Share your homemade tools and hardware designs

[The grumpy one]

Just thought it might be useful to share any designs that members have come up with. Things that you have made that are better than the manufactured stuff or just don't exist for sale.

 

[The grumpy one]

I use Tropica soil powder and fine sand. Using a gravel cleaner can cause all sorts of issues. So I came up with this.

Gravel fork and spade in one.
Made from extruded acrylic sheet and a fret saw.

Fork end:
Very good at just disturbing the detritus, which the gravel cleaner can then suck up without a load of gravel.
Also good at smoothing over the gravel after you have made a big hole when planting.
Spade end:
I have had trouble planting with tweezers. I push plants into soil, then when I pull out the tweezers the plant floats away.
With this, I push the spade into the soil then push plant in with tweezers. Then rotate the spade left and right a bit, whilst removing the tweezers. Soil then goes over the roots and plant stays (most of the time. Or use spade end to push the plant in and then rotate to pack soil round the roots.

 

[Pwsonline]

I love DIY solutions, enhancements etc... I own a Juwel 240liter tank with the internal "Bioflow" filter. I found the filter out-pipe to cause useless, even annoying waves on the surface whilst the total circulation was quite poor. So i took standard electricity-pipe, drilled some holes into it, and connected it with aquarium hose. Now i have a really good circulation from left to right, and from top to bottom.🙂

 

[Simmo]

Snap! I had the same problem with Juwels Bioflow filter so bought a Fluval spraybar and increased holes to suit, however my real triumph is the toothbrush on a bamboo pole 😂

 

[zozo]

The Broom/Brush in one

The Stanley scraper from an 6mm Carbon Fiber Kite rod.

Take a Junior Saw and make the slid, use some thread and Superglue to prevent it from splitting.

And the Stanley blade fits like a glove and can be replaced.

Here is another thread about all sorts of Acrylic creations.

 

[aec34]

my real triumph is the toothbrush on a bamboo pole 😂

I made one of these too, but attached with cable ties! 👍🙂

 

[Simmo]

Impressive stuff guys, I can see I’ll have to up my game!

 

[Kelvin12]

I made up my scraper uding electrical conduit, the grey stuff. Cut the slot at the end to 45 degrees with a hacksaw blade the englarge the slot a tad. On the underside cut away the excess conduit so the blade when fitted get a clear go at the glass. Then slide the Stanley blade from the side and centre the blade. Make the conduit handles vatious lengths to suit tank depths.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

I fitted an old electric toothbrush head to a length of carbon fibre arrow tube. It’s great for getting into awkward to clean areas.

 

[JacksonL]

I fitted an old electric toothbrush head to a length of carbon fibre arrow tube. It’s great for getting into awkward to clean areas.

Genius!