cheap tool tech.

Nothing fancy, just some tools I fabbed up to do the job. First is a brake line strap fabricating tool. Just some stuff I had laying around the shop...some angle, a piece of square stock, a piece of round stock, and a hinge. I tacked the square and round stock to the angle as shown and then tacked the angle to a hinge to keep everything aligned the same every time you close it. You have to leave some space to compensate for the thickness of the material you'll be using. You can use stainless or mild steel. I use 18 ga. Just lay the angle on your vise jaws and press out as many as you want. I use a hole punch for the hole.



Next is a couple of thread chasing tools. Ever had one of those bolts that had the threads messed up on the end or even in the middle. I made this tool to clean up threads in those situations. I took a cheap pair of pliers and tig welded a grade 8 nut to them and then cut the nut into with a hack saw. Now you can clamp the pliers on the bolt anywhere hold the pliers with one hand and use a ratchet to back the bolt out cleaning up the threads.


The last one is a thread chaser I made by grinding a groove in the side of a grade 8 bolt and welding on a T handle. I use it to clean all the threads in engine blocks when I'm rebuilding one. I know I could use a tap to do the same thing, but taps are tapered and most of the time pointed and won't reach all the way to the end of blind holes in engine blocks. Besides this saves wear and tear on your taps.

 

I am gonna steal these. Nice job.

 

good job mate. i'll be using these for sure

 

Your brake line clamp tool is genius....

Nice work, -Abone.

 

x2.

 

Hey submit your ideas to matco tools and they will pay you cash, I say it on their site this morning when I was making my tool box payment. I think they offer like 2500 for good ideas and these are pretty good.


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Thanks Ray, I'll definitely look into that. I don't know if any of them would have any commercial appeal though.

 

COOL TOOLS! Your clamp forming tool triggers unlimited possible variations.

 

getting ready to plumb brake lines and will try your idea out! show a picture of the hole punch your using.

 

We have a big sheer at work. I sheer off a piece of 18 ga about 1/2" wide and keep it around the shop. That gives a nice straight strip to work with and ensures that all your straps will be the se size. The hole punch I'm using is a cheapo from Northern Tool. I'll try to post a pic later.

 

Good tips, thanks. I have been using the bolt thread chaser idea for years, lots of times it's for an odd sized or large hole that I don't have a chaser for.

 

that thread chaser is genius

 

Great ideas, Thanks

 

wow great tool man thanks

 

Very Very nice work !!!!!

 

Tech week entry I hope.

I bet a Crafty fella like you has more too.

 

you can bet your butt i'm stealing these!!!!!!

 

Here's the hole punch I use, and a pic of how the well the straps fit on the brake line.

 

Consider it stolen sir!

 

Great ideas that I'll eventually make use of I'm sure!

Thanks!!!

 

I like the ideas - good job

 

So simple and so useful. great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

 

thanks for sharing.

 

Better hurry I am trying to get a patent already. But really those are some great ideas thanks for them.

 

great tool ideas! thanks for the ideas.

 

All great ideas which I'll be copying for sure. Cept I think my T handle will have friendlier smooth stock instead of threaded.

 

Yes I like this a lot. I wonder if the flanger/hole punch thingy would make a hole in that 18 gauge? These tools are cool.

 

I want to see the brake line clamp produce stainless clamps, seems you would have to really apply a lot of pressure for SS

I like the last tool, great idea!

 

Very clever. Thanks.

 

I just made one of the brake line clamp dies yesterday after seeing this and it works perfectly, and I even have the same hole punch...thanks for the helpful tech!...