Multi-tools are always a great addition to any workshop. They help you work faster by combining the tools you need into one incredible, compact package.
So, in this article, I will show you how you can combine a plier, ax, and hammer into an awesome 3-in-1 tool! Let’s grab our tools and start creating.
What you’ll need
To create this 3-in-1 tool, you’re going to need some tools, including:
- A combination plier
- A hammerhead (claw or ball pein works fine)
- A 6 x 4 x ½ inch metal plate
So, let’s get to the workshop and start building the tool.
Strip The Insulation from The Plier
Cut a straight line through the plastic insulation on both legs of the pliers with a circular saw blade. Remove the insulation by sliding it off the pliers’ legs.
Be careful not to damage it, as we’re still going to use it later in the project.
Shorten The Pliers
Insert the pliers headfirst into a bench vise and clamp it tight. Using an angle grinder, cut off a piece, about ½ inches thick, from both legs of the plier.
The shorter pliers will be easier to weld to the new handle we’re going to make for the multi-tool.
Cut a New Handle for The Multi-Tool
Grab an ½ inch thick length of rebar and clamp it in your bench vise. Using an angle grinder, cut two 7 inches long pieces from the bar.
These two rods will serve as the handle for the multi-tool.
Weld the Rods to The Plier
First, clean the rods and the pliers with a degreaser and a wire brush. Their surface should not have any impurities for the best weld possible.
Next, line up the rebar rods with the pliers’ legs. Place the rods on the inside of the plier’s legs. Each leg should be about 2-2.5 inches up in the legs of the plier.
Clamp the pliers’ legs and the rods to your workbench using a bench clamp. Make sure you clamp the legs tightly to avoid them moving while welding.
Now, weld the rod to the pliers’ leg using a good continuous weld. Repeat this for both sides of the pliers’ legs.
Grind Down the Handle
The two parts forming the handle-the pliers’ legs and the rod -have different thicknesses with a weld between them. This won’t look good on the final product, so they should be ground down.
Hold down the plier on the workbench. Using an angle grinder, grind down the joint between the plier’s legs and the handle rod until they’re flush (same thickness).
Fabricate the Ax Head
Take the metal plate and grind its surface to remove any oxidation. Sketch out your ax head’s shape on the metal using chalk.
Remember, the ax head will be joined to the outer edge of the plier’s jaws. So, ensure the edge opposite the ax’s blade matches the jaw’s shape.
Cut out the ax’s head from the metal plate using an angle grinder. First, cut out the ax’s rough shape before grinding it down to the ax head’s proper shape.
Weld the Ax Head to The Pliers
Clamp your plier legs first at an angle to keep them from moving while you’re welding. As usual, clean and scrub the surfaces before welding.
First, tack the top and bottom of the ax to the plier’s jaws. Next, join its sides to the plier using a continuous weld. Do this for both the front and the back of the ax.
Grind down the joint between the ax and the plier until both surfaces are smooth and flush with each other.
Prepare the Hammerhead
Clamp the hammerhead in the bench vise. Using the angle grinder, cut off the hammer end of the hammer.
Weld the hammerhead to the other side of the plier’s jaws using one continuous weld. Weld both sides of the hammer.
After welding, grind the hammer joint with the angle grinder to create a smooth, flush surface.
Sharpen The Ax’s Blade
Clamp down the tool to the bench using a G-Clamp with the ax hanging off the edge. Hold the angle grinder at an angle of 25-30 degrees towards the ax’s edge and gradually grind it.
Continue moving the grinder back and forth until you’ve created a tapered, sharp edge.
You can reduce the angle of the grinder to about 20 degrees to create a sharper blade. Using a drill sander, you can go over the other edges of the ax to create a cleaner outline.
Paint The Multi-Tool
Before painting the multi-tool, cover the Ax side with masking tape to avoid ruining the blade. Once the Ax is covered, paint the tool with any paint of your choice.
I recommend an anti-rust paint like Rustoleum for the best results.
Attach The Insulation to The Handle
Remember the insulation we removed at the beginning; it’s time to put it back. Slide the plastic insulation back onto the new handle of the multi-tool.
Secure it with black electrical tape so it doesn’t come off.
The Final Product
Well done, you’ve created a functional 3-in-1 tool. You can use it to hammer nails, split or cut wood, strip wires, etc.
For more stuff like this and even cooler project ideas, you can check out the DIY projects channel on YouTube. You can also check them out on Yandex Zen as Pro100_DIY.
