MakersHourQuestions5d ago
Q3: We all have tools or equipment that is part of our craft. Do they wear out regularly so you keep spares in stock, or seemingly last forever? Tell us about the extreme culprits.
#MakersHour
@makershour@a.gup.pe
Show threadMike Coats 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸŒβ™»οΈ5d ago

@MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe I've a spool of solder that I swear is enchanted. It never seems to run low!

I'm always replacing my opening tools, like those from @iFixit. They're invaluable for avoiding witness marks on your parts, but I swear half of mine are lost to the dark corners of the workshop and the rest have been blunted with over use.

Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things5d ago

@mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit
I made my tools from an old filler knife. I cut the metal into sensible-ish, shapes and softened the edges. They work really well for getting into things at #RepairCafe.

#MakersHour

Show threadcybervegan
@Maker_of_Things @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit I'd be interested to know what you did, because I ended up jimmying a jammed slow cooker crock out of the enclosure at our last #repaircafe with the only thing I could get in between the ceramic and the aluminium sleeve - STANLEY BLADES. Luckily I didn't slip!
Apr 17 at 8:12pmWeb
Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things5d ago

@cybervegan @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit
I bought a pack of cheap (stainless steel? They have never rusted.) filler knives, like these. and they were so nasty I cut myself on the burrs on the edges getting them out of the packet.
They sat unused for a while.

Then I drew on some shapes, long triangles, tear drops, rounded points, etc. and cut them out with an angle grinder.

I sanded all the edges smooth and rounded them over so they were safe and smooth.
Sometimes I can two slipped into a gap in a thing, and then push a screwdriver between them for extra leverage without damaging the appliance.

They get used a lot, and lent out a lot....
....And I need to make some more soon.

I'll edit in a photo of the ones I have left, in a mo, They are in the workshop.

Photos edited in: These are the ones I have left, mostly they were random (this could be useful) shapes. And I also have 3 stainless steel guitar plectrums from when I used to play.

#MakersHour

Show threadcybervegan5d ago

@Maker_of_Things @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit Thanks, I have some of those too. You're right they are a bit jaggy, but they're so cheap and still available in cheap hardware stores (I'm in the UK). However, I do not have an angle grinder, might be able to borrow one though.

I'd be interested to know the kind of shapes you cut them into.

Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things5d ago
@cybervegan @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit
Photo added to the toot above.
Show threadcybervegan5d ago
@Maker_of_Things @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit I guessed the guitar pick shaped ones, but those others are interesting. These are my remaining spodgers after last month's RC... I destroyed a thin black guitar pick one completely, and several others got damaged add you can see. They are only made of soft plastic, except the purple ones which is a proper pick. This is the only metal fillet knife I have left and the metal obviously isn't as good quality as yours, because it HAS rusted.
Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things5d ago

@cybervegan @mike @MakersHour @makershour@a.gup.pe @iFixit
The filler knife is probably the same as mine. I think mine don't get a chance to rust, as they are handled so much.

I do also have a proper paint scraper that has lost its handle and I have been meaning to cut that up as well, to get thicker tapered spudgers.