Made my own bevelers and lifters

[Colt W Knight]

I needed some bevelers and a lifter, but I wasn't too enthusiastic about the 25-35$ price tag on quality tools. Picked up some 1/4" SS bolts and made a beveler. It worked better than my Crafttool beveler, so I made a set of 3. Then someone asked me to make some oak leaves and I made a lifter from a 3/8" hardened bolt used for electric poles.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Wow, looks like you did a really nice job on the tools!

 

[Colt W Knight]

I want to make a set of checkered bevelers, steep angle bevelers, and some more undercut bevelers and lifting tools. Just need to order some more SS bolts.

[Colt W Knight]

1 hour ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

Wow, looks like you did a really nice job on the tools!

 

Thanks, I am excited to try to attempt to make some more tools.

1 hour ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

Wow, looks like you did a really nice job on the tools!

 

Thanks, I am excited to try to attempt to make some more tools.

[TwinOaks]

Those look great!   I did the same thing with some SS bolts I got from Lowe's, except I butchered the steep beveller (badly).  I'm in sorta the same place with the ones I made - I want to make some lined & checkered tools...I'm just trying to decide which LPI checkering file I need to get.  Anyone have a suggestion?  50LPI, 75LPI?

[ofastauto]

Now! Your craftsmanship is "handmade" ! Congrats

[Colt W Knight]

12 hours ago, ofastauto said:

Now! Your craftsmanship is "handmade" ! Congrats

Thanks, but I used power tools to make the stamps.

 

[bob21804]

Very impressive! Self sufficiency is definitely a good thing. 

[silverwingit]

The look superb, Colt! Big time kudos!

The only change I might make if I were so skilled would be to use longer bolts so I could avoid the threads for a more user- and maul-friendly top end.

Could you share a little more about what power tools you used and how you used them?

Thanks,

Michelle

[Colt W Knight]

The end of the bolts are crowned and dressed, so I am not sure how it is any different for the maul than removing them all together. I left the threads to provide grip so the tool doesnt slip from my hand. I keep my index finger there. If I had a lathe, I would knurl the shank. 

 

Bolts are rough ground on an 8" bench grinder. Final shaping and dressing is done on a 1 " belt sander, and then the ends are buffed to a mirror polish on an 8" buffing wheel. Bolts are kept cool by dipping in water frequently.  

[JMWendt]

Those are really nice.

[electrathon]

19 hours ago, TwinOaks said:

Those look great!   I did the same thing with some SS bolts I got from Lowe's, except I butchered the steep beveller (badly).  I'm in sorta the same place with the ones I made - I want to make some lined & checkered tools...I'm just trying to decide which LPI checkering file I need to get.  Anyone have a suggestion?  50LPI, 75LPI?

Memory says about 30 LPI.  Too fine and they loose crispness on the leather.

 

On ‎5‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 11:28 AM, Colt W Knight said:

I needed some bevelers and a lifter, but I wasn't too enthusiastic about the 25-35$ price tag on quality tools. Picked up some 1/4" SS bolts and made a beveler. It worked better than my Crafttool beveler, so I made a set of 3. Then someone asked me to make some oak leaves and I made a lifter from a 3/8" hardened bolt used for electric poles.

Nice job.

[Colt W Knight]

1 hour ago, JMWendt said:

Those are really nice.

THanks

1 hour ago, electrathon said:

Memory says about 30 LPI.  Too fine and they loose crispness on the leather.

 

Nice job.

THanks

[TwinOaks]

Thank you!

 

[Colt W Knight]

After watching some gunsmithing videos, 30 LPI seems extreme for bevelers. That would be more like a back grounding tool. I am going to order 50 LPI checkering file.

 

Edited May 10, 2016 by Colt W Knight

[Primosand]

nice work

 

[rawcustom]

Very nice!

[Colt W Knight]

Thanks yall

[Frederiek]

Superb, great idea but perfect execution!

[Colt W Knight]

On 5/12/2016 at 7:51 AM, Frederiek said:

Superb, great idea but perfect execution!

THanks