2019 POTD Thread Archive

Thank you guys, unfortunately i only have two hands, i also can't wait to get this thing finished, registered and back on the dirt to do some exploring in the mountains around me.
 
Yesterday was pretty busy for me but i made the effort to get something done on the little Niva. I finally made the special tool to adjust the valves couple of days ago so its time to button up the engine, i started with washing the front of the engine to remove most of that baked on oil and grease, i used some gasoline and a brash, this is the dirtiest engine i've had to clean, then i focused on the valve cover, its rusty, also has couple of scar marks but i don't have time to look for a better one so i'll fix it. first i check it for straightness then i sended it down and prime it with zink pramer. Then i looked thru my old paint, and found an old white paint, i mix it with some flat black till i got close to the original color, i want it to match the air cleaner and accessory pulleys, from the factory they all are gray i spray it at very low pressure so i can live that imperfect look to match the factory finish, then i focused on webasto heater i fill it up with coolant, with diesel, fited a battery and connect the exhaust it fires up started to sound like a jet engine but its seems to shut off, from experience it hits some safety i'll need to figure out how to connect it with a diagnostic cable, it can't never be easy.
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Today I tried to make a slinky and failed miserably. Any one care to reach in and turn off the feed for me?
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I got some work done on my jumbo angle plate. I plan on fly cutting it and stuff tomorrow. I hope that I don't screw it up, its not too far from square after all of the welding. The key is to tack the hell out of it before you go to town with all the welding.154734770723091b2fb8e6248c6099d77fc46b015f480ff4ceacec1f98ed171a0b1fb6aecafafffc6f4550c4d1e0b0...jpg15473477204829d85ee3793fd62220eef6f48203a2f5c45e5eaefcc1cbae4399ce0e58bfc159d0e4089b022c3446ea...jpg
 
I'm making a couple computer desks. To attach the top to the end case, I'm using T-nuts.
The T-nuts will be attached to the top of the table top and bases will bolt on from inside.
I needed to counter sink the T-nuts so they don't make a bump on the Formica I'll cover the tops with.

I usually cut the countersink with a Forstner bit in my drill press.
But, the tops are fairly big and very heavy, making it very difficult to support level on the drill press.
And, the process was more difficult because I'd have to approach the holes from two different set-ups because of clearance of the drill press pole.

So, I came up with an alternative method. I made a template and used a router with a collar to cut the countersinks.

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The countersinks came out well.
A 7/8" template hole produced a 3/4" countersink with a 1/2" straight bit.

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The next puzzle (I've always struggled with this) was to put the hole in the center of the countersink.
With a forstner bit, it makes a dimple in the middle, but I've never been able to drill a hole exactly in the center of such a place. The drill always drifts a little off center, even with a drill press.
Routed countersinks don't make a center mark (not that it would do any good).

So, I made this drill guide to center the holes with a bit of 1.25" aluminum rod.
I can drill the hole with a hand drill.

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It worked like a charm and the holes are right in the center.
I can't believe I didn't think of this years ago.
This little thing will get used a lot and will have a place in my fixture drawer.

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Today i made the effort to do some more body work on the little 4X4, i did manage to apply couple more coats and send them back, i've had to use lot more hardener because is so cold, and i did managed to empty out the can of body filler, so tomorrow i'll need to buy some more body filler at least the trunk lid is close to being finished with body filler stage.
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Made this bracket to mount a pair of driving lights on the bike.
Started out with a piece of 4x4x1/2 aluminum angle, after some whittling found the bracket inside. The straps are 3/4 aluminum.
Powder coated them with matt black but they look pretty shinny in this photo.IMG_4233.jpg

Clamped in place. The finish matched pretty well.


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Lights mounted.

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Greg
 
Nice job on the bracket. Do you have enough alternator to power those things?
 
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