

20240708_164821.jpg
 
Batmanacw said:
A just for fun job dropped into my lap. My steps son damaged the sparkplug threads on a bicycle two stroke motor. I chased the threads for him and noticed how ugly the face was where the sparkplug seals. This took about 10 minutes to set up and one 0.005" deep pass to complete.

View attachment 496270
Click to expand...
Quit teasing us with the toy parts and show us the tool porn in the background!!!! :grin:

:laughing:
 
RaisedByWolves said:
It’s a hobby that can pay for itself, a real rarity.
Click to expand...
I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’m curious what kind of enterprising things you turn? Most times I’m on the hunt for something on CL for my own tool addiction and don’t at all trust the ad that says “ it’s just got “ blank “ wrong, easy fix”. Most times buying used there is something wrong and they are hoping you don’t notice.

I’m good at posting stuff for free and have it gone but trying to even break even is not what I’m good at. I have no idea if it’s just the area and we have a bunch of resellers jamming the zone wanting to get it free or if folks are as broke as me. The one garage sale we had was a bust until SO put out the free sign, then it was gone in 10min.
 
Here's a few of mine:

1. I made a new aluminum throat plate for my bandsaw. All the replacements are plastic.

2. Made a spacer for the sink in our bathroom out of PVC sprinkler pipe. I stripped the metal one that was in there when I needed to replace the cartridge and the part I needed is NLA. The plumber who came over to replace them again left them in there.

3. I made a tool that takes off the nut on the cartridge in our shower. The plumber said it came in really handy. The part is in too deep to get any normal wrench on it and the nut has just 2 flat areas to put a wrench.

4. I made a table elevator for my DP. For some reason Craftsman didn't put table elevators on any DP's for a long time. No aftermarket ones or other brands would fit, so I made one.
 
I would have been tempted to file the 3 1/2 thou off the diameter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top