[dataway]

So, while waiting for some weather stripping adhesive to dry I thought I might make myself and adhesive roller for upcoming vinyl top install and interior sound deadening/insulation.

I made one a while back ... but thought I could use something a bit better. I had perused Amazon and saw the usual Chinese garbage, and one rather nice one for about $50. Thought that was a bit much for a simple roller .. so the adventure began.....


Found some super thick wall aluminum tube I had in stock, about 2" OD, checked the bearing drawer and found some new 10mm ID bearings and a suitable 10mm bolt. A little time on the lathe and I had the tube squared up and recesses cut for the bearings.




Ehhh ... what the heck, might work better with some knurling on the roller.




Tuned up the bearing recesses for about a .003" press fit, and pressed them in.



Don't want to lose my grip ... what the heck, have the knurling tool out so I knurled some thick wall steel tube and bent up a cold rolled fork, knocked the edges off and polished it up some.



TIG welded the handle on to the fork and assembled. I think it will work, and maybe someone 200 years after I'm worm food will still be using it.






The weather stripping adhesive dried hours ago, I feel I may be succumbing to some kind of mental illness.

[dataway]

This is the roller I made 30 years ago.

As our bodies and minds decline, it seems our skills and patience improve, seems backwards, as do most things in life. We should be grumpy, slow and talented when we are young, and should be silly, energetic and adventurous when we are old ... when we have the time and resources to enjoy those things.

Evidently the tools we make follow a different trajectory than we do ourselves.

[Old Goat 67]

Very Nice!

[johnta1]

Those are very nice!

I think it will work, and maybe someone 200 years after I'm worm food will still be using it.

Probably someone on PY will post a pic of it and ask "What the Heck is this?"

Then have 20 pages of answers with no one getting it right.



Maybe put a fake company name on it with an oddball name for the tool?

[dataway]

Simple Man ... not sure if your tag is based on the Skynyrd song ... but if it is, that's a bit of philosophy I try to live by, keeps my Mom in TN happy

[sdbob]

Very nice work even the first one.

[Cardo]

Nice!! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of your skills....

[Sirrotica]

The same type of tool is used for rolling tire patches onto a inner tube after applying it to the adhesive, it's called a stitcher.

Link to 3 width variety tire stitcher tool online:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tyre-Patc...lats/385970269

In case anyone needs to buy one of these rollers........

[dataway]

$34 !!!! But I only have three hours, $15 in materials and $10,000 in tools invested in mine! And I had it three hours after I ordered it. And and and ... it's made in the USA.

Jeez, now that I think about it, I might have a set of those in the shop somewhere

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by dataway

$34 !!!! But I only have three hours, $15 in materials and $10,000 in tools invested in mine! And I had it three hours after I ordered it.

I did say for anyone else that may need them, you've already handled your needs as per your posts. But if you noticed the ad, they're out of stock too, although there are many other ads on the net for stitchers.

Besides, I know that like me, you like to fabricate things, no slight to your skills. There are often different ways to arrive at the same end, and you chose your way, is all I'm saying......LOL

I can't tell you how many times I've needed to make a tool for the job i was doing, only sometimes to find out someone else had already made, and sold the same tool. I usually liked my tool better though........

[padgett]

For $15 try here.

[dataway]

Hey, I did mention in my post that I could have a mental illness of some kind

One, Two, Three, Four .... I declare a stitcher war!

Mine can double as a 1200 lb capacity caster.

Did I mention that the run out is about .002" ... which would come in handy ... well ... never?

Did I mention the handle is hollow so you can insert an extension rod and stich things on your ceiling?

I had no idea the stitcher market was so competitive.

[Dadspackard]

Data, Nice job on making that tool. You must have a nice lathe to do such work...

I have been looking at some Coil Spring Spacers and was thinking if I only had a lathe I could knock out set for myself and friends..

[vertigto]

Padgett has upped the ante with a 3 pc set for $14.99.

[242177P]

I'd like to sign up as a beta tester. I'll write an unbiased review once he comps me one (can't expect me to pay for what amounts to a crude prototype ) Anyone else want to see a carriage bolt instead? Square hole will speed assembly, LOL.



But seriously, Dataway could slap an honest to goodness Lifetime Guarantee on these.

[dataway]

2421 .... jeez you guys are good, you already found the first proposed update ... that bolt sticks out way too far. I was going to turn down the head and the nut to be thinner. Would love to use a carriage bolt .. but yeah, the square hole thing is a problem

Dadspackard ... actually my lathe is kind of crap, Chinese 9" lathe that I've heavily modified, larger quick change tool post, larger high quality chuck, and recently stole the drive motor from my wife's unused treadmill and hooked up to a homemade VFD for a quiet, infinitely variable speed drive. Those spacers would definitely be right at the limit of it's capacity.

[dataway]

So I can't be accused of ignoring the suggestions of customers ... Model WOT-1.1 (Waste Of Time) is out.

Reduced total width by 3/8" with cut down hex head bolt and nut.
Additional polishing for that "Chrome Look"

Optional graphics kit is available, spoiler and faux scoop in the design phase.
Design team said that longitudinal lightening holes in the roller is impractical due to the possibility of adhesive getting in them and being difficult to clean out.

[johnta1]

Model WOT-1.1 (Waste Of Time) is out.

[chuckies76ta]

Originally Posted by dataway

$34 !!!! But I only have three hours, $15 in materials and $10,000 in tools invested in mine! And I had it three hours after I ordered it. And and and ... it's made in the USA.

Jeez, now that I think about it, I might have a set of those in the shop somewhere

I need some spacers made for my new serpentine belt setup. I think you could be taking a few orders here and there and making a few dollars..

I only like buying stuff made in Canada or the United States if I can. !

[Mr Anonymous]

I just love this! I'm 51, and I just dearly enjoy making stuff. Within the past year, a Bridgeport from 1956 made its way into my shop. O dear, I wish I'd have had this thing 25 years ago. For my racing endeavors, I find myself making mounts and brackets and such, the first things I made were rollbar mounts for fuel regulator and line lock. The way I approach things now has changed with the machine and its infinite capabilities. The concept of being able to drill AND tap a STRAIGHT hole is just uncharted territory!

When you have a mill, everything needs milled, just like when you have a hammer, everything is a hippie.

Even though its often easier to just go buy something, there is NOTHING that feels as good as making it yourself. As a computer database nerd during the day, making parts in the shop is my creative outlet, and thank God for that, otherwise you'd be hearing about another workplace "incident".