sevenesqueron wrote:
Hi Andrew,
Glad to see your update, I was wondering how you were making out. Too bad about the negatives but you're sure a good example of why it's not a great idea to have all your eggs in one basket.
You'll find uses for the lathe. I don't find that I use mine frequently but when I need it it's there and sometimes it makes the difference between being able to do certain stuff or not.
OK, I guess that I don't get to raze you that the car didn't get on the road this past summer.
Ron
Thanks Ron, I'm hoping for life to get back to normal, but I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to fit in my day job with how busy i have become. And yes, I've never trusted Aviation, even my back up to to Aircraft structural repair is not in demand at the present time. The lathe has been amazing, and opened up the door to lots of work, never mind the parts I can make for pennies, vs hundreds at the Kubota dealership. The Bridgeport mill still eludes me. Mainly because of space. I know of about 6 that need new homes.
Now for Airframe's token excuses why the car isn't done and what I've been up too. I'm also posting here for some external accountability to get this done!
I really have three major tasks for this car to get the "paperwork" started. windshield, bumpers, and seat. That should be doable this year.... NO promises as I always prioritize family and paid work over this project.
As I'm still on furlough from the airline, I need to plan for 2021 as if I wont be flying, and that means business expansion, on all three fronts. I do Lawn care and pest control in season, and metal/composite fabrication in the winter. Ill be putting a second truck on the road to handle lawn care apps so that means double the gear. Lawn care is fun and easy and everyone is happy to see the lawn guy, I don't do mowing but rather fertilizer/weed control applications, and slice seeding. Id say my forte is lawn reno's, basically your lawn sucks (more weeds than grass) and you want a new one, your options are sod for tens of thousands, or call me and ill have it slice seed and grow in a new lawn in three weeks! this has made me somewhat popular. The coolest parts is it all done with no synthetic pesticides, everything is "organic" by loose terms, and yes you can have amazing turf without chemicals for a lower cost than you'd think, you just have to put mother nature to work for you. I spray all the fertilizer in liquid form so the need for another truck and operator is required. Here's my front lawn I re-did 5 weeks prior. I'm handling over 100 lawns by myself with no advertising, so time to get some help.
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lawn.jpg
Around the house, found some rotten wood under my front door that needed repair. Fun project, but more diversion from the car. There's also the bathroom reno that started with "I'm just going to re caulk the downstairs tub". That's been a year long project, mainly because my wife's home office is only 1/2 of drywall away and she would appreciate peace and quite while she works.
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door.jpg
Since November, I have been flat out on metal and composite fabrication. I've been building bi-folding ramp tailgates for another lawn care/snow clearing company and working for two race teams doing various composite and welding repairs. Both teams found out what I do through a co worker, I wasn't looking for this work, but Ill take it. Its been non stop until now. Lots has been done, including oil coolers, radiator ducts, seat shells, Aluminum casting repair, air intakes, burnt parts, crushed parts, etc. These are decommissioned spec formula cars that are gentleman driven in unsanctioned events
Heres some customer work:
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tailagate.jpg
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tailgate.jpg
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switch panels.jpg
this lug was completely sheared off at the hole, cleaned , welded, shaped and then peened with an engraving pen to resemble the cast look.
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engine lug.jpg
I'm back to the car project and of course working on things I really don't need too. Like the rear wing and new end plates. Here's some pics, some carbon but its mainly 7725 twill weave fiberglass with black pigmented resin.
Also, with year end come new tools, I'm always buying and selling tools. I upgraded my square wave 200 to an aspect 230 Tig welder, glad i did because Im pretty sure I would have pushed the SW200 too far with duty cycle. I sold my SW200 for what I paid 5 years ago considering MSRP has risen and I kept some accessories. Bought an arbor press too. funny enough my wife hears less hammering now. She also appreciates the air compressor noise reduction I did with both of us now working from home.
Anyways here's some pics.