Homemade power tools.

[Mr T]

Here are a few power tools that various family members (mostly grandpa's) have made over the years. As a great relief to society, I will announce that I have not made any power tools......yet:rolleyes:


Kitchen Aid mixers (as well as Hobart welders..same company) were made 15 minutes from where I grew up. If you have never delt with a old Kitchen Aid mixer (the ones that weigh 50 pounds), you have never 'seen' a mixer. As we have discovered, they are good for more then just a mixer.

This is a 90 degree drill with multiple speeds.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/Nielmot/Homemade%20Tools/1-drill1.jpg

This is a router, also made with a mixer motor. Also, multiple speeds. We have used it for several counter tops. Think of it as a vintage Roto-zip.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/Nielmot/Homemade%20Tools/4-router2.jpg

My grandpa was getting ready to build their house back in the late 30's, early 40's. He had everything ready to go....but no table saw. Being a toolmaker with a machine shop. He built one. I do not know the reason why, but with this saw, instead of the blade angling, the table does. (gotta use the fence!)
He has built everything from a bandsaw to a airplane. Sorry, we are also major pack-rats. Runs in the family. I didnt have time to clean it off for the pic.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/Nielmot/Homemade%20Tools/7-saw.jpg


Click here for additional pictures.
http://photobucket.com/albums/b15/Nielmot/Homemade%20Tools/

[mdshunk]

That's some pretty neat stuff, T. You can be proud of your Grandpa's. That's American ingenuity for you. I'm not sure if they made those because they were poor, or just "because they could". Either reason would be fine.

I'm not so sure I'd be all that excited to use any of that stuff, but jeeze, it's gotta be pretty bulletproof.

Bravo to old people! bow_1

[Mr T]

They pretty much stays within the family.. You cant kill those mixers. THe router though you do have to be carefull.. the switch's contacts were origionaly covered up by some other junk that is no longer there... dont pick it up when its running!

I know my grandpa (that built the saw).. they were hit very hard by the great depression. He had a medical condition that exempted him from the draft of WWII. He had 4 years total edcucation. He pretty much stayed at home most of the time and tinkered with stuff. Its just what he loves to do.

My other side of the family were just typical handymen. I do not recall if someone in that family worked at Hobart and had a large stash of mixers because of that. (I even applied there back in my school days)

It appears that Hobart is now owned by Miller.. The appliance division was sold off a while back.

[xkvator]

T...for a minute there, I thought you just used the pic of my garage:D

i hope that yogurt container is empty:p

[Mr T]

It's pretty close. At least my dad cant get on me for my house being a mess. That cup is probably (hopefully) full of hardware off something. I'm afraid to look. I would have cleaned the saw off before taking a pic, but I'd still be there doing that....and get a call a few weeks later asking where something is that was on it.

[xkvator]

T...was looking at the router pic this morning and :D great idea using part of a surface gauge for the fence adjustment...i'll use it on an adjustable fence i want to make...bow_1
just curious...what type of collet holds the bit?

is your kitchen full of mixers,too?

[Mr T]

He owned a machine shop, there isnt much that he has not made (and probably stuff that we do not know about ...yet)

I have never used this 'router', and didnt look close at the collet. It is 2 hours away from me now.. I wont be down that way till close to October. I'm guessing he probably machined the shaft of the motor to accept standard collet parts. Probably a smaller version of the drill's.

Believe it or not, we dont even own a bowl mixer. However, our kitchen still has its origional 1956 custom made cabinets (except some idiot put plastic laminate over them, and replaced the doors with particle board doors.) THere is a mixer cabinet. It has 1 shelf in it that slides out, then swings up to near counter top level. It has some massive springs on it and is made to hold one of the big 50 pound mixers. When it is stored, there is room below it for accessories. I have never seen one of these contraptions before, but it was a good invention for someone.