FRETS.COM - Machine shop © Frank Ford

In the last few years, I've started getting more serious about metalwork and machining, with the intent of developing tools and fixtures for instrument repair. So, I thought I'd start posting some of my ideas and projects here just for fun. . .

• My Home Shop
  • Air Compressor Muffler
  • No Sew Sandbags
  • Vinyl Chip Curtain
  • Another Goofy Paper Towel Holder
  • Extra Work Space on Trash Can
• Fun with Magnets:
  • Chip Picker Upper
  • Magnetic Stickups
  • Neoprene Sheeting for Swarf Protection
  • Abrasive Paper Holder for Granite Surface Plate
  • Milling VIse Parallel Holder
  • Chip Protection for DRO Scales
  • Paper Towel Holder
  • Making Safe Edge Files
  • Magnetic V-Block
  • Mini Soft Vise Jaws
    
• Tooling
  • Setting the Lathe Compound with a Sine Bar
  • Soft Parallels
  • Lathe Cross Slide Lock
  • A Quick Change Indicator Holder
  • A Simple Reversing Switch Saftey Interlock
  • A Pair of SImple Chip Shields
  • There's a Midget Following Me
  • What to Do With a Giant
  • Stepped Screw Plate
  • Milling Machine Light Bar
  • Improving Import Cutoff Tool Holders
  • Circular Form Tool Holder
  • Lathe Compound Setting  Block
  • Lathe Hand Tapper
  • Micro Tap Handle
  • A "Wiggly" Lathe Center
  • A Really Simple Tap Guide for Mill or Drill Press
  • Disposable Milling Vise Soft Jaws
  • Tool Holder Inserts for Small Size Tools
  • Machinist Bench Vise Jaws
  • Mill Knee Hand Wheel
  • Another Reason Why I Love Collets
  • New Work for an Old Turret
  • Tram Eliminator
  • Simple Lathe Spindle Tools
  • Lathe Tool Height Setter
  • Lathe Tool Rest
  • Carriage Stop
  • Vertical Band Saw Gravity Powered Feed
    
• Quick Tricks
  • Cigarette Paper Substitute
  • Killing Rust While it Sleeps
  • PVC Shop Vac Crevice Tool
  • A Quickie Lathe Tailstock Drill Stop
  • Put a Cork in it
  • Lathe File Holder
  • Lathe Tailstock Alignment Trick
  • Cookie Sheet Chip Pan
  • Quick and Easy Tool Post Alignment
  • Calculator Bag
  • Easy Drawer Organizers
  • Lazy Man's Tool Block Layout
  • Measuring a Taper
  • Quick Center Finding on the Mill
  • Another Quick Edge Finding Trick
    
  • Supporting Small Parts at the Grinder
  • Wet Sanding with Dry Paper
  • Drilling and Boring with One Tool
  • Erickson R8 Collet Adapter
  • Using Wood Router Bits
  • A Simple Thread Restoring File
  • Hand Drill Countersink
  • Mini Parts Washer
  • Paint is Cheap
  • Tram Time?
  • Cleanup Brush
  • Cutting Oil Applicator Bottle
  • Metal Salvage
  • Tangential Lathe Tool
  • Lathe Tool From Scrap
  • Deburring on the Lathe
  • Drill Index
  • Aluminum Foil Tool Protection
  • Put a Sock on It
    
• Projects
• Forstner style wood bit
• Making a Lathe Drive Center
• MLA Filing Machine Kit
• A Bag of Hammers 
• Little Lead Mallet
• V-Block Cross Drilling Jig
• A Classic Little Exercise
• Chuck Back Plate Conversion
• Small Hook Bender
• "Big" Conduit Bender
• Lightweight Camera Tripod Ball Head
• Lathe Slotting Attachment
• A 19mm Tap
• V-Block Bandsaw Cutoff Slide
• Bridge Pin Lathe
• Miniature Chain Hoist
• Band Saw Table Insert
• Bench Holder for Taper Mount Lathe Chuck
• A Fancy Thumbscrew
• Extra Long Guitar Tuner Posts
• Vintage "Rope" Style Knurl
• Products
  • Jack the Gripper!
• Clamp Feet
• Tapered Hawaiian Guitar Steel

Go to FRETS.COM Big Index Page