E Z Tech \Shift Knob

[G V Gordon]

Guess this qualifies for Tech Week.

Quick and easy and applicable to ALMOST any item you would want to put on the end of your stick. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

First the materials:
The item is in this case a cue ball I picked up for 99 cents at a local discount house, a threaded conector that fits my old pickup shifter, and a good two part epoxy.

[G V Gordon]

Second drill a hole that is a snug fit for the connector, The gaps resulting from a hex item in a round hole allow for epoxy to fill the voids on the sides for better bonding.

[G V Gordon]

Drill the hole about half the length of the connector.

[G V Gordon]

mix the epoxy as directed

[G V Gordon]

coat the hole and the connector and tap into place firmly. Then work epoxy into the voids along the sides.

[G V Gordon]

And "Viola" the finished product mounted in Ol' Yeller.
I was going to make an eyball out of it but I'm kind of diggin' the classic look.
Thanks for your attention and, "Do try this at home". http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[G V Gordon]

bttt, since it's still tech week.

[Django]

This will come in handy for me very soon. Thanks!

Can you get that connector at any hardware store?

[Jester]

Far out George....one problem though........no lines on it....whats wrong man I thought for sure you'd pull a line or two or ten on it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[luketrash]

Potentially (depending on how much you care) you can stick some clear mailing tape over the spot where you're going to drill to help prevent the chipping off of plastic around the mounting hole.

[HotRodHon]

Not to be too much of a smart ass, but I just drill and tap the Billiard balls. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The plastic they use for billiard balls is hard as nails, and taps beautifully.
I've done at least ten or so this way. Have'nt broken one yet.

Just my $.002 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[G V Gordon]

Jester: I bought three of the cue balls so I plan on doing two more. They will be a bit more colorfull.

39Sled. One of the reasons I used an insert was that on the old truck 4 speed it has a jam nut and that gave me a hex nut to hold onto while I tightened the jam nut. Each case is different for sure. It also gave me about an inch extention and I like where it set the knob better for my 5 year old grandson to reach,(he likes to shift PaPa's truck. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[G V Gordon]

Django, yea, any good hardware store carries an assortment of them.

LukeTrash, good tip, I'll try that on the next one.

[Twisted Okie]

Old Yellar just keeps gettin cooler!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[porknbeaner]

Hey that looks almost like my old lucky shift knob, minus the nearly 50 years worth of checks cracks and palm crust.
Very cool.

[middleskewl]

here's mine.

[Thirtycoup]

cool post man, simple, looks good and even a dumbass like me can't screw it up too bad! question, what did you hold the ball with while drilling it, just your hand? mike

[G V Gordon]

Yea, they are not hard to drill. My drill press table has a small hole that it sat in to keep i square. If you needed to, you could use a small spray paint lid or something like that to set it in.

[slowpoke]

Very cool simple tech. Tape suggestion aside...Did you use any kind of special masonary bit to perform better (less cracking, chipping, etc.)...or will any style bit work? Thanks.

[middleskewl]

had mine clamped between 2 V blocks. Broke the first ball
because it seemed to be cutting really easy but in a blink
it started smoking and cracked the ball. i used a regular
high speed steel bit for the threaded hole and a carbide
end mill for the counterbore for the button. slow speed,
(1000 RPM) slow feed. Also broke one with a tap. Tap hole was too small. some oil on the tap helped out a bunch too.

[zman]

bttt for tech week