What welding projects are you working on? Are you proud of something you built?
How about posting some pics so other welders can get some ideas?
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

I'm wanting a big shop press for bending, punching, etc. and wondering who else likes making their own tools? I'm thinking I will make a 36" 50 ton press, and if I have money left I want to make a slip roller, too. I hear steel is cheap, and I just got $140 for my birthday, so I think a trip to the steel yard is in order 8-)
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:49 am
  • Location:
    Sweden

I like tp make tools but they are mainly smaller hand tools for sheet metal.

Here is a good site for inspiration
www.homemadetools.net
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:48 am
  • Location:
    Melbourne, Australia

Nathan

Good for you.

That's the kind of enthusiasm the world needs more of. Positive, progressive, challenging.

Don't be too disappointed if it takes a while to get all the parts, or if you need to save a little more along the way. You'll definitely achieve what you want. How did that line in the movie go? "Wipe on, Wipe off"

Keep us in the loop of your progress too!

Trevor
EWM Phonenix 355 Pulse MIG set mainly for Aluminum, CIGWeld 300Amp AC/DC TIG, TRANSMIG S3C 300 Amp MIG, etc, etc
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

That's what I like to do. This press will be my first really big project, so failure is definitely an option lol. I just cringe at spending the $1000+ on something like that, when I know I could make it myself for way less. Looks like I'm selling a welder today, so there is $80 more bucks. I'm gonna go hunt me some channels and angles tomorrow.

Homemade tools is an awesome site, I get their emails every day.

Andersk, what kind of sheet metal tools have you made?

One day, I'd like to make a water drilling rig, but that's a long ways off. I like to spend money on things that can be fun to do and that have a chance of making the money back. A big press and a slip roll to start. The press will have a brake, punch, and shear (eventually lol)
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
airrj
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:31 am
  • Location:
    Wyoming

This one is 25T, but one of the better build videos that I have watched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7K0jwcIAYQ
plain ol Bill
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:46 pm
  • Location:
    Tenino, WA

Nathan if you heard steel is cheap someone is lying to you!
Tired old welder
CNC plasma cutter
Colorful shop w/
Red, blue, yellow, purple, and Hypertherm silver equip.
BWR
  • BWR
  • Active Member
    Active Member
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:19 pm
  • Location:
    WV

Nathan, your not alone here I built a lot of the tools that I have now. I built my press a few years ago because I couldn't see paying the price they wanted for the size press I needed. I built mine 6' tall and the table is 2' by 4' and is built out of 6" I beam. I used a 50 ton air/hydraulic bottle jack with a long air hose on it for obvious reasons lol. This should be a good project with many years of service for you, good luck and keep us posted.
-Brad
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:49 am
  • Location:
    Sweden

nathan wrote:
Andersk, what kind of sheet metal tools have you made?
Slappers, stakes, mallets, bead roller dies
Can dig up some pics if you're interested
plain ol Bill
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:46 pm
  • Location:
    Tenino, WA

I used to make a lot of Damascus steel for knives I made. I made a press to forge weld under and use it for general forging work. Will add in a pic of it. Used a 4" cylinder on one side and a 6" on the other. This monster would press a 1" wide x 6" long x 6" tall Damascus billet down to 2" wide without any problems - of course this billet was around 2200 degrees at the time too. :)
Attachments
forge press2.jpg
forge press2.jpg (103.3 KiB) Viewed 26752 times
Tired old welder
CNC plasma cutter
Colorful shop w/
Red, blue, yellow, purple, and Hypertherm silver equip.
GreinTime
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:20 am
  • Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA

Bill, I don't know about out your way, but scrap in Ohio here is down to $90 a ton... That's the cheapest I've seen it in a long time. I'm sure the local scrap would be pretty amicable to selling some of the stuff they have for a fair price.
#oneleggedproblems
-=Sam=-
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

Hell yeah, I'm interested in pictures!

At 90 a ton for scrap, I may have them ship me some down to Texas! How much would that cost? Lol

My scrap yards here were selling at 40 cents a pound about a year ago I have heard that it is around 25 or 30 cents now...

Here's my next question for y'all. I'm looking for a little guidance here:
I have two welders right now, along with a grinder and little porta torch, but that's it as far as fabrication equipment. I can use my little FCAW machine, but my stick machine is out of commission due to not having 220 in the new garage yet. Should I get the 220 running and get a tig setup for my stick welder, or should I tackle this press project first? I'm confident in my "little" wire machine, as far as penetration, weld strength, and my own ability. I have one potential customer that wants skid plates built, and I think that it would be awesome to be able to bend them with my own brake.
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
plain ol Bill
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:46 pm
  • Location:
    Tenino, WA

Sam out where I live in the sticks we have very few scrap places and those send all of their stuff to China. Don't know of any that sell to the general public around here.
Tired old welder
CNC plasma cutter
Colorful shop w/
Red, blue, yellow, purple, and Hypertherm silver equip.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:49 am
  • Location:
    Sweden

I dug up some pictures of some simple tools I've made

Body file holder, the file lies on a "stump" used to shrink metal on
DSC_0015.jpg
DSC_0015.jpg (43.19 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Some various templates for recesses or dimples.
Some oak, jigsaw, holesaws and a wood router is everything needed
DSC_0085.jpg
DSC_0085.jpg (53.43 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
DSC_0086.jpg
DSC_0086.jpg (45.43 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
DSC_0088.jpg
DSC_0088.jpg (50.35 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
They were used to make this
IMG_201504145435.jpg
IMG_201504145435.jpg (33.2 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Wood mallet I made from legs of the kitchen table :mrgreen:
DSC_0089.jpg
DSC_0089.jpg (42.24 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Tool for tipping edges (can be shimmed to take different sheet thickness)
DSC_0165.jpg
DSC_0165.jpg (36.41 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Tipping dies for the bead roller
DSC_0172.jpg
DSC_0172.jpg (220.65 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Some slappers, made of leaf springs
DSC00286.jpg
DSC00286.jpg (328.97 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Beater bag stand, made from an old water tank
IMG201.jpg
IMG201.jpg (240.36 KiB) Viewed 22059 times
Last edited by AndersK on Wed Apr 29, 2015 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:49 am
  • Location:
    Sweden

Continued, 10 attachments maximum...


