(Topic ID: 65459)

Show and Tell: Your DIY Homemade Tools

By mof

10 years ago


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  • Latest reply 79 days ago by SYS6
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    Topic index (key posts)

    51 key posts have been marked in this topic, showing the first 10 items.

    Display key post list sorted by: Post date | Keypost summary | User name

    Post #3 Light bulb remover. Posted by mof (10 years ago)

    Post #16 Link to homemade CNC router. Posted by vid1900 (10 years ago)

    Post #20 Lock picks and tension wrench. Posted by Fanatic (10 years ago)

    Post #21 Roll pin remover. Posted by KenH (10 years ago)

    Post #24 Raised playfield stabilizer. Posted by mof (10 years ago)

    Post #28 Soldering platform. Posted by OuttaSpace (10 years ago)

    Post #31 Inexpensive pinball dolly. Two wheels, a handle, and some scrap 2x4. Posted by SchertzPinball (10 years ago)


    Topic indices are generated from key posts and maintained by Pinside Editors. For more information, or to become an editor yourself read this post!

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    #498 4 years ago

    Built myself a pinball lift!

    I posted this on my Gameroom build thread but thought it might be helpful here as well.

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gameroom-advice

    Probably one of the handiest things for setting up or breaking down a game. Wish I would have done this years ago.

    I used plans for this at this awesome site:
    https://www.jeff-z.com/pinball/lift/index.html
    I saw this page ages ago and it just looked a little to McGyver to build ... but with a 40+ pin move ahead of me ... well, let's just say I got motivated to find the easiest way to set up/take down a pin! I am pretty good at doing it alone even now. Add front legs, tilt toward yourself until front legs hit BUT it's right at this spot that it gets hard. You got to slip your hands into the wire passage in the cabinet, grab the edges and lift until you can get your hands under the cabinet. Then maneuver your 4x4 post (or whatever you use) under the cab to support it while you add the rear legs. It's the same issue during take down but in reverse.
    This tool eliminates that pain point entirely by using an RV stabilizer Jack to do the lifting or setting down - very cool
    I ordered everything from Amazon
    Jack here

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JMHHNIO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00

    Adapter for drill here

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001V8U12M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00

    Got the aluminum angle stock at HD
    I had 3/4" plywood on hand to cut 3 pieces at 12x12x12"
    I used my redneck compass (string on a pencil) to cut my radius into each of the side boards
    On top of the Jack, I drilled a hole to store that drill adapter or I knew I'd never find the darn thing
    I have not wrangled a game with it yet but boy does that drill make the Jack move in a hurry! You'll want to have your 2 speed drill on low
    My daughters boyfriend grabbed the new Jack while he was helping me and said as dry as you possibly can "Jack-in-the-box"
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    #501 4 years ago
    Quoted from AUKraut:

    Nice, built one of these myself a little over a year ago, a real backsaver.
    One suggestion: that aluminum angle iron is REAL thick, I used some of this instead covered in felt to minimize chances of cabinet damage:
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-2-in-x-14-Gauge-x-36-in-Zinc-Plated-Slotted-Angle-802407/204225759?MERCH=REC-_-SearchPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-204225759-_-N

    Thx for the heads up on the felt. I'm going to so the same.
    The thickness has not been an issue so far ...

    1 week later
    #506 4 years ago
    Quoted from WhiskeyTango:

    How bad is the "slippage" when lifting/lowering a pin?

    Not bad. To properly deal with it, I added felt to the bottom of the jack, then as I lift I push against the drill to keep skidding the jack forward in order to keep the base pad of the jack flat on the floor. It's pretty easy to do. I've used mine about 25 times already in just one week!

    Here's a video
    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gameroom-advice/page/4#post-5105349

    #508 4 years ago
    Quoted from Murphdom:

    mt45 nice lift. I’m going to try the recycling approach and use a round drop leaf end table from the thrift store for just a few bucks and use the cut down leafs for the semi circles and then use the rest of the material from the table to create the box. A table similar to this. Let’s hope it works. I’m also recycling a jack.
    [quoted image]

    I would be careful using solid wood for your semi-circle... wood has grain and can split along the grain under torque or pressure. The plywood at 3/4" just won't do that as it has many layers perpendicular to each other and the strength of the added glue. The semi-circles take ALL the weight when you rotate the game down from its vertical orientation

    Just something to consider and it might work just fine

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