LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 28, 2024, 3:54 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 383 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ... 26  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 3:04 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
I had some old aluminum irrigation pipe. I just cut a piece and hammered it over a buck till the end shrank enough.

Quote:
I have an engine turned stainless dash in my car and its not that bad.


I'm glad I hope to put some Smith gages in the center but for now just the doner gages will have to do.
Work on them tomorrow.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 10:08 am 
Offline
We are Slotus!
User avatar

Joined: October 6, 2009, 9:29 am
Posts: 7651
Location: Tallahassee, FL (The Center of the Known Universe)
Hey TF-
I've got a set of Smith's gauges from my MGB in my garage. I can't vouch for them working, but if ya want 'em, pay the freight, they're yours. PM me if you like.
JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 12:50 pm 
Offline

Joined: February 21, 2008, 1:36 pm
Posts: 10
Hi there, I love your dash, its nice to see something so creative. Could you describe how you acheived the circular finish. Is it called scratch brushing? I assume you have a something like a 3m scotch lock sanding disk in a grinder and you place it on the surface and move on. If so what grit did you use, how much pressure did you use, did you place the sanding disc flat or use just the edge and finally did you draw lines to keep the center placement of the tool even

keep up the great work!

Cheers

Ryan


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 2:50 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: April 15, 2009, 7:41 pm
Posts: 550
I like the way you didn't just go in horizontal lines with the engine turning. :cheers:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 4:03 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
GonzoRacer, I'll get back to you shortly on the gages.

yan6, It's called "Engine Turning", I did use a 3m scotch pad (course, grit unknown) that I mounted on my drillpress. You can use a sanding disk or a wire brush which I tried but I didn't have one that was big enough. The pad is applied flat and moved 1/2 the diameter always from left to right (or right to left) then move down 1/2 the diameter. I don't know if that makes any sense I will try and take some pics of the setup I used and post later today.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 9:59 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
I took some pics of my setup
The wire brush is about 1" diameter so I marked the edge every 1/2" (hard to see there in red) and used a mark on the fence for alignment.
Attachment:
IMG_0997.JPG

Then the fence was moved back 1/2" (from 4 1/2" to 5") and to the right 1/2"
Attachment:
IMG_1001.JPG

Attachment:
IMG_1003.JPG

In this example I went from left to right and here is what you get.
Attachment:
IMG_1004.JPG

You have to experiment with the speed and pressure of the brush to get some consistency.
Attachment:
IMG_1006.JPG


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 4, 2010, 11:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: February 21, 2008, 1:36 pm
Posts: 10
Thank you for the outstanding explanation. I am going to have to play with this.

Cheers

Ryan


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 5, 2010, 9:21 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: January 2, 2009, 1:45 pm
Posts: 1318
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Another 'tool' to use for engine turning is the suction cup on a stick used for valve grinding (if people still use these things). Cut the thick end of the handle off so you can chuck it in the drill press and follow the same procedure as for the scotch brite pad above, but load the suction cup with valve grinding compound. (I will admit that it's nearly 40 years since I last ground valves, so forgive me if you can't buy this stuff anymore)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 5, 2010, 10:19 pm 
Offline
Always Moore!
User avatar

Joined: November 9, 2007, 3:40 pm
Posts: 4074
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
That stuffs still available (albeit it no one in the parts store knows that they're used for..you just have to look).

I picked up a set of tools and compound a few months back from Advance Auto. :)

I later found out Harbor Freight has the valve lapping tool set for ~1/2 the price of the same made-in-China one from Advance.

BTW that dash looks great MYTF. Very nice work on the curved tubes and the actual dash.

_________________
-Andrew
Build Log
Youtube


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 5, 2010, 11:21 pm 
Offline

Joined: July 14, 2008, 9:07 pm
Posts: 228
Location: SW FL
Just Awesome!
Thanx for the idea for beading the floors. I need to fab some panels for a Dart project and that is a perfect and easy method that I will be PROUD to abscond with :-)
Your dash panel looks ABSOLUTELY Fantastic... WOWWWWWWWWW!!!
Personally, I would not do anything to it until I've proven to myself that it is too bright (you should be wearing cool shades or driving goggles anyhow). Even then, if it does need to be toned down, don't do anything that would obscure the engine turning, maybe clearcoat tinted with charcoal gray, like trying to get a "smoked" appearance.
Mike Bynum


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 6, 2010, 12:33 am 
Offline

Joined: August 30, 2006, 10:26 am
Posts: 250
Location: Carmen, campeche, Mexico
dodgedartgt wrote:
Just Awesome!
.............
Personally, I would not do anything to it until I've proven to myself that it is too bright (you should be wearing cool shades or driving goggles anyhow). Even then, if it does need to be toned down, don't do anything that would obscure the engine turning, maybe clearcoat tinted with charcoal gray, like trying to get a "smoked" appearance.
Mike Bynum


Maybe you want to be the first with a Turned-Anodized finish dashboard.
Any dark color would look "not shiny" enough.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 6, 2010, 12:46 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
I've also heard of using a wood dowel with grinding compound. Those methods might be better as I had trouble getting the center of the disk to score the plate.

As far as tinting the panels I think a light tone (more like clear with just a light color) would probably be best but I'm leaving them as is for now.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 18, 2010, 12:12 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
I've been doing some things out of order but moving forward slowly.
I picked up some plastic for the cluster and got it mounted.
Attachment:
021000.jpg

Attachment:
021000 (5).jpg


I'm in the process of prefitting the tunnel sheets. It's thin at 20 gauge with a pebble finish. Thinking of something for backing between the tubes to stiffen thinks up if needed.
Attachment:
021000 (1).jpg

Attachment:
021000 (2).jpg

Attachment:
021000 (3).jpg


I had to beat out a bulge for the speedometer.
Attachment:
021000 (6).jpg

Attachment:
021000 (7).jpg

Attachment:
021000 (8).jpg


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 18, 2010, 4:29 pm 
Offline

Joined: April 2, 2009, 4:12 pm
Posts: 252
Location: Denver, CO
Do you have any "wider" shots that show the whole dash? It looks great!

_________________
Build Log (not much there yet): http://lotus.reddeth.com
442e frame, 3.4l Camaro donor


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: February 18, 2010, 8:27 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: February 20, 2009, 2:27 pm
Posts: 531
Location: Reno, Nv
I posted a picture of the dash without the gauges but not with so here is the face and back.
Attachment:
Locost7 001.jpg

Attachment:
Locost7 002.jpg

Right now I'm working on the top of the tunnel and trying to decide on the screws to use.

PS I just received some older Smith gauges from GonzoRacer for free! :D WHAT A FORUM :D :D :D


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 383 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ... 26  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
POWERED_BY