Category:Self-Made Tools

Buying tools is an option, sure - but many can be made at a fraction of the cost and to your specific needs! You're guaranteed to learn a lot in the process; check out a few Maker channels on YouTube (especially the Homemade Tools & Jigs playlist by "Pask Makes") or these collections of plans, for example:

• "Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal"
• HomemadeTools.net
• "In the Woodshop"

"Helper" tools, e.g. for making frequent steps more repeatable, are called jigs.

Ideas

Here are a few tools that you could make:

• wooden mallets
• foam brushes
• clamps & vises
  • e.g. "Moxon vise"
    • similar & simpler: "mobiler Bankhelfer am Werktisch" HolzWerken
  • toolmaker's clamp
  • check out the list on ibuildit.ca!
  • right-angle welding clamp
  • Izzy Swan's wedging corner clamps
• sanding tools
  • sanding drums (for rotary tool or drill press)
  • sanding mops/"sanding stars"
  • sanding block, e.g. this one
• woodturning tools
• marking knives
• measuring gauges, e.g. angle checkers/bevel gauges or bore gauge
  • easily laser cut!
• "French curve" drawing aids
  • also just easily made 2D shapes
• draw knife (e.g. from an old saw blade)
• "mini hacksaw"
• safe capacitor discharge tool
• "Lötfanten" third hands for soldering
• inertial sander (a.k.a. bowl sander/rotary sander for woodturning
• metal bar bender to integrate in a workbench
• three-way wood splitter to prepare stock for woodturning
• coping saw
• and many more!