Show and Tell: Your DIY Homemade Tools

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1

#801 10 months ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

9y 132K 14,473 9 21

Quoted from WJxxxx:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MMU1384/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used these exact pliers for 1mm & 2mm 'Spring Steel Wire' from eBay.
They coped easily with the 1mm, the 2mm was a bit harder and needed a fair bit of grip pressure, but they got the job done.

I made a lot of replacement gates for the Catacomb bagatelle gate that was .055"/ 1.3 mm piano wire just by using just a pair of alligator nose vice grips. For the .093/ 2.3 mm wire, I don't have enough grip in my hands to make nice tight bends with the pliers. Hence, the large size nut & bolt wire bender.

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19

#802 41 days ago

JSZ

JeffZee

Pinside+ Addict

Warrenton, VA

10y 68,650 592 13

Here is the latest version of my Redneck Pinball Dolly. Details at http://www.jeff-z.com/pinball/dolly/dolly.html

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#803 40 days ago

MCD

dasvis

Pinside member

Salem, OR

11y 95,550 4,719 11 16

Quoted from JeffZee:
Here is the latest version of my Redneck Pinball Dolly. Details at http://www.jeff-z.com/pinball/dolly/dolly.html

Cool, I have that exact lift in my garage & sold my motorcycle. Think I will copy your idea. Thanks!

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#804 30 days ago

AVA

Piso

Pinside member

Faenza

3y 36,050 79 2

I just made this. No backbox, no problem

IMG_20230225_102126 (resized).jpg

IMG_20230225_102309 (resized).jpg

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#805 30 days ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

9y 132K 14,473 9 21

Quoted from Piso:
I just made this. No backbox, no problem
[quoted image][quoted image]

I am going to be facing this problem in another few days. Cool solution !

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#806 29 days ago

WTF

fast_in_muskoka

Pinside+ Frequent

Muskoka, ON

9y 72,800 1,243 13

what happened to TZ's head ?

Quoted from Piso:
I just made this. No backbox, no problem
[quoted image][quoted image]

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#807 28 days ago

JM

j_m_

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 124K 7,301

Quoted from fast_in_muskoka:
what happened to TZ's head ?

it got "lost in the zone"

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#808 28 days ago

KOJ

koji

Pinside member

Surrey, BC

5y 101K 1,983 12 61 1

Quoted from j_m_:
it got "lost in the zone"

...and your profile pic fits perfectly..

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#809 28 days ago

AVA

Piso

Pinside member

Faenza

3y 36,050 79 2

Quoted from fast_in_muskoka:
what happened to TZ's head ?

I'm still restoring it. Keeping it for last

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22

#810 20 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

A 3D printed case.

Not sure that you'd call it a tool, but one way to make sure you keep all your bits together when moving or storing a machine. Also guarantees you don't leave balls inside before you tip it and risk breaking plastics.
Plus it's really therapeutic snapping them open and shut with the magnets (which I forgot to fix in before taking the pics)

V1 (resized).jpgV2 (resized).jpgV3 (resized).jpg

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#811 20 days ago

ZAC

zacaj

Pinside member

Rochester, NY

10y 157K 10,151 76 121 2

Oooooh that looks sharp

Do you have a version with 4 head bolts with washers for EM's?

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#812 20 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

Quoted from zacaj:
Oooooh that looks sharp
Do you have a version with 4 head bolts with washers for EM's?

Simple answer is no. My printer only has a printbed size of 150mm x 150mm.

Washers will fit under the leg bolts, there's a void specifically for them, and/or keys.

Working on a version which will take 2 long head bolts.

Who uses all 4 headbolts anyway?

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#813 20 days ago

ZAC

zacaj

Pinside member

Rochester, NY

10y 157K 10,151 76 121 2

Quoted from WJxxxx:
Simple answer is no. My printer only has a printbed size of 150mm x 150mm.
Washers will fit under the leg bolts, there's a void specifically for them, and/or keys.
Working on a version which will take 2 long head bolts.
Who uses all 4 headbolts anyway?

Pretty much every game before 1980?

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#814 20 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

Quoted from zacaj:
Pretty much every game before 1980?

