Since I know this forum appreciates rather than condemns a chronic cheapskate I thought I would post this. I got in my truck to go somewhere this morning and when I closed the door it just didn?t feel the same as the previous 25 years and required a hard slam to get it tight. It was also rattling. I?ve always maintained it in perfect condition and was PO?d that I would have to take the latch out. Just before removing the inner door skin I noticed some debris on the floor and realized that the plastic bushing on the door post striker pin had shattered from age. Well, I had some delrin and could have spent several hours milling down a bushing but decided to shop for one online. Best price I could find was $7 for one or $7.50 for a pair. More than the price for the small thing I just didn?t want to wait a week for it. But then I remembered some plastic electrical conduit I had. No luck, the ID was too big as was the OD and the wall thickness was a tad too thick. But then I thought; ?wait a minute, that conduit is heat formable!?. Clamped a piece in the vise, heated it around with my HF heat gun, inserted the chuck end of a ?? drill as a mandrel and stretched the pipe over it. Cut the section out and perfect ID, OD, and wall thickness. Even the color matched! I was so happy with my ?skin-flintness? (saving $7) that I decided to pour myself a drink even though it was the middle of the day. When I finished my wife came home and told me she spent $150 at the local green house. I then had to pour myself another drink to drown my sorrows.
