369 replies to this topic

[Terry Sumner]

I didn't do any annealing that might have helped!

Ya know...I was wondering that very thing and was going to ask you if you had heated them up at all... You answered my thought? Now I wonder....would heating them up actually make it easier to bend them. I mean, I'm sure it would work with steel and brass but i don't have the knowledge as to how it would work with aluminum rod. Would it just bend easier? Or would it make the metal grainy and more prone to breaking? I just don't know but would like to. Also, what about discoloration of the aluminum? Would it get discolored enough where it would take some serious sanding and buffing to get the aluminum back to shiny. I know from tig welding that the surface of aluminum oxidizes quickly and there is a thin top layer that is a lot harder than the underlying aluminum...that's why you have to scrub the aluminum where you're going to weld with a scotchbrite pat really well....that harder surface makes it much more difficult to tig weld. Which makes me wonder if using heat would increase that oxidized area and make it harder to bend? I don't know about any of this...I'm just thinking and writing my thoughts down... Maybe will have to do some experimenting....

[Romell R]

In the begining of this thread he said the headers were made of solid aluminum rod in which case no annealing would be needed, he just bent them into shape and Im assuming he drilled the ends out once that was done. In anycase its a job very well done.

[vintagedragfan]

I got the butterfly steering wheel done, with real wood grips

[gasser59]

Now come on Bill. We'd like to see your amazing talent on that steering wheel up close and personal but the pictures just aren't big enough to study. I'm sure its gorgeous but I don't know for absolute certain.

[Dragline]

I agree. Pics need to be MUCH larger.


Bob

[vintagedragfan]

I agree. Pics need to be MUCH larger.


Bob

lol I'm tryin guys just cant seem to get larger pics attached, any advice would be appreciated! I do have a fotki site

[vintagedragfan]

I had so many people ask me if the steering wheel was going to turn when you move the wheels I figured I might actually see if I could, here is what I came up with, started with an aluminum block drilled a couple holes turned a couple pieces and found some small gears out of a watch, seems to work!

http://public.fotki....er-update-stee/I added the tape so I could see if it was turning or not, LOL

Edited by vintagedragfan, 29 February 2012 - 05:16 PM.

[gasser59]

Bill - that is outstanding. I don't know what else to say. Looks perfect. Does it work as good as it looks?

[Alyn]

Bill's aluminum work is flat out rediculous. This picture of the steering box(working) says it all

[vintagedragfan]

thanks Brad it does work, turned better than I expected, Alyn you are tooo kind

[Alyn]

Bill, check your email.

[vintagedragfan]

here are some aluminum panels I have been fooling with, I used .005 aluminum, it is just too thin, gonna try something a little thicker and see what happens

[vintagedragfan]

I agree. Pics need to be MUCH larger.


Bob

here ya go fellas, Alyn told me what I was doin wrong

[Pro Tech]

Bill, nice work! making panels out of alum. huh? guess we'll have to call ya Bill "Hanna" from now on

Charlie
Pro Tech

[Romell R]

Hes not fooling me.......He's got a team of miniture fabricators working for him in a tiny little shop in his basement and as long as he keeps their secrete they build him whatever he wants LOL! Keep up the outstanding work Bill this is truely a treat!

[vintagedragfan]

Bill, nice work! making panels out of alum. huh? guess we'll have to call ya Bill "Hanna" from now on

Charlie
Pro Tech

thanks Charlie, been kinda experimenting with it , dont know if I'll be able to pull it off

[vintagedragfan]

Hes not fooling me.......He's got a team of miniture fabricators working for him a tiny little shop in his basement and as long as he keeps their secrete they build him whatever he wants LOL! Keep up the outstanding work Bill this is truely a treat!

lol now thats funny stuff Romell! thought we agreed we werent gonna let anyone know about that! thanks for the compliment!

[tyrone]

your work is "IMPECCABLE" in my Mike Tyson voice....

[vintagedragfan]

your work is "IMPECCABLE" in my Mike Tyson voice....

I appreciate that Mr. Tyson LOL

[Terry Sumner]

Hes not fooling me.......He's got a team of miniture fabricators working for him a tiny little shop in his basement and as long as he keeps their secrete they build him whatever he wants LOL! Keep up the outstanding work Bill this is truely a treat!

I think he's got a few of them Oompaloompas workin' for him in secret!!!!