How to Make a Multipurpose Hand Tool - wikiHow

This little Adapted Tool could come in handy:)

Don

How to Make a Multipurpose Hand Tool

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Have an old Black Decker (BD) electric drill? Have an extra chuck, those that have a threaded stem to attach it to the drill body? If so, you're in luck because you can have a sturdy, reliable hand tool to do quite a lot of different jobs, almost like a Swiss pocket knife. This article will show you how to turn it into a multipurpose hand tool.

Steps

1. Take a look at the drill. You can see the chuck key to the right of the drill. The key has the most important role throughout this process. Remember to save the chuck and key of any electric drill that has died before throwing it away. Keep an eye out for drills with chucks that others have tossed away too.
2. Hold your BD drill in your left hand with the chuck key inserted horizontally to your right. This is the right of the drill, as it is shown in the photo.
3. Get a hammer and give the key a short but sharp downward blow. When you get the knack, you can do it with the ball of your right hand.
4. After the blow, the chuck comes loose and you can unscrew it.
5. Take the chuck with you to the hardware store or wherever you can find a threaded bakelite ball. This ball is used in the handle tips of levers in gardening, farming, etc.
   • Check that the ball threads in properly. Hold the MHT with the key inserted for an easier and safer job when securing the ball in place.
6. Try these multipurpose tool additions:
   • Now the MHT is a screwdriver that fits in your palm.
   • You can even attach a metal saw or a part of it. You can fit a small saw blade for little wood or plaster jobs.
   • Now a metal drilling bit has been attached. This comes in handy when hand drilling inside a wooden cabinet.
   • With an allen bit (key) you can do the first approaching turns with the screws of a piece of furniture bought in kit. Judge if you finish the tightening with a proper allen key for a stronger leverage. Good for your wrist, perhaps.
7. Use the multipurpose tool to help you hide bolts inside the thick planks of wood of some project you're working on.
   • Make the holes that fit the screws, then enlarge them with this bit about 1 cm (1/2") deep.
   • Put the screws fixed tight in and cover the big holes with little pegs of the same wood. This finishing looks quite professional.

Warnings

• Be careful don't pinch your hand with the pinions of the chuck.
• Be careful not to ruin your drill. In doubt, if interested try to get a spare chuck and key.

Things You'll Need

• Black and Decker drill
• Hammer
• Bakelite ball
• Bits for attaching such as a saw, allen key, etc.

Related wikiHows

• How to Fix Garden Tool Handles
• How to Replace the Line on a Black and Decker Trimmer
• How to Use the Black & Decker AccuMark Picture Hanging Level
• How to Make a Drill Disc Sander
• How to Drill Holes Through Glass

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Multipurpose Hand Tool. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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The first thing that I was wondering. Was... Waht it Bakelite??? So, here's some info...

Don

How to Clean Bakelite

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Bakelite is a synthetic resin chemically formulated to replace celluloid, plastic, and rubber in an extraordinary number of everyday applications. Bakelite once had many industrial and electrical applications because it is not flammable. It became central to military industrial products and, because of its low cost and malleability, it appears in many kitchen, decorative, and jewelry products. In whatever form it takes, Bakelite can get dirty and gather grime, so it pays to know how to clean Bakelite.

Steps

1. Confirm that item is, in fact, Bakelite because other synthetics cannot be treated with the cleaners recommended.
   • Run the item under hot tap water. If it smells like formaldehyde, it is Bakelite. If it smells like camphor or burnt milk, it is not Bakelite.
   • Rub the item by hand with some pressure until you produce some warmth. If it emits the formaldehyde odor, it is Bakelite.
2. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe away any loose dirt, dust, or debris.
3. Apply a small amount of liquid metal polish onto a second clean cloth.
4. Wipe the Bakelite down completely, using the cloth to apply the polish with a firm, circular, scrubbing motion.
   • Formaldehyde is a major component of Bakelite, so any warmth that comes from holding the Bakelite item may produce a distinctive odor.
   • Any metal attached to or part of the item will only benefit from the liquid metal polish.
   • The best liquid polish may be slightly abrasive which helps in removing debris or residue stuck to the item.
5. Allow the polish to sit and dry to a dull cloudy film.
6. Hand buff the film away to remove the dirt and residue and to reveal the shine.
   • Repeat the cleaning/buffing process until you are satisfied with the sheen.

Tips

• The core color of Bakelite is amber, so if your cloth turns brown or yellow as you rub it, this is a natural part of the process and will not harm the piece.
• The high-gloss finish on products, such as old telephone covers or radios may be dull, scratched, or destroyed. This may be very hard to restore, but you can try to power buff it out with liquid metal polish.
• Before applying liquid metal polish or buffing, use a toothbrush to remove dirt and grime from grooves and etching in the surface of the item.
• Use cotton swabs to clean, polish, and buff hard to reach areas.

Warnings

• Bakelite which has been damaged, such as items that have had long periods of exposure to the sun or which have been scarred by cigarette burns, is not likely to be restored.
• Many Bakelite items, such as radios, telephones, and jewelry, are sought after collectibles. Do not run tests that can hurt the value, such as the hot needle test which involves inserting an electric needle into the material.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid metal polish
• Several clean cloths
• Electric buffer for large items
• Small toothbrush
• Q-tips or cotton swabs

Sources and Citations

• http://www.worldint.com/science/bakelite.html
• http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=924&content_id=WPCP_007586&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=e4b52cbb-5eff-4288-9f53-44b7eb856b70
• http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/maintenance/bakelitehist.htm

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Clean Bakelite. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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