Workshop Hand Tools

[Jigantor]

I have found it hard to find small hand tools for my workshop.
Just the simple ones.
The ones that I use every day.
I don't just work on flat plate sometimes its round and square sections.
I thought I would share what I use to get the job done. I hope others will post here with what they have made to help around the workshop.

I have wasted heaps of time over the years just putting up with an issue but today I had to solve it.

Our drill press never seems to align a drill bit without us having to spin the drill 180 degrees than adjusting half way in both the X & Y axis.
To find out where the problem was we turned up a length of 10mm or 3/8" diameter stainless steel rod with a 25 degree point.I placed it into the drill chuck and aligned it to a cross pattern I marked on some scrap ali. I then drilled a hole with a 5mm drill bit. The hole was off badly. I have a Jacob's keyless chuck which I know to be fine so I popped out the arbour and installed an old rusty arbour which I know to be straight. I then tapped on the original B16 Chinese key chuck and installed the stainless steel sharpened rod over another cross pattern.
This time when I drilled the hole I found it perfectly aligned with the X & Y axes.
The new arbour I stalled after purchasing the drill was bent or badly manufactured. The stainless steel centre point will be used from now on to locate the centre of a hole before installing the bit.
This will save time and increase the accuracy.

Ji

[Paul G.]

Nice idea! I think I might have to steal that idea. Thank you

[Jigantor]

Hi Paul,
It is not a new idea but it is worth knowing & using.
Go for it !
Will save a lot of time.

Ji

[Jigantor]

The machine vice I use on my drill press came with a handle that is to long for its area, so I use a pair of vice grips to adjust the vice.
Now that the drill press is starting to work really well it was time to sort out the handle issue.
New members to this forum always ask for projects to do. Why? there are plenty of setting up the workshop projects without looking for one. Once these are done you will have a usable workshop and know how to do most fabrication jobs.

I purchased a slab of 20mm or 3/4" thick 6060 T5, fired up CAD, did a drawing to use as a template and started in.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Time for a test fit.
Yep does not even need any filing.
Time for a linish and ready to be stamped.
I decided to make a new stamp holder yesterday so can not stamp the vice handle until it is fabricated.
May be tomorrow.

Ji

[kvwall]

Nice finish.