Good evening Gents /Gentess's
I have been a lurker for some time as I have had nothing of value to add to the forum given the sages already here . But alas now the time has come for a middle aged crisis and moment of madness .
First off , please forgive me as this first post will take a couple of posts for me to be able to add the pictures from my phone to here .
After a few years of searching I have managed to find a project UVA sandrail . For those that dont know , it is a tube framed off road buggy powered via a VW beatle engine / gear box and front end , traditionaly that is . Fibre glass panels were added to the sides and bonnet to give a look .
I have bought what can only be descibed as "wholesome" project of rust and previous bodges of scaffold tube and rivets directly into the main tubular frame . So far I have cut alot of the tube out / modified roll cage etc to reveal the original UVA chassis .
I have now stripped it down , engine out , gear box out , front end off and all crud removed . Now it is ready for shot blasting before any work goes the other way .
I am lucky that i spent a few years working for my late father inlaw who owned a fabircation company and mamaged to grace myself with what I would call a good understanding of mig welding and fabrication , not an expert so please dont read that as being cocky . sadly after his passing the company was sold and I no longer have access to the facilties .
I still have most of my personal kit and inherited his TIG unit , although a mig is on the shopping list , but dont tell her please ! I do have a few more items to add to the list amongst other kit , primarily a tube notcher , have been looking at the £90 drill powered version and a tube bender which I am getting mixed reviews on as to choice, as also read a mandrel bender would be preferential but no one as far as I know local .
I am based in south Somerset , between Taunton and Yeovil and would be interested to hear if there is anyone local who may be able to bend / form 42.4 x 3mm tube and also if anyone knows of any outfits who can carry out the shotblasting , as I know of two firms , one which isnt an option and the other whos seems wary , but at a guess would be about 1 to 1.5 tops for the initial blasting .
Anyway back to the topic . I just want to say thanks to @Wightsparks for the info via pm's and the head in the right direction . any help / pointers would be appreciated and please feel free to laugh at my bucket of bolts .
Cheers Sam
I have been a lurker for some time as I have had nothing of value to add to the forum given the sages already here . But alas now the time has come for a middle aged crisis and moment of madness .
First off , please forgive me as this first post will take a couple of posts for me to be able to add the pictures from my phone to here .
After a few years of searching I have managed to find a project UVA sandrail . For those that dont know , it is a tube framed off road buggy powered via a VW beatle engine / gear box and front end , traditionaly that is . Fibre glass panels were added to the sides and bonnet to give a look .
I have bought what can only be descibed as "wholesome" project of rust and previous bodges of scaffold tube and rivets directly into the main tubular frame . So far I have cut alot of the tube out / modified roll cage etc to reveal the original UVA chassis .
I have now stripped it down , engine out , gear box out , front end off and all crud removed . Now it is ready for shot blasting before any work goes the other way .
I am lucky that i spent a few years working for my late father inlaw who owned a fabircation company and mamaged to grace myself with what I would call a good understanding of mig welding and fabrication , not an expert so please dont read that as being cocky . sadly after his passing the company was sold and I no longer have access to the facilties .
I still have most of my personal kit and inherited his TIG unit , although a mig is on the shopping list , but dont tell her please ! I do have a few more items to add to the list amongst other kit , primarily a tube notcher , have been looking at the £90 drill powered version and a tube bender which I am getting mixed reviews on as to choice, as also read a mandrel bender would be preferential but no one as far as I know local .
I am based in south Somerset , between Taunton and Yeovil and would be interested to hear if there is anyone local who may be able to bend / form 42.4 x 3mm tube and also if anyone knows of any outfits who can carry out the shotblasting , as I know of two firms , one which isnt an option and the other whos seems wary , but at a guess would be about 1 to 1.5 tops for the initial blasting .
Anyway back to the topic . I just want to say thanks to @Wightsparks for the info via pm's and the head in the right direction . any help / pointers would be appreciated and please feel free to laugh at my bucket of bolts .
Cheers Sam