RUSTIC HOMEMADE HAND TOOLS

(Page 3 of 3)

May/June 1981
 
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Put the tool to work by holding it a arm's length in front of your chest—wit the bevel facing downward—and pulling it toward you along the wood's surface.

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MATTOCK

Again, this digging implement is mad, from a section of car spring . . . preferably an arced piece about 26" long. Cut; one end to form a point, with 30° angles on each side, and file 40° bevels on the opposite end to produce a two-faced blade. Then torch a 1" X 1-1/2" ellipse into the center of the arc, and weld a 3" piece of 1-1/4" pipe (after forming it into an oval shape in a vise) directly over this hole. Finally, from a suitable length of hardwood, make a handle that measures 1-1/2" X 2" X 36", fit it to the pipe collar, and lock it in place with a steel or hardwood wedge.

You'll probably find—as we did—that it's actually sort of fun to work with shop scrap and come up with something useful . . . but the real "return" on the time you invest will occur after you've actually put these low-tech tools to the test . . . and discovered that "homemade" can be better than store-bought!

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