[Lowfer] Help - Tool Advice?

[Ed Phillips]

I may live to regret this, but yes.   :-P

http://aafradio.org/garajmahal/bridgeport.htm

Just don't expect instant gratification...I work to a different drummer 
(my bride). :-)  
Zack's method is actually a very good one for those who aren't inclined 
to invest in a mill.  It is somewhat tedious in the cut and try area and 
requires the selection of the right size tubing, but works every time 
for those who are patient.  Tremendously rewarding, as well...my dad was 
a master at such work-arounds, and treated the news with noticeable 
disdain when I told him I bought the Bridgeport...heh, heh.

73,
Mike de KC4TOS"

    I am green with envy at your mill!  Have an ancient beatup mill here 
but nothing like that.  There is another way I've used to make spanners 
which might work.  Take a piece of sheet steel [or even aluminum in a 
pinch] of the right thickness to fit the grooves, cut the outer 
dimension to the outer dimension of the grooves and then cut away metal 
in the center to create the rest of the prongs.  If the thing has to fit 
around a center rod it will be necessary to bend the prongs but in any 
event this will probably work.  I made an aluminum spanner like that to 
take the back off my first Accutron watch over 30 years ago and it still 
works fine and I suspect the back of the watch is screwed on at least as 
tightly as the ring holding the mike connector in place.  Secret is to 
make sure everything fits tightly and the ends of the prong are sharp 
and a little bit of touchup with a file will do that.

Ed