The question was who actually USES all 4? I've encountered one time when all 4 bolts were used. Usually it's just 2 diagonally

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#815 20 days ago

JL

Madmax541

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 108K 1,987

Quoted from WJxxxx:
The question was who actually USES all 4? I've encountered one time when all 4 bolts were used. Usually it's just 2 diagonally

Always use 4 on 4 player EM

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#816 20 days ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Addict

Quakertown, PA

10y 109K 6,120 14

Quoted from WJxxxx:
A 3D printed case.
Not sure that you'd call it a tool, but one way to make sure you keep all your bits together when moving or storing a machine. Also guarantees you don't leave balls inside before you tip it and risk breaking plastics.
Plus it's really therapeutic snapping them open and shut with the magnets (which I forgot to fix in before taking the pics)
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

How do I get one (or two) of these? this is brilliant!

Chris

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#817 20 days ago

ZAC

zacaj

Pinside member

Rochester, NY

10y 157K 10,151 76 121 2

Quoted from WJxxxx:
The question was who actually USES all 4? I've encountered one time when all 4 bolts were used. Usually it's just 2 diagonally

Majority of the games I've picked up have had 3-4. And I have no idea how many there will be when I go to do a pickup, so I'd need to have a case that can accommodate the max

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#818 20 days ago

MJA

mIkea

Pinside member

Milton, ON

5y 47,050 151 10

Quoted from WJxxxx:
A 3D printed case.
Not sure that you'd call it a tool, but one way to make sure you keep all your bits together when moving or storing a machine. Also guarantees you don't leave balls inside before you tip it and risk breaking plastics.
Plus it's really therapeutic snapping them open and shut with the magnets (which I forgot to fix in before taking the pics)
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

This is brilliant. I’m a woodworker so if u don’t mind I’m going to get started on a nice version done in walnut…

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#819 20 days ago

SEF

Mk1Mod0

Third Coast Pinball

Corpus Christi, TX

10y 99,300 3,459 8

Quoted from WJxxxx:
Who uses all 4 headbolts anyway?

Brilliant product. Like the man said, the thing you didnt know you needed. And trust me, Space invaders and the Acrylic Pin always get four head bolts.

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#820 20 days ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

8y 221K 28,022 263 17

Quoted from WJxxxx:
The question was who actually USES all 4? I've encountered one time when all 4 bolts were used. Usually it's just 2 diagonally

I always use four.

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#821 20 days ago

TJW

tjw998

Pinside member

8y 39,550 140 9

Quoted from WJxxxx:
My printer only has a printbed size of 150mm x 150mm.

Could you make them a little taller and stash 4 long head bolts sideways under the leg bolts? I know the printing time would increase, but I think there is some potential in the Z direction.

This is still a great idea though!

Post last edited 19 days ago: “spelling/grammar”

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#822 19 days ago

JMR

pinballplusMN

Pinball Plus Inc.

10y 83,550 2,263 1

Quoted from WJxxxx:
A 3D printed case.
Not sure that you'd call it a tool, but one way to make sure you keep all your bits together when moving or storing a machine. Also guarantees you don't leave balls inside before you tip it and risk breaking plastics.
Plus it's really therapeutic snapping them open and shut with the magnets (which I forgot to fix in before taking the pics)
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Cool, need one for appollo 13

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#823 19 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

Quoted from mIkea:
This is brilliant. I’m a woodworker so if u don’t mind I’m going to get started on a nice version done in walnut…

Would love to see how it turns out

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1

#824 19 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
How do I get one (or two) of these? this is brilliant!
Chris

Currently I'm selling them for £12.50 plus P&P, which may be restrictive sending from the UK to US? Drop me a pm if you're still interested and I'll get a quote, same applies to anybody else who may want some.

There is also the possibility of getting them injection mould manufactured, but the set-up costs are excessive UNLESS I can get a guaranteed initial order over 1,000 (which would mean having to glue in 12,000 magnets individually!!). So unless someone like Marco or one of the manufacturer's takes an interest it's unlikely. Getting them injection moulded would also mean that you could have your logo printed on them.

Other options include: posting the stl files on somewhere like cults3d and charge a fee to download and then you could print yourself, sell the stl file to someone who could then make and sell them themselves, or start a kickstarter to get the funds to get the moulds to have them injection moulded. Still thinking about possibilities - but overall the reaction has been positive in such a short time.

