Andy Green Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Following on from another thread on incident meters the subject has come up about tools and making your own, so....Like it says on the tin, what is your best homemade tool.AndyPS I'm at work at the moment, I'll post photos of mine when I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I've only built one; A home brew (as Mr. Whittaker would say) balencer. Didn't want to pay £20 for a commercial one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260 Flyer Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 A magnetic building board complete with jigs, clamps and magnetic prop balancer. I'd never go back to pins again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 It's not exactly a tool, and I did crib it from a jeweller friend..Hanging from my building board, just in front of where I sit, I have a plastic bag, with a bit of wire looped inside to hold it open. Anything that falls of the board, is neatly caught in itA magnetic board sounds great. but they cost a fortune, dont' they?...........Maybe I could make one..wee magnets are cheap enough hhhhhmernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hindle Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 i have always struggled to mill foam / balsa to a specific depth, the abundanceof foam models with poor excuses for ply parts (expecially undercarriages) has meant I've had to hack into the foam to add reinforcing plates, well no more after trawling google I found various ideas and pulled the attached together, 15mm pvc pipe (DIY store) and some corex (for sale sign) is all you need... oh and a dremel ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260 Flyer Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 ErnieThe most expensive part of my magnetic building board was £30 for 100 ferrite block magnets. I picked up an off-cut of 1.5mm sheet steel for £10 which is fixed onto a sheet of 19mm MDF £15. The jig components are just a series of set-squares cut from offcuts of 6mm ply with Neodym magnets epoxied to the base.The only drawback is the weight, with all the magnets jigs,and clamps stuck to it plus numerous rules and straight edges, it's bl**dy heavy! Good old ebay is a good source of magnets if you want to take the plunge. My inspiration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 My best home brew tool is a set of sanding formers for leading edges.I have 4 of differing size, into which I can stick those sticky sanding pads, by not having the pad go into the corners I can get any radius.Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Hi Rob, thanks, I'm moving house sometime soon, and will certainly have a think about it..Maybe you could persuade RCM&E to do a wee article about it ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Richards Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 A very simple home made tool is a piece of flat hardwood about 50mm wide 15mm thick and 150mm long. To this I stick a piece of sandpaper cut from a sanding belt (very tough resin bonded abrasive) with double sided tape. This make a great sanding board for next to nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iawnski Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 best bit of tool ive got is a hammer and a peice of wood ? when im building and i do somethng stupid to my build and get a bit stressed i pick the hammer up and clout the bit of wood bl--dy hard /its saved my model that im building loads of time try it youll love it could do with a tree hug now ohhhhhhhhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Channon Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 One of the best home made tools i have seen must be my cousin's tool for pumping up hydrolastic suspension, e mk2 cortina clutch slave cylinder, a home made wooden box and a baby's milk tin for the tank. I have used it for years, much cheaper than taking a Metro, Ambassador, etc to the local leyland / Rover shop !!!The title did say "Best home made tool "Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iawnski Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 wow a relic of bygone years the things we did then to our motors you could always adapt a part /no chance now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iawnski Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 computer in car in 70 s/ no just an old 8 track you went over a bump and it changed channels for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Sheehy Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I use a length of spruce or similar 1/8" by 1/4" with rough sandpaper on one side and fine on the other glued on with pva and trimmed. It was made for the wing joining box in a built up wing and has proved very handy for many tight places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260 Flyer Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I have a selection of beech engine bearers left over from electrified kits which I stick sandpaper on. As john says very handy for those hard to reach spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bandit Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hi All,I built this in 1978, and it's probably time to build another. It's a twin blade balsa stripper. the top plate slides and is locked by the wing nuts on the bolts running in the slots. The two blades are locked by the three wood srews on the front. It's simply a shelving board sawn along the length with the off cut screwed back on with the 3 wood screws to trap the blades. The blades are adjustable for hieght, and it will strip balsa fron 1/16" to 1 1/2" wide (1.5 to 38mm) for metric fans. Wouldn't be with out it. I use off cuts of balsa over the blades to stop stabbing myself when I pick it up ( the red near the blades is marker pen not my blood).Cheers,Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bandit Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hi All,Another simple tool, that does two jobs. Very handy for drilling small components rather than drilling your favorite building board. Also doubles as a full sheet sanding block. Ideal for trimming those built up fussies and wings. Again this ones seen better days ( circa 1983). I'm off to the shed top build another.Cheers,Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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