Kiwiviking
133722
1147
48
Finished product first
So I got a piece of rebar, ground it smooth and cut out notches
Top view, looks like it could work
The offending screw in the Ford van that I need to remove to get the seat out
Test fit, I had to go back to the angle grinder a few times to get it to fit snuggly
Grabbed an old socket to weld on
Tried to get it centered, but not perfect
A few tack welds to hold it
Looks good
A nice top view
So it was too long and I had to cut it off and re weld it because it hit the bracket on the seat....oops. I got the bolt out though! It worked.
Bonus project I didn't really document as well.
The arbor tool for the angle grinder was missing so I pounded a piece of EMT flat on one end and tapped 2 holes for 8/32" thread. Then put two 8/32 machine screws in
It fits
gatomejores
If I can't find a torx the right size, I can usually find a flathead bit that works fine.
gotmojomang
I was expecting it to be heated to cherry red and quenched in oil for case hardening but it worked. Rebar is better than mild steel.
FlightlessFluzy
Lmao dude! I just used a large flathead and that somehow worked, backseat of the damn E350.
PutinOnTheBlitz
#1 THAT, folks... is a hard working hand.
circlebreaker
Fuck that's sexy. Do you call her a dirty girl when you use her to loosen stuff?
xLag
Rebar is too soft. Get proper for reffing.
arhzul101
Need a tool? Make the tool
Fryphax
I never use the arbor tool.
whytezombie
Excellent! Once I needed a screw driver that was 3 foot long...so I cut one I had and welded all-thread to lengthen it.
moleunion
If your grinder is corded. Electrical tape the tool to the cord first thing. Great to see this post. My father had a drawer of custom tools
mchaos
Fucking torx screws...
gotmojomang
What if you had done that to hi-strength bolt and the used a socket to turn out the bolt?
Mystupidpictures
If the girls don't find you to be handsome, they should at least find you to be handy.
Makato2003
phew, twas a 13 socket...close...too close...
Spikelf
Love the manual when it says fashion a tool. WTF
jjacks420
Maybe he lives in Alaska. And Sams Club Closed; so what else is he supposed to do?
Badsequence
So help me if that was a 10mm socket
AnExcellentRectangle
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
ptrezza
I would have ground a slot into it and used a flat screwdriver, out in 30 seconds.
aGamblingGoose
Exactly. I thought "Fuck that, where's my hacksaw and flat blades?
Aelwero
changed hundreds of wheels, and never used an arbor tool. grab the cutoff wheel and turn it. if you machine, your hands are tough enough
1414145691
torx bits just get ground out and replaced with functional screws here
leavemebe
@Kiwiviking i needed a left handed tap to remove a bust bolt on my truck rear end. my friend owns a c&c shop and made me one. I thought
leavemebe
that was amazing and he told me "anyone can use a shovel but not everyone can make one". Awesome job man.
MrJ0ker
Is that a e250 van seat?
Kiwiviking
Yep sure is
MrJ0ker
Haha I know my fords
Averagefirefighter
I hope that wasn’t a 10mm socket you used.
NuiNiuhiNui
Was a 13
SailorBOB
I had to order my T55 from Amazon. Virtually no autoparts store or hardware store had them.
minc3r
When you have a hammer everything else is a nail. When you have a welder, everything else is whatever the fuck you want it to be
VodkaTheZesty
Started mig a while ago, tig kinda recently, this is beyond true
auserwithaname
Nah. When you have a hammer and anvil and a forge anything is anything you want to be.
MotoCanuck
I want my welder to become a hammer.
Gafanh0t0
That's poetry, right there
Sarwallya12
I love this comment
stumoz
maxfederle891
#accurate
Ewelderguy
mineovermatter
You're lucky- rebar would be too malleable for many fasteners that size.
Bmxtucker
Heat from multiple welds may have actually helped to harden it. Source, I've seen a similar reaction in soft steel after a weld at work.
AceOfShovels
Carbon tends to rush toward the weld from surrounding areas if the metal isn't preheated. Might have actually made it softer at the tip.
mineovermatter
Ps. Nice work!
AnRatDragon
But can you find your 10mm socket?
DurfBurfle
Dammit, beat me to it
janzend
the 10mm socket is a myth,
miahtSuperVillain
Perfect
Weegeenmario
That WAS the 10mm socket!
NotTheFBIWePromise
Fuck you.... I looked ... it was a 13mm... don’t scare people like that
c1328chase
Went back and checked. It's a 13
GoGoGadgetBinoculars
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
As a machinist, I would have spent twice as long doing that, and ended up with essentially the same thing.
mexifra
As another machinist I can say. But yours would of looked so pretty.
Sprankton1
As someone who has dabbled in welding and machining, would have cut a slot in the bolt head with grinder and used big flathead & adj wrench.
kakari
You can even use a slotted screwdriver straight in the Torx bit. Source: I don't always want to find my anti-tamper bits.
MrStinkPickle33
As another machinist, i wouldve made 8 other tools before and forgotten what i was doing in the first place
jbcars4life
This...every damn day
paul289
I know a machinist who spends most of his time using his lathe and mill to make parts for his lathe and mill.
Hamahawk
I would have put locking pliers on the rebar to save time dicking around with welding the socket
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
I love releasing locking pliers that are as tight as I can get them.
Hamahawk
More locking pliers
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
I like putting a screwdriver between the handles and letting the thing explode across the room.
squidbastard
question for yall, can i hire a machinist for like a single small project or do i need like contracts n stuff?
AceOfShovels
A machinist by trade would probably quote your job, which effectively makes them a contractor. Doesn't have to be anything fancy.
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
Yeah you can, small engineering places will do things like that.
jbcars4life
Befriend an engineer or a machinist that has the equipment. They'll usually do it for a 6 pack
squidbastard
in which case, whats a a rough price range on something like that, assuming you provide materials, if you dont mind
JustFuckingWatchCowboyBebop
Machine shop I quoted was 100/hr, but the price was finalized before they began work. Lengthened some handlebars, cost me $100.
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
Couldn't tell you, it's very specific to the job.
arcgap
Interesting project and you save $3 on a new bit
bytelock
Lol...
Spacebandit
Ford pickup truck seat anchor bolts. Hard to find tor plus
thefadedmoon
I agree. I get paid over $20/hr when I fix cars. It's well worth my time to get a new one at $7-$15 (convenience) than to make one.
Oldcarsarecool
Not quite: https://store.snapon.com/TORX-Plus-174-Chrome-3-8--Socket-Driver-TORX-Plus-55IP-P641378.aspx
revivelocalmultiplayer
And how much is all the equipment used to make this homemade one?
hammersquirrel
https://www.autozone.com/screwdrivers/driver-bit/duralast-t55-star-bit/864639_0_0
canigetaBAMson
expecting snapon tools to be cheap
Oldcarsarecool
Oh, I'm very familiar with the Snap-On truck and the pain it can cause !
DesignNerd86
Or you buy a Craftsman for half that cost.
Oldcarsarecool
I did exactly that for my box at home.
jrblast
It's not really fair to compare a bit made of rebar to one of the more expensive brands. There's a huge quality difference.
Oldcarsarecool
This is true. My comment was directed toward the "save $3 on a new bit" part. I'm surprised the rebar bit did as well as it did.
arcgap
If you needed a T55 and had a choice of a already done rebar wonder or a $3 Pakistani special which would you try first?
maxfederle891
At if he saved an hour drive to town and gas money too?
Stalin4Time
An hour drive?! Sounds like Alaska.
Nowa1
Or wyoming
maxfederle891
Haha or western Nebraska!
Nowa1
Or literally anywhere with more tractors than minivans.