Homemade machines - how to make useful devices

Machine tools and tools in finished form are available in a wide range in specialized stores. However, their price is not affordable for everyone, especially a novice master. Homemade machines are a way out of a situation with a limited budget. Let's consider the features of their use and manufacture. Let's talk about the most popular devices. The information will help you decide on the choice of necessary equipment for organizing work in the workshop.

Using a non-factory electric grinder Source notperfect.ru

Using homemade machines in the workshop

The work that is performed in the workshop affects the equipment of the room with special devices. Typically, equipment is placed if the free area is at least 3 m2.

Workshops are often set up in small rooms, outbuildings, and garages. The best place is a separate building. In this case, the noise from the work being performed will not disturb other residents of the house.

Universal workshops are often set up to perform various jobs. If a person is engaged in the production of any products, then specific homemade tools and devices are made. Often workshops are equipped with machines for carpentry and processing of metal blanks. Often, premises for the repair of wheeled vehicles are also set up.

Basically the workshop is equipped with:

• devices that allow you to prepare tools, facilitate labor and mechanize operations;
• homemade products for processing metal parts;
• workbenches.

A workbench made of wooden elements Source skilljob.ru
It is also necessary to install shelves in the room where various tools will be stored. At the same time, they ensure unhindered access to them and compliance with fire safety rules.

Knives

You will need a good knife - one that is comfortable to work with. There are three types of knives - with a folding blade (pocket knife), with a fixed blade and knives with a replaceable blade. I prefer to use fixed blade knives because they are the safest. Knives also vary in blade shape and steel type.

I recommend a high-carbon steel blade with a hardness of 55 to 60 RC—it will stay sharp longer than a stainless or low-carbon steel blade. For finishing and creating shapes, I use a blade 4 mm thick and 3.8 to 5.1 cm long. A knife with a narrower and shorter blade is better for detail work. Some carvers prefer knives with replaceable blades because instead of sharpening the knife, you simply need to change the blade. Another advantage is this. that the handle of such a knife can be used with small chisels.

Workbench for a carpenter

This type of equipment is a table. It is distinguished by its high strength and the presence of 2 vices on the tabletop. The table is also equipped with clamps that clamp the workpieces during planing. In addition, the workbench may still have places where other homemade devices, such as a router, will be attached.

A special table must have a comfortable height. She matches the height of the master. The minimum length of the workbench is 1000 mm. Often it is equal to 1700 mm or even 2000 mm. The standard width is 800 mm.

Before making a workbench for carpentry, get acquainted with its main parts Source infourok.ru

A workbench table is created as follows:

• The table surface is created - this is a shield, which is made from oak, beech or hornbeam boards with a minimum thickness of 55 mm. They are tightly fitted to each other. The boards used are impregnated with drying oil before joining. To create a rigid structure, a 50 mm block is used. It is fixed around the perimeter of the working surface.
• The supporting elements of the workbench are made. To do this, use linden or pine timber. Its size is 120*120 mm or 150*150 mm, and its length is approximately 1200 mm. The supports are connected by jumpers in the horizontal plane. To do this, take boards that are fixed at a distance of 300 mm from the floor.
• Make homemade devices to accommodate the tool. These are shelves located under the countertop. When they are open, they are often replaced with bedside tables.
• Attach a vice.

If a stationary workbench is created, its supporting elements are fixed to the floor. Depending on the specifics of the work being performed, mobile and collapsible tables are also manufactured.

Mobile workbench on wheels Source foamin.ru

Carpenter's workbench vice

This homemade tool is made using a screw rod. Its thread length must be at least 160 mm. In this case, the diameter of the rod itself must be 20 mm. For the vice you will also need wooden blocks and metal pins. The manufacturing sequence is as follows:

1. Prepare a block of 200*300 mm. Its minimum thickness should be 50 mm. This will be one of the sponges. A hole for a screw is drilled in the center of the workpiece. On the sides of it, two more holes are made for the studs.
2. A second movable jaw 200*180 mm is cut out and similar holes are drilled in it.
3. A threaded pin is inserted into the workpiece. A handle is installed at one end. To prevent the jaws from moving, pins with a cross section of 10 mm are passed through other holes.

