Out of need arises creativity...

Walrus · 01-22-2007, 09:58 PM

Well, I was in need of an Autococker valve tool and I really didn't feel like spending $15-$30 for one. (I am cheap, I know...) My brother Anonym has one, but he is 230 miles away and with some extra time during the weekend I decided to get creative. With some information I found on HaveBlue and with a few quick measurements from Anonym I started hunting for something that I could form into a valve tool. Well, the obvious answer is to drill out a 5/16" allen wrench, but I figured I would screw that up to easy since I have a lack of resources when it comes to the tool department. So the other option is to find a tube approximately 3/8" in diameter and try to flatten the sides to form hexagonal shaft just long enough to unscrew the retaining screw.

Turns out that the all-thread tubing used in lighting (lamps and other light fixtures) is 3/8" OD and is just over 1/4" ID. So, with the unfortunate selection of either 3" or 30" length I spent the $5 for the longer. I spent about 1 hour cutting off a good length and using a bench grinder to flatten the sides to create the hex shape. Through some trial and error I was able to finally get it ground down to the appropriate shape and used a file to give it a nice smooth finish. Then I used a 1/4" drill bit to 'waller' (yep, that's a technical term) out the ID just enough so it would fit over the valve. Now, I realized I needed something to hang on to when I was using the tool. I dug around the garage and since I have been installing new light fixtures around the house since we moved in I had some spare parts laying around. I used the piece that mounts a light fixture since it would thread on the pipe. Well, since it is all thread, I didn't want it scratching up the inside of the lower tube, so I used a piece of heatshrink tubing to cover the threads...and tada!

Works great and gets the job done. It just took some creativity, time, and elbow grease (and $5) and now I have a working valve tool

kidneythief · 01-22-2007, 11:10 PM

Nice,

Also i doubt you would have successfull in drilling out a Allen wrench. Thats some rather tough steel.

-Jake

Morgenstern · 01-29-2007, 07:47 PM

I made one by grinding a slot out of an allen wrench.

B · 01-29-2007, 09:01 PM

Where are you shopping for a valve tool 15 is for a pro tool from Doc Most standard tools run under 8.

Walrus · 01-29-2007, 09:03 PM

I wish I could have found one of those for $8, it would have made this alot easier!

01-22-2007, 09:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Walrus Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Near Nashville, TN	Out of need arises creativity... Well, I was in need of an Autococker valve tool and I really didn't feel like spending $15-$30 for one. (I am cheap, I know...) My brother Anonym has one, but he is 230 miles away and with some extra time during the weekend I decided to get creative. With some information I found on HaveBlue and with a few quick measurements from Anonym I started hunting for something that I could form into a valve tool. Well, the obvious answer is to drill out a 5/16" allen wrench, but I figured I would screw that up to easy since I have a lack of resources when it comes to the tool department. So the other option is to find a tube approximately 3/8" in diameter and try to flatten the sides to form hexagonal shaft just long enough to unscrew the retaining screw. Turns out that the all-thread tubing used in lighting (lamps and other light fixtures) is 3/8" OD and is just over 1/4" ID. So, with the unfortunate selection of either 3" or 30" length I spent the $5 for the longer. I spent about 1 hour cutting off a good length and using a bench grinder to flatten the sides to create the hex shape. Through some trial and error I was able to finally get it ground down to the appropriate shape and used a file to give it a nice smooth finish. Then I used a 1/4" drill bit to 'waller' (yep, that's a technical term) out the ID just enough so it would fit over the valve. Now, I realized I needed something to hang on to when I was using the tool. I dug around the garage and since I have been installing new light fixtures around the house since we moved in I had some spare parts laying around. I used the piece that mounts a light fixture since it would thread on the pipe. Well, since it is all thread, I didn't want it scratching up the inside of the lower tube, so I used a piece of heatshrink tubing to cover the threads...and tada! Works great and gets the job done. It just took some creativity, time, and elbow grease (and $5) and now I have a working valve tool __________________ "How would you like one across your lip?" - Fred G. Sanford My Gallery History: Line SI Bushmaster; PMI-3; VMX; '97 Autococker; KP-3; Enforcer 2(possible SWARM); Spyder Sonix; Monteneel Z-1; PGP 2K; BBT Typhoon; 2k1 SP Impulse; SP MiniMag; another PMI-3; VM-Magnum; Blazer #153; Pump MiniMag; Thrasher ULE Emag; Cool Camo Micromag; '94-'95(?) Evolution Minicocker; '95 Evolution Autococker; Blazer #710; CNC X-Mag; Gold Rush Micromag; Jungle Sunset Micromag; Wild Tiger Micromag

01-22-2007, 11:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
kidneythief Lord humungus the Mod Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Home Finally!!!	Nice, Also i doubt you would have successfull in drilling out a Allen wrench. Thats some rather tough steel. -Jake __________________ "I wish simply to be a decent person, yet I will always fear the retards" -Brian Hindt(geech) MCB Moderator Kidney Machine

01-29-2007, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Morgenstern Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006	I made one by grinding a slot out of an allen wrench. __________________ Castle Conquest XXII video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN3QeBL_7-E

01-29-2007, 09:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Walrus Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Near Nashville, TN	I wish I could have found one of those for $8, it would have made this alot easier! __________________ "How would you like one across your lip?" - Fred G. Sanford My Gallery History: Line SI Bushmaster; PMI-3; VMX; '97 Autococker; KP-3; Enforcer 2(possible SWARM); Spyder Sonix; Monteneel Z-1; PGP 2K; BBT Typhoon; 2k1 SP Impulse; SP MiniMag; another PMI-3; VM-Magnum; Blazer #153; Pump MiniMag; Thrasher ULE Emag; Cool Camo Micromag; '94-'95(?) Evolution Minicocker; '95 Evolution Autococker; Blazer #710; CNC X-Mag; Gold Rush Micromag; Jungle Sunset Micromag; Wild Tiger Micromag

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