Stuff you have made today

indy4x · May 9, 2023

My wife has an 05 plate Renault Master that a precious owner had converted into a camper

I'm really really not a fan, I fact I hate it with a passion but as she loves it and makes her happy, I do unfortunately have to work on it

Been looking for ages for a Rhino rack for it but they aren't available new and SH almost non existent for the LWB Master

In my infinite wisdom, I decided to buy a SH one for Transit and modify to fit the Master including cut outs for the 2 skylights

Had it blasted which uncovered a little more rot than expected

Part 1, modifying the rear section so I can use the factory mounts for a roof rack

The bits I've added were made from what I've cut out of the middle and front sections to clear the skylights, it's going to be a proper Frankenstein once I've finished :laughing:

dan.taylor.1 · May 9, 2023

Blue Chips said:
Good idea. I'm planning to put together a gooseneck lamp with a switchable magnetic base to work either on my lathe or my mill.

It swings totally out of the way, it's ex nhs I believe. I bought one of these recently for £23 to put on the drill press, they do them with mag bases. Might not be worth making one for that price tbh...

Flexible LED Work Light CNC Lathe Machine Working Lamp +Fixed Base Waterproof 6W | eBay

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Dr.Al · May 9, 2023

dan.taylor.1 said:
It swings totally out of the way, it's ex nhs I believe. I bought one of these recently for £23 to put on the drill press, they do them with mag bases. Might not be worth making one for that price tbh...

Flexible LED Work Light CNC Lathe Machine Working Lamp +Fixed Base Waterproof 6W | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Flexible LED Work Light CNC Lathe Machine Working Lamp +Fixed Base Waterproof 6W at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

These are a bit more spendy, but they're very good indeed. Magnetic base and clamp base; powered off AAA batteries or USB or mains; adjustable light focus for narrow beam or broad spread:

Axminster Workshop 5W LED Magnetic Work Light

This powerful work light has 5W LED providing a strong, bright light. Power comes from either 2 x AAA batteries (not included) or by plugging directly into a mains or USB socket. The base features a strong magnet for quick location on any ferrous...

www.axminstertools.com

Blue Chips · May 9, 2023

dan.taylor.1 said:
It swings totally out of the way, it's ex nhs I believe. I bought one of these recently for £23 to put on the drill press, they do them with mag bases. Might not be worth making one for that price tbh...

As you said, it might not be worth the bother/expense to make one. I was looking at some lights with switchable magnetic bases on Amazon and eBay the other day, and I might go that route. However, I do have a couple of spare light sockets with aluminum shades that would allow the use of standard US Edison-base (screw-in) LED bulbs, the advantage being a larger/softer light source for more diffuse shadows. 'Toughened' plastic- or rubber-coated bulbs are available. I have a rubber (silicone?) coated LED bulb in my blasting cabinet that has stood up to a lot of abuse.

Mick Annick · May 9, 2023

Guess what, another handrail…

Mick Annick · May 9, 2023

And for a bit of variety, the owner of the chateau in the village has asked if I could match some old window catches original top, mine bottom; they are the same size, perspective has made it look larger.

MattF · May 9, 2023

Mick Annick said:
perspective has made it look larger.

That could be a handy trick, on occasion.

roblane65 · May 9, 2023

Dr.Al said:
This is most definitely not finished, but a major landmark was achieved today in a project I've been working on since late January:

View attachment 398231

Rear view:

View attachment 398232

It's going to be a tool chest to take on (self-catering cottage type) holiday with me, with the intention that it can also be used as a workbench (hence the thick construction, the stainless steel planing stops on the top and the slats on the back for stuff to be clamped to). When it's finished, there will hopefully be six drawers for tools (5 on the left, one on the right at the top) and an area in the bottom-right for a couple of small planes. All being well, it'll hold everything (give or take some bulky but robust stuff like clamps and glue bottles) for making small boxes and that sort of thing.

As a bit of explanation, my other half has M.E. and often needs some resting time during our holidays and I'd go stir crazy just sitting and reading, so it's nice to have some hobby stuff with me to pass the time while she's resting. Taking a metalworking lathe on holiday isn't really practical, but a bit of hand-tool wood bothering is.

The chest base has been by far the most significant (mostly) hand tool woodworking project I've ever done (and probably the most ambitious project of any kind I've ever done). The only power tool usage on the project so far has been using a bandsaw for one specific type of cut (resawing thick boards into thinner ones). Everything else has been hand tools only.

To give you an idea of why I think this is the most ambitious project I've done, this was:

The first project in which I've made panels from rough-sawn wood entirely by hand.

The first project where I've cut dovetails without any sort of saw guide.

The first project in which I've cut housing joints (for the middle upright support and drawer runners).

The first project in which I've cut wedged through mortice and tenon joints (or any entirely hand-cut mortice and tenon joints for that matter).