Holder for stakes, fits the beater bag stand
IMG197.jpg
IMG197.jpg (220.92 KiB) Viewed 22061 times
Some stakes, the smaller curved ones are coils from car springs
IMG202.jpg
IMG202.jpg (260.56 KiB) Viewed 22061 times
Some tools, self made and modified
DSC_0153.jpg
DSC_0153.jpg (266.37 KiB) Viewed 22061 times
pretty much everything used to make this
Image
http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/v ... =10#p51398
motox
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:49 pm
  • Location:
    Delaware

anders
nice assortment of shapers.
craig
htp invertig 221
syncrowave 250
miller 140 mig
hypertherm plasma
morse 14 metal devil
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:40 pm
  • Location:
    Near New Orleans

And nice assortment of projects done with said shapers!

Steve S
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

That's cool! You doing hot work with them, or is it all done cold?
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
exnailpounder
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:25 am
  • Location:
    near Chicago

Wow. That stuff is amazing! You guys are geniuses in your own right!
Ifyoucantellmewhatthissaysiwillbuyyouabeer.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:49 am
  • Location:
    Sweden

Thanks gor the kind comments.

I mainly work cold but sometimes, like with the parts for the dragonfly, I need to anneal when it work hardens.
The size and degree of shaping would make them crack otherwise
IMG_2015043058629.jpg
IMG_2015043058629.jpg (35.28 KiB) Viewed 22029 times
IMG_2015043011348.jpg
IMG_2015043011348.jpg (39.64 KiB) Viewed 22029 times
IMG_2015043032515.jpg
IMG_2015043032515.jpg (50.28 KiB) Viewed 22029 times
exnailpounder
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:25 am
  • Location:
    near Chicago

Anders...those dragonflys would sell like hotcakes over here. I showed the wife and I guess I have a new project to try...thanks buddy! :lol:
Ifyoucantellmewhatthissaysiwillbuyyouabeer.
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

Is there a site or app that you guys use when calculating working load limits? I know my father in law has a book, but he is ill (out of contact most of the time) and lives an hour away (hard to make that drive for just a book). I am trying to see what size material I should use for this press.
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

So, here's what's happening with this brake:

1. I got 250# of of structural shapes and brake dies for $80. Score. It is all 50ksi steel, and the best part is that 100# of it is a premade frame of C6X10.5 channel that is 36"X20" inside dimensions.

2. I figured out that the frame will take 50 tons. I used a calculator recommended by an engineer at work. I am going to use two 20 ton bottle jacks for my load. And I confirmed from the engineer that the whole of the load will not be on each horizontal part of the frame (20 tons will be upward pressure and 20 tons downward pressure). This puts the 40 tons within my working limit.

3. I sourced bottle jacks from my father in law who no longer needs them.

4. I'm sitting in my garage fitting everything up and I'm only going to have to cut one stick of I-beam, and it will all fit up within 1/8". How much luckier can you get with a pile of random scrap?

5. I even got a TIG torch, so I have gotten the bulk of my two biggest projects done.

I have no idea what to look for on craigslist now lol. I spend my free time sitting on the toilet searching craigslist and Facebook. Now I'm getting on here and Instagram, so my life is changing because of finally completing a project! Lol
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
taz
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Mon May 26, 2014 12:43 pm
  • Location:
    Athens - Greece

AndersK, those are great tools and top notch work.
nathan
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:20 pm
  • Location:
    Texas

plain ol Bill wrote:I used to make a lot of Damascus steel for knives I made. I made a press to forge weld under and use it for general forging work. Will add in a pic of it. Used a 4" cylinder on one side and a 6" on the other. This monster would press a 1" wide x 6" long x 6" tall Damascus billet down to 2" wide without any problems - of course this billet was around 2200 degrees at the time too. :)
Am I wrong to call that an ironworker? Or is it more of a power hammer? You just inspired my next project.
Instagram: @nathanppiatt

Owner/welder at Homegrown Metal Fab

Lincoln Weld-Pak 125 HD
Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Lincoln Port-a-torch
30" 40 ton homegrown press brake
Northern Industrial1HP 3/4" chuck, 16 speed drill press
homemadetools
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Sep 02, 2015 2:40 pm

AndersK wrote:I like tp make tools but they are mainly smaller hand tools for sheet metal.

Here is a good site for inspiration
http://www.homemadetools.net
Jon here from HomemadeTools.net.

I know this thread is an old one, but thanks for the mention :mrgreen:

To celebrate our 20,000th homemade tool, we made a new ebook featuring our top 50 homemade tools. You guys are welcome to it for free:

http://download.homemadetools.net/50MustReadTools.pdf

Image
Post Reply