Showing posts with label learning new skills sucks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning new skills sucks. Show all posts
Friday, January 31, 2014
Over and Over
Ok its no sugarbear enterprises, but it's the biggest I've ever owned. Finished building the front wheel this evening and strapped it to the nearly ready 14" over RL. Love. all love.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Learn New Things
I love to learn new things. I guess that's why when Brian came across these two old South Bend Lathes for a steel of a deal and wanted to know if I was interested I was like, hell yeah! I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not a machinist, not even close. But 5 years ago I would have never taken on a basket case mutt dog Panhead either and here I am. So with that I've invested in a 1947 South Bend 9" x 4', Workshop Model C, lathe.
These things came with boxes of measuring tools, tooling, and bits and pieces. Sorting through it all is gonna take some time and setting these old girls up isn't gonna happen over night either. But I figure Ive got some time since I have no idea how to use it. Fun Fun Fun.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
ghetto p-pad
I've been on the look-out for a real narrow/skinny sissy-bar pad preferably in distressed leather. After a few weeks of looking all I'd come up with was fat, overpriced old vinyl pieces of shit. So time for a little DIY home-ec.
Step 1: Cut a piece of ply-wood the shape you'd like the pad to be (preferably matches the lines of the sissy bar). Then plaster it with the old Elmers Carpenter's glue. (Note* Be sure not to eat any glue in the process no matter how tempting.)
Step 2: Borrow some stuff from your wife's sewing room while she's not looking and cut out some le3ather from an old weathered leather jacket from the thrift store or basement. Make one equal size to the plywood and the other the same shape, but an inch and a quarter larger all around. Glue the one of equal size to the prepared surface (sticky side) of the plywood.
Step 3: Cut out a piece of foam from your least favorite camping roll. (Note: Just one layer. Remember the goal is not to actually make this thing comfortable. God forbid she actually wants to ride back there all the time. Besides the goal is skinny and narrow).
Step 4: Assembly. begin folding the edges of the larger piece of leather over the back of the plywood and fasten them down with old screws that you salvaged from some other project that never worked out. See I told you you'd want hose someday.
Step 5: To really finish it off pull two or three of those buttony thingy's off of the roof liner of your van and tack them down to give it that pillowy look.
And BAM! you're done!! A custom sissy bar pad built just the way you want it.
Step 1: Cut a piece of ply-wood the shape you'd like the pad to be (preferably matches the lines of the sissy bar). Then plaster it with the old Elmers Carpenter's glue. (Note* Be sure not to eat any glue in the process no matter how tempting.)
Step 2: Borrow some stuff from your wife's sewing room while she's not looking and cut out some le3ather from an old weathered leather jacket from the thrift store or basement. Make one equal size to the plywood and the other the same shape, but an inch and a quarter larger all around. Glue the one of equal size to the prepared surface (sticky side) of the plywood.
Step 3: Cut out a piece of foam from your least favorite camping roll. (Note: Just one layer. Remember the goal is not to actually make this thing comfortable. God forbid she actually wants to ride back there all the time. Besides the goal is skinny and narrow).
Step 4: Assembly. begin folding the edges of the larger piece of leather over the back of the plywood and fasten them down with old screws that you salvaged from some other project that never worked out. See I told you you'd want hose someday.
Step 5: To really finish it off pull two or three of those buttony thingy's off of the roof liner of your van and tack them down to give it that pillowy look.
And BAM! you're done!! A custom sissy bar pad built just the way you want it.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Hot Rod Holiday
Been spending my Holiday's so far learning more about traditional hot rods. Time well spent, but I could see this developing into a dangerous new addiction.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Lead Loading
HamBone was by the Shed a few weeks back and noticed an interesting feature to my latest "wassell" purchase.
Someone frisco'ed the seating position of this tank, back-in-the-day, by adding a piece to the tunnel (a common customization fo sho). But the unique feature here was the filler used to disguise the job.
Back in the '50's plastic fillers like Bondo were not readily available and expensive to purchase. So the technique common to hot rodders and painters alike was that of lead loading or body soldering. Melting and shaping a stick of lead into dents and then shaping with a wooden paddle made this a real art form of body work. One which the previous owner of this little peanut, obviously, was not the master of.
Still. Props must go out for using this ancient technique. No one really does lead loading anymore because of the relative easy and low cost of products like Bondo. But Lead Loading is one of those lost art forms that crazy people with too much time on their hands still practice today to keep their '50's rods period correct. There's a great article here on Lead Loading's how to's. Check it.
Someone frisco'ed the seating position of this tank, back-in-the-day, by adding a piece to the tunnel (a common customization fo sho). But the unique feature here was the filler used to disguise the job.Back in the '50's plastic fillers like Bondo were not readily available and expensive to purchase. So the technique common to hot rodders and painters alike was that of lead loading or body soldering. Melting and shaping a stick of lead into dents and then shaping with a wooden paddle made this a real art form of body work. One which the previous owner of this little peanut, obviously, was not the master of.
Still. Props must go out for using this ancient technique. No one really does lead loading anymore because of the relative easy and low cost of products like Bondo. But Lead Loading is one of those lost art forms that crazy people with too much time on their hands still practice today to keep their '50's rods period correct. There's a great article here on Lead Loading's how to's. Check it.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
First time paint may be last
*update
Okay, I'm mildly more pleased with it in it's multi coats of clear. I'll let it cure and as always, polish my turd to become an acceptable first attempt. Final pics to come...
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