The first project in which I've cut half-lap joints (for the brace on the back that is intended to prevent racking while planing on the top surface).

The first project in which I've used protein-based glue (fish glue in this case).

The first project where I've had to come up with my own way of dealing with wood movement. On previous projects I've just used well-known techniques (buttons for table tops, grooves for box bases), whereas making what is essentially a five sided box where all sides needed to be rigid took a bit more thought.

That's quite a lot of firsts in my opinion!

I've never made wooden drawers before (unless you count pocket-hole jointed plywood carcases with ball-bearing drawer runners), so there are more firsts to come...

I'm very impressed there is some seriously nice wood work going on there . to cabinet making standard I should think and hand done too !

nickk · May 9, 2023

Here’s the forged bends I showed previously,they’re for a set of roof bars to support a roof tent,joined with transverse box section. The hole is for ventilation as I was getting them galvanised but I’ve no other jobs to go with them. Formed the clamps from 3mm,offset holes to grip the gutter.

Dcal · May 10, 2023

Today I made the camper van whole again.

I thought the battery tray would be the tricky bit but the DS lower inner guard was worse.

There was not much left for a pattern.

Forgot to take any photos during, but this is after a coat of white epoxy.
It's all a bit lumpy but it will do the job. I'll seam and underseal it after it gets its MOT.

Battery tray was similarly lacking in areas, so made my best guess.

I used 2mm steel but didn't have a bit big enough so I welded two off cuts together.
Mig was at my mates shed so I used tig and planishing it flat.
My good helmet was with the mig and the one I had was flashing on and off so that's my excuse, but it's functional.

I used my press and a form tool I had made up for something else to make the pressing for the bolt hole.

I was pleasantly suprised when it fitted.

Other side was similar but not as bad.

dan.taylor.1 · May 10, 2023

Finally got round to fitting the 250-333 size qctp to the brand new old stock top slide I got for the Triumph to replace the 4 way toolpost.

Also by some pure luck (as its an oddball big bore lathe) found a headstock bush that fits!!

Its currently got a tiny thrust bearing under the top nut which isn't ideal so I've ordered a bigger one and will turn a spacer/washer/bush when it gets here.

It works as is but I'm told thrust bearing makes it easier to get the top nut tight and avoid it moving when locking a tool holder in.

leadpig · May 10, 2023

Lead internal corner hopper head, took a while.

minimutly · May 10, 2023

Dcal said:
Today I made the camper van whole again.

I thought the battery tray would be the tricky bit but the DS lower inner guard was worse.

There was not much left for a pattern.

View attachment 398503

View attachment 398510

Forgot to take any photos during, but this is after a coat of white epoxy.
It's all a bit lumpy but it will do the job. I'll seam and underseal it after it gets its MOT.

View attachment 398515

Battery tray was similarly lacking in areas, so made my best guess.

I used 2mm steel but didn't have a bit big enough so I welded two off cuts together.
Mig was at my mates shed so I used tig and planishing it flat.
My good helmet was with the mig and the one I had was flashing on and off so that's my excuse, but it's functional.

View attachment 398517

I used my press and a form tool I had made up for something else to make the pressing for the bolt hole.

View attachment 398518

I was pleasantly suprised when it fitted.

View attachment 398521

Other side was similar but not as bad.

View attachment 398524

View attachment 398536

I could have shown you a complete-ish battery tray, it’s on my bench awaiting a repair. The baskets who made these vans never stopped rainwater running down under the bonnet, designed in failure...

nickk · May 10, 2023

Made 60 strawberry trollies 7 years ago,now due to regular punctures,farmers changing to solid tyres,so I’m putting suspension on each corner and widening them as he’s changed tray suppliers.

4String. · May 10, 2023

Having a few days off before starting the new job next week so I've managed to do a bit.

Picked up a "whetstone grinder" from Machine Mart last week for sharpening my wood turning chisels and it's now sat on a pedestal. The next task is to attack the block in front of the grinding wheel with a router and set the "T" track into it then make an adjustable bracket so the gouges will be ground at the right angle. (I briefly contemplated buying a Wolverine grinding job but my Yorkshire-ness objected to parting with the thick end of £200...)

An unused length of 1" thick pine board has been repurposed to hold chucks and faceplates and other lathe sundries:

And a similarly unused length of 40mm (proper measurements are available as opposed to this modern metric foreign nonsense which will never catch on :mad:

) drain pipe makes a great place to store turning chisels. And there's plenty of room for the inevitable future purchases :clapping:

:

Hood · May 11, 2023

I was to be making a mast for a boat but I reckoned it was too big so I cut out some hardboard to let the skipper see and he agreed. So I scaled it down a bit and it seemed better although the radar plate looked a bit out of proportion but nothing can be done about that as he wants the open scanner type and the slightly smaller version would cost him £4k more.

Anyway got two sheets chopped on the plasma.