Wooden vice for a carpenter Source infradom.ru

Instrument care

You should periodically inspect your tools and wipe them with an oily cloth to prevent them from rusting. Store tools in individual compartments or wrapped in cloth to protect them and reduce sharpening time.

TOOL SHARPENING

Make sure your tools are always sharp and stop working from time to time to sharpen them. All the carvers I know have developed their own dressing system; everyone found their own procedure that was convenient for them personally. Some use whetstones with oil, others with water, and others use electrical devices.

The first step is to sharpen the blade using a fine-grained abrasive such as diamond chips or sandpaper. First, one side is processed until burrs appear on the metal, then the other. At the next stage of editing, the surface irregularities that arose initially are eliminated. Finally, you should polish the blade with a special compound to a mirror shine, reducing friction between the blade and the wood.

How can you tell if a blade is sharp enough? Take a piece of scrap wood and run a knife across the grain. If a smooth mark remains, then the blade is sharp. If the fibers stick out in different directions and the mark is rough, then you need to sharpen the blade more.

Metal workbench for a mechanic

All useful homemade products and devices simplify the processing of workpieces. Such devices include a workbench for a mechanic. Its minimum dimensions are:

• length – 1800 mm;
• width – 700 mm;
• height – 900 mm.

The table is created in the following sequence:

• frame assembly;
• installation of 2 cabinets, covered with metal;
• securing a working surface consisting of a wooden base in the form of a shield, on which a sheet of metal of a suitable size is placed on top;
• assembly and installation of a rack at the back of the workbench to strengthen the entire structure and accommodate tools.

When assembling a bench, use:

• beams as racks - four corrugated pipes 40*60 mm with a wall thickness of at least 2 mm;
• three beams 50*40 mm to connect the racks and ensure longitudinal rigidity of the structure;
• corrugated pipe 40*30 mm with a wall of at least 1 mm in the amount of 9 pieces to create the frame of the cabinets;
• metal corner 50*50 mm for the manufacture of shelving racks, the height of which will be a maximum of 2000 mm;
• board 50 mm thick for the tabletop panel;
• a sheet of metal no thinner than 6 mm to cover the top surface of the workbench.

Sheet metal Source glavmetall.com
See also: Catalog of construction companies that have their own production of materials and components for the construction of houses

A tool with an unusual rotating replaceable blade will replace a knife, scraper and pry bar

Toughbuilt has released an interesting tool that will come in handy for construction and repair work - the Retractable Scraper Utility Knife. The new product performs three functions at once: a universal knife, a scraper and a miniature pry bar.

Thanks to the unique switch mechanism, the knife blade can quickly change its standard (vertical) position,

designed for cutting materials, to a horizontal one, suitable for removing paint, putty, glue, labels, etc. from surfaces. Simply press the button on the slider that extends the blade so that it automatically unlocks and turns over.

The blade is made of an alloy of aluminum and zinc and has a length of 5.5 cm. Naturally, over time it wears down and requires replacement. The unique patented mechanism of the tool involves the use of only special blades with a central trapezoidal hole necessary for their fixation. In this regard, the product package includes 5 replacement blades, which can later be purchased separately.

The mini pry bar is located at the end of the handle opposite the knife and is very convenient for opening cans of paint and varnish materials.

The handle of the tool is 15 cm long. It is made of durable plastic and equipped with a rubberized coating that allows you to securely hold the knife in your hand. A strong cord is threaded into the hole in the base of the mount so that you can attach the tool to your belt or bag.

Approximate price: 3300 rub.

7

Wood lathe for lathe

There are various homemade machines and machines for the workshop. They all make the job easier. These include a lathe. Its structural elements are:

• Durable frame made of metal angle or pipe. Sometimes it is created from wooden blocks. The bed is fixed to the floor, and its lower part is weighted.
• A support, which is a supporting element for the cutters. This part of the machine must provide reliable fixation and allow the workpiece to move to the side. For this purpose, the design provides a screw rod.
• The clamping spindle, also called the headstock. The head of a powerful electric drill is often used as it.

