Built A Pinch Block / Loading Pin

[EricMilfeld]

The pinch block is just a hook screwed into the edge of a block of 2x6. For the loading pin, I cut a circle from 2x stock, and inserted a 12 inch eye hook through the middle of the wooden circle, and fastened it with a washer and bolt on both sides of the wooden circle. Over the eye hook, I slid a 8 inch piece of 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe (the pipe's total diameter is 1 7/8 inch). To prevent the pipe from sliding around the eye hook, I shot some expanding foam insulation down the pipe. I sprayed the wood portion black. By the way, the bottom end of the eye hook is countersunk into the wooden block, so it sits flat on the floor. The most expensive part was the foam insulation ($4.50), which accounted for almost half of the total cost

I managed 72 total pounds with each hand on my new toy, which is about 10 to 15 pounds less than I'm pinching in the form of two plates with a total thickness of 2 1/2 inches. So, my strongest width for pinching is probably 2 to 2 1/2 inches. Ya'll give it a shot and see what you can pinch with a piece of 2x stock (actual thickness 1 1/2 inches).

Edited March 26, 2003 by eric milfeld