|
|
Helping Hand
I wish I would have built this years ago. I was forced to come up
with something when I was widening the fenders on my Hollywood. A
straight up and down stand just would not work. The solution was a
vise with a swiveling head. The stand also adjusts up and down and
rotates on the ball joint. It can get into any position you want.
You can get a swivel vise from Grainger's or someone like them.
I used a commercial stand I had laying around for years. Now that I
used it on the fender, I have a dreamed up a multitude of other
uses. I don't have to name them, you can use your imagination. It's
like having somebody standing around to hold things when you need
him. The next step is to put some locking wheels on it. My base was
built from a sheave off a adjustable pulley. It's pretty heavy and
after I started to lug it around, I realized it needed wheels. When
it's not being used with the vise, I install a roller attachment. A
recent "e" mail from Timothy Stachlewitz showed us some attachments
that can be made to expand it's use around the shop. He uses one to
hold a vise, grinder, etc. (See his album
here.)I have no doubt there are some of these
rolling around shops at this moment. I just don't knows why it took
me so long to build mine. One thing to remember, make it bottom
heavy.
|
|
There is a "FREE LUNCH"
The following photo shows a pile of cutouts from a countertop
installer. They usually throw these away. What a waste. They are
great for bucks, drilling boards, etc. If they are not big enough,
glue and splice them together. Hey, they're FREE. You can make all
kinds of practice things. Teachers can use these for demo's or hands
on building. I use them whenever I am drilling on my bench. If you
use the finished side, it's close to a surface plate for gluing
things up.
|
|
Almost Free
Old bowling balls usually get thrown away. I bought this one for a
buck and fit a bar into the thumb hole and had an anvil.
|
|
Curing the Wobblies
Ever had to deal with a wobbly that was too wobbly? I was in
Colorado working out of my old toolbox and could not keep the socket
in the position I needed. Every time I would work it up to its
position it would flop over. A little masking tape and it worked
perfect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