The head of an electric drill is often used as a headstock. Source woodtoolsimg.ru

• Tailstock used for longitudinal movement of the workpiece. It is recommended to use the factory spindle, which has four cams.
• Electric drive providing rotation of 1500 rpm. Its power should be from 250 to 400 W. Often a washing machine motor is used as an electric motor. The design also includes a belt drive. This is a transmission, for the operation of which it is necessary to install pulleys on the shafts.

The electric motor of washing machines is often used as a drive for a lathe. Source dobro-teh.ru

Cutters for the machine

It is recommended to equip homemade devices with factory cutters. After all, they are sharpened with high quality using special equipment. As a last resort, for production use:

• old files without significant defects;
• steel square reinforcement is the optimal material for making cutters;
• square or rectangular spring from the car.

Subsequently, the existing workpieces are sharpened. Creates a semi-circular cutting edge for roughing wood parts. Finish turning work is carried out with a cutter that has a straight blade.

After sharpening, the cutting elements are hardened. During this process, the cutters are first heated and then placed in machine oil.

Wood boring tools for a lathe Source 24aul.ru

Tool for precise and fast cutting of drywall, tiles, laminate, shingles and other materials

Since drywall appeared on the list of building materials, the possibilities for repairs have expanded significantly. Aligning the walls, making an unusual ceiling, creating an opening, partition, etc. is no longer a problem. But cutting out plasterboard sheets sometimes causes difficulties. A special KKmoon hand tool will help you easily cope with this work.

The product is a kind of hybrid of a tape measure, a marker and a construction knife. Having all three devices in hand, combined into one tool, the master can immediately measure the required fragment and cut the drywall.

The 4.8 m long tape measure is made of durable material and has a secure lock. For marking, use a carpenter's pencil, which is placed in a convenient holder located on the body of the instrument. For cutting, there is a built-in blade and 4 additional replacement blades stored in the handle.

KKmoon is made of aluminum and durable ABS plastic and weighs about 400 g. The ergonomic rubberized handle allows you to hold the tool comfortably and firmly in your hand. The new product is easy to use and is also suitable for cutting tile, laminate, wood panels, plywood, vinyl siding, shingles, foam, insulation, carpet, linoleum and other materials.

Price: 1761 rub.

13

Stationary circulation saw

The stationary circular saw is placed on a sturdy table. Its working surface is usually made of metal sheet. It is reinforced with stiffening ribs. For their manufacture, a steel angle is used.

On the working surface there are usually:

• stops;
• guides;
• elements for adjustment;
• cutting disc.

On a note! The circular saw is powered by an electric motor. Its power should be approximately 800 W, and its rotation should be 1700 rpm. The electric motor of the angle grinder corresponds to these characteristics.

Angle grinder for a stationary circular saw Source tdrim.ru
Before making a device for sawing wooden parts, prepare a working angle grinder with the necessary characteristics. Further actions are performed in the following order:

1. Assembling the frame.
2. Prepare a worktop in which a slot is made for the cutting disc.
3. Two wooden blocks are fastened in parallel. They will be used as stops.
4. Set the scale necessary to control the cutting of wooden parts.
5. Clamps are installed so that workpieces and guides can be fixed.
6. The grinder is secured by first installing the disk into the previously created slot in the table top. The power tool is fixed from below the working surface.

7 in 1 tool: hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, hammer, wire cutters, screwdriver and nail puller

The Chinese manufacturer managed to combine in one device a whole set of the most necessary tools in the household: a hammer, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a hammer, wire cutters, a screwdriver and a nail puller.

The design of the multitool is quite unusual, but simple and clear without any instructions, so it’s easy to cope with its functionality.

The small hammer allows you to hammer nails in the traditional way, and thanks to the clamping mechanism with a moving piston, the hammer can be used as a mechanical nailer, driving nails into almost any material with just a blow of one hand. The optional double-sided attachment converts the tool into a flathead and Phillips head screwdriver. The clamp located on the opposite side of the striker is useful for tightening pipe connections and will serve as a wrench, the diameter of which can be adjusted. The special hole in the base of the tool is nothing more than a nail puller, and the metal elements between the handle and the working head play the role of wire cutters and pliers.

