Multi Tool

What every pocket needs...a Multi Tool

Follow along and make this easy to make multi tool...

M4 to M12 spanner

Hex screwdriver holder socket

Flat screwdriver bit

Compass

Set square

Tin opener

Bottle opener...for that well earned beer at the end of a hard working day...

Only a few materials

1.5mm mild steel sheet 100x150mm piece will make two multi tools, a spare or a present?

Stencils - Sticky backed plastic or paper + glue

Spray paint - optional

Tools

General metal working tools -

Hammer

Files

Metal vice [Vise for our North American friends]

Metal cutting - I used a woodworking fret saw with a metal junior hacksaw blade

Rotary tool with cutting disc, grinding disc, sander bobbin

Drill + drill bits

Scalpel knife to cut out stencils or Silhouette Cameo CNC cutter

Etching tool - Optional see my video on metal etching to make your own one - easy to make

Such a little sized tool that can do so much...

...only 75mm long by 40mm wide...

Clamp 10mm of the metal in the vice...

...and fold over to 90 degrees...use a hammer to make the bend nice and clean

Print out the PDF file for the outline shapes...

Carefully cut out the shapes...or cut out on a CNC paper cutter for best accuracy if you have use of one.

I like to cut out my stencils on sticky backed plastic, though paper and some glue will work just as well.

Stick the first stencil along the folded edge of the metal.

Metal punch all of the holes to be drilled...

...be careful with the accuracy of the long row of compass holes so your circles are as accurate as possible.

Drill out the compass holes...I used a 1.5mm drill bit though check with a pencil that you will use that will fit nicely + mark a circle.

Drill out a hole in the hex screwdriver hole, smaller than required to finish off by file.

I then spray painted the metal with white paint...

...and removed the stencils so the stencil wouldn't ruck up when cutting.

In truth probably over kill and cutting to the stencil should be fine.

To cut out the inner of the multi tool I used a woodworking fret saw that I can fix a junior hacksaw metal blade into...it worked suprisingly well.

Due to the metal downturn, cut a piece of MDF to act as spacer while cutting

Drill a large enough hole for the blade through both the metal + MDF block...and attach the blade to the fretsaw.

Cut out the shape

Finish off the inner edges with some metal files, checking the fit of the spanner shape with the appropriate hex nuts...

...until a snug fit is achieved.

File the hex shape to the hex screwdriver holder hole with some small needle files until a hex screwdriver bit fits nicely.

Back to the fretsaw and cut out the outer shape...

...remember to add the slotted screwdriver poky bit to the top of the multi tool

Clean the outer edges with some hand files...

...file the flat screwdriver bit end to the required thickness for a screw

Take care that the end is square to the folded over side...

...this will be the set square

I wanted to add the bolt sizes to the spanner and the pricklysauce logo to my multi tool...

...If you are interested in doing similar then check out my metal etching video to learn how to make your own etcher and how to make some cool etches.

A very steady hand is required to cut out the little 'M' numbers or a Silhouette Cameo CNC paper cutter does it with no effort. Find the stencil on the PDF file.

I won't go into the details of the etching process as the video will explain it all, though happy to make an Instructable in the future if people would be interested, just leave a comment below.

I wanted my etches to be red, so I spray painted them all over red!...before...

...clean up all the faces of the multi tool...

I used a combination of bench sander and rotary tool with differing sanding polishing attachments...

...I ended up leaving a slightly burnished finish from the rotary tool with a sanding drum attachment...

...catches the light nicely

The compass works by hammering a pin through one of the holes...

...each of the holes is in a multiple of 5mm...

...the last 5 holes along the short end are at 1mm intervals...

...giving a range of 1mm to 55mm...

...circles below 5mm are a little difficult to draw in reality.

Place your sharpened pencil in the desired hole and spin around.

A hex screwdriver bit holder slots into the hex hole you filed...

...and the multi tool turns into a fist grip screwdriver.

The slotted screwdriver bit screws in slotted screws!...

...and pops open tin lids.

Your nicely squared off end is an accurate set square

The big central cut out nicely fits hex nuts from M4 to M12 [in x2M steps sizes]

...and after all that work...

...crack open a beer...

...your worth it!

CHEERS

...Use + Enjoy!

This is a surprisingly easy project that makes such a useful little multi tool...

...I hope you enjoyed it and will make your very own multi tool...

...I am entering this project into the Build a Tool Competition. If you have enjoyed this project, I would really appreciate your vote. Many thanks.

This project is part of my YouTube series where I try to make cool and interesting projects.

Please check out my channel if you want to see more of the projects, if not there will be more coming to Instructables soon.

Why not check out what I am up to with pricklysauce.com

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