youngtiger1 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 All I can saw is....wow. I'm at the mercy of the manufactures if they produce kits in large scale than I can build them, but if not...I'm SOL. You are doing amazing, so keep it up Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Thanks, everyone. Ben, I'm currently shopping for a small 110 V unit that has the features necessary for this type work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Thanks for the info on the aluminum. Its great that you can weld. Looking forward to more updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 (edited) I've always had a thing for fabbed aluminum bodies. So elegant & sexaaay in their raw state! Edited February 26, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 First attempt at forming on the buck. Very crude. Much refinement needed in my technique & tools. I lost control of one of the tucks in the shrink down towards the tip of the panel & let it fold over on itself, forming a hard crease. I did find that the feature lines are easy to work into the aluminum. Also shows me how muck too wide & not yet straight are the feature lines on the buck. This is most exciting for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) I was able to recover the hard crimp that I caused last evening & continue practicing on this piece. As I'm working it down on the buck, tucks are appearing. The tucks are worked down in the bowls. If I were to work them down on a flat surface, they would simply straighten out & return to their former shape. When they are captured in the radius of the bowl, they have no place to go, other than to shrink, reduce in area, creating the tighter radius in the panel. Edited February 28, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Looks like a good start. Definitely will be following along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Switched from pins to screws to hold it. That helped a lot! The metal is seated firmly on the buck in all areas. O.K., I guess for first attempt. The buck is not perfect yet & the panel can't be better than the buck. But I learned a lot on this one. Edited February 28, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I would just like to point out the awesome work being done here! Bravo! I would also like to say that most TIG Welders in that range are not capable of aluminum. Aluminum has tenacious oxides that melt at extemely high temperatures that are higher than that of the aluminum. You will be melting the alumnium underneath and forming a hard later of oxide on the outside. You need high frequency, AC to blow through the oxide and form a good puddle. Not trying to be a downer, or a jerk, I just want to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Ben, thanks, I appreciate the compliment. Yes, hi-freq ac square wave inverter, with foot switch, pre & post gas flow etc. Think I've made my choice. http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-eastwood-tig-ac-dc-welder.html?reltype=3 Has all the features I'm looking for. I've bought from them previously & had excellent results with quality & customer service. I don't use credit cards, so have to save my lunch money for a few weeks to come up with the $$'s. I have a friend who is a machinist & also aircraft cert on tig to coach me in the finer points of the art. Here it is off the buck. Save it for welding practice, later on. Edited February 28, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaina Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 You sir are very talented!!! Just be very careful when welding that thin of aluminum. It won't take much heat before blowing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Wow Ray. If there is one "skill" I want to learn someday, it's panel beating like you're doing. As an acknowledged "newbie" to it, it's great to see how you're progressing and the lessons you're learning. I'll be sure to follow along as I'm sure they'll be MANY lessons I can learn when I pick up the hammer too. The efforts and results I've achieved to date can't compare to what you've achieved. Just fantastic!!! Cheers, Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 Thanks, everyone for looking & commenting. Tim, we seem to be in reverse positions regarding our skills. I've been admiring your machine work on the parts for your project. Small mill & lathe are on my list of things I want to have & educate myself in their use for down the road on this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) Thank you Ray. I did buy an assortment of new Fretz hammers, a leather sandbag and some other basic "beating" tools, but I'm NOT certainly ready to take on a project such as yours. Like you, I have the same admiration for those that have the skills to do what you're tackling. I'll have to take time to check out the links you've provided as well. That wheel you have is something that I would like to get as well when the time is right. It has to be a real handy tool and I'll be watching your results as you get to that phase. You're off to an excellent start. One question, have you frequently annealed the aluminum as you're working it or have you skipped that completely? Cheers, Tim Edited March 1, 2015 by Codi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) As you no doubt know from your own experience in your machine work, these type projects do not evolve over night. I'm about 4 yrs in to this one at this point, what with probably a yrs worth of study & research before actually moving to hands on materials. So your commitment to purchasing tools is a dynamic step towards a stated goal. And, I'll tell you, it's veery cool when you see the metal moving & taking a desired shape under your hammer! The small wheel is not mine, just a pic I found online, but perfect for what I'm doing. The construction of one for my own use will be an, " after I get my welder project," & can be scaled to perfectly fit the size of my panels. I was looking for the material to work harden & require annealing, but it never seemed to need it. It felt as pliable at the end as the beginning. The sheet came out of a K & S precision metals display at my local Ace hrdwre store. I got on their web site & found that it is a 3003 alloy....H-1 if I recall correctly. Edited March 1, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Ray, thanks for the info....you'll note that i left out a very important word (now in bold) in my earlier post........and appreciate the very quick reply. I can appreciate all the planning you've done. Has to be rewarding to be underway and to make such quick progress. I know you'll keep us apprised to your progress, can't wait to see what you do next with it. Cheers, Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 A lazy sun afternoon. Rough cut a plug to develop as a cowl buck. Laid out lines for horizontal body templates. Rocker panel into recessed wheel house, still being shaped. Pulling a contour at various points for vertical templates & transferring to thin maple for fitting to plastic body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Roughed in the taper between the front & back of the cowl buck. It's a bit thick still, front to back, but will wait until I get the profiles cut on the cockpit side before trimming down to final dimension. One nice thing about a large project like this is that I have enough variety of tasks to accomplish for it's completion that I can always choose something fresh to work on from day to day Edited March 3, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Door line & forward up-sweep on lower cowl side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) The beginning of the cut that will raise the feature line that runs below the windshield & some progress on the door jamb area, as well. This is a busy area, right here in this corner & now is when I determine how well it'll all fit & show proper perspective later on. Layout also roughed in for pocket for the base windshield stanchions. Edited March 5, 2015 by Ognib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 In my guitar work, doing re-fret work, I occasionally encounter fret slots that won't hold new fretwire down in position against the fingerboard. I have this crimping tool that "waffles" the fret tang, making it wider, thus better able to bite into the slot. I thought to myself, " that's a perfect sized tucking tool for helping to shrink the edges of 1"8 panels". Want to continue to practice the aluminum work as the bucks are brought to completion. Need to trim the surplus off of the edge on the cockpit side. More templates for the cowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 hero !!! this is just pure enjoyment !! love it love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 NICE RAY.....I knew this would be an awesome thread. Great work on the cowl ! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ognib Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 Thanks, guys. The piece I posted yesterday is .032". I like the idea of the greater strength, but I think it's too heavy to take the detail of the feature lines, etc. Had to try it to know for sure. Going to cut another blank in .016, when I get done with my work today & give it another go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.