New uses for old parts

[Mike Fitz]

Several years ago my sons built a free standing vice out of an old machine stand, a plate that had been used in a hitch for a tractor i'd restored for a friend and a cheap Harbor Freight vice. I wonderd how useful it would be, turns out it is handier than a pocket on a shirt, it makes a great third hand when working on awkward projects, it's only short coming was it was kind of tippy. I was wandering past a carcass of a DC I have and came up with an idea, use the cast front rim and hub to make a more stable stand, this is what I came up with, it seems much better planted than before but still moveable.

 

[Don Rudolph]

Several years ago my sons built a free standing vice out of an old machine stand, a plate that had been used in a hitch for a tractor i'd restored for a friend and a cheap Harbor Freight vice. I wonderd how useful it would be, turns out it is handier than a pocket on a shirt, it makes a great third hand when working on awkward projects, it's only short coming was it was kind of tippy. I was wandering past a carcass of a DC I have and came up with an idea, use the cast front rim and hub to make a more stable stand, this is what I came up with, it seems much better planted than before but still moveable.

You might have saved some tire tech from a hernia with that repurposing idea. LOL That is a very good idea.

 

[Dieseltech]

I have an old Case DC flywheel with a bad cracked AC 190 diesel crank bolted to it, and my 8 inch bench grinder on top of the crank. I call it my Polish crank grinder..

 

[DRussell]

Nice work! That would be handy.

 

[Mike Fitz]

Thanks every one, the vise has already been put to use holding my land ladies bird feeder for repairs, it was steady as a rock

 

[jon f mn]

Only thing that would make that better is if it was in my shop.

 

[Hoofer B]

I have the rear wheel hub from a vac for my mailbox stand

 

[Ande]

Several years ago my sons built a free standing vice out of an old machine stand, a plate that had been used in a hitch for a tractor i'd restored for a friend and a cheap Harbor Freight vice. I wonderd how useful it would be, turns out it is handier than a pocket on a shirt, it makes a great third hand when working on awkward projects, it's only short coming was it was kind of tippy. I was wandering past a carcass of a DC I have and came up with an idea, use the cast front rim and hub to make a more stable stand, this is what I came up with, it seems much better planted than before but still moveable.

Mike,
I really like your idea, so many times especially when alone, hard to finish the job as you need something or someone to "give ah hand"

 

[Mike Fitz]

Thank you agin! The nice part is it is easy to make, I just had my son bore the inner hub a couple of inches deep to accept the four inch pipe added some set screws to hold it in place and bolted on the top bits, I spent more time drilling and tapping the plate and cleaning up the hub than anything else.

 

[AlabamaDan]

I've been thinking about trying to repurpose the mowing deck from one of my old JD riding lawn mowers into a pull behind mower for the ATV. I've also been thinking about using those nice big wheels onto some type of little ATV wagon. I'm like my granddaddy by not tossing broken things, just let them sit until it's time to repurpose them. Unfortunately, I don't have the fabrication skills to make a thought reality.

 

[Mike Fitz]

You have to start some where, you've got two eyes two hands two ears and a brain, start with an easy project like a cart, think of what you want and what you have and go from there, I have made some complete abominations of projects, but Ive tried to use the failures to build better the next time and it has slowly worked, most projects take more time ,resources and money than you plan on, and don't quite live up to the picture you have in your mind, but will generally work out, just get out and go for it.

 

[AlabamaDan]

You have to start some where, you've got two eyes two hands two ears and a brain, start with an easy project like a cart, think of what you want and what you have and go from there, I have made some complete abominations of projects, but Ive tried to use the failures to build better the next time and it has slowly worked, most projects take more time ,resources and money than you plan on, and don't quite live up to the picture you have in your mind, but will generally work out, just get out and go for it.

Thanks! I'm not afraid to try, it just doesn't work out as well as it probably would have with him. Granddad wasn't formally educated, but a highly skilled metalworker and had a gift for engineering. It's funny you mention a cart. I was thinking about buying a little welding machine and torch for the purpose of building the ATV cart with those JD wheels.... Makes sense to buy new expensive tools to be able to build things with junk right? lol