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#825 19 days ago

WWJ

WJxxxx

WWJ Pinball

10y 87,550 1,174 108

Quoted from tjw998:
Could you make them a little taller and stash 4 long head bolts sideways under the leg bolts? I know the printing time would increase, but I think there is some potential in the Z direction.
This is still a great idea though!

Print time is already over 16hrs (for the base and lid) so anything that increases that is not really a consideration currently.

However - seeing as the vast majority of EMs requiring 4 head bolts only have a single ball - I may have a solution that will work, just need to test it out first.

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1

#826 18 days ago

WIZ

balzofsteel

Pinside member

Middle O' Oregon

8y 52,650 756 49

Quoted from WJxxxx:
...
However - seeing as the vast majority of EMs requiring 4 head bolts only have a single ball - ....

Actually, a lot of them have 5 balls. And yes we do put them all in.

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#827 18 days ago

KLH

KenH

Pinside member

Sierra Vista, AZ

10y 46,900 727 11

Quoted from WJxxxx:
which would mean having to glue in 12,000 magnets individually!!

Just provide the magnets--let buyer glue them in. But probably difficult to impossible to get 1000 confirmed buyers.

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#828 17 days ago

JMR

pinballplusMN

Pinball Plus Inc.

10y 83,550 2,263 1

A friend made me a sleeve remover. Works great. Perfect fit for removing those stubborn sleeves .

16784494831847133851556812911399 (resized).jpg

16784495222997389239688511419449 (resized).jpg

16784495991371082421536381946223 (resized).jpg

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#829 17 days ago

JEF

jeffc

Pinside member

11y 86,050 2,020

Quoted from pinballplusMN:
A friend made me a sleeve remover...

How much do you (pinside) think something like this would cost to have made? I'm sure someone could sell a small run if affordable.

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#830 17 days ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

9y 132K 14,473 9 21

Quoted from jeffc:
How much do you (pinside) think something like this would cost to have made? I'm sure someone could sell a small run if affordable.

It has already been done. Someone here is selling them. But I cannot remember who.

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#831 17 days ago

M

MarkG

Fun With Pinball

8y 71,300 3,590

Coil sleeve remover:

https://troxelrepair.com/product/coil-sleeve-remover/

Key post

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#832 17 days ago

JEF

jeffc

Pinside member

11y 86,050 2,020

Quoted from MarkG:
Coil sleeve remover:
https://troxelrepair.com/product/coil-sleeve-remover/

Yes Mark, thanks. Shoutout to troxel for selling them and PinballJunkie for making them
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/show-and-tell-your-diy-homemade-tools/page/9#post-4990037

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#833 17 days ago

JRP

Gogojohnnyquack

Pinside+ Frequent

Seattle, WA

8y 81,300 1,211 5

Quoted from JeffZee:
Cut the top off a mini-post and thin the shaft a bit...
[quoted image]
Use the point to apply rings to non-pointy posts...
[quoted image]
Lubricating the point and shaft with a bit of Windex from a Q-tip also helps.

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#834 11 days ago

KLH

KenH

Pinside member

Sierra Vista, AZ

10y 46,900 727 11

I've just been using a socket.

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#835 11 days ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

9y 132K 14,473 9 21

Quoted from KenH:
I've just been using a socket.

Yes, but these sleeve removers have a little ledge cut on the end for a perfect fit. Once you try one you will not want to go back to a socket.

Post last edited 10 days ago: “removed = removers”

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#836 10 days ago

KEV

Mageek

Pinside+ Addict

Ottawa, ON

7y 65,400 726 12

Quoted from cottonm4:
Yes, but these sleeve removed have a little ledge cut on the end for a perfect fit. Once you try one you will not want to go back to a socket.

Just want to give credit where credit is due PinballJunkie for a great tool. He designed and sold these on here 3 or 4 years ago before he retired, he was making them at work :p , I believe the current seller asked if he could to make and sell them

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/show-and-tell-your-diy-homemade-tools/page/9#post-4990037

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#837 7 days ago

BSF

bflagg

Pinside member

Anna, TX

11y 57,400 725 3

I changed pickups a couple years ago and hadn’t hauled a pin since. Just realized the bed is higher and my harbor freight lift table won’t make the heights. With TPF this week had to build a solution. This gets me an extra 5 1/2 inches lift and is easily removed with 4 screws.