Making my own tools

[CrocAu]

Re: Making my own tools

got couple quick ones for you, is this shovel handle from bunnings that you use there and how did you cut the grove for the tool heads to go in the handles? if SS is 1.5mm i'm worried my saw will cut 2-3mm and make the handle weak

btw did you get the off cuts for free or you paid for them? i almost got some today but they wanted some money for it.
i know recycling centre got some SS at $50 for whole brand new sheet so I might just go with that

[david s]

Re: Making my own tools

Cheers Dave

Lets say that some of the money I saved making my own tools has been spent on a few drill bits! Didn't realise how hard it is to drill s/s even with the proper drill bit.

Still have a couple more to drill but have gone too far to now go to an eng. firm.

What do you thin the varnish with?

When drilling SS, if the bit squeals then you've blunted it.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

Added another tool! This one is for moving dishes/trays around.

I used a reasonably heavy duty tent peg I had in the shed, drilled a suitably sized hole and glued. Hopefully the glue won't be an issue but guessed that i won't have it in too long anyway. If not I'll go to plan B (not sure what that is yet!)

Cheers.

[david s]

Re: Making my own tools

If you put some sides on the holder, you can fill it with ice to keep the stuff cold.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

And with trays in it!

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

My tray holder I made this morning

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

David, Neill

Drilled the few holes I needed this morning and followed both your tips and was definitely easier. I was obviously drilling to fast and burning the ends of the drill bits.

Here are a couple of pics with the finished tools. I also decided to build an aluminium holder for the containers I use to hold all the toppings. I will include some pics of these on another post.

Thanks for your help

[nissanneill]

Re: Making my own tools

I find stainless steel quite easy to drill, but you must use sharp drills, keep the speed down and keep pressure on the drill to cut. If it fails to cut and keep cutting, then it will burn the bit.
I was in a line at Bunnings tool centre buying better quality small replacement drill bits (as you and especially your son breaks them more) when the guy ahead of me had a pack of unbranded Made in China drill bits that he was only doing a price check, $1.79 per pack!
I made a comment on cheap drills and he claimed that they weren't bad, so I bought 2 sets, bought them home and using a 4mm bit drilled 34 holes using a drill press through a 1.6mm 16 guage stainless sheet without any burning of the drill. I then went back to Bunnings and bought every set at both their Marion and Mile End stores. Even though they were unbranded, they were as good as any Frosts, P&N or other quality brand that I have experienced.

Neill

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

Thanks again Dave, will definitely use your tips for the few more holes I need to drill and the varnish mix to finish off the handles.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Making my own tools

Gudday
Oil based is best and you can just thin with turps. ( sorry not a " big fan" of water based)
You going to keep drilling yourself the way I understand SS is that it doesn't dissipate heat real well. So when you drill the heat comes back really fast to the drill bit which heats up. The heat destroys the drill bits hardness and the whole process comes to a grinding halt.
That's why a drill press worked you can back of the bit before it heats to the point of destruction. And the Kero takes the heat and hot shavings away from the cut.
Hope somthing here might help
Regards dave

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

Cheers Dave

Lets say that some of the money I saved making my own tools has been spent on a few drill bits! Didn't realise how hard it is to drill s/s even with the proper drill bit.

Still have a couple more to drill but have gone too far to now go to an eng. firm.

What do you thin the varnish with?

[cobblerdave]

Re: Making my own tools

Gudday
I doubt that the linseed oil would burst intio flame unless its real wet and the volatiles haven't evaporated.
If you use a real watery coat of varnish a least 1 to 6 and wipe it over and let it dry when you oil it the oil can't penetrate to far and build up and turn dark.
Use 000 grade steel wool to sand , wipe between sandings with a damp rag and you will end up with a super smooth hard surface.
Don't worry about Aussie hardwood and heat the Abo's used flame to harden thier spear tips which could go clear through a man!
How did you go with drilling that stainless by the way? For what is worth the only way I have been able to achieve it at home was with a drill press on low and slow. And using an oil can of Kero dribbled on the drill bit to dissipate the heat and cuttings. Anyway with so many to do it might pay to visit a local engineering shop and pay them to burn out drill bits
Regards dave

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Making my own tools

Thanks Tony and Stonecutter, much appreciated.

[stonecutter]

Re: Making my own tools

Use boiled linseed oil or tung oil instead of raw linseed oil...they dry faster. I don't think you need to worry about the handle bursting into flame unless you forget to take it out of the oven.

[tonybaker]

Re: Making my own tools

great tools! I used some old oven trays, some were aluminium, some steel, probably 1.5mm thickness. For the handles I used 30mm pine dowel suitably treated. Just made saw cut in end of dowel and used brass woodscrews to hold metal in place. No need for bolts and nuts, just drill through one side of dowel and through the steel.

Oh, by the way, I found that a piece of metal tube 15mm diameter and 1.5m long was just right to blow the ash off the oven floor and to act as bellows.