Here are 100 examples of homemade tools built by our members when they first joined our forum, compared with the tools that they built after being members for a while, from the twelve years we've been online.

Click each tool photo to see the discussion for each tool. For many more examples, visit our forum.



1.
bobs409 before
Before

bobs409's Screw Trimming Plate

bobs409 after
After

bobs409's 2x72 Belt Grinder

2.
jjr2001 before
Before

jjr2001's Push Stick

jjr2001 after
After

jjr2001's Die Filer

3.
AB-SHOP before
Before

AB-SHOP's Lathe Tool Holder Rack

AB-SHOP after
After

AB-SHOP's Lathe Belt Sander

4.
meanwhileinthegarage before
Before

meanwhileinthegarage's Cleaver Restoration

meanwhileinthegarage after
After

meanwhileinthegarage's Sheetmetal Bender

5.
fawabros before
Before

fawabros's Corner Welding Clamp

fawabros after
After

fawabros's Workshop Forklift

6.
Carlos B before
Before

Carlos B's Firewood Cutting Frame

Carlos B after
After

Carlos B's Woodworker's Sawmill

7.
craig9 before
Before

craig9's Lever Dolly

craig9 after
After

craig9's Belt Grinder

8.
hwmrob before
Before

hwmrob's Modular Tool Holder

hwmrob after
After

hwmrob's Miter Gauge

9.
Me2 before
Before

Me2's Foundation Lift

Me2 after
After

Me2's Powered Lathe Slotter

10.
Dr.Al before
Before

Dr.Al's Foot Switch

Dr.Al after
After

Dr.Al's Slow Speed Grinder

11.
anthonyget before
Before

anthonyget's Nakiri Knife

anthonyget after
After

anthonyget's Tempering Oven

12.
brianhw before
Before

brianhw's Magnifying Glass Holder

brianhw after
After

brianhw's Table Vise

13.
celsoari before
Before

celsoari's Tongs

celsoari after
After

celsoari's Adaptive Soft Jaws

14.
Dimitris Polychronis before
Before

Dimitris Polychronis's Spindle Bore Cleaner

Dimitris Polychronis after
After

Dimitris Polychronis's Rosette Circle Cutter

15.
liberal before
Before

liberal's Puller

liberal after
After

liberal's Grinding Machine

16.
LMMasterMariner before
Before

LMMasterMariner's Knee Mill Head Lifter

LMMasterMariner after
After

LMMasterMariner's Quick Change Lathe Gearbox

17.
mr95gst before
Before

mr95gst's Crucible

mr95gst after
After

mr95gst's Belt Grinder

18.
olderdan before
Before

olderdan's T Slot Inserts

olderdan after
After

olderdan's 3 Speed Lathe Milling Attachment

19.
ruxu before
Before

ruxu's Angle Grinder Scoring Jig

ruxu after
After

ruxu's Sheetmetal Brake

20.
Bellevue Woodshop before
Before

Bellevue Woodshop's Ratchet Bar Clamp

Bellevue Woodshop after
After

Bellevue Woodshop's Automatic Table Saw

21.
Christophe Mineau before
Before

Christophe Mineau's Clamp Modification

Christophe Mineau after
After

Christophe Mineau's Marking Gauge

22.
Tuomas before
Before

Tuomas's Dremel Router Base

Tuomas after
After

Tuomas's Disc Sander

23.
tonyfoale before
Before

tonyfoale's Knee Mill Support

tonyfoale after
After

tonyfoale's Motorized Rotary Table

24.
Catfish before
Before

Catfish's Gasket Cutter

Catfish after
After

Catfish's Air Compressor

25.
rossbotics before
Before

rossbotics's Hand Tapper

rossbotics after
After

rossbotics's Miniature Lathe

26.
Vyacheslav.Nevolya before
Before

Vyacheslav.Nevolya's Drill Bit Sharpener

Vyacheslav.Nevolya after
After

Vyacheslav.Nevolya's Power Hacksaw

27.
threesixesinarow before
Before

threesixesinarow's Convex T Slot Clamp

threesixesinarow after
After

threesixesinarow's Rotary Table

28.
warsztatOdZera before
Before

warsztatOdZera's Welding Jig

warsztatOdZera after
After

warsztatOdZera's Hydraulic Chain Excavator

29.
JKeetonKnives before
Before

JKeetonKnives's Center Scribe

JKeetonKnives after
After

JKeetonKnives's Heat Treatment Oven

30.
mklotz before
Before

mklotz's Cut Nail Tools

mklotz after
After

mklotz's Finger Plate

31.
Phillip Davies before
Before

Phillip Davies's Wood Turning Scrapers

Phillip Davies after
After

Phillip Davies's Panel Plane

