Sometimes I'd Rather Make One Than Buy One

[Don Ro]

I made an aluminum luggage rack platform for a moto to sit atop the original rack so that I could carry a very large rack bag.
I've been stuck on how to finish an aluminum support strut that's integral to the last step.
As per usual, I let the project sit for a few days so that a Muse might show up with an idea.
Eureka!...Dzus fasteners.
Pulled the springs off two Dzusii (plural for two), drilled holes in a couple of jam nuts, and Voila!, it's just what will work for what I needed.
Next, I need an idea on how to avoid the wrinkles in shrink tubing around bends.
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Ever just want to make something instead of buying it? Not for cheapskate sake, but for the creative reward. (?)
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[URY914]

I hear ya, I have plans in my head on how to make a homemade Yeti cooler.

[Baz]

Nice work, Don. I McQuiver stuff all the time!

I have to admit though when I saw your thread title I thought of this.....

[Don Ro]

Nice blow-up doll you have there, Baz.
Life like...pricey?

[Baz]

[Oh Haha]

Nothing wrong with making your own stuff!

My drum kit is a good example. Most guys use wing nuts to keep their cymbals in place on the stands. I like to be just a bit different.



I bought some plastic 1/4 inch diameter tubing today and cut it to length for each stand. it just slips over the threaded portion and allows the cymbal to move freely but not come off. No wing nuts or other devices needed. Yeah, I could buy them but they are about $10 per unit and I have 10 stands. The tubing cost me .67.

I've repurposed other parts to use in different ways a well


EDIT--the tubing works great but it's white. My kit is black so I am going to find some black tomorrow. Now that I thought about the color it would bug me. Gotta change it!

[Alan A]

Look at the expanding mesh tubing.
Finish with a little shrink tube at each end.

[Esel Mann]

So Don where can I buyz me a couple pair of them there RoNutz(tm) ?

Btw, for hs tubing choose a tight fit diameter for the hs tubing and patience with the heat gun.
Otherwise perhaps plastidip, tape off both ends of area to prevent threads from getting it plus a clean finish on the rack side. Another option, whatever that wrap plus technique they use on bike handle bars?

[Don Ro]

"RoNutz", eh?
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Yeah, that yellow shrink tubing is not consistent with the advanced engineering quality of my nuts, are they!!!
I just may fiddle w/those bends again.
Thanks for the tips.

[petrolhead611]

I always made my own camera mounts for my racecars, rather than buying them at exorbitant prices. A U bolt with an 8BA stud welded to one leg of the bolt, a small piece of sheet rubber, and bingo its done.Same with timing struts for hillclimbs;a piece of thin alloy sheet cut and bent to shape and painted flat black is all it takes.