I surprised myself with this one. I wasn’t sure I could make it since it is so small a part but I think it turned out ok.  I’ll round out the corners if we get another warm (ish) day.

I wanted to buy a door catch (or whatever this is called) for my model A and it only costs about a buck and a half to buy but they want over $20 to ship it.  I have more time than money and I enjoy fabricating so I thought I’d try and make one.

If anyone else needs one, It took a little over 3 days but with a heated garage, I’m sure it would take a lot less time. I know, HEAT THE GARAGE. Yup, I get it. 

Anyway, I had one original to go by and here is how I made the match.

I cut a small 1” chunk off the end of a rebar and shaped it on the grinder and with a file to fit inside the original catch nice and snug.  Then I made a template in cardboard and cut some 18 gauge for the finished piece.  I Used a hacksaw for the fine cutting to make corners and stuff.

I then welded the small chunk of shaped rebar to the end of the 6” rebar stock I took it from and filed my welds smooth again (my welds still require filing).  Then I bent the 18 gauge over the the shaped end and refined it.  Refining took a while.

Then I drilled two holes in the 18 gauge and ground the other end of the rebar to bevel it so I could recess the edge of the holes by placing a nut on the underside and hammering the bevelled end of the rebar into the 18 gauge holes.

The ‘tool’ I made with one end bevelled and the other end welded to the shaped head took 2 days, partly because I started shaking in the cold and partly because I wanted an exact fit.  It only took an afternoon on the third day to actually make the door catch as it was much warmer then and the Hardy hole shaping tool was already finished.

I am glad I made the tool and the catch in winter.  In summer, I’d be too busy with larger pieces or chores. It was fun to make.