32.
thehomeengineer before
Before

thehomeengineer's Pallet Breaker

thehomeengineer after
After

thehomeengineer's Box Pan Folder

33.
PowerMk before
Before

PowerMk's Axle Stand

PowerMk after
After

PowerMk's Sandblaster

34.
Bony before
Before

Bony's Lathe Chuck Speed Key

Bony after
After

Bony's Lathe Indexing Setup

35.
mlochala before
Before

mlochala's F-Style Clamps

mlochala after
After

mlochala's Hydraulic Press

36.
Double J Creations before
Before

Double J Creations's Case Splitter

Double J Creations after
After

Double J Creations's Sawmill

37.
dgbreggin before
Before

dgbreggin's Tool Block

dgbreggin after
After

dgbreggin's X-Axis Power Feed

38.
Bongodrummer before
Before

Bongodrummer's Quick Clamp

Bongodrummer after
After

Bongodrummer's CNC Router

39.
garage nut before
Before

garage nut's Plastic Ball Handle

garage nut after
After

garage nut's Knurling Tool

40.
Mark Presling before
Before

Mark Presling's Demagnetizer

Mark Presling after
After

Mark Presling's Parkerizing Setup

41.
Paul Jones before
Before

Paul Jones's Copper Soft Jaws

Paul Jones after
After

Paul Jones's Lathe Spider

42.
Stevohdee before
Before

Stevohdee's Swarf Tool

Stevohdee after
After

Stevohdee's Tool Post Grinder

43.
ttmrj before
Before

ttmrj's V-Blocks

ttmrj after
After

ttmrj's Radius Turning Attachment

44.
xynudu before
Before

xynudu's Screwdriver

xynudu after
After

xynudu's Tool Post Grinder

45.
Marsh before
Before

Marsh's Panel Grabber

Marsh after
After

Marsh's Electromagnetic Vise

46.
Mazay before
Before

Mazay's Vise

Mazay after
After

Mazay's Belt Grinder

47.
Mr.DK DIY before
Before

Mr.DK DIY's Multitool

Mr.DK DIY after
After

Mr.DK DIY's Potato Planter

48.
mariost before
Before

mariost's Feed Mixer

mariost after
After

mariost's Indexing Head

49.
bouboulas before
Before

bouboulas's Magnetic V Pads

bouboulas after
After

bouboulas's Motorcycle Lift

50.
buddyman100 before
Before

buddyman100's Smartphone Stand

buddyman100 after
After

buddyman100's CNC Router

51.
scorch before
Before

scorch's Bottle Openers

scorch after
After

scorch's Gingery Lathe

52.
C-Bag before
Before

C-Bag's Wrench

C-Bag after
After

C-Bag's Variable Radius Cutter

53.
Captainleeward before
Before

Captainleeward's Tubing Alignment Jig

Captainleeward after
After

Captainleeward's Motorized Plasma Circle Cutter

54.
Didpoolhall before
Before

Didpoolhall's Circle Cutting Jig

Didpoolhall after
After

Didpoolhall's Table Saw

55.
big o before
Before

big o's Bull Nose

big o after
After

big o's High Speed Drill

56.
PJs before
Before

PJs's MAPP Torch Caddy

PJs after
After

PJs's Rod Bender

57.
markfitz before
Before

markfitz's Sprocket Wrench

markfitz after
After

markfitz's Belt Sander

58.
The Fe Factor before
Before

The Fe Factor's Welding X-Jig

The Fe Factor after
After

The Fe Factor's Cordless Driver Power Supply

59.
universal scale models before
Before

universal scale models's Aluminum Rivet Making Tool

universal scale models after
After

universal scale models's Micro Power Hacksaw

60.
darus627 before
Before

darus627's Toe Jack

darus627 after
After

darus627's Brush Mower

61.
Rob G before
Before

Rob G's Torch Circle Cutter

Rob G after
After

Rob G's Slip Roll

62.
metric_taper before
Before

metric_taper's Powder Coating Fixture Plate

metric_taper after
After

metric_taper's Lathe Tailstock Power Feed

63.
Gadgeteer before
Before

Gadgeteer's Expanding Anchor

Gadgeteer after
After

Gadgeteer's Ride On Trencher

64.
Gary Huston before
Before

Gary Huston's Welders Third Hand

Gary Huston after
After

Gary Huston's Press Brake

65.
LastingBuild before
Before

LastingBuild's Bevel Guide

LastingBuild after
After

LastingBuild's Treadle Lathe

66.
Lets Roger That before
Before

Lets Roger That's Lathe Chuck Stop

Lets Roger That after
After

Lets Roger That's Countersink Grinding Fixture

