Model Engine Maker

Supporting => Tooling & Machines => Topic started by: mklotz on July 24, 2012, 09:03:29 PM

Title: Shop gadgets
Post by: mklotz on July 24, 2012, 09:03:29 PM
 Like many of us, I stick small tools in holes bored in a block of wood. However, this doesn't work well with certain tools. For instance, it's hard to select the right jeweler screwdriver if you can't see the tips. So I made this holder out of some well-aged boxwood I had lying around.

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j234/mklotz/tools/shop007.jpg)

The turned recess exposes the tips of the tools for selection yet the whole block can be picked up as a unit without having tools fall out.


Commercial chuck spiders can be expensive. I made this one

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j234/mklotz/tools/shop010.jpg)

for machining thin disk-like parts. The slots allow it to slip over the jaws and the spacers (two sets shown) hold it (and the part) a fixed distance from the chuck face with good support for machining.


I'm not sure where I acquired a whole bagful of brass key disks but, never needing so many, I took some of them and made this adjustable spacer by stringing them on a screw which is soldered to the bottommost disk. A finger nut tensions the disks on the screw.

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j234/mklotz/tools/spacer2.jpg)

In use, one simply swings aside the unneeded portion of the spacer to provide the right height stack under the clamp.

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j234/mklotz/tools/spacer1.jpg)


Finally, if your chuck is hard to remove, make yourself a "banjo" wrench from 3/4" plywood.

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j234/mklotz/tools/banjo1.jpg)

The slots fit over the chuck jaws and distribute the force on all three jaws - much superior in my mind to using a crescent wrench on one jaw or slamming a jaw into a block of wood on the ways.
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Title: Re: Shop gadgets
Post by: lazylathe on July 25, 2012, 02:01:23 PM
Thanks Marv! :ThumbsUp:

I especially like the simplicity of the brass disk spacer gadget!

I guess i should also do something about my screwdriver situation!
A plastic tub seems positively archaic next to your fancy Boxwood holder! :NotWorthy:

Andrew
Title: Re: Shop gadgets
Post by: SmoggyTurnip on July 25, 2012, 05:32:43 PM
Very nice. How do the spacers get attached to the spider?
Title: Re: Shop gadgets
Post by: mklotz on July 25, 2012, 05:42:53 PM
Very nice. How do the spacers get attached to the spider?

There are holes in the spider.  Each spacer has a matching tenon that fits into the hole.  Thus, once the workpiece is mounted, the spacers are completely trapped and can't fly out.
Title: Re: Shop gadgets
Post by: Dean W on July 27, 2012, 11:33:52 PM
Good stuff, Marv.  I have a bunch of those brass tags, and now I know what to do with them.  I got a bag of them
when I worked maintenance at a rock plant.  They were to ID me when I had a lockout on a machine so I could
work on it.  Used to carry a number of them in my pocket for that, along with a box of Master locks in my tool box.
I like your spider, too.  Very useful tool.
Title: Re: Shop gadgets
Post by: chuck foster on July 27, 2012, 11:38:34 PM
as always marv your postings are brilliant ................ thank you

chuck
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