5 MUST Have 3D Printed Tools!
It's been a year since we first brought a 3D printer into the shop, and since then, it’s become an essential tool for creating practical, time-saving, and often very amusing workshop upgrades. (Links for all 3d prints are in the video description! )
This video shows 5 separate tools that any maker can 3D print to instantly improve their shop's organization, efficiency, and comfort. Say goodbye to that messy drawer of tools and wasted space, and say hello to simple, effective solutions!
The 5 Essential 3D Printed Shop Tools
Here are the five practical (and mostly practical) prints that came off the machine, and why they're a must-have for your workshop.
1. The Single-Handed Broom and Tool Hanger
The Solution: This simple wall mount is a huge upgrade for storing long-handled tools. It's designed to lock and release with a single hand, making storage and retrieval a snap. Best of all, it works not just for brooms, but for rakes and shovels in your outdoor storage, too.
Usefulness: Creates great broom storage out of what was just wasted space.
2. Comfort Handles for Allen Keys
The Problem: Trying to apply torque to a stuck bolt with a tiny, painful Allen key.
The Solution: These printed handles are designed to securely snap onto small Allen wrenches (from 1.5mm to 6mm). The printed-in-place collar locks the key in, giving you a full handle for maximum grip and torque. It feels like a chiropractor adjustment for your hand!
Usefulness: Eliminates the pain of twisting a tiny wrench and prevents your thumb from turning to "hamburger" when a bolt is stubborn.
(Placeholder: Insert an image of an Allen key in the handle) (Placeholder: Insert the link to the 3D model)
3. The Sawzall Spray Paint Shaker
The Problem: Shaking a can of paint for five minutes when you need a quick burst.
The Solution: This is perhaps the most fun and least "practical" tool, but it's a huge time-saver! It's a clever attachment that fits onto any reciprocating saw. Just clamp in the spray can, turn on the saw, and watch it shake the paint more effectively than any human ever could.
Usefulness: Quickly and thoroughly mixes the paint in any can, saving your arm and ensuring a perfect coat.
4. Gridfinity Router Bit Storage
The Problem: Having a box of router bits where you can't tell the difference between a chamfer bit and a straight bit.
The Solution: This is a small print that fits into the popular Gridfinity system. Each individual holder has a spot for a clear label, allowing you to accurately record the manufacturer, size, and degree of every single bit.
Usefulness: It organizes your collection and solves the decade-old problem of unidentifiable router bits, making your tools easier and more enjoyable to use.
Magnetic Dust Collection Coupler
The Problem: Constantly connecting and clamping a dust collection hose to different tools.
The Solution: This clever print allows you to easily couple dust collection tubes without any mechanical fasteners. It requires magnets and a soft TPU O-ring (which you can also 3D print!). The pieces twist together to form a tight, solid connection that is strong enough for any shop.
Usefulness: Makes it incredibly easy to move your single shop hose between tools like your table saw, bandsaw, and drill press.
These five projects prove that having a 3D printer is like having a companion that helps you design and organize your shop. All these models were sourced from Maker World—you don't even need to know how to design them!
We printed out a lot of great stuff in this video, but as a maker, you often find that one tool that changes everything. Links for all 3d prints are in the video description!
Do you have a favorite 3D print that you can't live without in your shop? Let me know in the comments!
Watch the full video on the Peter Brown YouTube Channel.
Comments
Post a Comment