Such wide functionality allows you to use the multitool during installation, repair and construction work, as well as, for example, when assembling furniture and other structures. In this case, you will not have to resort to the help of a dozen different devices and be distracted by searching for them.

The new product is made of high-carbon tool steel by forging and has a very durable one-piece design.

The handles are equipped with a rubberized coating, which allows you to securely hold the hammer in your hands and work with comfort.

The compact dimensions (20.5 × 11 × 2.2 cm) of the multifunctional hammer make it possible to take it with you by simply putting it in your pocket or bag.

Price: about 800 rub.

11

Drilling machine

Interesting homemade products and devices often help craftsmen out when making various products in the workshop. One such device is a drilling machine. Its main parts include:

• electric drill;
• base made of metal parts with the ability to secure the workpiece;
• a stand for fixing an electric drill, which is created using chipboard with a thickness of 20 to 25 mm or an old photographic enlarger;
• a unit that supplies the drilling tool.

The drill press stand must have guide rails. They are necessary for the electric drill to move strictly in a vertical direction. There are different options for feeding an electric tool, but the most common design is a lever with a spring. It is manually controlled by simply pressing. The design of the machine also includes stops. They are needed to adjust the depth of the hole created in the part.

What factors should you pay attention to when choosing a tool?

Regardless of what kind of devices you want to purchase, there are a number of criteria that any device of this kind must meet:

Quality of materials	The first factor is the quality of the materials used in production; if the tool does not seem to inspire confidence, then questions will most likely arise during operation. This is especially true for hand-held devices, because they work at the expense of your effort - a dull chisel or low-quality hacksaw teeth will significantly reduce labor productivity
Convenience of devices	It is very important that the tool fits well in the hand, since prolonged work with an uncomfortable tool will cause increased fatigue and negatively affect the quality of processing. It is best if the products are equipped with anti-slip handles and have an ergonomic shape
Purposes of use	If you are going to engage in wood processing constantly, then it is advisable to purchase a power tool; if the work will be periodic, then it is better to pay attention to manual options, their price is much lower

Important! We recommend purchasing products from well-known manufacturers, whose quality is well known in the market, especially when it comes to power tools; nowadays there are a huge number of cheap Asian products on sale, which very often fail.

The Makita brand is an excellent solution that is reliable and reasonably priced

CNC router

There are homemade machines and devices of complex design. Such devices include a CNC router. It is made for processing metal and wooden parts.

Work with a CNC router is carried out to a higher quality. This machine has advanced capabilities. When creating it, an LPT port is used, and numerical control is also provided. The copying unit is created from printer carriages with a matrix of needles.

The milling device is assembled as follows:

1. The tabletop is made using a plywood sheet. Instead, chipboard with a thickness of at least 15 mm is used.
2. A cutout is created to accommodate the cutter.
3. The milling unit is installed.
4. The electric drive is located.
5. The transmission is secured.
6. The spindle is mounted.
7. The stops are fixed.

The process of creating a wood router Source tmklazer.rf
A CNC milling machine for processing metal workpieces is made with a more durable frame. The device is created in the following sequence:

1. The column and frame are mounted when using a channel. From them a structure in the shape of the letter “P” is created. In it, the bridge between two supporting elements is formed by a part that is the base of the milling unit.
2. Guides are made from angle iron. They are fixed with bolts on the column.
3. Guide consoles are created from a pipe with a rectangular cross-section. To move them to a height of maximum 150 mm, the design provides a car jack.
4. A threaded pin is inserted into the console.
5. A working surface is created.
6. A vice, fixing elements and guides are installed.
7. The rotating unit is mounted. In this case, they strictly ensure that the shaft is in a vertical plane.

The universal tool will replace band and circular saws, jigsaws, tile cutters and grinders

Along with technical characteristics, important properties for any power tool are its compactness and versatility.

Thus, the Rotorazer Saw is quite small in size, but can fully replace bulky and heavy tools: circular and band saws, grinders, as well as tile cutters, hacksaws and jigsaws. Moreover, it is capable of cutting both horizontally and vertically, in straight and curved lines and is suitable for working with various materials up to 12 mm thick.

