No reason to be sorry... I'd rather someone say something they may or may not have heard before than not say anything at all.
I will definitely be taking a look through your sketchup models.. I've never used sketchup before (well, ok, when it first came out i messed around with building blocks and stuff haha), but aside from that, nothing. I've been using AutoCAD for the past some 12 years, 10 professionally. Trying to get into solidworks, but its a slow process... none of my personal computers can handle it, so that leaves my work computer... which is always tied up for work! Some day... -- Oh well, yea, messing with the wood with at least let me see if I'll somewhat fit into each of the frames, so that's good. I hope I fit into the book frame... it's all drawn out and ready to go. Though.. I'm not that great at woodworking, so we'll see how it actually turns out.
Yea.. I mean, I'm not dead set on using the EG33. It's just a thought to keep this as locost as possible, since I already own it.. and the car itself is a junkbox. Was hoping to at least keep part of it going. My original original plan was to build a middy with the EG33, converted tranny to FWD and build a sort of Superlite Coupe - ala:
http://superlitecars.com/wp-content/upl ... 00x225.jpg ... but figured without any instruction, that building a locost 7 as my first home built car made WAYYY more sense. I've just got a lot going on in my head right now.. and with wanting to expedite this process (i wanna drive this thing!), it makes it even more difficult.. because I know I can't rush the process.
Anyway.. since I'm in a sort of.. holding pattern right now, last night I decided to practice welding as it's been a while. I used the new bandsaw to cut off a couple 4" lengths of the 3/4x3/4 steel stock (which worked AMAZING by the way... no sparks, no noise (well noise, but very quiet for what it was), cut straight, very happy. I picked up another blade from home depot @ 24tpi .. I don't know what the stock HF blade comes with, but I didn't want to be left in a lurch when this one breaks. It's some "american _____" brand.. I need to look for whatever brand everyone here suggests and order a couple. --- For that matter, does anyone know what speed I should have this thing on to cut 16g square stock? I have 3 options.. 80fpm, 120fpm, and 200fpm. I was using 120 last night, seemed to work well, took a little bit of time, but wasn't sure on what I was 'supposed' to be using.
So the welding went pretty well. I was used to getting the wire stuck to the work peice, cutting it off, starting over... but not this time. Went perfect, tacked, then fully welded. I then ground it all off flat just to make sure it penetrated well and wasn't just on the surface. I think I saw one small area that could have used another going-over. Overall, pretty happy with how the first weld in a LONG time went. Brings the confidence level up for building my own frame! I might slow the wire speed a little bit so there isn't as much build up on the top.. but going to continue practicing to get the absolute perfect settings for when I go ahead and start welding the actual frame. I don't want to be 'practicing' on a real work piece! Onto the pictures! If you see something weird/wrong, let me know. Remember this was just practice, and 'getting used to it' again. I am in no way a professional welder, so please, any input is good!
Also, updated the website. I hope people are still checking it out! More info/pics there always.