Making Petal Lifters

[WalterF]

Wanted to do some petal lifting, making the leather look more 3d by stretching up certain sections.

 

Mine are in NC, didn't want to buy an expensive set. For under 20 dollars and an hours work here we are. Pretty happy.

 

The items, Stainless  rods, handles, super glue, I found a set of stainless rods 1.5mm to 8mm x 60mm long these were 8.99, the handles are file handles got 12, 6 large not used and 6 small, 6.99. 

 

Put the rods in the handles, for the small ones wrapped painters tape around the top for a snug fit then used some super glue down the hole to fix them.

 

The grinding to shape can be done many ways bench grinder, files, dremmels, the angle isn't precise we are after a cutting edge. I like the angle around 45 degrees with the heel radiused. Used a course grinder to get shape and then went to a finer belt grinder. Then used sharpening stones to clean up  the scratches, finished with 2000 on the stones and then used a strop with polishing compound to bring a mirror polish, we want it to be razor sharp at the tip as it is a cutting tool..

[chuck123wapati]

That's a nice set!!! They are better than anything on the net. It's really pretty easy to make a lot of the tools we use. It's too bad more folks don't do it. Back in the day, it was a requirement for most tradesmen apprentiseship was about making your own tools as you learned to use them. Nowadays, folks can barely push a button to order them without two hours of internet research and reading 500 reviews.

I made mine from stainless all thread, scrap leather and brass nuts. Chuck up the all-thread in a hand drill and turn it against a belt sander to get the profile and size you want then just polish the tip. Tighten down the brass nuts dope it up with resolene, let it dry, and do the same with the handle, and you're done. I have two double-ended lifters and also a double modeling tool/ stylus i made pretty much the same way. Can you imagine paying 30 40 bucks for a tool you can make in minutes for less than a couple bucks?

I also use d2 rod and a map gas torch to forge smaller cutting tools. 

[bruce johnson]

And here I just make them out of old screwdrivers...you guys are fancy! 

[MarshalWill]

Bruce, that's the simplest solution. 15 cents at most yard sales.

That said; Chuck, I like your stacked handle on that double-ender.