Tools making tools...

[bplayer405]

Thing I like the most about welding is the ability to make tools to make our work a bit easier. In just the past few months I've made a vise brake press, a rod/flat bender, portaband table and a mig cart. I'm currently working on a trailer hitch vise mount. Post up some of your projects intended to make your work easier.

 

[bplayer405]

Finished up one vise setup. Pipe vise will be next...

 

[Lis2323]

Pipe vise mounts

 

[bplayer405]

Pipe vise mounts

View attachment 849
View attachment 850

Thats a nice set up. I work construction so we need a mount to thread pipe on the job. Probably work it up this weekend.

 

[PILOON]

I like your vice bending tricks and might adopt them (if no royalties are involved).

One that I have done is to keep 2ea 12 inch angles that I often use to clamp thin metal stock and hand bend to 90 deg's.

The hitch vice mount also should prove to be very handy. Clever!

 

[bplayer405]

Royalties? Wouldn't that be nice! Lol! Adopt away. Its one of the reasons I joined is to see what and how others are designing and building projects.

I did get my pipe vise mount done this afternoon... can't wait to get a drill press...

 

[Yomax4]

Don't laugh now. I've been known to use my log splitter as a brake and a tire bead breaker.

 

[coupman35]

Cool I like you vise brake I made a 24 inch brake .It work ok .

 

[Lis2323]

Oxy-fuel torch holder.

 

[bplayer405]

Oxy-fuel torch holder.

View attachment 873

That should work good. I made one out of #9 wire in my bender... will probably add a magnetic base or weld it to a clamp.

 

[Lis2323]

That should work good. I made one out of #9 wire in my bender... will probably add a magnetic base or weld it to a clamp.View attachment 874

Nice bending job

 

[Lis2323]

Homemade hydraulic press

 

[CA_Bgrwldr]

Nice press, have always planned to build one, just haven't collected enough free steel yet, same with a gantry I could use.

 

[CA_Bgrwldr]

Most of the tools I make tend to be a one-off use, and either get recycled or given to a friend. The only stuff i have currentyly are these two crude crankshaft holding bars, and T-Post driver. The T-post driver gets used often, so it had to be a little more finished.


I have a brake drum puller I made for my '37 Plymouth restoration project somewhere, it is crude like the crankshaft bars, just some pieces of scrap angle iron and a large nut and bolt welded together.

 

[CA_Bgrwldr]

Guess the brake drum puller was a little more than I remember.

 

[PILOON]

Yep, post pounder.
Made mine from a discarded 'dozer cylinder and welded a solid slug at the top end.
Side grips/handles slightly towards the operator.
Used rebar for the grips in order to have a good hand hold.
My neighbors all use it more than I do, but that' OK, makes a good loaner credit for when I need to borrow something.

 

[Edke6bnl]

Don't laugh now. I've been known to use my log splitter as a brake and a tire bead breaker.

my boy gave me a pallet jack that his company through away for osha because it had the forks spread apart, I put it in my log splitter with a chain and straighten it out.

 

[Torch1]

Finished up one vise setup. Pipe vise will be next...View attachment 832View attachment 833View attachment 834

This is such a great idea for any truck. We used to have a flip down vice that worked but it was always in the way inside the box as it was bolted to the floor of the box. This is just so much better and has tons of options. Awesome

 

[MarineScott]

Finished up one vise setup. Pipe vise will be next...View attachment 832View attachment 833View attachment 834

I love this! Are you using any specific size of 2" sq. tubing?

 

[bplayer405]

I love this! Are you using any specific size of 2" sq. tubing?

I happened to come up with a 5' section of 2" square that's 1/8" wall. Short leg is 1' and the long is 2'. Its not thick enough for making towing accessories, but strong enough to hold the vises I use for work. Last mod I did was to cap the ends of the tubing with 1/8" material to make it stronger. Had a chance to use the pipe vise today, just to hold some copper tubing to sweat on fittings. Makes an awesome 3rd hand...