modified tools today

[chunkolini]

For ages I have been meaning to modify the thingy on my bench shears to set the thickness being cut.
They are made by Keetona and needed a spanner and three hands to set up properly.
Every now and again I will 'waste' half a day of workshop time on these little jobs.
I found an old push bike quick release in a box of stuff, that I used years ago for something else, possibly securing a machine vice on a pillar drill.
Anyway I removed the offending bolt and bits and bobs and fitted the quick release.

Job done, typically a ten minute job took an hour but worth the effort. Next thing is to make a small support to go a few inches to the left of the shears to help get the height right. I also cut a slot in the thingy so i can see what I am doing when making small cuts.
How did that picture get in twice?

Then I had a go at my belt linisher.
it narked me that I had to fanny about taking two bolts off to access the front roller for working on curved surfaces.
Out with the angle grinder, and slot the holes that the worktable thingy sits on.
Now loosen the bolts, pull it forwards and it drops off nicely.

This one did take ten minutes.
I also made a cranked arm for my Power bender but forgot to take a picture.

I always think what the hell am I doing but know that I will be using these 'mods every day at work. Does anybody else take the odd day out to do these kind of things.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I like the shear mod..it even looks like it 'belongs' there.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Yep, I often take some time to get little mods done. Then usually wonder why I didn't do them before.
Just done two for my shear. One to line up sheet square to the blade and the other to line up big sheets for straight cuts.

On the floor at the moment are an open faced ring roller (pictures to come soon) and an MM style bar bender for general work. Will get the photoes up this w/end.
Major tidy up in progress.
KF

 

[Dev]

Today's task is using a hospital IV set to provide coolant to my pillar drill, does that count?

 

[KemppiFrog]

Dev, are you going to hang a bag from the roof?

 

[Dev]

Nah the pulley case will be fine

 

[pedrobedro]

Today's task is using a hospital IV set to provide coolant to my pillar drill, does that count?

It would be cool if you could get an artificial heart to use as a pump, would a dialysis machine work ?

 

[tigler]

Or a peristaltic blood pump !! Easy to make actually but the tubing is the most critical and difficult part.

 

[Dev]

In case you thought I didn't mean it.
Seems to work fine...

 

[Welderpaul]

Modifying tools at our place usually means cutting bits off them to squeeze that last bit of capacity out of them. Or making them...we have all sorts of bits of bars, levers, jigs with things welded onto them that are invaluable for certain jobs.

 

[stuvy]

dev, where did you get the drip thats very needed in my workshop!!

i have cut a few tools about but now have an issue with my little grinder, the buttons packed up and i cant get the nut undone even hammering at it with a chisel wouldnt turn the sodding thing

 

[KemppiFrog]

Here goes with the shear mods.
First is self evident, guides the metal in at right angles.
Second is a length of tube clamped to the lower knife and supported by a prop. I just mark each edge of the sheet then put the further one in the jaw and line up the other on the tube. In the pic it has a bit of wood clamped to it so it follows the tube. Don't always bother with that, but the system makes for quick, straight cuts.
I do quite a lot of folded square backplates for wall lights and this simple mod has made quite a difference to the speed of production. 'Cors, if I could find a power shear at a budget price..... Second hand kit is very thin on the ground around here, and the prices

I will put up the other bits in a new thread
KF

 

[KemppiFrog]

Dev,
Like your solution, might use a wine box bag for my chop saw. With a bit of wine left in them, look very much like a blood transfusion.
KF

 

[Dev]

Stuvy - it's a Baxter IV line and 150ml bottle. I removed the saline and replaced it with water and lubricant using an 80cm extension kit with a 3 way tap. There's also a non return valve on the end there to stop air bubbles.

I wonder if there's a market for a disposable coolant kit

 

[Robotstar5]

dev, where did you get the drip thats very needed in my workshop!!

IV giving set - link

 

[mantakev]

How do you set the blades on a shear?
Mine seems to squash the metal and not cut it between the blades

 

[stuvy]

IV giving set - link

thank you

 

[hotrodder]

Some neat mods. Can't remember the brand (just that it's modern and not cheapnese) but the handshear at a mates workshop has an automatic hold down bar... been ages since i used it but from memory there's a compression spring to allow it to self adjust for different thicknesses and it's linked to the handle so that it clamps the work as the handle is bought down to make a cut and then releases it when you lift the handle to take the next bite

How do you set the blades on a shear?
Mine seems to squash the metal and not cut it between the blades

Blade clearance would ideally be about 7 - 10% of metal thickness. Excessive clearance will produce larger burrs before things get properly messy. Slop in the pivots will allow the clearance to move in use and is something i'd look for first, assuming a Johnny 5 thumbs hasn't had a go at sharpening the blades at some point...