67.
mastersdlm before
Before

mastersdlm's Insert Screwdriver

mastersdlm after
After

mastersdlm's Powder Coating Oven

68.
Es Welding before
Before

Es Welding's Live Center

Es Welding after
After

Es Welding's High Torque Drill Press

69.
Maszynotwor before
Before

Maszynotwor's Retractable Workbench Seat

Maszynotwor after
After

Maszynotwor's CNC Wire Saw

70.
athomp before
Before

athomp's Circle Cutting Jig

athomp after
After

athomp's Tree Puller

71.
backyard_cnc before
Before

backyard_cnc's Mill Drill Spindle Wrench

backyard_cnc after
After

backyard_cnc's Thermo-Forming Machine

72.
charles scozzari before
Before

charles scozzari's Scissor Lift Extensions

charles scozzari after
After

charles scozzari's Rotary Table Power Feed

73.
desbromilow before
Before

desbromilow's Welding Jigs

desbromilow after
After

desbromilow's Spark Eroder

74.
TROEHL before
Before

TROEHL's Welding Jigs

TROEHL after
After

TROEHL's Press Brake

75.
markgyver before
Before

markgyver's Welding Fume Extractor

markgyver after
After

markgyver's TIG Welder Wire Feeder

76.
Manitoba Man before
Before

Manitoba Man's Pin Wrench

Manitoba Man after
After

Manitoba Man's Lathe Mill

77.
gustave before
Before

gustave's Center Finding Scribe

gustave after
After

gustave's Metal Bender

78.
Fromthewood before
Before

Fromthewood's Box Joint Jig

Fromthewood after
After

Fromthewood's Belt Grinder

79.
janochek before
Before

janochek's Work Stand

janochek after
After

janochek's Table Saw

80.
sdunt before
Before

sdunt's Chainsaw Bar Oiler

sdunt after
After

sdunt's Chainsaw Slabbing Mill

81.
Ironworkerl417 before
Before

Ironworkerl417's Bandsaw Table

Ironworkerl417 after
After

Ironworkerl417's Belt Grinder

82.
nicky1 before
Before

nicky1's Hose Clamp Tool

nicky1 after
After

nicky1's Leaf Vacuum

83.
Guy Gadois before
Before

Guy Gadois's Hand Screw Clamps

Guy Gadois after
After

Guy Gadois's Wood Lathe Duplicator

84.
bobneumann before
Before

bobneumann's Quick Disconnect Air Coupling

bobneumann after
After

bobneumann's Loader

85.
Bricoleando before
Before

Bricoleando's Strap Wrench

Bricoleando after
After

Bricoleando's Belt Sander

86.
cales2021 before
Before

cales2021's Multiple Punch Holder

cales2021 after
After

cales2021's Four Facet Sharpener

87.
chy_farm before
Before

chy_farm's Tube and Cone Press

chy_farm after
After

chy_farm's Factory Fan VFD

88.
Scratch before
Before

Scratch's Brake

Scratch after
After

Scratch's Steampunk Belt Grinder

89.
Don42 before
Before

Don42's Carriage Bolt Broach

Don42 after
After

Don42's Shop Winch

90.
ercaneverything before
Before

ercaneverything's Surveyor's Wheel

ercaneverything after
After

ercaneverything's Portable Power Station

91.
fergiomaria before
Before

fergiomaria's Swarf Pickup Tool

fergiomaria after
After

fergiomaria's Sheetmetal Roller

92.
fox craft before
Before

fox craft's Scribe

fox craft after
After

fox craft's Sandblasting Cabinet

93.
kess before
Before

kess's Bevel Cutting Fixture

kess after
After

kess's Hydraulic Press

94.
m2rechtin before
Before

m2rechtin's Temperature-Controlled Fan

m2rechtin after
After

m2rechtin's Remote Control Tractor

95.
MetalDesigner before
Before

MetalDesigner's Welding Table Clamps

MetalDesigner after
After

MetalDesigner's Lathe Radius Cutter

96.
Metaler before
Before

Metaler's Machine Guard

Metaler after
After

Metaler's Lathe Milling Head

97.
Metalgeria before
Before

Metalgeria's Steel Cable Pulleys

Metalgeria after
After

Metalgeria's Sliding Table Saw Attachment

98.
rep before
Before

rep's Roller Stand

rep after
After

rep's CNC

99.
The Hobby Machinist NZ before
Before

The Hobby Machinist NZ's Sawbuck

The Hobby Machinist NZ after
After

The Hobby Machinist NZ's Threading Jig

100.
tmate3 before
Before

  tmate3's Socket Organizer

tmate3 after
After

tmate3's Welding Positioner