The saw works professionally and is inexpensive. It is equipped with a 400 W motor and can rotate up to 3300 rpm. The design of the tool includes a dust collector that is connected to a conventional vacuum cleaner via a hose, as well as a special limiter for adjusting the size of the cut.

The device comes with 3 discs with a blade with a diameter of 55 mm for sawing various materials: diamond – for tiles, glass and stone; cutting - for metal and steel; steel - for wood, plywood and laminated coatings. Thus, the Rotorazer Saw can cut wood, plywood, drywall, laminate, slate, ceramic tile, marble, steel, plastic, brick and stone.

The saw is useful for finishing and plumbing work, for cutting in doors and windows, for laying brick and stone walls, removing old cement, etc.

The tool is not only compact, but also quite light (2.75 kg), and also has an ergonomic handle with a special anti-slip coating, so it is comfortable to hold and work for a long time.

The saw is sold in a durable plastic case, which, in addition to the tool itself and saw blades, also contains an adapter for a vacuum cleaner, as well as 3 and 5 mm hexagonal socket wrenches.

Price: about 3 thousand rubles.

12

Thicknesser

Crafts for the workshop are often created to perform woodworking. The material always has to be planed. It is to solve this problem that a surface planer is made. The machine consists of the following parts:

• The frame consists of two frame structures, which are welded from 40*40 mm corners. The frames are fastened with studs.
• Tabletop made of metal or lumber, pre-impregnated with drying oil. The working surface is bolted to the frame.

Bed with a steel tabletop for thickness planer Source prostanki.com

• A broach consisting of rubber rollers. They are taken from a broken washing machine. The rollers are provided with smooth rotation by sliding them onto bearings.
• A casing that protects rotating parts. It is made of sheet metal about 5 mm thick and fixed to a frame made of corners measuring 20*20 mm.
• Electric motor with a power of 6 kW, which can rotate at a speed of at least 3000 rpm.

Clamps are used to secure the thickness planer. The device is fixed on the working surface. Do not forget about the required gap, when setting it, take into account the thickness of the workpiece.

Kit for self-assembly of level decking

The most suitable material for creating decking on a terrace, in a gazebo or around a pool is decking board. It tolerates weather changes well, does not absorb moisture well, and is resistant to ultraviolet radiation and biological damage. Sellers assure that even an amateur can handle laying the boards. But in reality, its installation is a delicate matter, since it requires compliance with many nuances regarding the characteristics of the material used and climatic conditions. Of course, you need high-quality drainage or drainage, and you also need to strictly maintain the size of the gaps between the planks so that the boards do not warp over time due to changes in temperature and humidity.

A special set of devices produced by the German manufacturer Schwaiger under the IQ-TOOLS brand is designed to significantly simplify and even speed up the installation process.

The set consists of 4 metal mounting clips and 30 plastic spacers in thicknesses of 6, 8 and 10 mm. The latter are selected in accordance with the size of the gap that must be observed when installing the flooring elements in order to compensate for the thermal expansion of the material during operation.

Spacers are attached to special holes on the clamp and help maintain a certain distance between the slats. Moreover, the structure of the clamp and spacers is assembled once, and then simply moved during the assembly of the flooring. The length of the working part of the clamp is adjustable from 200 to 770 mm.

The kit for installing decking boards is sold in a bag measuring 90 × 20 × 23 cm, convenient for transportation and storage, made of durable waterproof material.

Estimated price: 38 thousand rubles.

15

Wood sanding machine

The design of such a machine has a cylinder on which sandpaper is placed. This unit rotates while processing the part. The assembly of a homemade machine is often performed for grinding cylindrical workpieces. A device is also made to create a flat surface of the workpiece.

When fixing the sanding paper, follow these rules:

• the width of the abrasive cloth should be approximately 250 mm;
• the sanding belt is connected without a gap exclusively end-to-end;
• The sandpaper is attached using a high-quality adhesive;
• at the edges of the shaft for the abrasive cloth there must be a side, the protrusion of which is from 2.5 to 4 mm;
• a rubber backing should be placed under the tape.

The shaft of the device is rotated by an electric motor. These two parts of the machine are connected by a belt drive. The design of the frame itself can have different designs. The option is chosen depending on the size of the workpieces being processed.

