Short Marlin Spike

[MetalDesigner]

A gentleman by the name of Steve asked me this past Fall if I could make him a shorter Marlin Spike.
( Correct name is a Podger )



He was using a longer Adjustable Spud Wrench when adding extensions to Helical Drilling Pipe connections and the dirt sides of the holes were in the way many times depending on the position of the pipe & holes.



Looked in the Scrap Bin for some metal that would work ...



I used 7/8" & 5/8" scrap 'All-Thread' to make this Shorter Podger 3" long because there is no need to go all the way through both sides of the pipe to line up the holes.



Turned down the 7/8" All-Thread on the lathe but left enough thread for a Safety Stop nut to keep fingers away from the hole edges.



It worked so well when testing it, decided to use it in the shop on a project to line up large flat-plate bolt holes ... and then painted it red to give to Steve for his projects.



Thanks for the idea Steve ... I will miss having it in the shop so going to make one for myself.

CHEERS!!

[DIYer]

Thanks MetalDesigner! We've added your Podger Hole Alignment Tool to our Miscellaneous category, as well as to your builder page: MetalDesigner's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Podger Hole Alignment Tool by MetalDesigner

tags: alignment, pipe, hole

[Moby Duck]

Great little tool you have made here but both the old and new one are more correctly called "PODGERS" not Marlin Spikes. Marlin Spikes are rope working tools used mainly when splicing ropes. Podger Spanners are a Riggers/Scaffolders tool and plain Podgers are used for all sorts of mechanical hole alignment purposes. Thanks for sharing your build, it is obviously well made and designed. Short Podgers like this would be very handy where space was restricted.

[kbalch]

Great info re: "podger" - that's one I'd never previously encountered. I'd call it a tapered drift, myself.

I always thought of a marlinspike as something one might see on a vintage sailing vessel such as a so-called "tall ship".

Ken

[MetalDesigner]

Great little tool you have made here but both the old and new one are more correctly called "PODGERS" not Marlin Spikes. Marlin Spikes are rope working tools used mainly when splicing ropes. Podger Spanners are a Riggers/Scaffolders tool and plain Podgers are used for all sorts of mechanical hole alignment purposes. Thanks for sharing your build, it is obviously well made and designed. Short Podgers like this would be very handy where space was restricted.

Thank you for the correct name ... I never know what to call these items and the only name I remember is Marlin-Spike because my name in Marlin *Laughing* ... but seriously, thank you for the correct name. CHEERS!!

[MetalDesigner]

The person above mentioned the correct name is Podger which is very helpful because I now have a correct name to use on the Job Site ... Previously I called everything with a point a Marlin-Spike because my name in Marlin ... So technically being a Marlin and I made it then it could be called my "Marlin" Spike or Marlin's spike ... Just having fun!! Thanks for the Correct name ... Podger it is ... and also Thank You for the correct usage for what a real Marlinspike is... I probably picked up the name MarlinSpike when I was working on ships. CHEERS!!