Re: [CR]Homemade tools in your toolbox

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:55:43 -0700
From: "Mitch Harris" <mitch.harris@gmail.com>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]Homemade tools in your toolbox
In-Reply-To: <8801bb250801172129g2fc9210br9a6d93c109237fa9@mail.gmail.com>
References: <478FF554.8070907@verizon.net>


missed my sign off: Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, Utah

On Jan 17, 2008 10:29 PM, Mitch Harris <mitch.harris@gmail.com> wrote:
> 1. Lucky save: After I broke the last two-prong SunTour freewheel
> removal tool I had, I used a grinder to prepare a cast off forged 15mm
> open end wrench so the tips fit neatly into the two slots on the
> freewheel. Now when necessary I put the wrench in a vice and the wheel
> on the wrench to remove a freewheel.
>
> 2. Favorite: I got tired of measuring seat height above bb center with
> a tape measure and trying to estimate what the real length would be if
> I measured a true vertical. I took a long and short length of half
> inch stainless bar stock and made a square for measuring seat height.
> I drilled two small holes in each end and bolted them together after
> using a square jig to gaurentee the right angle. So now I just lay the
> square on top of the saddle in the right spot and get a true measure
> of seat height. I hold a bubble level to it if I'm feeling particular.
>
> 3. Simple, but sentimental: a nice 531 top tube cut from one of my
> wrecked track bikes (an E.G.Bates, alas) adds a lot of leverage to a
> chain whip. And nice glossy pepto bismol pink paint too.
>
> 4. Needs a pad for the palm: Chain whip made from bar stock and a
> couple pieces of chain installed.
>
> 5. Can't find any drawback to it: Wheel building/truing stand made
> from barstock and wing nuts.
>
> --Mitch
>
>
> On Jan 17, 2008 5:39 PM, Harvey Sachs <hmsachs@verizon.net> wrote:
> > Wayne D asked:
> >
> > Hi all, while I was having a tidy up in my toolboxes, the thought came
> > across me, "how many others out there have special homemade tools that
> > could be used by others", send a list to the list if you are prepared to
> > supply details that could enable someone to duplicate.
> > +++++++++++++++++
> > From one swap meet or another, I have two home-made two-notch freewheel
> > pullers. each (and they came as a pair) is a strip of heavy sheet
> > metal, bent into a "U", with a hole in the center part (for the axle or
> > QR) and two notches on the legs to grip the FW.
> > Very elegant, and might have worked well. Not my own creation.
> >
> > not to mention the various cheap screwdrivers that have had blades
> > reground for special functions for bikes, locks, or whatever.
> >
> > harvey sachs
> > mcLean va