Refinement of hand tools: this is not what you expected

Despite the rapid development of technical thought and a huge number of various power tools, no one has canceled manual labor. Hand tools are irreplaceable and always needed, no matter what work you do. Even if you use newfangled technical devices, the last word still remains with the hammer and chisel, this is a fact. And if we talk about delicate work, then a hand tool has no equal at all. Real works of art are created by hand. For this reason, the attention and interest in such a tool is special, and true craftsmen use individually fitted tools, often improved for special needs. The second reason for refining a hand tool is the need to give it a second life. If he has a comfortable handle that fits well in the hand, or a suitable length, but the blade is worn off or the attachment is damaged, this does not mean that it is time to part. The author of the YouTube channel knows a lot about this kind of revision. Stroyhak. You can take note of a lot of his experiences.

Read in the article

1 File to chisel transformation
2 How to return to work a clogged end of a tube with silicone
3 From a double-sided blade ─ to a jigsaw file for wood and metal
4 From a sheet for metal ─ to a stripper
5 From an unusable screwdriver ─ to a handy awl
6 How to modify a regular hammer
7 What can be done from a regular bit holder

File to chisel transformation

Nothing lasts forever, this is a fact that directly applies to a tool, even made of high quality steel. Take a file, for example. Sooner or later the day will come when its work surface will no longer be usable. But do not rush to send it to the trash can, because in fact it is very easy to use it in a new capacity.

Refinement of hand tools — The special value of this file is that it is made of high-carbon steel, which is important because it is very convenient to work with such a tool.

You can also sharpen the edge of the file on the machine, but if it is not there, use a grinder. The only difficulty in such work is not to overheat the tip and make an even cut with a perfect edge. It is not easy, but by changing the sharpening direction, you will achieve excellent results.

When sharpened correctly, you will get a very sharp edge with the properties of a shaving blade. If desired, it can be hardened

To make the chisel complete, you need to remove the notch from the surface of the file and bring the blade on a sharpening stone.

How to return to work a clogged end of a tube with silicone

This is an eternal problem: if you once open a tube with silicone, then after a while it will be problematic to use it again, because the silicone filling the nose hardens, and in order to remove it, you will have to poke around in it for a long time and tediously, removing the obstacle on a piece. Meanwhile, the way out is very simple.

The most common way to extract content is to use a self-tapping screw that can be screwed into hardened silicone and pull it out, but in most cases the composition simply crumbles, partially remaining in spout

Use a construction knife to use a sharp blade to cut the nose lengthwise from the base almost to the very tip. Leave the tip so that it is not damaged. It is easy to remove the frozen mass through the incision

Then restore the shape of the spout by wrapping it with electrical tape or masking tape. Wrap more tape on the base so that the spout can be screwed onto the tube

Use silicone, sealant, glue, or mastic again. If after some time you need to use the tube again, just remove the tape, clean the spout and continue working.

From a double-sided blade ─ to a jigsaw file for wood and metal

Double-sided saws for metal and wood made of good steel are a valuable thing. Over time, the middle of the tool wears away, but the edges are still sharp, this can be used.

Select the edge that is least damaged by the work and cut that part of the file

Cut the file in half lengthways and carefully finish the edge so that it is perfectly straight

Examine the direction of the teeth and select the edge to trim for the shank

Such files will also serve you in a jigsaw. From one unusable file, you will get two working attachments

These saws are perfect for wood and metal. The whole secret is in good steel. You should not repeat such a maneuver with metal files that do not bend, but breaks, they can fly apart during your work, and this is very dangerous

From a sheet for metal ─ to a stripper

As mentioned above, metal files that break rather than bend are not suitable for reworking for a power tool. But you can find another very worthy use for them.

Step back from the edge about one and a half centimeters and drill a hole with a diameter of 1-2 mm in the file. Then make a V-cut. Grind the edges with a grinder. This difficult task requires masterly mastery of the instrument.

Wrap the handle first with a thin wire and then with electrical tape. This gives you a comfortable grip that fits well in your hand.

The result of all this work is a hand stripper, that is, a tool for stripping the wiring. It easily removes insulation in just a couple of movements. The sharp edge of the notch cuts the plastic of the insulation and requires just one directional movement to release the strands

From an unusable screwdriver ─ to a handy awl

Screwdrivers fail very often. The tip “licks off” and it is no longer possible to use this tool.

But your favorite screwdriver has a comfortable handle, and there is no need to part with it, you can give it a second chance, but in a different capacity

The tip of the screwdriver must be sharpened so that the edges remain. So that the metal does not overheat during the sharpening process, it must be periodically lowered into a container with water

Homemade awl can be used for its intended purpose, as well as make them markings on metal or wood

How to modify a regular hammer

Is it possible to do something new with a hammer? You will be surprised, but there is a refinement option, which will later seem very convenient to you in operation.

No matter the size of the hammer, rework can be done with a small tool or a standard

Drill a blind hole a centimeter deep from the striker, a centimeter deep and slightly larger than the diameter of the nail, you can jog it a little

Now the secret to applying this upgrade. If you used to hammer in a nail and bend it with a few strokes, then the sharp tip of the nail remained on the surface. Now place the tip in the hole in the hammer and bend it, and then hammer

A nail fixed in this way will not scratch anyone.

What can be done from a regular bit holder

Screwdriver bits are a necessary thing, but if you have one extra, you can improve it.

If you have a bit without a magnet or is slightly damaged, it can be reworked in order to tighten fasteners with a non-standard head

The modification is very simple: you just need to make a small slot in the base of the bit using a grinder

The whole revision will take you a couple of minutes, now the bat can be used for a new purpose

Such a bit will cope with non-standard fasteners, for example - with hooks

As you can see, such alterations are very simple to perform, and they can bring considerable benefits. You just need to find a little time to give the instruments a new life. Any of these examples will find their place in your workshop.

In addition to this collection, there are 3 more master classes on making homemade tools in this video:

Share your impressions of the presented ideas in the comments! If you yourself use any such devices, describe them and send your photos. We will certainly show the most interesting options to our readers.

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