Device for polishing wooden parts Source notperfect.ru

How to sharpen a drill for metal: do-it-yourself device

You can make a simple metal drill sharpening machine from ordinary tools. An abrasive block is suitable for this.

At home you can use the following equipment:

• You can use an electric sharpener to sharpen the drill. In this case, sharpening is performed from the edge. When using a sharpener, you need to pay attention to the sharpening angle and the fixation of the drill on the axis of rotation. Excess metal should be removed gradually. Finally, the edges are shaped into a cone;
• A grinder is used as a do-it-yourself sharpening machine. For sharpening, the cutting tool is secured in a vice. To do this, the mounting angle is selected, and the disk is mounted.

Types of drill sharpening devices

It is worth considering that the grinder is mounted on a flat surface. In this case, the disk should be located downwards. If the grinding device is not secured securely, it can damage the drill. Sharpening with a grinder can only be done for products with a small diameter. It is not possible to finish using a grinding device. The edge of the shield is used to support the cutting tool.

You can also use a drill attachment, which should be equipped with a grinding disc with sandpaper. To grind elements with a drill, you need to find two flat surfaces.

Briefly about the main thing

Typically, craftsmen assemble machines for their workshops if the area of ​​the room is at least 3 m2. Universal devices are manufactured or to perform a specific type of work. In addition to shelves and racks, in the workshop you can often find a workbench for carpentry work made of boards and bars, which is equipped with a vice.

Craftsmen also make a metal workbench from corrugated steel pipes, angles, and sheet metal. They also assemble a lathe on a metal frame, with a clamping spindle in the form of a drill head and an electric drive. Also popular in the workshop are a stationary circular saw based on a grinder, a drilling machine made from an electric drill, a surface planer made from an electric planer, and a CNC router.

Square SOTRLO

Now you can transfer marks on the block from one side to the other easily and with high accuracy. There are three tool sizes to choose from.

Price: 154.13 rub. (check price and discount)

Seller reliability: excellent!

Delivery: 204.10 rubles!

Product page on the AliExpress website: https://ali.pub/21vn0s

Construction stapler

What is this?

A staple gun (sometimes called a nailer or staple gun) is a tool for driving staples or nails. There are several types: mechanical, electric and pneumatic staplers. In everyday life, a mechanical stapler made of metal is usually sufficient (these are more reliable), which drives staples using a spring and a lever that compresses it.

For what?

An excellent assistant when insulating or covering a balcony, as well as repairing furniture. An excellent alternative to a hammer when working with small nails.

How much?

The cost of mechanical construction staplers starts from 400–500 rubles.

Willkey multitool

A multi-functional tool that allows you to draw, mark, measure and remove small screws.

The format of the pen imposes restrictions on strength and size, but the thing is in every way more useful than ordinary stationery. Not afraid of bumps and falls.

Price: 838,444 rub.

Roulette

tab62/Depositphotos.com
What is this?

Use a tape measure to measure the length. Usually it is a metal tape with a scale wound on a reel in a plastic case. Inside there is a return spring that helps wind the tape. To prevent this from happening spontaneously, the tape measures are equipped with a stopper. It records the required amount of unwound tape. The length of a household tape measure is from 3 to 100 meters.

For what?

Using a tape measure, you can quickly measure distances from and to something, as well as determine the parameters of an object.

How much?

The price depends on the length of the measuring tape. A three-meter tape measure costs from 100 rubles.

Electric drill/driver

zurijeta/Depositphotos.com
What is this?

A drill is a tool for drilling holes. This is almost the first instrument that a man acquires for himself. Drills are manual, pneumatic and electric. There are also tools that, in addition to drilling, have an additional function. For example, a drill mixer. The most universal tool on the farm is considered to be a drill/driver with a battery. In order for the tool to work longer without recharging, it is necessary to choose models with a large battery capacity. It is also recommended to purchase a spare battery (sometimes it is included): while one is working, the other is charging.

For what?

A drill-driver is needed to quickly drill a hole, as well as screw or unscrew a bolt or screw. If you've ever had to assemble and hang cabinets, you know how much easier this tool makes the task.

How much?

If you look, you can buy a drill-driver for 500 rubles, but good models cost two to three times more.